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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 20, 1977)
U Martin «ay» PORTLAND No minority waivers for sale Some minority contractor* who have seen Thomaa Martin's letter to Economic Development Act grantees say he has sold them out - that he is selling waivers of the E D A minority enterprise require ments. M artin says this is not true, that he is merely selling his services to grantees to insure that they are able to contact minority businesses. Under the E D A requirements, in each project funded ten percent of the total expenditure must go to minority busi nesses. In his letter M artin offered the follow ing services for a fee of $250 per project. “The coalition will locate appropriate minority firms where possible or certify that minority participation is not avail able. Advise Grantee and or prime contractors concerning areas where mi nority participation is available. Provide laiaon (sic) support between minority and prime contractor upon request." M artin told the Observer, that he believes a lot of unnecessary trouble has been raised over the letter. He said he wrote the letter with the intention of selling his services and if grantees read it with waivers in mind "they will be disappointed because there are plenty of people to provide the work.” He said the minority contracting asso ciations are providing a necessary exten sion of the Office of M inority Business Enterprise (Department of Commerce) but aren't paid. He further stated that OM BE does not have the capability, the manpower or the interest to insure that grantees and prime contractors are able to contact sufficient minority businesses. M artin says he can be successful in that capacity because “I know what I ’m doing. I'm an authority on this program, I went '•o the Region - met Gremley and Lewis. When I talk to somebody I know what I ’m talking about. I am the authority.” Jim Pascal, director of Portland Busi ness Development Office, the local OMBE program, said M artin's letter had reached the regional office and the staff there wai, obviously upset. W illiam Gremley, Chief, OBSERVER F A L L DM P E N IN S U L A PARK: M a r i Leggett ;nck. bright red “a?;4e.." Civil Rights Division gets record sex discrimination settlement Nigeria: A booming African nation by SblrUy E. L u | State Senator. William McCoy Jr., has just returned from a two week visit to Lagoa, Nigeria. "Lagos," he says, “is a boom town. City streets are as crowded all day, every day rs at rush hours in New York City. People are coming into the city by the hundreds seeking work This has created extensive overcrowding and every effort is being made to alleviate it. Hundreds of homes are under construe tion. but still the needs cannot be filled." According to the Senator, this im menae influx of people into the capitol city has escalated the demand for every thing. The government insists that sixty percent of the business in Nigeria be owned by natives and forty percent by Europeans. Construction companies are following similar guidelines, hiring native contractors and workers who handle the heavy equipment and bulldozers. Many hundreds of common laborers are also employed in this type of work. Wages, are about average, with top technicians receiving very good salaries. There are many, many banks in Lagos, the Senator says, besides being the capitol it is a seaport city. Through its banking channels flow the revenues from Nigeria's vast resources of oil, coal, and natural gas. Nigeria is a wealthy country. Lagos boasts two beautiful high-rise hotels, which are comparable to any in the U.S. - especially one, the Federal Palace, whose luxury suites were espe cially sumptuous. Their food is good and tasty - the style is European and African. The maid service and all other services in both the hotels visited by the Senator were performed by rnen. He saw one woman acting as supervisor. One doesn't stroll or wander around Lagos for more than a block or two. Crowds are too dense. Cabs cost approxi mately $1.70-$1.80 per mile. Any plans for visiting other cities after one arrives in Lagos means a delay of perhaps ■ month, as flights are booked far in advance. The residential areas of the well-to-do are magnificent. Their huge lawns, set among trees and flowers, give them the air of estates. Until more accommoda tions can be erected the poorer classes live anywhere they can find a spot. Lagos right now is like a boom town of our western frontier. Although Senator McCoy did not get over all the city he did note two very fine schools. One was Catholic, where the children wore uniforms, and the other Colegio Cesar Chavez: A straggle for jastice The Colegio Cesar Chevaz’ resistanc to eviction by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will begin Thursday evening with a mass at the Colegio. Students and faculty will occupy the campus "until it is ours." The eviction stems from a 1969 roort gage taken out by the Catholic order of sisters who owned the college. In 1969 when the property was transferred to the Colegio Cesar Chavez the mortgage was already in default. The Colegio has been unable to pay the back and the current payments and has repeatedly been threatened with foreclosure and eviction. The school, which provides higher education for Chicanos and other inter ested students, has asked that the mort gage be vacated or the property given to the school by the government. As a school for poor students - many of them former migrant workers - the college is unable to pay off the heavy indebtedness and still maintain current expense, Kamone Ramirez, speaking for the student body, associated the struggles of the Colegio with the struggle of Chicano people. "The struggle of the Colegio Cesar Chavez cannot be separated from the struggle of a people - a struggle that has taken place for the 129 years since the acquisition of one-third of Mexico by the United States. I t is a struggle against the system that occupies our land.” Ramirez explained that only in the last decade have the doors to education begun to open as the result of the Civil Rights Movement, the ‘60s and the mass strug gle of all minorities. "Now the same I justifications for affirmative action and special admissions programs is used to take away our rights.” The Bakke case is an example. “The struggle for education represents an important aspect in the development of a people that has been deprived of its culture and education. We believe education is a right. “The Colegio Cesar Chavez wants to correct these injustices - to build institu tions to provide knowledge. He has built since 1973, a future for our children - new answers for education and jobs. When we graduate, we can go back and help our communities in the process of economic, social and cultural development. “The struggle of the Colegio Cesar Chavez is not isolated - it is part of the overall struggle of Spanish speaking people, who have been consistently at tacked and harassed through mass depor tation. killing by border guards, elimina 'ion of affirmative action, denial of bilingualism, police brutality and the rise of facism.” It is necessary to understand the international picture, Ramirez said. In Mexico. 80 percent of the capital is taken out by multi national corporations, not of the U.8. companies. This leaves only 20 percent for the Mexicans - causing unbelievable misery. This causes people to migrate to the United States. The struggle to maintain the Colegio Cesar Chavez is seen as a part of this st ruggle for rights for Chicano people a part of the struggle for democratic rights. was an Episcopalian school. There were many sights the Senatoi would have liked to photograph, but all who enter the country are warned before hand about shooting pictures of installa tion. airports and a number of other places. His memory, however, retains the Jght of many Europeans and Africans working together, in harmony, in their striving market palaces. There is also a large colony of Black Americans who reside in Lagos, who are employed in professional jobs. Senator McCoy warns living is high and any tourist going there must be prepared to spend from $U0-$120 per day, and have the stamina to withstand heavy humidity. The trip, which takes only eighteen hours from New York including a short stop in Frankfurt, Germany, was quite an experience the Senator admits. Here he was, in a country which flourished around 700-200 B.C. In the 15th century a great cultural center grew up around their sacred city of Ife. There are 250 African languages and dialects spoken Civil Rights of the U .8. Commerce erences so they will learn more about the Department, Region Office, wrote to 3r2/1* cls an<1 the Pro#P*rt«** bidders Pascal, instructing him to let the grant The program is just getting off the ees know that neither E D A nor OMBE ground and it is a new concept, so it will sponsor Martin's activity and that OMBE ,, « while to get it running smoothly, offers this service without charge. Pascal explained. In his letter, M artin wrote, “W e are >n M artin said that minority contractors close contact with the regional E D A seem to be afraid to come and talk. "I Office in Seattle, the local E D A office in have all the plans in my office but nobody Portland we are a part of the associated comes to look at them, they aren't going O M BE coordinating committee that di to D r. Booth - except his members - I rects the flow and distribution of infor know they aren’t going to Proby. He mation relating to these projects. We also doesn’t deal with contracting although he are in close contact with the Associated tried to interject himself into it. He is in General Contractors Association here in employment. I don’t know what Eugene Portland." As a member of the OMBE Jackson is doing, but I know he’s doing a coordinating committee, it is a conflict ci good job.” interest for M artin to sell this service, M artin said his organization has no Pascal explained. He said M artin has members. “I am the coalition.” There is a assured him that he was not out to board of directors that he called “inac undermine the program. “He can deal tive.” with anyone he wants to, but he cannot M artin said a bad atmosphere has been deal if he sits on the coordinating created for white contractors since they committee. If he sells what the commit must use minorities or lose the job, but tee is offering free, then he must get off that he could alternate their fears that no the committee.” minority companies will be available. Pascal said his office is providing a Tom Booth, director of Contract M an liaison service between grantees and agement, said he had met with M artin minority contractors. Although his office after the letter had gone out, at the has been understaffed, he is adding staff request of another minority contractor. and is confident that he will be able to He found nothing wrong with the propo provide the necessary services. sal and did not think M artin was offering Part of the problem, according to waivers. Actually, he said, if M artin did Pascal, is that some of the minority certify that to his knowledge there were associations claim they have membership no minorities available it would have no but can’t seem to get information to the meaning because the minority associa contractors. Rather than undercut the tions and E D A would know it was not associations, Pascal has attempted to true. Neither did he think the offer of strengthen their role. Granteees are this certification was defrauding grantees required to give all plans and specifica who might hire M artin for that purpose. tions to the O M BE office, then Pascal Booth thinks M artin is interested in gives a copy to each of the four associa providing a market for suppliers and that tions - Contract Management, Coalition even if no building contractor were of M inority Contractors and Vendors, available, there are sufficient minority Northwest M inority Contractors Associa suppliers to supply every contract. tion and United M inority Workers. I t is “The only thing I see wrong with it is the responsibility of the association to get that, as a professional consultant, I would the information to their members. Pascal also contacts those contractors who do M artin said he has haa one respvA„_ not belong to an association. and that he is raising his price to $1,000. Pascal said he is attempting to involve " It ’s never a conflict of interest to take minority contractors in the pre-bid con- money.’’ within the country, but English is the Labor Commissioner Bill Stevenson official and business language. when the state passes laws for others, the announced Monday that the Civil Rights I t seems as though Nigeria’s destiny state should comply with those laws.” Division has conciliated a $455,414 settle has come full circle, as it was here in 1440 The Civil Rights Division also nego ment for domestic workers employed by Antam Goncalvez captured three Moors tiated for an additional $57,000 for em who ransomed themselves by exchanging the State of Oregon. ployees who were not employed during ten Negroes for their release. This gave the tim e period covered by the federal The employees, mostly women, were Goncalvez ideas and he took the Blacks to hired as domestic workers and paid judgement. 1972-1974. Portugal. They sold so well in 1444 he approximately $108 a month less than The conciliation agreement is the lar organized the Company of Lagos in men who were hired as custodians. The gest negotiated by the Civil Rights conjunction with several other partners. Division, and includes approximately 500 two job classifications did approximately They captured many men, women and the same work and had the same qualifi workers. Many of these persons had children from the Island of N ar and Tidar. worked under this condition for many cations. Prince Henry, who was in Lagos at that years, prior to the ban on discrimination Oregon law prohibited discrimination time - witnessed the whole event. against women, and some have since based on sex beginning in August of 1969. He termed the enslavement of the In 1973, following the employees' com retired. They were employed by the helpless people “a recompense from God state’s colleges and universities, the plaint, the state agencies agreed to for all the labor the Portuguese have Corrections Division, the Tongue Point reclassify the domestic workers as custo given in his service." This was the Job Corps, the Oregon State Hospital, dial workers but did not agree to remedy beginning of modern slave trade justified the State Library, the Wildlife Commis back pay. In August of 1977, the U.S. on the grounds it was winning souls for sion and the Department of General Department of Labor obtained a judge Christ. Services. ment against the state for eighty percent A fte r many centuries of extreme hard Each employee will receive a payment of the disparity in wages for a two year ship Nigeria is making a mighty effort as of approximately $1,200. As back wages, a free and independent country. Senator period. taxes will be withheld. The original Stevenson said that when he learned McCoy says, “I f Nigeria doesn't make it, complaints were filed in 1973. as hard as they are working, then the that the state planned to appeal the Stevenson called this a landmark case federal judgement, he asked his depart whole of Africa won’t make it." since it should serve to notify employees ment to conciliate the case. “I believe that (Continued on page 2 column 6) Sale of Krugerrard supports South Africa apartheid W ith the conflict in southern Africa so much in the news these days, it is hard to avoid wondering what sort of solution will eventually be reached. W ill the minority of whites continue to hold on to power, therefore causing an escalation in the armed struggle being waged by Blacks who are fighting for their libera tion? O r will the whites be persuaded to give up their hold on the government and economy and let the majority rule? From all indications, it seems that particularly in South Africa, where whites have a longer history than in Zimbabwe (Rhode sia), they will attem pt to preserve the comfortable life-style that they have built up over the years. Analysis While close to 80% of Black South Africans live below the official poverty level, white South Africans have one of the highest standards of living in the world. Their luxurious life style has been created at the expense of the Blacks, whose labor in mining, industry, farming and in all areas of service and domestic work that has made it possible for the whites to create the most elaborate industrial society in Africa. The benefits of that society go, with very few excep tions, to whites. And the South African system of a.wrtheid. that of extreme racial discrimination and separation is known to be one of the most unjust systems in the world. How does the continued oppression of Black South Africans relate to us here in the United States? The connections are many, a major one being the economic link. The South African government is bolstered by U.S. bank loans and the presence of over 360 American corpora tions. In fact there are few major U.S. corporations that do not do business in South Africa. But in spite of the overall stability that South Africa has had due to foreign investments, the economy during the past several years has run into trouble. A deteriorating balance of payments brought on by the general situation of political instability, falling gold sales, inflation, unemployment, a slow-down in foreign investment and a 42% increase in defense spending, has been of great concern to the South African government and businessmen. Seeing itself in economic trouble, the government began to consider ways it could help itself out of its balance of payments difficulties. One solution was to mint a one ounce gold coin that could be sold to unsuspecting consumers throughout the world. Undoubtedly by now in Portland you have seen the ads on television or in the newspaper for this coin called the Krugerrand. Last month Portland became a target of the $7 million ad campaign run by the New York ad agency. Doyle. Dane & Bernbach that is helping to push Krugerrand sales. It is no coincidence that the Kruger rand is named after former Prime Mini ster Kruger, who is infamous for saying of Black South Africans: “The chief principle that must always be borne in mind is that savages must be kept within bounds." W ith the head of Kruger on one side and a springbok on the other, the coin weighs one troy ounce, the international units of measure for gold and sells for about $160, depending on the current price of gold on the world market. People are encouraged to buy the coin as an investment, in fact some investment firms won't sell any fewer than ten at a time. The Krugerrand is also sold in the form of a necklace or tie pin so that the investment can be worn as a piece of jewelry. However, not only are sales of (Continued on page 2 column 6) “I make $300 a week. Why should I buy a gold coin?”
