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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (May 23, 1974)
Page 2 Po rtland /O beerver Thureday. M ay 23. 1974 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR SHOP lEN O W 'S Consolidation charter opposed WE SEE THE WORLD >ear Editor: THROUGH BLACK EYES ALFRED I. HENDERSON Among all the reasons appearing in behalf of a "no” on Measure 7. City-County Consolidation Charter, 1 have not seen the following and hereby call attention to it: Chapter V I, 6:35: O rdi nances are to be published in a newspaper having a cir culation in excess of 50,000 in the city county. This is what the Mayor refers to on the television comm ercials in which he states that ordi nances to be considered will appear in a newspaper de livered to your door la 50,000 circulation could include the Oregonian. the Oregon Jour nal, the Community Press. Editor/Publishei EDITORIAL FOCUS Tests discriminate Robert Davis, m in o rity recruite r fo r the City o f Portland's Bureau o f Police, has resigned a fte r less than six m onths o f e m p lo ym e n t because o f w ha t he ca lle d lack o f co m m itm e nt on the part o f the police a d m in is tra tio n . The m a in issue in Davis' resignation w as the use o f tests as a m eans to screen (or screen o ut) applicants. Failure to pass tests w ith specific scores w ill p re clu d e an in d iv id u a l from b ecom ing a p o lice o ffic e r, no m atter w hat q u a lifica tio n s he m ig ht possess. Tests used to jud ge a pp lica nts' a cce p ta b ility for e m p lo ym e n t or fo r school have been in question because o f cu ltu ra l bias. Tests are w ritte n by m id d le class educators and m easure elem ent? know n to th e ir o w n culture group but w hich are not necessarily a part o f the cultures o f other groups. It has never been dem onstratd that tests are predictors o f job success. The courts hqve barred the San Francisco and C hicago Police Departm ents fro m using sim ilar tests, fin d in g that they tend to e xclu de m inorities. A ccording to Davis, the Portland Police Bureau was not w illin g to accept the fact that tests are biased or to consider a d d itio n a l crite ria w he n re v ie w in g applicants. In his rem arks on the DeFunis case (the case o f a w h ite student w ho was d en ie d adm ission to the U niversity o f W ashington Law School w h e n m in o rity students w ith lo w e r test scores w e re a d m itte d ), Supreme Court Justice W illia m O. Douglas said, "S ince the LSAT tests (Law School Adm issions Test) re fle ct the dim ensions o f the O rga niza tion M an they do a disservice to m in o ritie s ." He suggests that one m easure o f a p titu d e be the "in d iv id u a l's p rior achievem ents in lig h t o f racial d iscrim in atio n that barred his w a y " in a tte m p tin g to assess his true p o te n tia l fo r a successful career and that b roader adm issions procedures w o u ld not o nly insure o pp o rtu n ity fo r m in o ritie s but fo r other disadvantaged persons, b rin g in g m ore d ive rs ity to the fie ld . The Portland Bureau o f Police should heed Justice D ouglas' advice. Rather than stick to its rig id testing procedures and c la im that no Blacks are interested in or q u a lifie d fo r p o lice w o rk , the Police Bureau needs to co m m it itse lf to a rea listic program fo r the recruitm en t and in d u ctio n o f m in ority people. District 14 - Gionet Leonard G ionet seeks the D em ocratic Party nom in a tion to the State House o f Representatives, District 14. This district, w h ich includes the N orthwest corner o f A lb in a , is n o w represented by Dr. H ow ard Cherry. G ionet is an econom ist and a ca n d id a te fo r a doctorate at Portland State U niversity. He was instrum ental in the d e v e lo p m e n t o f a special transportation system fo r the e ld e rly a nd the handicapped w h ile w o rk in g fo r the C ity o f Portland. G ionet's special interests inclu de co n sumer le g isla tio n , the d e v e lo p m e n t o f a state o ffice o f V olunteer Services, p ro pe rty tax re lie f, and the im p le m e n ta tio n o f a state H ealth Care Plan that w o u ld g u a ra ntee good h e a lth care fo r a ll the citizens o f the state. The Observer b elieve s G io n e t w o u ld best represent the needs ja n d interests o f the citizens o f District 14, a w o rkin g class, ra c ia lly m ixe d district, and endorses him fo r the D em ocratic Party nom ination. Oregon Primary brings important decisions M any citizens do not both er to vo te in the Primary Election, e s p e c ia lly w h e n th e re is no p re sid e n tia l e le c tio n . If history repeats itse lf, the p ercen ta ge o f e lig ib le voters w h o b oth er to go a nd vote w ill be sm all. This e le c tio n is p a rtic u la rly im p o rta n t to the Black co m m u n ity a nd to a ll p e o p le w h o b e lie v e in an equ al o p p o rtu n ity and an equ al vo ic e fo r a ll p eo ple. This ye ar th e re are Black ca nd id ates w h o are m ajor contenders fo r o ffic e , in c lu d in g th re e w h o are c u rre n tly in o ffic e -- C harles Jordan, C ity C om m issio ne r; Bill M cCoy, State R epre s e n ta tiv e ; a nd G ladys M cCoy, School Board m em be r. John Toran and Berna P lum m er are ru n n in g fo r the State Senate and the C ounty C om m ission, resp ective ly. If Black citizen s are ever to be e le cte d to o ffic e in O reg on in rea son ab le n u m b e r, it is essential th a t the c o m m u n ity p ro v id e the fin a n c ia l b acking , the v o lu n te e r h e lp , a nd the m oral support th a t they need. Im p o rta n t position s w ill be fille d in O reg on this ye a r — th e G overnor, Labor C om m issio ne r, S u p e rin te n d e n t o f Schools, a U.S. S enator, fo u r C ongressm en, and num erous local o ffic ia ls . These o ffic ia ls a ll have a d ire ct a nd serious e ffe c t on the lives o f the p e o p le , and e very citizen sh o u ld ta ke his part in choosing the best ca n d id a te fo r the o ffic e . The O bserver has endorsed c a n d id a ’ es w h o w e b e lie v e are best q u a lifie d to h o ld the o ffic e s th ey seek and w h o have show n an interest in and concern fo r the Black c o m m u n ity a nd o the r m in o rity groups. W e in v ite you to turn to Section II a nd to ta ke this special Prim ary Election Issue w ith you to the polls. ER MtMBER Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association Published every Thursday by Exie Publishing Com pany, 2201 North Killings- w o rth , P o rtlan d , Oregon 97217. Mailing address: P .0. Box 3137, Portland, Oregon 97208. Telephone: 283 2486. NAACP Continued from pg. 1, col. 2) tendent of the Portland Public Schools, will be repre sented by D r. Edw in Schnieder. The Bethel A M E Church Trio will provide musical selections. The public is invited to the meeting, which will be held Sunday. May 26th, at 4:00 p.m. at Bethel A M E Church. 5828 N E 8th Avenue. and perhaps the Oregon lab or Press. Also, compare Chapter II. 3:95 |2) of the proposed Charter. Perhaps the city would publish their own paper and deliver it door to door free of sub scriptions, but not of postage. 6:35 also provides for pub lication in a summary of 75 words or less the length of City Ordinances. I have seen ordinances far exceed 75 words. Chapter X I. 9:05 ID : Equal Opportunity carries this phrase “. . . but nothing herein shall prevent the adoption of minimum or maximum ages for employ menl or continuance in ser vice“. This is repeated in similar words in Chapter X I. 11:45 of the proposed or dinance. These are two of the many reasons 1 will not vote for this proposed charter, which I see basically as question ably efficient government lor the people by those educated and/or trained to know beat. I do not believe it will provide government ol the people and by the people even if they vote for it on May 28th I hop«- those who are considering a yes vote on Measure 7 will read the charter, then vote no on Measure 7. One of the most important issues facing the Black com munity on the May 28th ballot is City County Con solidation. We urge the community to support ballot measure 7 for the following reasons: 1. The charter's district concept will provide for a representative who must live in the area he represents. The Model Cities area would be included in charter dis trict 5. Black residents of that district would constitute over 1/3 of the eligible voters. Thus, assuring that whoever is elected must be responsive to that com munity’s needs. 2. The proposed charter requires equal employment opportunities. 3. The present county gov ernment has no minorities in the upper levels of manage ment. 4. Model Cities residents receive virtually no benefit from paying county taxes except through the courts or county jail. 5. Having duplicate law enforcement agencies, public works departments, planning bureaus, and human resource bureaus are a waste of dollars that could be chan neled for more and better services needed by the* citi zens. 6. U n lik e the existing charters, the new charter V A R IE T IE S yo u like SIZES vou w a n t Friondlimt • Dear Editor: The child care renter at the Albina Multi Service Center is in asset to the xorkers and people involved vith the center. Upon arriving in Portland was necessary for me to be >n welfare. Had I needed to nclude my then 2 year old child in the interviews and counseling, much time would have been wasted; not by me, but by the welfare worker who was serving me. If you have experienced a 2 to 4-year old child you must Now that my husband is employed with the govern menl and deals with the center on a regular basis, he sees the need for a secure environment for the children who frequent the renter with their parents. As a participant in the aried classes that the renter nolds, I again am thankful for the rare my child is receiving. Were it necessary for me to pay a babysitter, I would not be able to take advantage of these valuable offers opportunities for citi zens to control their govern ment, for example: (a) rut the cost of campaigns; lb) limits terms of office of elected officials; |c) require circulation of ordinances and agendas in a community paper; and Id) eliminates chances of citizens getting the run around as exists with the two governments. Sincerely, James “Slave" Loving Carl E. Simington F'reddye I ’etetl Carolyne F. Crews Charles A. Ia-erh Haymond Barber. Jr. W. Phil Mclaiurin Ronald L. M artin G EN EV A S Hot Beef Sandwich Crisp Green Salad Hot Links Bar-B-Q Sauce Ham & Cheese Paul & Geneva Knauls Owners 4228 N. Williams FREEDOM BANK Concerned Black Citizens resources. Needless to say a welfare mother is least likely to I h ' able to afford a sitter. There are many women now giving of their time freely to help the child can- facility. They give because they see the very real need. W e needl'd some aid to get liack on our feet, and we succeeded in lw»th Now we ho|ie to be joined by many more. By dosing the child care center, they are only closing another door. Sincerely, Mrs. Gretchen Coppedge OF FINANCE O w ned by the People « operated lor the People Checking Accounts • Saving Account» ■ Bank by M o il ■ Real Estate Loans • Auto loan» • H om . Improvement • Traveler» Check» • Money Order» • E»crow Service Ä i ( h a ■ r rlo l o t ltr t r l.a r r r n t F.m plos er ol t h r M o n th Free Cheesing Accounts with $300 00 Minimum Balance Free Checking Service to Senior Citizens (65 or overt OPEN SATUROAY 10 AM-2 PM Check w ith cithi i In a m h about IdentiChcck 1 M O N THUHS FB i 10 A M 10 A W 6 CM 282-2216 Morse 282-6363 "The Bonk W ith a P urpose" M A IN O F F IC I J717 N I U NIO N Subscriptions: $5.25 per year in the Tri-County area, $6.00 per year outside Port land. U M H O I . « O ll» » Have Your Lunch Meetings Child care center serves need understand this. M IM M I. O l Elizabeth I,. Sale They favor consolidation Dear Editor: B R A N D S yo u k n o w MON T m U »S «♦ A M F At V A M h P M 5PM PIED M O N T BRANCH 7 Z S N E K ILLIN O SW O RTH 288-6571 M t m b t i I edeiai Deposit in tu irn e « C oip (Continued from pg. 1. col. 3) have freedom of the press," he said, “and yet threaten to control the press through legislative and judicial restric tions and prohibitions. Let us never forget that the price of freedom comes high, but that it is worth it." P R IN T IN G PROBLEM S? C a ll us to d a y ! Second Class Postage Paid at Portland. Oregon. The Portland Observer’s of ficial position is expressed only in its Publisher's column I We See The World Through Black Eyes). Any other m a teria l th roughout the paper is the opinion of tht individual w riter or sub m itter and does not neces sarily reflect the opinion of the Portland Observer. Have W e Got A M atch For You! Even though you’«« found your true love, you stiH need a matchmaker Why. you say’ To help you match, FOR coordinate and arrange the most important formal avert ol your Me your weddng GOVERNORI There is someone who can help HE CARES - THAT’S WHAT IT TAKES e “. . . the edge goes to Redden on consensus out of a diverse group, people to accept, rather than ideas . . . A Redden administration most open and least u ptig h t the Oregon Journal his record of forming a of bringing a range of shy away from new probably would be the state has kn o w n .” you select the proper formal an»« for the groom end ah Hie groom's men «ho can match their formal t h r u to your bridesman gowna or the I lower» in your bouquet Who a this Matchmaker Eflraordeiere’ tour formal wear specialist Here at Night and Day Formal Wear, m ve been m the metchmaunq busmess tor1 yean marrying styles fabric» and coton w«h a bd of advice, a» m an effort to make yout • The K IR T L A N D OBSERVER applauds Redden for in creasing the percentage of minorities in the Treasurer’» Office during his administration from zero to 9.7 per cent, one of the greatest increases within state government. “. . . the next governor should be one who has demon strated concern with deeds, not with words . . • "As an administrator and as a soft sell man. he can work well and effectively with all kinds to get the job done.” Salem Capital Journal Pqid lor by Tho Redden Committee. Janie Cox, Treo»urer, 225 We»t Mom, M edford, Ore 97501 4 wedding dey a match less occasion Como up and see as soon k'sMMartwrwIat 1115 N. E. Broadway 2 8 7 - 1153 Wight FO PN 1A L W E A R 'Day' S P E C IA L IS T S C o m m e rc ia l p r in t in g - L ith o g ra p h y T y p e s e ttin g - W eb Press £X/f Publishing, Inc. 233-2487
