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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (May 16, 2003)
4 j M S t M f • may 16.2003 R»757!fli out ‘IT’S ALL IN YOUR HEAD’ TRAIN YOUR BRAIN. CHANGE YOUR LIFE. 22 lbs and am off Zoloft. All thanks to you. You are a goddess." T -Don Clarkson Mayor (Mosier. OR) and Personal Coach If you are struggling with depression, anxiety, panic attacks, attention issues, stress, sleep problems, mental clarity, or are seeking a peak performance edge contact Nora Gedgaudas Neurotherapist Nutritional Specialist Northwest Neurofeedback Johnson Street Professional Building 1920 NW Johnson S tre e t. Suite 100 Portland, OR 97209 Office: 503-274-7733 Fax: 503-274-7770 call tor a frea consultation http /rwww northwest-neurofeedback com Family Dogs NW is a unique No-kill Shelter M M that works with other facilities, such as the Oregon Humane Society & Animal Control. By providing personal attention, the staff helps people find their perfect match & every dog a permanent home. 3'ft Also Available: BOARDING, TRAINING & DAYCARE P roceed s & d o n atio n s go to th e ca re o f th e sh elte r dogs. <*■ C V Fam ily Dogs NW \ / 1st 6« 17 SF 52nd Ave. Portland, OR 97206 V 'V (5 0 3 )7 7 4 -6 1 2 6 w w w . f a m i l y d o g s n w .com John 10: 14-16 Metropolitan Community Church of the Gentle Shepherd Rev. Harriet Barshofsky Sunday Services: 10:30 am-6:30 pm We are a C hrist-based church. All are welcome. We do Baptisms and Holy Unions. L ocated just minutes from the Interstate Bridge http://www.mccgs.org 2 2 0 0 Broadway Suite F Vancouver, WA • (3 6 0 ) 6 9 5 -1 4 8 0 CO LD U U CU . B A N K E R □ EADIE ADAMS REALTY “For Your Palm Springs Place in the Sun” Bus: (760) 778-5500 Fax: (760) 323-7832 Cell/Pgr: (760) 774-0685 E-mail: ccsvs@aol.com 431 Saniti Palm Canymi Palm S fr ii i ft , CA «22S2 \ a combination of medication and counseling. Third World is that we have a middle class. For Multnomah County recently had to cut her a host of reasons, the so-called “war on poverty" treatments, and she is out on her own again— a To t h e E d it o r : started in 1964 by President Lyndon Johnson threat to herself and those around her. he reported facts released from the Port has been a bust. T he top 5 percent control or Mr. M is a senior and lives in Northeast Port land Police Bureau surrounding the Kendra own between 65 percent and 85 percent of the James shooting indicate none of the officers land. He suffers from heart problems, AID S and wealth. mental health issues. His medications total involved knew she had an outstanding warrant More important than just more money, be it $1,680 a month, and without them he will die. until after the incident. Therefore, prior to that government or private, is the judicial use of that Because of recent budget cuts, his drugs have information becoming known, she had every money by a government agency or by a family or now been terminated. legal right to leave the scene. by an individual. What might look like class It is illegal to shoot someone merely trying to These and thousands of stories like them are hatred by the wealthy is really anger at how tax brought to you courtesy of our “leaders” in escape, regardless of whether they have a war money is misspent. rant. As a retired officer, l was trained not to Salem. They don’t seem to be able or willing to Oregon is a textbook example of how not to reach or lean inside any vehicle. Officer Scott come up with a solution. Here in our communi spend tax money. Before the current recession, McCollister didn’t follow his training, putting ty, fortunately, we have the chance to do what the state had more people going to food banks himself into harm’s way. they cannot. per capita than any other in the country; that Finally, the officers knew who James was. This is a full-blown crisis. Our local safety percentage has now tripled. Bureau policy forbids officers from engaging in net is on the verge of collapse for those most in It is one thing to socially laugh at, sneer at vehicular pursuits when the suspect is known. need. and make fun of the lower classes, but it is quite The officers simply could have stepped hack and Seniors, the disabled and other medically different to financially slit their collective let James drive away, arresting her later. needy individuals are losing critical prescription throats. Personally, I don’t “get down,” I don’t This blatant disregard for human life is a dis dmg and housing assistance. We no longer can “hang out,” and I suspect that howling alleys are grace to the badge. provide the help needed to prevent mentally ill excellent breeding grounds for all sorts of bacte people from becoming a danger to themselves ria and viruses, long before SA RS. D am o n W oodcock and others. And our schools and public safety On the other hand, in far too many cases, Portland are facing devastating cuts. If we want to keep greed has replaced compassion, short term has our community safe and healthy, we must do the replaced long term, and educational opportuni right thing and pass Measure 26-48. ties have become as scarce as a thin lesbian. Look at all the animals The results of state budget cuts and the fail (Yeah, that is a snide remark, so bite me.) behind the fence ure of Measure 28 have been dramatic: Like it or not, we are all in the same boat To t h e E d it o r : • About 20,000 mentally ill people in Mult together. It hehcxwes the ruling class to have nce again, Portland Pride is coming upon nomah County have lost coverage for prescrip some compassion, for the reality is that a lot of us. Once again, the ugly specter of the tion dmgs and treatment, leading to a marked their wealth was built on the hacks of the work fenced compound is with it. increase in violent incidents. ing class and the middle class. It is in everyone’s Some say it is for our own protection, some • Among seniors, the disabled and the mod- | interest for politicians of both parties (and no, may argue that it lowers the cost for the event ically needy, 6,651 people have lost the services the Green Party does not count, literally) to insurance, and some may say it offers us security they depend on— 3,500 will not he able to con- take the long-term approach for the gtxxl of all for the disruptive element of our society. Well, I tinue living at home. society. say it puts the event, and us for that matter, right • Portland schtxils stand to lose one out of j Finally, both the lower and upper classes where the people who do not want us around ! every five teachers. have to learn that the silent majority is just want us: in a locked compound, unable to influ And we have not yet seen the full impact of that— the majority— and that for about the past ence people and show that we, like them, live the cuts. Many seniors only now are running out 15 years the middle class has been financially “normal” lives! of medication. Large numbers of the mentally ill squeezed as hard as a breast during a mammo I implore Pride Northwest to sit hack and are ending up in jails and hospitals, costing tax gram. Taking care of the middle class is not really think about the signal you are sending to payers even more money. Hundreds of people charity, it is not benevolence, it is prudent. the greater population at large. Just my two are facing the threat of homelessness. For the record, I send checks to a highly cents. Measure 26-48 will provide our community respected nonstraight organization whenever it with three years of stability, restoring the basics asks for a donation. I also donate through my D e a n n a B ryant for our services and schixils. It will: church. Portland • Restore prescription drug relief and treat- ^ I probably know more about this society, ment for the medically needy. especially from the Industrial Revolution in • Easure emergency care for the mentally ill, 1840 to the present, than 98 percent of the read Dean’s list keeping them from hurting themselves and oth ers of Just Out. To t h e E d it o r : ers, and maintain counselors in schools to help ’ve got a great idea for a new hoard game. It’s kids succeed. J o h n B o y n t o n called “Not a Clue.” Six cartoonish charac • Prevent teacher layoffs and skyrocketing Vancouver, Wash. ters wander around the W hite House trying to class sizes. figure out who killed the economy. We are better than this. By helping the dis What is it good for? Who did it? George W. Bush in the Oval abled, the mentally ill, schools and seniors, Office with his tax cut for the rich. Measure 26-48 will restore care to those who To t h e E d it o r : And who figured it out? Presidential candi need it most. I can assure you that they will he irst, I’d like to say how much I appreciate the date Howard Dean, who knows it’s not a game lost without it. And in a greater sense, so will we other side of reporting and how truly Amer at all. all. I urge you to vote yes May 20. ican, in the historic sense, you are [“War and The gay community also knows this isn’t a Peace," April 18J. The pointless cost of wars game. It’s time we stand united and support N o a h S ie g e l since World War II makes your contribution Howard Dean in 2004. He stood with us and Portland even more meaningful. signed a landmark state law allowing civil I was in the military during the pointless unions, despite intense pressure. Korean War, I marched against the pointless Cutting class Let’s return the favor. Visit www. Vietnam War, and I have been against every lit deanforamerica.com and see what everyone is To t h e E d it o r : tle war since. We have become a center of self- talking about! he April 18 response letters by Sam righteousness, with more and more right-wing MacKenzie (“Capitalist Punishment”! and stupidity. J im H iller Terrie McNutt (“Guilt Trip”) are well written. Now for my other comment: Leading the Portland W hat might be misconstrued is that people like crusade to “cure" homosexuality is like curing myself just dismiss those with less money. left-handedness {“Leading a Crusade,” April 18J. While the terms "conservative" and “liberal” It’s an oxymoron in the true sense of the word. Safety net disintegrates are handed around like a couple of lipped pan What needs ¿Uring is the brain-deadedness for most vulnerable cakes, within each element there are variations. of “my country, right or wrong.” Most people To t h e E d it o r : On the extreme right there are the jackboot disregard the rest of the statement: “When right rue stories from your neighborhood: radio hosts, and on the extreme left there are to be kept right. W hen wrong to be put right." Ms. D was being treated for severe the dyed-in-the-wool communists. W hat is (In this case, right means correct.) needed is long-term thinking, common sense depression. She tried to kill herself with a knife and by driving her car into oncoming traffic. and discipline. S herman W illiams The only thing keeping her in control has been W hat makes America different from the Portland Tarnished badge 7 have to date lost O I F T T
