NAACP investigates CD funds
PORTLAND
Voi. 5, No. 19»
OBSERl/ER
Portland. Oregon
Thu rsday, May 15, 1975
H it per ropy
Mayor's
Proclamation
This twenty first anniversary of the
historic Brown rase is a day to
remember and a day to reaffirm. To
remember:
That racism is not limited by
geography or time, that the Brown
rase was brought in a northern state,
and that the struggle now in Boston
is going on in the "Cradle of Liberty;"
that the advances we have
made to fulfill the promise of
twenty one years ago have not been
without cost, that we have all lost
friends and leaders to the struggle,
and that it has been and continues to
be worth the price;
that there is more to be done, a
further mile to be marched, a greater
burden to be borne before we realize
the promise of full equality for all
under the law with equal oppor
tunity;
And to reaffirm that dream
through the words that have been a
rallying cry throughout this struggle:
that We Shall Overcome!
Neil Goldschmidt
M ayor of Portland
The Portland Branch, NAACP, has
been requested by its national office
to audit and monitor the use of
( «immunity Development Block Grant
funds by the City of •Portland.
Portland is one of 200 cities across
the nation that was selected for
monitoring. The local branch has
requested that the City of Portland's
application be held until the audit can
lie completed.
In his letter to the Portland
Branch, William R. Morris. Director
of Housing Programs, wrote:
"Passage of the Housing and.
Community Development Act of 1974
inaugurated a $8.4 billion program for
community development block grants
over the next three years. This new
program will directly affect a major
ity of the Black and poor people of
the nation
much as urban renewal
(Negro removal) programs did in the
1960's
"larger than all the categorical
grant programs for community de
velopment combined (Model Cities,
renewal, code enforcement, etc.), the
block grant program requirements
can elevate citizen participation and
equal opportunity to new and
meaninful heights -- provided we
know what is required and how to go
about achieving it! Better housing at
affordable prices, expanded choices of
areas to live, adequate community
and social services, and chances at
training and new jobs are all
attainable benefits of this program -
if we take affirmative actions now
rather than wait to react to projects
conceived by bureaucratic and politi
cal interests."
The City of Portland has applied
for a $6.7 million grant.
The
application is currently in the local
office of the Department of Housing
and Urban Development pending
forwarding for approval. The purpose
of the program is to: eliminate slums
and blight and detrimental living
conditions; conserve and expand
housing and housing opportunities;
increase public services; improve use
o f land; increase neighborhood diver
sity; and preserve property witn
special values. *
One area not addressed in the
Portland application is that of social
services, which can be up to twenty
per cent of the grant.
Reverend John Jackson, housing
committee chairman of the local
branch, said the branch has sent a
questionaire to Mayor Neil Gold
schmidt, that will be studied by a
local committee and with the report
and branch recommendations will be
sent to the national office the HUD
Area Director,and the Oregon Con
gressional delegation. Monitoring of
the program will continue after
receipt of the funds.
Ellis Casson, President of the
Portland Branch, has requested that
Russell Dawson, HUD Area Director,
withhold any action or recommends
tions on the city's application until
the survey is completed and reviewed
by the Citizens Committee of the
NAACP and its recommendations
given.
PDC names director
s i ZANNE CHILES
Local model wins honor
Suzanne Chile», a Portland niiMlel,
ha» won the top prize in the World
Modeling Association's fifteenth an
nual competition recently held in New
York City. She was among nearly
100 professionals from the United
State» and Canada in the context for
thia honor.
A flair for faahion ha» io-pn a
natural for Suzanne since early
childhood.
The ini|>elu* for her
decision to concentrate effort» toward
becoming a professional model was
provided when »he participated in the
Jefferson High School's "Soul As
sembly" in 1970, modeling fashions
from Nordstrom'.» Downtown store.
Then nunc two summer» "parking
rookies'* at a local bakery to earn
tuition funds that assured the
necessary professional training
through Gloria lavonne'» Modeling
Agency.
Suzanne has enjoyed sharing her
training and talent in the community,
as well as maintaining a full time
work schedule at K ATI1Channel 2,
and continuing studies at Lewis and
Clark College.
To those who have asked for tips
that helped her reach her present
goal, Suzanne suggests.
"Start with confidence in yourself.
Work hard. Maintain good health.
Keep your energy up, your calories
low.
Carefully coordinate clothing
and accessories.
Don't overdress.
Besides the basic outfit, about all you
need is a pretty scarf and a big
smile!"
Ms. Chiles was mentioned in the
New York Tim es, M adrid Stars A
Strips I Spain I. the National Observer.
Jet, and others.
Ms. Chiles' mother, Emma Chiles,
is a teacher with the Portland Public
Schools.
Ethel Lee Johnson received her B.A. degree in psychology from the
University of Portland on May 4th.
On hand for the commencement
ceremonies were four of her six children and four grandchildren. In front left
to right are grandchildren Theodore Johnson, Aunice Taylor, Chris Johnson,
and Gaylon Michael Taylor.
Second row are daughter Joyce Taylor;
daughter in law Bose Johnson; son Everett Eugene Johnson; daughter Barbra
Daniels from California; and daughter Linda Johnson. Mrs. Johnson, 4714 N.E.
Garfield, started her college career four years ago after her children Were
grown. Next step is graduate school where she plans to earn a master's
degree in guidance anil counseling.
The Portland Development Com
mission announced the appointment
of J. David Hunt as its new
Executive Director.
Hunt replaces
John B Kenward. who has been
Executive Director since PDC was
established in 1958.
Hunt has been Executive Director
of the Eugene Renewal Agency since
1966 and previously was the Assist
ant Director of the Department of
Community Development and Assist
ant Director of Urban Renewal for
Dayton, Ohio.
Hunt received his Bachelor of
Architecture and Master of City
Design from Miami University in
Oxford. Ohio.
He will assume his
new responsibilities on about June
15th.
In accepting the position. Hunt
said. "I expect to build on past
program success, evaluate shortcom
ings. and respond to the neighbor
hood improvement.
“PDC, under direction, will work
closely with the Mayor and City-
Commissioners, city staff, and other
community organizations, to endeavor
to provide the best services possible
to the citizens of Portland."
Kenward will be retained as a
consultant to the Commission. "Ken
ward said, "The downtown renewal
involving hundreds of millions of
private investment dollars in new
buildings, new living and working
areas, and hundreds o f millions of
dollars in new oayrolls, as well as
neighborhood improvements in hous
ing. parks, schools, streets, utilities,
and other neighborhood facilities have
been the result of the fine working
relationships that the Development
Commission has enjoyed with private
enterprise, public agencies, and the
good people of Portland. I am proud
to have been a part of the
Development Commission's work and
to have the opportunity to live and
work in Portland and contribute
whatever I can to its present and
future greatness."
MARK SMITH
M ark Smith 'Boy of Year’
Mark Smith was named "Boy of the
Year" by the Exchange Club of
Portland. Mark is a senior at
Jefferson High School, where he is
student body president. He is active
in the school's television program and
was an organizer of a learning
experience through the outdoor
school.
Mark is an Explorer and attended
the National Explorer Presidents'
Congress in Washington, D. C. last
year. He ws sponsored by the Boy
Scouts of America.
Mark is the son of Mr. and Mrs.
Russell J. Smith.
"Girl of the Year" is Elaine Pond,
of Grant High School, who was
sponsored by the Church of the
Latter Day Saints. She is Oregon
state cross country champion
The young people were selected
from ten candidates sponsored by
several local organizations.
March supports Boston school desegregation
A march will be held in Portlam.
Saturday to give support to the Black
families of Boston who are struggling
to desegregate the Boston schools
and to show support and unity in the
cause of school desegregation.
Racial violence has been prevalent
in Boston since last fall when
transporting of high school students
to achieve desegregation began under
court order. On May 10th. Federal
District Judge W. Arthur Garrity
ordered a plan that would desegrate
elementary and secondary schools
next September.
The reaction in
Boston was immediate. Mayor Kevin
H. White said the plan "virtually
guarantees a continuation of the
present racial tensions and hostility
throughout the city."
Reaction of the opponents of
desegration was to attempt to avoid
the law. William Bulger, Massachu
setts State Senator from South
Boston, said, "People will not comply
they will leave the city." Patrick
Mct’onough. City Council member,
said, "Boston's children and educa
tional needs are being sacrificed on
the alter of racial desegration,"
PORTLAND MARCH
The march in Portland will be held
on May 17th, beginning at noon at
the Portland School District office at
631 N.E. Clackamas, and terminating
in a rally at Irving Park, Seventh
Avenue and Fremont. The March is
sponsored by the NAACP, the Albina
Ministerial Alliance and the Student
Coalition Against Racism.
Announcing the march, Ellis Cas
son, president of the Portland Branch
NAACP, said, “We call on everyone
who supports quality education
through desegregation to join the
'Freedom March' here on Saturday.
We call on all fair minded persons
who believe in integrated education
as we do, to join the march to show
our solidarity and determination to
see that the goal becomes a reality.
“Twenty-one years after 1954.
Black kids are still knocking on the
dohr. and the door keeper is still
saying, ‘Sorry, there is no room in
this school'."
VANCOI VER. W ASHINGTON
The Vancouver Branch, NAACP. is
sponsoring a commemorative meeting
on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. at the
Vancouver City Hall. Speaker is A.L.
Henderson, publisher of the Portland
Observer and pastor of Bethel A.M.E.
Church.
BOSTON MARCH
The Boston NAACP. the National
Office of the NAACP. 1800 affiliated
branches and 34 other organizations
will join in the march in Boston.
Thomas Atkins, president of the
Boston Branch, NAACP, said in
response to Judge Garrity's order
"The two events are related but
separate. The final order climaxes a
twelve year battle to rid Boston of
segregated schools. The March on
Boston will commemorate the 21st
Anniversary of theehistoric May 17,
1954. Supreme Court Decision out
lawing segregated schools as uncon
stitutional in this country.
"We will tell the people who come
here next week that the Federal
District Court in Boston has issued a
final order which goes far towards
eliminating the vestiges of segrega
tion and discrimination which have
inflicted Boston schools. We will tell
them that the order will open up the
Boston school system for the first
time in over two decades for public
examination and participation on a
meaningful scale.
"We will tell them that the final
order - far from sounding like a
death bell for Boston - signals the
first true hope in years that Boston
might emerge from the tunnel of
racial separation which has been a
cancer threatening to kill the vitality
of this city.
"We will tell them that the final
order promises to open up the first
realistic opportunity for Black and
white children to receive quality
education for over 40 years and that
it will take the education of Black
children out of the political arena
where it has been the kicking boy of
every local political hark who had
nothing of substance to say."
Of the violence that has occured in
Boston in recent months, Atkins said,
“The NAACP is firmly committed to
the rule of law even when we
disagree with a particular law or
ruling of a court. We are committed
to seeking redress in a legal manner
within the legal system. We condemn
all those who have such little faith in
this country that they will pick up
rocks and bottles to attack little
children attending schools under a
federal order."
Community commemorates
Supreme Court Decision
The Portland Branch, NAACP. in
conjunction with the Union Fellow
ship, will commemorate the historic
Supreme Court decision of 1954 on
May 18th.
The featured speaker will be Dr.
William H. Harris, Coordinator of the
Portland State University Black
Studies Center. His subject is “The
landmark Decision: Two Decades of
Consequences".
Dr. Harris has a bachelors degree
in physics from Howard University-
and a masters degree and doctorate
from the University of Washington.
He has a wide academic and
professional background and is the
author of many publications and
reports.
He is married and is the father of
three children.
The meeting will be held at Hughes
W H HARRIS
Memorial United Methodist Church
111 N. E. Failing, at 4:00 p.m.
President Ellis Casson extends a
welcome to the public.