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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (June 15, 2017)
NEWS BY CORINNE BOYER STATEWIDE NAACP LOBBY DAY Oregon chapter presidents call for passage of environmental and criminal justice reform bills O regon’s four NAACP branch presidents were in Salem Monday, June 12, to announce the release of the organization’s “Oregon Environmental Justice” report and to support several bills before the end of the state’s 2017 regular legislative ses- sion. Eugene/Springfield NAACP President Eric Richard- son says, “We are concerned and here to make sure that the voices of communities of color and the poor are heard going forward with the clean energy economy and all the benefits that we see.” At a press conference, the presidents of the African- American civil rights organization were asking legislators to pass bills pertaining to clean energy jobs, grand jury re- cordation and law enforcement data-collection for tracking racial profiling. Portland chapter president Jo Ann Hardesty says the re- port summarizes opportunities to earn green energy credits and clean energy improvements. “But what we want to know is especially what com- munities are benefiting, because the data that Oregon cur- rently collects does not show whether or not low-income communities are enjoying the same benefits as upper-mid- dle class communities.” Benny Williams, the Salem chapter president, says, “We’re here today, not only talking about the environmen- tal impact that needs to take place — we’ve got a president who is working toward reversing the last 15 years of efforts improving our environment, water and air.” The environmental justice report published national findings that show the rates at which communities of color suffer disproportionately from health issues caused by liv- ing in close proximity to nuclear, coal and biomass power plants. These communities are also more likely to be hit first by major disasters, and low-income households spend three times more on electricity than all other income levels. “Low and moderate income families make up 40 percent of the U.S. populations, but only 5 percent of rooftop solar owners (the most common form of distributed energy gen- eration),” according to the report. The report also evaluates Oregon state policies and makes recommendations to strengthen policies and to ex- pand “participation and success of minority owned busi- nesses in Oregon’s economy.” The various NAACP branches then met to discuss lob- bying efforts regarding a senate bill that would require Or- egon grand jury proceedings to be recorded. Currently, SB 496 is in the Ways and Means committee. Oregon operates on an 1863 law that relies on handwritten notes that are kept in a file after a witness is called to testify. Defense at- torneys are not permitted to see the notes and a judge is not present during the hearing. The American Civil Liberties Union supports the bill, according to its website, and states that the recording of grand juries ensures their process is transparent and con- stitutional. Oregon’s NAACP branches also support House Bill 2355, which would require the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission, including all statewide law enforcement officers, to track data of all traffic and pedestrian stops. The data would be used to develop a system to track racial profiling. Eugene, Lane County and Springfield police cur- rently don’t track and provide that information, though Eu- gene police have started testing software to track the data. Sen. Lew Frederick of Portland spoke to NAACP mem- bers and advocates, and says there is a need for better train- ing of current and potential police officers. The branch presidents then met with Gov. Kate Brown for a brief closed-door meeting to discuss the bills. Rich- ardson says the governor “is confident that the ending pro- filing bill will pass as well as the grand jury bill.” The day was about bringing the state branches of the NAACP together and collective action in lobbying and re- leasing the report, which shows the “NAACP is moving in a new, more progressive direction around environmental justice,” Richardson says. Members of Eugene organizations Beyond Toxics, 350 Eugene and Community Alliance of Lane County also at- tended the lobby day event. CALC President Michael Car- rigan says the organization came “to support the NAACP work demanding that green economy needs to be used as a vehicle to correct the many wrongs afflicted in communi- ties of color and poor communities.” Oregon’s regular legislative session will wrap up by July 10. FIRST CLASS CANNABIS EXCLUSIVE MEDICAL PRICING 10% OFF FIRST TIMERS 645 RIVER ROAD • EUGENE • TERPSSTATION.COM Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the infl uence of this drug For use only by adults 21 years of age and older • Keep out of reach of children Wait Wait... Don’t Tell Me! NPR's weekly news quiz show. Test your knowledge alongside some of the best and brightest in the news and entertainment world. Sat 10am | 6pm eugeneweekly.com • June 15, 2017 7
