Portland Officials Say ‘No Dice’

PORTLAND, Ore. — City officials can’t stop comedian Andrew Dice Clay from performing in Portland, so they are trying to cancel his audience.

The City Council and Mayor Bud Clark released a letter Tuesday urging residents to turn in their tickets to Clay’s Friday show at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. But refunds of the $26-$38.50 tickets are not allowed, and the show was near its 2,776-ticket sell-out point Wednesday afternoon.

“I wish the council would have consulted with us before they released the letter,” said Robert Freedman, director of the center. “They’re asking people to do something they can’t do.”

“We must raise our voices in protest against ‘entertainment’ which perpetrates negative attitudes and stereotypes,” the council’s letter said.

“We urge Portlanders not to go to the concert,” it continued. “We ask that you refuse to economically reward those who try to make a living off of hatred and violence.”