Portland observer., April 21, 1977, Page 2, Image 2

P o rtla n d O b s o rvo r
T h u rs d a y . A p r il 22. 1977
W e see the world
through Black eyes
Bad scheduling
The "Welfare, Woges or What?" Conference held
in Portland last weekend was a dynamic and
important event - addressing the issues of employ­
ment and income security. This conference was
sponsored by a broad spectrum of the community —
business, labor, social agencies, political groups —
and the speakrs presented divergent views.
Audience participation indicated a deep concern
and interest in the subject of employment — which
has become the most crucial problem to the nation,
not only for the unemployed and marginally
employed, but for the business community. Only
citizens with money to spend can provide the buying
power for growth of business and industry and the
taxes needed to support mandatory governmental
services.
It was a well planned and well attended function.
The significance of the conference raises the
question of why the State Democratic Party held its
Grass Roots Convention in Salem at the same time as
the "Welfare, Wages or What?" Conference was
progressing in Portland.
It would have been far better for the party regulars
and the Democratic office holders had participated
in the Porltond conference and availed themselves
of the ideas and knowledge put forth by such
notables as Michael Harrington, Congressman James
Corman, Dr. Frances Fox Piven and others.
We can only hope that next time someone checks
the calendar and makes sure that two events so
important to the citizens of Oregon are not held at
the same time at widely distant places.
It seems unbelievable in this age that every year
the minority communities must march down to the
court house and city hall to fight for the very
existence of an organization so critically important to
mutual understanding and community stability.
There is still a need for MHRC in Portland. Hate
mongering is increasing, minority youth unemploy­
ment is rising There is still discrimination in
employment and housing. Education is segregated.
There are serious questions about the justice system.
The needs of the poor, the elderly, the children, the
ill, the misfits are not met. Crime, drug use and use
of alcohol by youth and odults are increasing.
Citizens are demanding a voice in government ond
are voting down tax levies with a vengence. Surely
this is not a time to quibble bout $3,000 arid castrcte
the only govenment agency dedicated to enhancing
human relations.
U T IL IT Y C O N sVjM ER S' A D V O C A T E
U tility consumers w ill be assured of an
advocate before public ra te bearings and
other public policy derision making
matters if a bill now before the House
Affairs Commit
tee. chaired by Rep. BUI Graunell. ID -
North Band), is approved thia week.
The bL'l, H B 8114, sponsored by Rep.
Sandy Richards, (D -Portland), creates
the U tility Consumers Advocate as a "«o
profit corporation.
The corporation
would represent the interests of u tility
consumers before legialaUve.
tive, and judicial bodies.
A ll u tility consumers in the state may
become members of the corporation upon
a minimum contribution of 98 pur year.
Each m em ber w ill be entitled to east one
vote for the election of the board.
The measure calls for the Governor to
appoint a board of five member» until
such tim e as the non profit corporation
has received 96,000 in contributions from
utility consumers.
A t that time, one
person from each senatorial district will
be elected to serve on the board for a
period of three years.
Q U E S T IO N S
I f you need any information about
House and Senate bills, you caw d e te r­
mine th eir status by calling Legislative
Inform ation. The toll free number to*
1-800452-0290. ’
Senator Me Coy Report*
U RÄAN
HEY,
BROTHER,
WEREN'T WE
ON THE BUS
TOGETHER CO M ING
U P NORTH B A C K
IN T H E _
HOMi
F O R T IE S ?
No money again
The House Democratic leadership tw o
weeks ago presented other House Demo­
crats for th e ir consideration a list of
recommended eiim in*tioii$, cut*, *nd
additions to the State's July 1977 to July
1979 budget. The Legislature to try in g to
deal w ith a nerly $2 billion budget
requested by the Governor. D ifferent
troupe or individuals m ight recommend
different approaches, but up th this tim e
in Oregon legislative htotrry, no House
leadership - eith er Dem ocrat or Repub­
lican - has ever published such recom­
mendations. Oh. there used to be lists,
but these w ere usually kept very secret.
The House leadership has presented th eir
printed recommendations not only to
other House Democrats but also to the
Governor and the President of the Sen­
ate. I think this to an historic step which
has opened up the House legislative fiscal
process as never before. For the first
time, a m ajority party has asked each of
th eir members to consider, react to, and
work toward a consensus in dealing w ith
this enormous budget.
D IO X IN B A N
The House Environm ent and Energy
committee to hearing fu rth er t estimony
this week on a bill to prohibit the use and
sale of pesticides containing dioxin chem
toato.
The bill. H B 8 0 0 . sponsored by the
committee at tbe request of Citiaena
Against Toxic Sprays (C A TS ), requires
the state D epartm ent of A griculture to
refuse registration and suspend any
existing registration of pesticides con
tabling the chemical te tra ehiorodibenao-
p-dioxin (T C D D ).
Currently, sprays containing dioxin
chemicals are used to control underbrush
along highways and on reforested land.
Some suggest th at th ere to sufficient
evidence to show th at th e chemical to
extrem ely toxic to humans and w ildlife.
Testimony to going to be intense in this
Thursday morning hearing.
Once again Multnomah County has stripped the
Metropolitan Human Relations Commission budget,
shorting the requested 1977-1978 budget by $3,211. It
is expected that this cut will bring a cut in the City of
Portland's shore also.
Last year, 1976-1977, Multnomah County contrib­
uted only $25,000 to the agencies operating budget,
with the city picking up part of the deficit.
It is true that there have been criticism of MHRC in
the past — but a new director and a new commission
chairman have added a new direction. With a staff
of two, plus a secretary, it is hard to imagine how
anyone could have expected great results. Now, the
MHRC is to be slighted again.
«•WT-t fe.4C« a f p * t*«
Some of us at one tim e o r another have
been subjected to a doctor's refusal to
provide medical asaistance because of our
status as such. Senate M l 7 M would
make it unlawful and possibly revoke or
suspend a physicians license to practice
medicine in Oregon; should the physician
refuse an “eligible categorically needy"
person of m e d io l
****** on the basis
of hie or her status. Hospital and health
care cost are increasing due to inflation,
the quantity and quality of services. In
1975. the price for health care was 958.00,
in 1977, the price had increased to 996.94,
a thirty-one percent increase. Senate M
961 would require the Health Facilities
Cost Review Commission (HR CRC ) to
carry out state-wide public hearings and
formulate standards for determining
reasonable rates. This bill would require
health care facilities to establish cost
containment programs and would control
reasonable coats charged by public and
private health care facilities to their
patients.
This bill would not include
physicians in private practice nor certain
religious institutions. Senate I B 1027
would establish procedures to protect a
person's health care history, diagnosis,
condition, treatm en t an d /o r evaluation.
The purpose of this bill is to establish
protection for maintaining the complete­
ness of confidential health care informa­
tion. Relying on your physicians judge­
ment to prescribe and administer “sub­
stances of a natural nature" and “n u tri­
tional therapy" may soon become known
as a “freedom of choice" between tbe
physician and patient. Senate M i 961
would allow the physician, without
penalty, to prescribe and administer such
i and therapy
were found to be harm ful by the Health
Division. Hospitals, health care facilities
and pharmacies would, w ithout penalty,
administer »«8 dispense the substances
presen neo.
Alcohol abuse to one of the leading
factors for traffic deaths today.
The
policy an temperance to to encourage the
people of Oregon to lim it th eir content of
distilled spirits or use and consume a
lighter beverage. Senate M 77 would
restate th e policy of the Liquor Control
A ct to place greater emphasis on policy of
temperance so as to prevent repetition of
abuses steorieted w ith saloons or resorts
w h o « alcoholic beverages are consumed,
to elim inate bootlegging and promote
temperance in the use and consumption
of alcoholic beverages, and to protect the
general well being of the people of thia
amends Oregon's Constitution w ith the
approval of the people's vote a t the next
state-wide prim ary election, to require
the state to issue liquor licensee for
service by the drink only to those
facilities in agreement to promoting
temperance.
This bill would provide
adequate protection for the original
intent and purpose of the Oregon Liquor
Control A ct aad would promote tem per
ance through encouraging the use and
consumption of lighter alcoholic bev
erages. Senate M i 49. would authorise
the Oregon Liqner Control Commission
to issue special dispenser's license when a
person, organisation
or
association
intends to sell alcoholic beverages for a
specific event by the individual glass or
drink for consumption on licensee's
premises.
No person, organization or
association many operate under either
“A " or “B" class license for more than tw o
consecutive days nor for more than six
events or occasaions in one calendar year.
The fee for either license would be 925.00
per license day. (Day w ill be the hours of
operation appointed by the O LCC rule
applying to that license.)
For those
person's, organizations, and associations
operating w ith eith er a Claes “A " pr “B"
dispenser license, S a in ts M l 796 would
authorize the Oregon Liquor Control
Commission to provide a discount of 15
percent of re tail price on each purchase of
three or more cases of distilled spirits.
Class “A ” dispensers license may be
issued to railroad corporations and
commercial establishments where food to
cooked and served. Claes “B” dispensers
license may be issued to private dubs,
fraternal organizations and veteran's
organizations. Class “A ” and “B" w ill
perm it the licensee to purchase, from the
commission only. Senate BUI 1013 would
prohibit the manufacture or sale of
contraceptives (appliances, drugs or
medicinal preparations) a t wholesale
price in this state w ithout a license issued
by tbe State Board of Pharmacy. Thia bill
would require the m anufacturer, the date
of manufacture and the distributor by
firm name and address to be identified on
the appliance and container in which the
goods are to be sold.
Anyone interested in any of the above
mentioned bills should w rite to:
Senator W illiam McCoy
S209 S tate Office Building
Salem, Oregon 97810
O r call toll-free; 1-800482-0290
Teer
(Continued from page 1 col. 6)
there while understanding the power of
loving oneself.
MHRC budget
Ow,tinued from Dare 1
6*
uut our mandate. This we can do if you
would raise your contribution from
942.730 to 945.971 - a mere difference of
93.211."
Reverend Edsel Goldson. who was
among the citizens who spoke on behalf of
M H R C . said M H R C addresses one of his
concerns. Police Community Relations
and rather than only react to crisis is
attem pting to improve communication.
“The relationship it is try in g to build is
crucial."
A recording of the Alpha Circle “W hite
Power Hot Line’’ was played to the
Commission to demonstrate the recent
rapid growth in this type of hate group.
Reverend Rosel! Gilmore, speaking for
the Albina M inisterial Alliance, said it is
important that M H R C have as much
visability and strength as possible since
there is a strong undercurrent of racism.
M r. Houston, representative of the
1
1
IcJ
Children
(Continued from page 1 col. 6)
and other fo rm i of “tre atm e n t“ -usually
without the due process guarantees, such
as the rig ht to a law yer, given by the
juvenile courts.
Once in homes for neglected children or
other facilities, these youths diminish the
services available to children who do not
break the law . Thus the tragic paradox
that for many youths. the only sure
access to community services comes after
running afoul of the police.
*E H iett Carrie, w hs has taught eriauaoi-
agy a t Yale aad the Uarveraity of
articles sa crim e la various
j auras Is, to bow a Bay A rea
w riter covering criminal justice lor tbe
Pacific New Service. la 1969 be was
aeaietaat director of a task force of tbe
government's National Commission on
tbe Causes aad P reveatlea of Vioieace.
Portland O bserver
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North Killingsworth. Portland. Oregon 97217. M ailing address:
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r
»
Black Justice Comm ittee, accused the
County of having an ineffective affirm a­
tive action program , saying the refusual
to adequately fund M H R C indicated a
decline in the interest of the county.
Commission Chairm an Don Clark replied
that the county has not done enough in
affirm ative action, but the personnel
departm ent is try in g to reorganize. H e
said that for the last year, emphasis was
nri H alan cin g t h e budget but personnel
w ill be a top p rio rity this year.
C lark explained that be had prepared
tbe budget tbe Board of County Cominis
»loners was considering and that he had
no plans for any changes. H e added th at •
vote of three commissioners will be
necessary for a change to be made.
Commissioners Clark, Dan Moaee and
Dennis Buchanan w ere present at the
hearing; Commissioners Alice Corbett
and M el Gordon were not.
The City Council is to hold its hearing
on the M H R C budget today, Thursday.
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____________
On A p ril 22, 28 and 24. Barbara Ann
T eer and the liberators of the National
Black Theatre w ill be the center of force
of “Message from O ur Roots." a three day
conference based on the 2nd W orld Black
and African Festival of A rts aad Culture
held in Lagoa. Nigeria, January 10
through F eb ru ary 16, 1977.
The body of the conference will begin
Friday at 7:00 p.m. and w ill continue on
Saturday with workshops beginning at
9:00 a.m. These events w ill be free to the
public and w ill be located at the King
Neighborhood Facility. 4815 N X 7th
Avenue.
Sunday, there w ill be a special recep­
tion at Jew elia't Fam ily Restaurant and
Lounge, 2125 N. Vancouver Avenue from
3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The 98.00 donation
for the reception w ill be used to help
offset the cost of the conference.
The conference will include a presenta­
tion by Barbara Ann T eer and the
liberators of the National Black Theatre,
plus films on Nigeria, African Artifacts,
and a m ulti media presentation.
The
reception w ill feature an African fashion
show, slides from F E 8 T A C "77 and a door
prize from Africa.
Barbara Ann T eer is a unique Black
woman full of sensitivity and surrounded
by spiritual power.
A fte r years of
education, theatrical experience on and
off broadway. and mounting frustrations,
Barbara Ann broke away from the
traditional world and turned her energies
inward. From this search for meaning as
her life was born the “Tem ple of fib e rs
tion." - The National Black Theatre.
Barbara s search for knowledge encom
passed many traditions and spiritual
initiations. From African rituals, Yoga
tradition. E rh ard Seminar Training.
Haitian Vaudum , and Black American
revivals, Barbara's vision grew .
H er
creative force centered w ithin her and
allowed her to transm it and communicate
with tlie world w ith an open, honest and
sincere expression of the Black life style.
According to conference organisers.
QB Hill and Joe M cH enry, other black
hu.Tianiata from the pacific northwest will
also take part in the workshop activities
The program is sponsored by Basic
Career Development, Inc. and is funded
in part by a grant from the Oregon
Meet T riM effi
DriveT'Otohe-Month.
Kian Kilgore says the
passengers on his line.
* 12 B eaum ont/ Fos
ter. are “ m y k in d o f
people’’ Soon Kian
will be driving * 3 4
River Road, arid he’s
lo o k in g fo rw a rd to
that line too.
O ff the jo b Kian
devotes his time to his
three sons and enjoys
hunting, fishing, baseball and cooking.
Kian has a number of impressive service
records: two Silver Stars and a Presidential
Citation from his m ilitary service in W orld
Wbr II And. with Tri Met. a fourteen year
safe driving record. That's why Kian
is Tri Met 's April Driver o f the Month.
Better service fo r more people. I
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