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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (May 19, 1977)
Page 2 Portland Thursday. May * . 1977 Jwrí tkt JLufulatwt We see the world by *«p through Black eyes Vote ye* for schools The p e o p le o f O regon have once ogam soundly d e fe a te d a school fi nonce m easure - the "s a fe ty n e t". A lth o u g h the m easure had trem endous fin a n c ia l a n d p o litic a l support, the voters w e re not sold. The d e fe a t o f the "sa fe ty n e t" as w e ll as re p e a te d defeats o f school levies across the state should sig n a 1 »he legislators and the school adm inistrators that som ething is w rong. O f the sm all g ro u p o f voters p o lle d by The Observer, p e o p le w e re not as concerned w ith ever increasing taxes as they w e re w ith w h a t they fe e l is in d iffe re n c e on the part o f the school adm inistrators. Some o f the local concerns expressed w e re the in v o lu n ta ry transfer o f upper graders out o f the A lb in a district, o n e -w a y busing, the b u ild in g o f the new e d u c a tio n a l center w ith o u t voter a p p ro v a l, the decrease in teaching staff w ith o u t c o m p a ra b le decrease in a d m in is tra tio n , and, most o f a ll, lack o f open tw o -w a y c o m m u n ica tio n b e tw e e n the a d m in is tra tio n and b o a rd a nd the people. U n fo rtu n a te ly, m any p e o p le have com e to b e lie v e that the only w a y to have th e ir voices heard is to turn d o w n school levies. They fe e l there is no m id d le g round - no w a y to m ake concerns a b o u t th e bud g e t heard or to in te rve n e in school policies. O ne school district that has fo u n d a w a y to in v o lv e the pu b lic is th e Parkrose District, w h e re citizens task forces are in v o lv e d in fo rm u la tin g the budget. This not o n ly gives the d istrict citizen input but form s a base o f citize n s u p p o rt Contrast this w ith the Portland district's practice o f h a v in g the budge t presented to the board by the a d m in istra tio n . The Portland School District faces an o p e ra tin g le v y e le ctio n ne xt Tuesday. This le v y is necessary to p ro v id e the sam e le v e l o f service n o w o ffe re d . F ailure o f the le vy w o u ld b rin g about drastic cuts in the e d u c a tio n a l program s. A nd w hose c h ild re n are hurt most by th e fa ilu re o f the edu ca tio n a l system? W e re co m m e n d a yes vote on the School District #1 levy next w e e k. Then, if you are dissatisfied w ith the fu n c tio n in g o f the schools, talk to the school board. Invest in youth A n in te re stin g p rogram has d e v e lo p e d in Portland in the last tw o years, w h ich involves businesses in the ed u ca tio n a nd in sp ira tio n o f m in o rity students. PIMEG (Program to Increase M in o rity E ngineering G raduates) w as ip itia te d on the east coast by, G e neral Electric a nd o ther te ch n o lo g y com panies a nd universities. The program attem pts to reach 8th, 9th and 10th g ra d e m in o rity students and interest them in e n g in e e rin g . Last year the p rogram w as introduced into Jefferson and G rant H igh Schools This year the p rogram hopes to p ro vid e sum m er e m p lo ym e n t in on e n g in e e rin g e n viro n m e n t fo r a p p ro x im a te ly ten students w h o have expressed an interest in e n g in eer i ng. A m o n g the a ctivitie s p la n n e d are Junior E ngineer ing Clubs, visits w ith professionals, arrangem ents fo r tu to rin g , a n d id e n tify in g w ays in w h ich interested students can be assisted. P ortland com panies that are w o rk in g w ith the p rogram a re : B o n n e ville Power A d m in istra tio n , Corps o f Engineers, Chevron, FMC Corp., G e neral Electric, Pacific N orthw est Bell, S andw ell In te rn a tio n a l, Pacific Pow er and Ight, Portland G eneral Electric and T ektronix. W e com m end these com panies for th e ir effo rts on b e h a lf o f the fu tu re o f m in o rity youth. Emanuel site best A ll e vid e n ce still points to the Emanual H ospital site as the best place fo r the new V eteran's H ospitol. Congress has postponed b u ild in g u n til it can m ake its o w n in ve stig a tio n o f the M arquam H ill a nd the Em anuel sites. In the m e a n tim e , the C ity o f Portland's Bureau o f P lanning has endorsed the Emanuel site, a g re e in g w ith the m a jo rity o f the city com m issioners. A lth o u g h the fe d e ra l g o ve rn m e n t is not bound by city decisions, it w o u ld seem b e n e fic ia l fo r it to listen to those w h o w ill have to p ro vid e occess and p u b lic services. The P lanning Bureau's decision is based la rg e ly on the tra ffic im pact the M a rq u a m H ill site w o u ld have on southw est Portland. The o n ly reason the proponents o f the M arquam H ill site can g iv e in its defense is the p ro x im ity to the U niversity o f O regon H ealth Science C enter a nd the •re su ltin g exchang e o f doctors and program s. In lig h t o f the trem endou s disadvantages, this seems a sm all m a tte r w h e n the Em anuel site is o n ly fiv e m inutes a w a y. The west h ills site is a scenic, re sid e n tia l are a w ith d iffic u lt access. The hospital could in no w a y e nhan ce the area but w o u ld p ro b a b ly prove d e trim e n ta l. On the other hand, location o f the hospital near Em anuel w o u ld p ro vid e an im p o rta n t e conom ic boost to th e lo w e r A lb in a area - w h e re the re s id e n tia l areas hove a lre a d y been re m o ve d by g o ve rn m e n t program s. W e cannot h e lp b u t b e lie v e that the veterans using the hospital a nd th e ir frie n d s a nd re la tive s w o u ld fin d the Em anuel site m ore accessible to stores, churches, e n te rta in m e n t a nd hotel fa c ilitie s a nd that this e n d to th e ir iso la tio n on the h ill w o u ld be b e n e fic ia l. MHR Commission (Continued from page 1 col. 2) Barnett is quick to emphasize that now is the time to aggressively seek to eliminate the misunderstanding and the prejudice in our community. In the heat of the late 1960 s when the reaction to racism and discrimination reached a feverish pitch, the Commission was created. Now. as the violent eruptions of that period have subsided, the real work of the Commission begins. In the more tranquil atmosphere of the next decade, the MHRC must continue to forge ahead, with an intensity equal to that of the 1960's. I f the problem of the twentieth century, as W.E.B. DuBois once said, is in fact the problem of the color line, then the work of the Commission cannot be stop ped. This is why Nick Barnett's leadership is so important now - not when times are turbulent and uncertainty clouds our dedication to fairness and equal oppor tunity. But now - when we can think together, and work together, and argue together, and make progress together. Nick Barnett's leadership is important right now! Holloman (Continued from page 1 col. 61 posed of labor, civil rights, and political leaders who support the Kennedy - Corman bill. Dr. Holloman is also past president of the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation. which operates the 17 mun icipal hospitals and other health care facilities in New York City. He is the former national chairman of the Medical Committee for Human Rights and former national chairman of the Physicians Forum. Tickets for the National Health Secur ity Banquet can be obtained by contact ing the Oregon Coalition for National Health Security, 307 Dekum Building, 519 S.W. Third Avenue, Portland. OR 97204. The telephone number is 224 2836 Tickets are $20 per person. Proceeds will help the Coalition's efforts for the pas sage of national health security legis lation to make quality health care avail able to all Americans. JLdtM To the Editor: I enjoy The Obser v er and feel it has done much to benefit our community. I have written several times to commend you and your accomplishments. This time I have a question: Under your caption “Congratulations” you mention three very worthy young ladies - Brenda Knap- per, Lucretia Fuller and Karen Mathis - what happened to La Verne Davis? Mrs. Davis has worked almost from the incep tion of the Pageant. Previously I have felt a bit hurt that she received little recognition. I was delighted this year when she was asked to serve as Mistress of Ceremonies. Her name was mentioned under Kimberly Chosen but I missed it under the Special “Congratulations" note. Sincerely, Evelyn Collins A LF R E D L. HENDERSON Editor/Publisher lot Place Conun unity Service ONPA 1973 Published every Thursday by Exie Publishing Company, 2201 North Killingsworth, Portland. Oregon 97217. Mailing address: P.0. Box 3137, Portland, Oregon 97208. Telephone 283-2486. 1st Place Best Ad Results ONPA 1973 Subscriptions: $7.50 per year in the Tri-County area, $8.00 per year outside Portland. 5th Place Best Editorial N NPA 1973 Second Class Postage Paid at Portland. Oregon 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 ublisbers. Inc. New York MEMBER Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association MEMBM N E T lP flP E R Associa»»« ■ Founded f * N S PE C IA L C O M M IT T E E ON W A TE R RESOURCES PROBLEMS Speaker Lang has appointed a special committee on water resources problems, which has been meeting four times a week since late April. The committee is looking into the short term problems "that have been created by the drought and some of the longer term problems" as they relate to water resource policy and questions. Committee members have heard com prehensive testimony dealing with the drought. The following is a partial list of the committee's concerns: *Extremely dry conditions in Oregon's forests; "D ro u g h t-re la te d problems which threaten Oregon's agricultural commun ity including wheat crops, livestock, waterhauiing, and hay and forage short ages; •Low stream flow and snow pack, with the subsequent impact on fisheries, rec reation, tourism, and the environment; •And, economic and financial impact both for government and the individual, including “drought aid, feed and water subsidy, property tax relief, livestock subsidy for forced sale due to adverse feed conditions, deferred mortgage and/ or operating capital expenses by lending institutions and subsidy for herd re establishment." The committee hopes to deal with more than twenty measures currently being considered this session relating to the drought related problems and to make recommendations to the enactment. nhly for DEMOCRATS CONSIDER ENERGY LEG ISLATIO N A comprehensive package of energy related bills was discussed by Democratic House members last week. The summary of over fifty measures includes the State of Oregon's response to President Carter's recent energy speech to the Congress. Specific measures being con sidered by the Oregon Legislature in elude loans and tax credits for residential weatherization; tax credits, exemptions and loans for alternative energy sources; State conservation standards including building and lighting standards, conaer vation standards and appliance stand ards; energy planning and development, including resource development and plan ning; utility organisation and rate structures; transportation; solid waste; and, information, education and awards in energy conservation and westheriza tion. The Oregon House hopes to provide leadership in a set of actions to deal with energy problems and shortages. The measures being considered this session represent a commitment to solve energy problems and plan for the future. Spokesman for Freedom To listen to the howls of some editor ialists, you'd think Andrew Young has been making awful diplomatic gaffes. Actually, he's only been telling the truth. The truth often hurts, and that accounts for all the beat America's spokesman tor freedom has been getting. When Young accepted the poet of US Ambassador to the U .N ., he said he wanted to be the Administrator's "Point Man" - to occupy the moat advanced and dangerous positions. In fulfilling that role he has said some things that are not popular in some circles, or are more usually said with so much caution that nobody gets the message. By gutting the doubletalk that usually infects public comments of officials, and by telling some home truths in a refresh ingly open style. Ambassador Young is serving his Administration, the country, and the people, who ought to become involved in foreign policy discussions to a far greater degree. But what exactly is it that Ambassador Young has said that gets so many people upset? The moat recent statement to unleash criticism was that the South African government is "illegitimate." Now who can argue with that? What is morally legitimate about a white minority government that rules over a large Black minority denied any semblance of a stake in that society. The South African situation is simply not comparable to any other. There may be countries ruled by dictators which deny democratic rights, but such governments reflect the society they rule. In South Africa a minority white population rules over a majority Black population, which is compelled to be a cheap labor source, denied basic civil rights, forbidden the right to own prop erty or to live in sections of the country, and even denied citizenship. South Africans who are Black are presumed to be citizens of arbitrarily defined “homelands" and are treated as foreign contact laborers in their own land. In the eyes of the white govern ment, they are not “South Africans" at all. So how can a government representing 2.3 million people in a country of 26 million be considered legitimate? Why should an American newly concerned about human rights go along with the fiction of South Africa's supposed legit imacy? Ambassador Young was right on target in his definition of that country's government. Another statement that drew criticism was that Britain is “a little chicken" on race. Well, the language may be a bit more colorful than that of most diplomats but again, it's true. Britain, from the heyday of its empire to the present, has always exhibited a casual racism. Of courae it is not alone in thia; our own country along with many others shares this disease. Ambassador Young was referring to the Rhodesian situation when he said that. Can anyone deny that if a Black colony declared unilateral independence and proceeded to defy legality and to subjugate whites, as Rhodesia oppressed its Black majority, that the British would have acted differently? And it could be healthy for the British to hear such truths from a Black American diplomat, since racial discrimination against Black and Asian Britons is a very serious problem. What are some of the other supposedly swful things Ambassador Young has said" That the Cubans in Angola are a stabilizing force? The President himself has agreed with that. That America is often too concerned with communism in Africa? Well, perhaps we are. It seems absurd to have a policy of detente with Russia, to have high officials visit China, to trade with the Soviet bloc, and then to panic and cut off all relations with African countries that espouse Marxism. The real test should be whether such countries honor their agreements with us and to all appearances. Angola, for one, is protecting American oil interests on its soil. So why pick s fight over ideology with Africans, when we don't with Europeans? Ambassador Young baa been outapok en. He's angered asms and gratified others. But most important, he has told truths that needed telling, and he has brought foreign policy issues out in the open where they ought to have been all along. Open letter to M r*. McCready Worthy of mention Portland O bserver __ __ Proponents a( the "safety net” plan have greatly increased their activities in support of that measure these last few day«. Ballot Measure »1 will be voted on in Tuesday's special election, which also features two measures relating to Ore gon's Department of Veteran's Affairs. The school mensure - Ballot Measure SI amends the Oregon Constitution by providing "that after two levy failures, a school district board could levy a limited amount.for the purpose of operating the schools. Such levy is limited to the previous year's operating levy of the district plus no more than six percent.” Proponents argue that the measure will effectively deal with the problem of school closures by ensuring funding for schools, while opponents view the mess ure as a “short term ” solution, which does not deal with the school finance reform issue. House Bill 3209, which addresses school finance reform and the basic school support formula, is pending in the Oregon Senate after passing the House by a vote of 51 to 8 on April 20th. Herrick Editorial Award N N A 1973 2nd Place n Best Editorial 3rd Place Community Leadership ONPA 1975 Dear Ms. McCready: Your recent letters to the Portland news media and to me certainly came as a surprise, especially in light of your pant favorable support toward the problems of Portland’s poor. I can readily appreciate your concerns about the Thirteenth Banquet of the Portland Metropolitan Steering Committee; however, I do feel that it was unfair and unnecessary to forward notification of your concerns to the news media prior to lor concurrent with) your notifying me. Regardless of my disappointment at your choice of tactics, let me assure you that I am astute enough to understand the political dy namics involved, especially when a situs tion concerns Cleveland G’lcreaae. Exec utive Director of PMSC. As to your stated primary concern, you obviously have been misinformed or are uninformed as to the purpose each year of PMSC’s annual banquet. The banquet is not and does not purport to be for the poor, pe se; it is in honor of the PMSC Board of Directors who serve as repre sentatives of the public, private and low-income sectors of Portland and who never receive any salary or pay for the services they render on behalf of the poor. For informational purposes, allow me to provide some comparative data related to the Twelfth and Thirteenth Annual Banquets. First, you received an invita tion to our banquet at the Sheraton last year, just as you did this year. The ticket price then was $10 and. since you were not prompted at that time to register any complaints, I must assume that your present irritation is due to the $2 increase in ticket price. As a public official who is keenly aware of the latest salary in creases for the Mayor and Commissioners (justifiable salary increases. I might add, in view of current inflationary trends), you should also be aware that the same inflationary factors caused our ticket prices to be increased by $2 over the prior year. The cost of the dinner this year was $9.75 per plate, without gratui ties. The balance of $2.25 ($12 per ticket, less $9.75 direct expense) was used as it was last year • to defray the additional coats of the banquet, such as printing. plaques, invitations, programs (one is attached for your review; see Exhibit A), flowers, certificates, frames, etc. Last year, we had a profit of $9.86 which was deposited into the PMSC corporate ac count to be used at the discretion of the PMSC Board of Directors. I might add that in the past eight years, the PMSC staff and I have made certain that a large segment of our truly poor are well represented at the banquet, with their dinner tickets sponsored through donations from staff and other kind individuals who sincerely believe, as I do, that the poor should be (and deserve to be) exposed to the luxuries of our society. For many, the banquet marks an evening of gratification and satisfaction, if for no other reason that it provides contact with people who are well-known. For others, the joy comes from something so simple as a good meal or a chance to hear thoughtful remarks from a variety of speakers. Yes, I do believe that the poor deserve at least this much. Please note here that I referred to the truly poor and not the "self made poor" who came to the banquet under the leadership of Mr. Kent Ford and who used what appear to be approximately fifty fraudulent tickets which were dis covered on the morning after the ban quet. Mr. Ford and his many “comrades" did not hesitate to share in the dinner and, after eating and speaking a few words to the audience, exit with the same weary cliche that pom- people don't belong in elaborate facilities like the Sheraton and shouldn't even share in a meal sponsored by someone else (aae Exhibit B). To those who can consciously and sincerely believe in this philosophy, I extend my tolerance and. mostly, my pity. 1 am convinced that each of us has a right to our personal opinions, but we also have an obligation to respect the personal opinions of others. Unfortun ately, there are many people who demand the right but are unvilling to fulfill the related obligation. In dosing, may I say that I would be more than pleased to meet with you, at your convenience, to share your thoughts and input as to how we might better approach the planning of PMSC's Four teenth Annual Banquet. Perhaps we can discuss at the same time some of the seemingly underlying motives/reasons for the profoundly negative comments that you have made during the past year with regard to my judgment, administra live ability, honesty, etc. My appreciation is offered for the time and attention that you have given to the contents of this letter. I hope to be hearing from you again in the near future and, hopefully, on a more positive and constructive note. Most sincerely, Cleveland Gilcrease Executive Director PMSC Subscribe to The Portland Observer Tri-County area 0 7 . 6 0 other areas 0 8 . 0 0
