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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (June 2, 1977)
Hrs Frances Schoen-liawspaper Room U n iv e r s it y of Oregon L ib r a r y cugena, Oregon 97403 Congress initiates minority set-aside On May 13th, President Jimmy Carter signed the Public Works Employment Act, which will provide grants to local and state governments (or the construc tion of capital investment public works projects, thereby creating employment opportunities. The Act contains an amendment which sets aside ten per cent of the project grants for minority business enterprise. The amendment reads: No grant shall be made under this Act for any local public works project unless the applicant gives satisfactory assur ances to the Secretary that at least ten per cent of the amount of each grant shall be expended for minority business enter prises. For purposes of this paragraph, the term “minority business enterprise” means a business at least 60 per cent of which is owned by minority group mem bers or, in case of a publicly owned business, at least 51 per cent of the stock of which is owned by minority group members. For the purposes of the pre ceding sentence, minority group mem bers are citizens of the United States who are Negroes, Spanish-speakingj/Orient- als. Indians, Eskimos, and Aleuts. The State of Oregon has been allocated spproxiroatley$56.7 million in public works monies, of which over $5 million will be set aside for minority business enterprise. Al Wingfield, contract coordinator for the Northwest Minority Contractors As sociation, told of meeting with members of the Senate Committee on Finance earlier this year when he and Eugene Jackson, executive director of NMCA visited Washington, D. C. ~ it) working on the Amendment then and were glad to accept a copy of the draft we used when negotiating for the State of Oregon's set-aside program. The plan they came up with is very similar to ours.” The NMCA also announced the signing of five sub-contracts on the sewerage treatment plant to be built at Oceanside, Oregon. Martinez Construction (Manuel Martinez) has the fencing contract; Brewster Construction (Carl Brewster) has cement masonry on sidewalks and curbs; Abraham Paving (Lyle Harrison) has paving; Cascade Roofing (Ernie Ri- vas) will do the roofing; and Pacific Landscaping (Raul Garcia) has the land scaping contract. The $1,001,000 job, fundel through the Environmental Pro tection Agency, is located near Tilla mook. The same contractors are also involved on the Corvallis Sewerage Treatment Plant. Martinez has the steel and con crete work, Rivas has roofing, and Garcia has landscaping. The total figure for the subcontracts approximates $190,000. Contractors, Incorporited is the prime contractor. “One reason we have been successful with EPA funded projects is that EPA is one of the few federal agencies that vigorously enforces the federal require ments,” Jackson explained. “The prime contractors understand their responsi bilities and their rights and this makes working with them much easier and more constructive for everyone. “We expect that the public works projects will be a great boost to minority contractors in Oregon. The fact that Congress has seen this need and has chosen to act is very encouraging.” Fire, Police Bereaes seek minority applicants by Gregory Gadger State From left: R. Dale Hilte, retired Chief, of Finance i nd Accounting, BPA; George E. Beil, EEO , BPA; V.F. Booker, President, American State Bank; Gerden K. Studebeker, executive director. M inority----- Opportunities Committee, Federal Executive Beard; Js----- Maroldo, Systems Accounting; Cari H. Meeuwsen, Accounting Chief, Brandi of Finance and Accounting (seated]. American State Bank pains Bonneville deposits American State Bank, Oregon's only minority owned bank, has received a $275 deposit from the Bonneville Power Ad ministration. BPA had previously deposited the funds with the Federal Reserve Bank, but made the change as part of a federal move to deposit more government funds in minority banka. President Carter recently called on all federal agencies to explore their use of minority banking. V. F. Booker. President of American- State Bank, believes this to the largest federal account given a minority bank in the nation. ASB will act as a transfer point for the BPA funds. Deposits will be sent to the Federal Reserve to be sent to the Treasury Department. The Treasury Department will reimburse ASB for the extra work in processing the BPA funds. Other federal agencies for which ASB acta aa a depository include the Internal Revenue Service, Customs, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Veterans Administration and Soil Con servation. Booker expressed his appreciation to the staff at BPA, stating that they were very interested in transferring their deposits to ASB and had worked closely with him in making this change. Lillie Walker: Ghriag service to children bp Ulysses People who dig people are the luckiest people in the world. Mrs.Lillie Walker is a sincere, energetic woman devoted to helping people. She to a typical Black Woman filled with love and understand ing. however, different from some be cause you don't have to search for it or cultivate it. It to apparent. She devotes a lot of her time to the youth of Oregon. Mrs. Walker was born is Tsxss ssd grsw up is Portland. She to the wife of Ike Walker and mother of six children. She gradu ated from Jefferson High School and attended Clark Junior College and Chica go School of Fine Arts. She enjoys boating and traveling. LILLIE WALKER Ms.Walker is currently the Director of A.M.A. Family Day and Night Care. A.M.A. provides supportive services in the areas of child development, orienta tion, training, recruitment, fiscal services and parent involvement for family Day Care mothers or providers. Working for Portland Model Cities Program from 1968 until 1971 was one of her positions held. She started aa Plan- ning Assistant in Employment and Eco nomic Development and later she coordi nated the Information Center. Ms. Walker is Chairperson for the Northeast Youth Service Center NS is on the Board of the Albina Action Center. She serves as secretary for the Portland Advocacy Association for Black Children and to affiliated wfth the Metro politan Youth Commission. Ms. Walker talks of her civic involve •xers ment: “Like most social service workers that work in their own communities i aqj become exposed to the multiplicity problems confronting poor and minor people. I became involved in more than just the job. You eventually find that you belong to five or ten organizations or boards that meet on a voluntary bagis to try and resolve problems. It's frustrating to find that you've spread yourself too thim and are dissatisfied with what can be accomplished. “My chief commitment is to children and youth. In concentrating on only these areas, I feel that maybe I can effectively advocate their needs. Or assist parents with whatever information or gains that I can attain through legislation or through services on youth boards.” The City of Portland is trying to involve more minorities in its police department and fire bureau in an effort to make those forces “more representative of the community" through a recruitment drive. The recruitment drive, though not lim ite d just to minorities, consists of a billboard advertising campaign and prep programs for those interested in fire fighting careers. According to Marilyn Snowden, re cruiter for the Fire Bureau, less than eight per cent of the police force and less than five per cent of the fire bureau staff are non-whites. Ms. Snowden said that the recruitment drive is pursuant to federal guidelines but more minority involvement does not mean the same as quotas. "However, she said, “If you have a ton per cent Black population and only six officers, you're not making it.” According to Harper, who is recruiter and instructor for the Fire Bureau’s preparation classes, the preliminary workshop familiarizes the participants with some of the procedures of the Fire Bureau.” A month before the actual test, applicants will receive a manual to make the preparation job related rather than a general aptitude so that the applicants are not starting from scratch.” Regarding the test. Harper notes that of the three stages - written examina tion, physical agility test and oral exam ination - the physical agility test may prove a little difficult for some women but, he says, “another object of the prep classes to to help the applicants find their weaknesses so that they can concentrate on them." Both Ms. Snowden and Harper note that there will be no bias or prejudice in selection of candidates and neither will there be any special treat ments or breaks given. The Fire Bureau requires that all applicants be between the ages of 21 and 26 (30 for veterans), that their weight and height be proportionate and that they have or obtain a valid Oregon Driver’s license. ' The police department, on the othr hand, requires that applicants be be tween the ages of 21 and 30 (36 for veterans), that they have a high school diploma or equivalent, and that they be of good moral character. Applications for the police depart ment's seven-part exam will be accepted after July 1 but before July 15. Applica tions for the firefighter's exam should be submitted between June 20 and July 1. Those interested in the Fire Bureau preparation workshop currently being conducted on Saturdays at the Portland Community College Sadium Center should contact Harper at 2915 S.E. 13th Place or call 232-2256. Applications for both tests are available at the City of Portland Civil Service Board, 510 S.W. Montgomery Street. Tax reform Taw aid* low income worker* On May 23rd President Jimmy Carter signed into law the Tax Reduction and Simplification Act of 1977. This tax bill was part of the economic stimulus pack age submitted to Congress by the Presi dent on January 31st. Among the highlights of the new law are: The standard deduction to increased to $2200 for single people and $3200 for married couples. An estimated 80 per cent of the tax cut goes to individuals and families earning less than $15,000. Simplified tax forms are provided, meaning an estimated 95 per cent of the taxpayrs can compute their taxes from a single table. The earned income tax credit, consid ered especially helpful for poor working families, and the general tax credit have been extended through 1978. New restrictions on sick pay deduc tions are postponed for one year. Persons who drew pay whle sick or injured last year may be eligible to exclude up to $100 a week for the period of illness from taxable income for 1976. Those who are eligible for a refund can file an amended return for 1876. Elderly citizens will be allowed to get a refund by recomputing their 1976 tax under the old retirement-income credit, rather than by using the tax credit for the elderly that was approved last year. Taxpayers whose business to the care of children, the handicapped or the elderly in their homes are permitted tax allowances and will not have to prove that the space was used exclusively for that purpose in order to claim deductions. President Carter described his pro posals as a first step towards tax reduc tion and simplification of the tax codes, which he has called “a disgrace to the human race”. “Next September 30, we will complete an analysis of the entire income tax structure. As I said many times during the campaign, and the tost time in my acceptance speech, the income tax laws in this country ar a disgrace to the human race. The people who are not powerful, who are not influential, who don't have full-time, paid lobbyists to carve out special privileges in the tax laws, have suffered too long, and I give you my promise that next September the 30th, after long, detailed, laborious analysis of the horribly complicated income tax laws, we will come out with a simpler system so that 75 or 80 or 85 percent of all of you in this country can fill out your own imcome tax returns without anybody helping you, and os that you will feel that you are not getting cheated and you will feel that everybody is paying thier fair share.” Gary heeds college Admissions WILBERFORCE, OHIO - Wilberforce University President Charles E. Taylor has announced the appointment of Carla D. Gary, a Portland native, as Director of Admissions. A 1968 graduate of Grover Cleveland High School, Ms. Gary is the daughter of Mr. Frederick D. Gary and Mrs. Bobbie L. Gary. Ms. Gary is a 1972 graduate of The University of Oregon, where she was one of the school's first Black varsity cheerleaders. Ms. Gary, who joined the Wilberforce staff in 1974, has served as an Admissions Counselor and Associate Director of Admissions prior to her recent appoint ment. Her office is responsible for recruitment, screening and counseling of prospective students. Wilberforce University, located in southwest Ohio, is the nation's oldest, historically Black college, with an enroll ment of 1,100 students, representing 35 states and 10 foreign countries. A liberal arts college with a mandatory coopera tive education program, it is the only United Negro College Fund institution outside the South. CARLA GARY Giant Nigeria'. Seeking unity for a divided continent by Clark Norton* LAGOS, NIGERIA (PNS) - At Mo hammed Murtala International Airport on the outokirtaof this sprawling, steamy capital city-Black Africa's largest-a prominent red banner proclaims: “Long Live African Unity." The sign is no mere rhetoric. Nigeria has already taken the lead in attempting to unify what now seems a hopelessly divided continent-where north is pitted against south, white against Black, Black against Arab and Black against Block. And it in perhaps the only country with enough potential clout to fulfill such a role. With an estimated 80 million people, Nigeria has a fourth of the entire Black population of Africa. Its cultural heritage is one of the continent's richest; it boasts many influential universities, writers and musicians; and it has begun an ambitious program aimed at universal primary education for its youth. While healing the wounds of its bloody and divisive civil war a decade ago, Nigeria has been blessed in the 1970’s with billions of dollars in gushing oil revenues. At the height of the oil crisis. Nigeria supplied more petroleum to the United States than any other foreign source, including Saudi Arabia. As a West African nation, it is involved in far leas bitter regional disputes than now plague southern, eastern, north eastern and northwestern Africa. And despite a series of coups, assassinations, attempted coups and rumored coups in the past two years, its military govern ment has maintained a remarkable degree of continuity. Because of its oil wealth and potential political power, Nigeria to regarded as the key Black country for future U.S. stakes in Africa. As one American political observer here explains, “Kenya is mainly just a showcase for the West in Africa, and while Zaire to very important. Mobutu to just being propped up-he'll never be a world leader. I’d say that besides South Africa, Nigeria to the country everyone will be watching." By taking several strong initiatives in the past year-and-a-half. Nigeria has moved to the forefront in the cause of “Pan-Africanism” and given notice to the superpowers that it intends to play its role independently. These steps include: •As the first major Black country with substantial western ties to recognize the Soviet-backed MPLA government in Angola, Nigeria spurred a series of similar moves by other Black govern ments and helped to curtail the civil war there. It also warned the West that superpower relations were less import ant than opposition to the white-minority rule in South Africa-which had support ed the MPLA’s main opponent-a position since echoed by other Black govern ments. •Against the objections of some other Black nations, Nigeria invited Arab countries to participate in January's FE8TAC T7, the prestigious Second World Black and African Festival of Art» and Culture. Nigeria itself has a sizeable Moslem population. •In offering recently to mediate the conflict between Zaire and Angola over the rebel attack on Zaire's Shaba prov ince. Nigeria assumed the role of “African superpower.' Equally important, it stressed the importance of Zaire's terri torial integrity over its own close friend ship with Angola. “Nigeria believes it has a mission,” says an influential editor here. “Call it what you will-Pan-Africanism. African unity, one Africa; though don't call it négritude, since we include the Arabs- we believe it to our duty to lead the way.” And aa one U.S. Africa scholar notes, Nigeria also stands * gain immense stature if it does lead the way to a united Africa. “Nigeria by itself may be important for its oil, large population and little else,” he says. “But as the leader of an entire continent which has vast potential min eral wealth and strategic value in its sea lanes it would become a world power.” AFRICA'S PROBLEMS MULTIPLIED But Nigeria faces n giant hurdle in its bid to assume such powisr: its own enormous problems at home. In the midst of its oil wealth, Nigeria to rife with poverty, factionalism, and corruption. Its bureaucracy is ponderous and quixotic, its transportatiSb system archiaic. its cities overwhelmed by some of the worst overcrowding and urban blight in the world. Nigeria not only mirrors, but with its sheer size actually multiplies the prob lems indigenous to all the new Black (Please turn to page 2 col. 3)
