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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 18, 1976)
■ Bridge ramps decision near PORTLAND ; OBSERVER 7 N«. 1 Thursday, 18th, 197« 10* «*97 EEOC supports Civil Rights División termination The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has supported the Oregon Bureau of Labor, Civil Right Division, in its firing of W alter P. Williams. Williams had alleged that he was fired because of race and because he filed a complaint with EEOC. The Civil Rights Division denied the allegations, stating that Williams was terminated for misconduct, insubordina tion and other unfitness to render effec tive services. Williams had requested a month's leave of abeense because of physical disability, but did not provide medical evidence to the Division's satisfaction. Williams was allowed to take one day off until a decision could be made, but stayed away for a month without permission. According to the record, his supervisors were unable to reach Williams by tele phone or by mail. A fter his return to work on March 1st, Williams failed to promote requusted medical reports. The CRD later learned that during the time he was not working because of alleged disability. Williams had taken a three-day written Bar Exam in Califor i* nia. Therefore a hearing was held on April 9th and 10th and Williams was discharged on May ISth, 1976. EEOC also found that Williams couk* not change termination because of race because he had been absent more than any other employee during the period February 1st, 1975 to February 1st, 197«, 525 hours. Regarding the change that termination was in retaliation for his filing a com plaint, EEOC found that the termination took place before the C RD was aware of Williams' charges. Publisher promotes scholarships D r. Carlton B. Goodlett, publisher of the San Francisco Sun Reporter, will visit Portland on behalf of the M artin Luther King Scholarship Fund of Oregon. D r. Goodlett is the president of the National Newspaper Publisher's Associ ation, the organization of Black news papers. D r. Goodlett is a contributor to "Black Scholar,” his most recent article being an analysis of Black representation in the major radio and television net works. D r. Goodlett will speak at a luncheon at 12:00 noon on November 24th at the Benson Hotel. A reception w ill be held at Portland State University from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Executive Director of the M L K Scholar larship Fund is Macceo Pettis. Officrs of the board of directors are: Conrad Ros ing, president; D r. Lee P. Brown, vice president; and Charles Crews, secretary/ treasurer. DR. CARLTON GOODLETT Computer sale signals China m ilitary aid Garrett (PNS) In perhaps jts last foreign policy initiative, the Ford administration has quietly decided to sell military related technology to Peking - a significant step toward military ties with the People's Republic. And with two of Jimmy Car ter's top China advisors on record favor ing similar sales, the new administration is likely to continue the policy. The issue of stepped-up military ties with the Chinese, with its potentially great impact on the delicate triangular balance between Washington, Peking and Moscow, is extremely sensitive. There is no quicker wsy to get s "no comment” in Washington today than to inquire about it. President Ford, forced to comment on what was to have been a secret decision to sell two advanced Control Data Corp. Cyber 172 computers to China after it was leaked in Aviation Week, denied the computers have any relationship to de fense. They were ostensibly intended for use by China in oil exploration. But well-informed sources in the de fense and intelligence establishments insist that the computers have wellknown military uses, including the control of over-the-horizon radars for detecting in coming ICBM missiles. The Pentagon itself has used the Cyber 172 computer for nuclear weapons calculations. These sources also say the decision to sell the computers marked a distinct policy shift and came after a year of high level and sometimes bitter debate within the administration. They add that the computers were seen from the begin ning as a way of bolstering China's defenses against the Soviets. The Carter administration could re verse the policy - though probably not the specific computer sale - afte January 20th. But Carter's top China advisors. Harvard professor Jerome Cohen and the University of Michigan's Michael Oksen- berg, have both taken public stands for a subtle tilt toward Peking with sales of military-related technology.. Before the recent computer sale, the US had permitted China to buy military equipment - including je t engines and helicopters - from US allies like Britain. West Germany and France. The sales could have been vetoed by the US through a western committee to control export of strategic items to communist countries - called COCOM. But China wanted some military tech nology available only from the US, and in October 1975 “low-key" Chinese feelers to US corporatins were reported in a C IA document obtained by the press. The Chinese were reportedly shopping for such items as Lockheed's C-141 cargo transport aircraft, Itek's satellite cam- eiks and RCA's radar and communica tions equipment, as well as the Cyber 172 computer. Last April former defense secretary Schlesinger revealed that top officials informally ha^ discussed military aid to China while he was in the administration. And in May Secretary of Commerce Elliot Richardson fueled speculation of American action by stating publicly in Tokyo that the US would be willing to discuss arms sales to China if Peking raised the issue. Leaks appeared again in June 1970 when Forbes magazine reported that according to a "high-ranking US intelli gence officer”, the Chinese were trying to buy American helicopters, anti-submar ine warfare equipment and anti-tank weapons. Well-informed sources report that in July China expert Richard Solomon left the National Security Council staff in opposition to the evolving military tilt toward China. When the decision to okay the comput er sales was leaked to Aviation Week this October, the administration not only denied the possible military use of the computers but also announced it was selling a similar computer to the USSR. The tilt toward China is also indicated by the fact that the National Security Council recommended less than normally stringent safeguards over the use of the computers in China. Aviation Wook re ported that the exception was made because the secretary of state had con cluded the sale was in the foreign policy interest of the US. In addition, the decision to sell the computers was highly classified - another indication that it was not a routine commercial sale. Kissinger further signalled a tilt to ward China when in October he twice announced that the US would “take an extremely dim view of a military attack or even military pressure" on China. The City Council will soon determine the use of the Fremont Bridge ramps. A public hearing will be held on December 14th to be followed shortly by a City Council decision. The State Highway Administration’s environmental impact statement anal yzes four alternatives. These are “No Build," “Short Cook.” “Cook Fiemont” and “Fremont Boulevard.” No Build has four possible alternatives: 1) ramp removal (not federally funded); 2) permanent closure, with possible use for emergency vehicles; 8) limited access with the on-ramp open to give access from Emanuel and Stanton Yards; 4) Hospital and Stanton yards only. The Short Cook alternative would connect the bridge ramps with Williams and Vancouver Avenues, with no direct access to Fremont. Turn restrictions would prevent traffic turning into Fre mont. The Cook-Fremont alternative would provide a connection between the bridge ramps and Union Avenue via Williams- Vancouver and Fremont. Fremont would be four lane, with no parking between Vancouver and Union. Signals would be timed to limit traffic flow and intersection design would discourage the flow of traffic east on Fremont. The only pro perty to be acquired is McDonalds. The Fremont Boulevard alternative would provide a connection between the bridge ramps and Union Avenue by way of Fremont. A direct line between the ramps and Fremont is provided. Flow east on Fremont would be discouraged. Houses and Immanuel Free Methodist Church, located between the ramps and Fremont, and all buildings adjoining Fremont on the north side between Williams and 6th Avenue. Roy Fleming Auto Parts, the building on the Northeast corner of Fremont and Union and McDonalds would be acquired. The study finds the Fremont Boule vard the most favorable alternative, followed closely by Permanent Closure and Limited Bridge access. Costs vary from limited bridge acess at $15,000 to Fremont Boulevard alterna tives at $2,646,000 More than one-half of Portland’s Black population live within a mile of the bridge ramps. According to the study, "The homes that are taken by the Fremont Boulevard alternative are of generally poor quality and are already subjected to fairly heavy traffic. "The people living in the immediate vicinity of the build alternatives are mostly poor and Black, and are compara tively vulnerable to public intervention that is disruptive to their every day lives.” The study projects that opening the ramps will increase traffic in the immedi ate area - Vancouver, Williams, Union and Fremont west of Union. Traffic in 1-5, Alberta and Killingsworth between 1-5 and Union, and on Williams, Vancouver, and Union south of Fremont will de crease. I t indicates that use of Fremont and other streets east of Union will not increase significantly. The Fremont Boulevard alternative causes the most displacement of homes (20) and will effect more homes with increased noise level. I t would also provide the beet access to Union Avenue. The study projects no decided change in land use or economic development. , ■ 1 Opening the ramps would encourage commercial and ligfct industry growth in the Eliot neighborhood, which is zoned for residential business in the Boise neighborhood will be receiving the most benefit, but retail sales and services business In Elio will be adversely affect ed. A formal public hearing will be held at 700 p.m., December 14th, 1976 in the Portland Community College Auditorium at Cascade Campus, 706 N. Killings worth. An informal session with draw ings of the proposals and staff available to answer questions will be held the same date from 100 p.m. to 600 p.m. at the North Portland Branch Library Auditor ium, 512 N. Killingsworth. FREMONT I t SHORT COOK FREMONT a a t oc C O O K -F R E M O N T I Î FREMONT BOULEVARD South African representative speaks here Thami Mlsmbiso, representative to the United Nations from the African National Congress of South Africa (ANC) will speak in Portland on November 20th. The African National Congress is the major liberation movement in South Africa. Formed in 1912, its purpose is to unite Africans as a nation and to forge on instrument for liberation. In the early 1950's, the ANC saw the need for a clear statement on the future of South Africa, to incorporate the demands of the people into Congress of the People Campaign. A Freedom Charter was adopted by the Congress of the People, representa tives of all the people of South Africa, who met in Kliptown, Johannesburg in June of 1966. The three thousand dele gates included workers, miners, pea sants, housewives, domestic workers, trade unionists, clerks, as well as yoath and students of all races. The Freedom Charter says: “South Africa belongs to all who live in it, Black and white. No government can justly claim authority unless it is based on the will of all the people . . . “The people shall govern.” “A ll national groups shall have equal rights," “The People shall share in the country's wealth,” “The land shall be shared among those who work it,” "All shall be equal before the law,” “A ll shall enjoy equal human rights," “There shall be work and security," “The doors of learning and culture shall be opened," “There shall be houses, security, and comfort," “There shall be peace and friendship.” Thami Mhlambiso w ill speak Saturday, November 20th at 780 p.m. in the Mallory Church located at 126 N .E. Alberta. A donation of $1.00 will be asked. For more information call 284-9537. Industrialization Center (O.I.C.) in Hunt ington, West Virginia, Smith has had an opportunity to work with Leon Sullivan, originator of the international O.I.C. concept, which is a comprehensive man power training program designed to train and hire the unemployed. The Tri-State O.I.C., which serves an area composed of 96% Appalachian whites and 5% Blacks, offers courses in repair work, clerical skills, health care skills, upholstery and graphic arts. I t has been rated among the top manpower training programs in America. Smith has also participated in a number of management training courses sponsored by top industries, and has had experience running his own profit-mak ing business which sells fish, both whole sale and retail, throughout the world. In addition, in his year long television series entitled, "Thinking in the Black,” he has used the media as a tool for economic education in an effort to make Black Americans more aware of how economic issues affect their daily lives. The program was broadcast in the West Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio region. Smith also authored the “Mississippi Food Release Program,” which was later used as the basis for the National Food Stamp Program, and he co-authored the NAACP Handbook on Housing and Construction. His other activities include directing nationwide music and drama groups for young people, and conducting speaking tours throughout the United States. As minister of the Historic First Baptist Church of Huntington, West Virginia, Smith operates on a budget in excess of one million dollars, which includes a 150-unit apartment complex for low income residenU, a cooperative grocery store, a Child Development Cen ter, and an Outreach Center with cultur al, educational and social support pro grams. Economics. The NAACP’s new thrust The NAACP, best known for its work is the courts, education, housing and labor, has recently entered another area of vital concern - the economic arena. In recognition of the need to formulate programs and strategies to meet the increasingly complex economic issues confronting Blacks, the NAACP's Na tional Economic Development Commit tee, under the leadership of Charles H. Smith, recently concluded a special meet ing of its economic advisors in New York. Smith, the Committee's Chairperson and a member of the National Board of the NAACP, was chosen by the late Stephen G. Spotswood, former Chairperson of the National Board, to lead the NAACP's new economic thrust. He continues to serve under the present Chairperson, Margaret Bush Wilson. The Committee's national economic advisors attending the conference all stressed the importance of the NAACP becoming actively involved in the econo mic issues which affect Blacks. Advisors making presentations at the meeting included Earl Graves, publisher of “Black Enterprise." OUen B. Hinnant, Assistant General Counsel, Prudential Insurance Company, Darwin Bolden, economist, Samuel Jackson, former deputy director of H UD , and Jerry Jones, President, Black Manufacturers' Association. The National Economic Development Com mittee members, in addition to Smith, include: Ben Andrews, C. R. DarJen, Robert Easley, Wendell Erwin, Kenneth Guscott, Ira Haupt, I I I , Herbert Hill, Hinton King, Thomas Malone, William Morris, Vernon K. Sport, James E. Stewart, Sr., Jeanette Strong, Jessie H. Turner, George E. Twine, and Leonard Woodcock. In discussing the objectives for pro gram development, the Committee fo cused on several critical areas including: • Creation of a Black data bank designed to provide economic expertise to be used in developing legislative programs and in advising business and governmental leaders. • Motivation of Blacks toward business careers. e Training programs for Blacks in business, management and economics. • Monitoring of programs, policies and practices which have a substantial, nega tive impact on Black Americans, such as unemployment, discriminatory hiring and seniority practices, and lending policies of financial institutions. • Development of Black businesses. One of Smith's key programs, known as Project Rural, is aimed at protecting the rights of Black landowners, primarily in Vie South, by providing information, education, and legal assistance to help the owners, first, to retain their land, and second, to maximize the economic poten tial of the land. To assist the Economic Development Committee in its efforts, Charles Smith has recommended that the NAACP add a separate economic program department to its present organizational structure which would implement the policy re commended by the Committee and adopted by the Board. Besides serving as a member of the National Board and of the Executive Committee of the NAACP for a number of years, Charles Smith has assisted Roy Wilkins, the Executive Director, in a number of key projects across the country and has also worked closely with the Board's Chairperson, Margaret Bush Wilson, and with Glouster Current, the present Administrator. As the local organizer and present Executive Director o flh e Tri-State Opportunities