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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (March 24, 1977)
Thursday. March 24. 1977 The Panama Canal by Yvmm We see the worl through Black eyes Legislature overlooks causes of crime The last fe w m onths have brought stiffer sentences fo r those w h o com m it "s tre e t c rim e s " — robbery b u rg la ry, assault. These crim es are most o fte n com m itte d by the low er classes and are o fte n the result o f dru g use. These are the defendants w ho have little m oney fo r their legal defense a nd often use court a p p o in te d attorneys. Judges appear to be responding to the p u b lic outcry fo r an answ er to this type o f crim es through longer an d toughe r punishm ent. The p u b lic is also c o llin g fo» o return to the death p e nalty in O rgon. The fa te o f the death p e n a lty b ill now b e fo re the legislature seems to rest on the passage o f a m andatory m in im u m sentence. Some proponents o f the death p e n a lty b ill are w illin g to vote against the b ill if they con be assured that every conviction w ill result in a p e n ite n tia ry sentence. This is a com plete return to the punishm en t philosophy as opposed to re h a b ilita tio n . It takes a w a y the m itig a tin g factors o f p rio r record, age, fa m ily or progrom s ab le to assist, e m p lo ym e n t. It denies the opportun ities o f probation . The most discouraging aspect is that w h ile a ll o f this a tte n tio n is g iven to m andatory sentences, death p enalty, the parole board — the causes o f crim e are not be in g attocked. In the last ten years there has been a loss o f g round in the e a rly id e n tific a tio n a nd tre a tm e n t o f ch ild re n w h o are h eade d to w a rd d e lin q u e n t b e h a v ior A lth o u g h teochers a nd social w orkers, cs w e ll as parents a nd relatives, kn o w these youngsters th e re is now p la ce to go fo r help. The Ju v e n ile Courts c o u n s e lin g system has been cut bock to alm ost nothing. Treatm ent program s fo r distu rb e d ch ild re n are a lm o st non-existant. F am ily co u n se llin g and in d iv id u a l coun se llin g program s are lim ite d — a ll because society is just not w illin g to spend the m oney to a te m p t to save our chidren. The causes o f crim e are n o t b e in g seriously oddressed either. The na tio n w ill never be fre e of street crim e and crim es o f vio le n c e os lo n g as there is poverty, slum housing, in a d e q u a te e d u ca tio n . We re a d ily accept the concept o f the " h o v e n o t" nations fig h tin g the " h a v e " nations but cannot understand the frustrations o f the "h a v e n o t" youths. Rather than spending a lot o f tim e co n sid e rin g m an d a to ry sentences a n d the d e a th p e n a lty , the le g isla tu re w o u ld do a better service to oddress the causes o f crim e -- p o ve rty and racism . It w o u ld be m ore p ro fita b le to fin d a w a y to b u ild c o m m u n ity m ental h e a lth clinics, co m m u n ity corrections p ro gram s, d ru g tre a tm e n t program s, a nd v o ca tio n a l tra in in g program s to h e lp the yo u n g p e o p le w h o are a lre a d y on the rood to crim e. More on school district affirm ative action The Northwest Minority Contractors Association recently went to the Board of Education of the Portland Public Schools charging that the administration was acting in had faith on a NMCA request for a minority business enterprise program. Two years ago NMCA had asked for a minority preference program, similar to that provided by other federal and local public bodies, that would enable minority contractors to participate in school dis trict building and remodeling projects. Mark McClanahan, legal counsel for the district, had provided the administration with his opinion that set-asides are unconstitutional. The Board of Education agreed to consdider the matter in its April 11 meeting and Dr. Blanchard, superinten Dear Mr. McClanahan. Receipt of your letter was a pleasant surprise. It was long overdue. It had been my understanding after our meeting at the School Board on January 5.1977. that your final draft would be forthcoming within approximately three or four weeks of that date. This draft was to be a compromise between the positions of the School District and that of Northwest Minority Contractors Association I firm ly believed that a set-aside of s o m e sort would be incorporated in your final proposal. Of course, this was anything but the case. This draft was not made available to me until very recently and it came from a source other than yourself. That is the most regrettable aspect of our meager dealings with one another On reading this draft (supposedly your final effort), I was distressed to find that the concept of a set aside was in no way part of the proposal. In any event. 1 do not wish to be misunderstood, nor do my clients. Thier position is that in order to effectively attain and satisfy the iofiy purposes and objectives in an affirmative There’s no natural Protection den' of schools, assured the Board that he had asked McClanahan to discuss the matter further with NMCA attorney. Marvin Helfrich. Following is McClanahan's response to that directive and Helfrich’s reply. sanctions to work out a set aside or preference arrangement, 1 have no plans to do so. If you have any comments on any of our three drafts, or if you have any proposals short of set-asides and prefer ences. please make them. However, in view of the content and personalized nature of the comments which have been made bv the representative of the associ Dear Mr. Helfrich: ation and the fact that we thought we had As I understand it, your client North had several oral communications with west Minority Contrators insists upon you prior to the above-mentioned board set-asides and preferences such as those meeting (which apparently you do not presented at the board meeting of March consider to have been communication), 14, 1977, and that the three drafts which we would like to see your comments in we have authored (and of which you have writing prior to any further oral discus had copies for some time no do not satisfy sions or meetings on the subject matter. the association s objectives. Inasmuch as I have received no in- 1 Very truly yours. Mark C. McClahahan action proposal with School District No. 1, set-asides are a necessary component of such a proposal. Consequently, the statement in your letter to the effect that Northwest Minority Contractors Associ ation insists on a set-aside as part of its proposal and that the three drafts you have authored do not satisfy association objections is very accurate. Incidentially, to set the record straight, while I did receive your first and second drafts shortly after our January 5 meeting, I did not come into possession of a copy of the third draft until the afternoon of the date of the School Board meeting (March 14, 1977). and that copy was provided to me by the Portland O beerver. 1 believe your position regarding set asides are constitutionally suspect on the basis that such arrangement constitutes impermissible reverse discrimination. Based upon my review of the case law and statuatory law and the fact that the Supreme Court of the United Sates has not rendered a definitive statement on the quest Kin. our position is that set asides are constitutionally defensible. Northwest Minority Contractors As sociation » still willing to sit down with yourself and the School District repre sentatives to discuss a set aside proposal, but in view of your inflexible position on the matter, I do not see how any progress whould be made toward my clients' objectives as a result of such a meeting. The association intends to make its formal proposal presentation and state ment of views at the April School Board meeting of the Board of Directors. Finally, your comment regarding our oral communications is curious. Only two communications were had between our offices. One, via a letter and second via a telephone conversation. Other telephone conversations were had between myself and Donna Cameron of your office. These were merely to inform me of the School District's inactivity regarding your final proposal and did nothing to obviate the fact that I was no advised of your inflexible position at an earlier point in time. Ï ioox forward to your response. Very truly yours, Marvin E. Helfrich Birth defects are forever. Unless you help. March of Dimes î 1st Place Community Service ONPA 1973 Portland O bserver Published every Thursday by Exie Publishing Company, 2201 North Killingsworth, Portland. Oregon 97217. Mailing address: P.O. Box 3137, Portland. Oregon 97208. Telephone 283 2486. Subscriptions: $7.50 per year in the Tri-County area, $8.00 per year outside Portland. Second Class Postage Paid at Portland, Oregon ALFRED L HENDERSON Editor/Publisher The Portland Observer's official position is expressed only in its Publisher's column (We See The World Through Black Eyes). Any other material throughout the paper is the opinion of the individual writer or submitter and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Portland Observer. National Advertising Representative Amalgamated Publishers. Inc. New York M ÍM M S Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association member JfNJLL ER 1st Pince Best Ad Results ONPA 1973 5th Place Beat Editorial NNPA 1973 Herrick Editeriai Award N N A 1973 est Editeriai 3rd Place I ONPA 1975 The existence of the Canal Zone, an area 500 square miles, is the heart of the objections by Panama to our present treaty. Panamanians make up 70 percent of the employees in the none; also some 3,500 Americans live in the area with independent police forces, courts and school system The area is totally independent of the Panamanian govern ment. This governmental structure costs $22 million a year to operate. When asked the question. “Should ws give up the Panama Canal?” the majority of people polled answered “Of course not!“ But, if asked the more overriding question, “Should we alienate all of our Pan American neighbors?" I'm sure moat Americans would also answer, “Of course not!“ - and that is the real question. Last month. I joined my colleagues on But more importantly this area is an the House Appropriations Committee American colony existing at a time when and representatives from other interest the United States takes the position, ed House committees, on a trip to internationally, that we are not a colonial Panama. power. We met and talked with the U.S. The treaty negotiations have become officials who have been negotiating with the object of considerable controveriy in Panama on a revision of the Panama recent years. Canal treaty. We also met and talked The key issues have become, first, the with President Demetrio Lekas. the defense of the canal, and second, the general of our command in Panama, the operation of the canal if the treaty is governor of the Canal Zone, as well as changed. residents of the Canal Zone. I believe that we must maintain a The Appropriations Committee has defense presence in Panama because it become involved in the Panama Canal remains an important defense asset to issue because of the attempts over the the United States. The canal allows us to last two years to block negotiations on a shift military forces and logistic support new treaty by limiting the use of State between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans Department funds for further negotia to overseas areas. The Joint Chiefs of tions. Staff have been in close contact with the Most people do not realise that we have negotiators and have a representative on renegotiated the Panama Canal treaty hand to insure that our defense position is two times before and have changed the maintained. amount of lease payments in the second But we maintain defense bases all over revision from $250.000, the original the world without undermining the sov amount, to our present amount of 2.5 ereignty of the host country. million a year. in this water- sr the at total 11.8. nata by ton We have on altornati ve h as contain« aad large bulk carrier*. The canal produees IS percent of Panama** groan national product, a major aource of the country'* income. I, for one. have many questions about the present government of Panama - in particular, the state of human righto in Panama. There are numerous charges of denial of basic rights that must be investigated. Our congressional delegation was scheduled to meet with the foreign minister of Panama but the meeting was abrupty canceled. The foreign minister has resigned and hurriedly left the country. Our financial int way have greatly last years. Only 1S| Any negotiations must be tied to guarantees that the canal will remain open and that the government will insure basic rights to many citizens who today are Canal Zone residents hut tomorrow may be Panamanian*. The issue of the Panama Canal was raised to a presidential campaign issue in 1976. I hope that the President will make every effort to arrive at a treaty that protects the future operation of the canal and leta our Latin American neighbors know that we need their friendship. From the Legislature by Rep. Gretchen Kaioury The Oregon House of Representatives moved on some major issues last week and more important issues will surface during this week. Significant actions happened on the floor as well as in committee. UTILITY ADVERTISING Do public utilities need to advertise? And if they do. should the ratepayers have to foot the hill? Rep. Sandy Richards <D-Portland) questions the necessity of large amounts of advertising and is definitely opposed to consumers being charged for certain kinds of utility advertising. Richards testified before the House Elections committee last week on behalf of HR 2779 which limits the types of advertising that can be charged to rate payers. There have been nine utility rate cases, according to Richards, in the last four years in which advertising was a key issue and. because of assessm ents, the eoats of those expensive hearings were passed on to the consumer. HB 2779 does not affect the right of utilities to advertise. N or does it influence the content of advertising. But it would mean, says Richards, “the ratepayers of Oregon will no longer be charged for expensive messages enhan ring the company's image, attempting to influence public opinion on particular types of energy, or for m essages which might lead to increased demand and. therefore, increased costs to (the rate payers)." UTILITIES PROFITS And speaking of utilities, the House, after much debate, passed a bill which should provide a little relief from in creased rates. HB 2227-A would require excess in come to be placed in a reserve equity account to offset future rate increases. The bill also contains a mechanism to establish a reasonable rate of return for the utilities. That bill now goes to the Senate side for consideration. HOMEMAKER DEDUCTIONS The House Social Services Committee, chaired by Rep. Peg Dereli (D Salem), heard testimony last week on a bill that would help handicapped persona who hire their own homemakers. HB 2076, introduced at the request of the Vocational Rehabilitation Division, would allow up to $400 per month to be deducted by single handicapped persons who wish to become or are employed. The deductions would be co-ordinated with the amount of disability payments each individual receives from the state. More hearing* are planned. DEATH PENALTY One of the major issues to face the Legislature this term surfaced Tuesday at 7 p.m. when the House State Govern ment Opertion* Committee held a public hearing about the death penalty. HB 2321 seeks to establish the death penalty in Oregon for the third time. Oregon ha* twice repealed capita) punish ment. once in the 1920's and the last time in 1964. If this bill pas s es both houses, it would be placed before the voters for approval in the fall. State Government Operations is chaired by Rep. Glen Whalfon (D-Milwaukie). DRIVING LICENSES If some legislators have their way, the legal driving age in Oregon may rise to 18. The House Transmrtation Commit tee. chaired by Rep. Pat Whiting (D- Tigardl, heard two bills last week which would accomplish this, but in completely different ways. HB 2496, sponsored by Reps. Earl Blumenauer and Rick Gustafson (D-Port land) proposes a gradual rollback of the age limitation by three months every year until 1984. Another hill. HB 2927. would require all those between the ages of 16 and 18 to have completed a school traffic safety course or a commercial traffic safety course in order to obtain a license. Otherwise they'd have to wait until the age of 18. Oat, i/MtÍMt tfieak Schools To the editor: While driving over the city I’ve noticed the public schools with spacious lawns, shrubbery and beautiful plants with modern playgrounds and equipment. Then you drive through the inner city. What do you see? Old city buildings, makeshift playground* tucked in be tween freeways, factories and boarded up houses. I noticed on one school the cornerstone dated 1907! These buildings have been patched up. painted up, added to and left for children to try and get an education. When they drop out or lose incentive to advance, it's Mamed on the children or their parents! The blame goes much farther than that! When reading the school board's excuse for not using minority contract ora. I thought it was tragic. Children hear their parents talking about no jobs because of prejudice and short sighted ness and they grow up with those frustrations. So. take an oldtimer's ad vice: hold off building bicycle paths, beautifying causeways and plazas and put new schools in the inner city before it is too late. Attention. Dr. Blanchard! R. A. Lindley Thanks To The Editor: We want to publicly thank all of the people in the Portland community who helped make the 1977 Portland Area Camp Fire Girls' Candy Sale a grand success. Each of the 11,000 girls and adults who took part in the annual event should be proud of her efforts; the Council was able to increase its sales over last year. We also want to thank all of the persons who showed their support for focal Camp Fire activities by purchasing a box of candy. The profits from the candy, along with help from The United Way and each girl's dues, are keeping Camp Fire Girls a strong and exciting activity for our young people. Sincerely, Harriet H. Lesher Chairman Portland Area Camp Fire Candy Sale Human Rights imperialist ploy by Herb Simpson We hear so much about the lack of Human Rights in the Soviet Union these days and that the "Dissidents" are all for them. But where or what is their pro gram? Have they issued their manifesto? Do these “Dissidents" complain that Soviet Nationalities are discriminated against? That jobs are not available for all? That Health costs are so high that Soviet elderly live in constant fear of losing their homes if illness strikes? Do they complain because education ia not available to all? Etc., etc. Then what role can the "Dissidents" possibly play in 1977? The answer to this is simple. The current economic crtaia is the first since 1917 that cannot be solved by starting a military adventure, because the people have gotten their belly full of war. I mean the American people as well as the people in the rest of the world. Fpr example, the rapid expansion ot American imperialism's intervention into Vietnam in 1966 was for the sole purpose of solving the economic crisis at that time. The result of that misadventure, as we all know, was that the Vietnamese people, with the help of the Soviet Union and the rest of progressive mankind, turned it into American Imperialism's Stalingrad. It ia also important to note that for all practical purposes, the American soldier, to hi* everlasting credit, fulfilled the words of the ballad that aay* in effect . what if there was a war and no one came?" because the American Army deteriorated to such an extent that it was just that. Now that we are in the middle of another economic crisis, even deeper than 1966 (it's severity to a great extent because of the consequences of the Vietnam war), we can expect that the Imperialists will try to solve this one in the same way. But will they be able to? Portugal and Angola are cases in point where past experience would lead us to expert direct military intervention by the Imperialists, but they were held back to a mere mercenary intervention because the American people wouldn't buy the deal. In time, when the African people liberate Rhodesia, Southwest Africa and South Africa, the people will again aay "no" to intervention. A* I write thia, Katanga Province in Zaire ia being liberated, much to the consternation of the American Imperialists. The economic problems remain, how ever, for the Imperialist*. In their profit driven minds, how better to solve the economic crisis for them selves than by smearing Socialism and thus any thought that the solution is to move on to Socialiam? How better to convince our citizens that more military equipment ia needed than by dragging out the so called "Dissident Human Rights" campaign to confuse the issue? Profit is what they are after and profit they will have by the battleship full whether the military equipment is used or not. (Contributfona to the new column "Our readers speak" may be submitted to the Observer for eonaUeratfon. The Obeer ver maintains the right to adit far length. ] Subscribe to The Portland Observer Tri-County area $ 7 .5 0 Nam« Address C ity other areas $ 6 . 0 0
