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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 8, 1977)
Page 2 Portland Observer Thursday. December 8, 1977 s Political change demands cooperation We see the world through Black eyes Governor shows courage G overnor Bob Straub is to be co m p lim e n te d for tw o recent appointm ents. Straub's a pp ointm e nt o f Ron W id en er to the Board of Examiners of N ursing Hom e A dm inistrators w hich was opposed by m em bers o f the State Senate. M em bers o f boards are to be nam ed by the G overnor w ith the Senate's a p p ro va l, but in this case the Senate re a c te d the n o m in a tio n . A p p a re n tly the nursing hom e industry ob,ected to W idener, w ho is co-chairm an o f the Grey Panthers and has been an outspoken cham pion o f im p rove d nursing hom e conditions. For too long the industries that are supposed to be regulated have co n tro lle d the boards that are supposed to control them — both n a tio n a lly and locally. This comes a bo ut th rough lo b b y in g fo r or against p o litic a l a pp ointm e nts or by s h u fflin g p e r sonnel b etw een the industries a nd the boards. The G overnor has d isp laye d g re at courage in d e fyin g both the nursing hom e industry a nd Senator Jason Boe and his fo llo w e rs. A nother im p orta nt recent a p p o in tm e n t was that o f Florice W a lker to the Tri-M et Board. Mrs. W a lker is the first Black to be a p p o in te d to the seven m em ber board. Tri-M et has the resp on sibility o f p la n n in g and m a in ta in in g pub lic mass transportation fo r the tri-county area and as such is responsible fo r large budget and staff. Mrs. W alker is in a position to m ake decisions that w ill have a trem endous im pact on the econom ic and social life o f the com m unity. This is beyond the scope of appointm ents usually re le g a te d to Blacks — the social services, e ducation, m edical areas G over nor Straub a pp aren tly realizes that Blacks can fu nctio n in the technical, econom ic and industrial areas also. This a p p o in tm e n t should open new doors. Indians under fire W ar against the p roperty rights o f Indians is on. A short tim e ago a fe d e ra l fudge ordered the Corp of Engineers to abandon plans fo r a dam that w o u ld flo o d treaty fish in g grounds u ntil the treaty could be changed by Congress. In another action — n o ’ d ire ctly related -- a Congressman from the State o f W ashington in tro duced leg isla tion to do a w a y w ith the special status of Indians — m ake them just p la in "A m e ric a n s ". This m eans negate the treaties and e lim in a te the Indians econom ic rights. A ll the Indians got w he n th e ir land was taken and th e ir w a y o f life destroyed was some econom ic rights — a little m oney fo r some, h un tin g a nd fish in g rights fo r others, and reservations for a fe w . N ow even those crum bs are too m uch as g o v e rn m e n t and industry look on th e ir lan d a n d th e ir lim ite d control o f fis h in g resources w ith greed. faotllM 'J(Mt 0^ UiM Open government from Publisher's A u x illia ry The fe d e ra l Sunshine la w took e ffe c t in M arch. G e n e ra lly, the la w specifies that, w ith fe w excep tions, g o v e rn m e n t agencies must open th e ir m ee t ings to the p ub lic. There is e vid e n ce to suggest, h ow eve r, that m any of the n ea rly fifty agencies co vered by the law are e ith e r skirtin g its re g u la tio n s or ig n o rin g them o u trigh t. Earlier this year a C om m on Cause study fo u n d that 39 percent o f the m eetings h e ld by the g ove rn m e n t agencies covered by the la w w e re closed to the p u b lic ; o n ly 37 percen t o f the m eetings w e re fu lly open. A m ore recent study conducted by Library o f Congress researchers a t the request o f Senator Lawton C hiles (D-Fla.), show s that o f m ore than 1,000 m eetings h eld by 32 a gencies since the la w took effe ct, 527 w e re closed, e ith e r e n tire ly or p a rtia lly , to the p u b lic. A d d itio n a lly , fo r o n ly 193 o f the secret m eetings d id the agencies m eet a re q u ire m e n t that sp ecific reasons be p u b lic ly cited if a closed session is held. Tw enty re g u la to ry a gencies ig n o re d the req u ire m e n t. M a n y o f the agencies w h ic h fe a r p u b lic inspection argue that th e ir m ee ting s a re closed because th eir m em bers must discuss sensitive n a tio n a l security or econom ic m atters. O ne such a ge ncy is the Federal Reserve Board, w h ic h h e ld a secret m e e tin g in A p ril to discuss h o w its o ffic e fu rn is h in g s should be designed. G o v e rn m e n t a ge n cie s charged w ith conducting the p u b lic 's business are a bu sin g the Sunshine law . Senator C hiles has s u r.m o n e d o ffic ia ls o f some agencies to te stify or- th e m atter For the p u b lic 's sake — a nd fo r the sake o f open g o v e rn m e n t — Senator C hiles should d em a n d and re ce ive assurances th a t fu rth e r abuses o f the la w w ill not occur. A t th e sam e tim e , he should c o n tin u e his e ffo rts a t p o lic in g age ncies to m ake sure they liv e up to the le tte r o f the law . wing WAKE UP P ortland O b server 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 Subscriptions: 17.50 per year in the Tri-County area. $8.IK) per year outside Portland. Second ( lass Postage Paid at Portland. Oregon The Portland Obeervera 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 w riter or submitter and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Portland Observer. A L F R E D L . HENDERSON Editor/Publisher National Advertising Re,*resentative Amalgamated Publishers. Inr. New Y ork MGM StS Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association » MEMBER Af/A U N A L M E V lP f lP E F i Auoaolion ■ Founded IM S 1st Place Community Service ONPA 1973 1st Place Best Ad Results ONPA 1973 5th Place Best Editorial N N PA 1973 Honorable Mention Herrick Editorial Award N N A 1973 2nd Place Best Editorial 3rd Place Community Leadership O NPA 1975 by Herb Cawthorne lake the indoctrinated slave with the Sambo Complex, some in the Black community find it easier to carelessly blame and redirule their own people, rather than looking for ways to assist in the struggle to improve our condition. The strength of Black people is overlook ed. For some the image of a strong, unified Black community is nonexistent. “What is white is likely more right." they might whisper to themselves, if they were alone, thinking no one else could hear. For members of their own race to win respect and confidence, they would have to accomplish miracles. While this attitude serves to keep us apart, the real achievements of Black people in this community go unnoticed. More Black people need to be involved in the betterment of our community. Yet there are many who, like Sambo, have a docile and irresponsible dependence on white images. These images provide no less than a mild sense of self-hatred. When turned inward, they eat away at the progress Blacks need to make in this community. Instead of combining efforts, we often find ourselves needlessly throwing blows. Rather than harnessing ourselves into committees and organizations demanding improvement, some seem more compel! ed to take out frustrations on those Blacks who have managed to secure positions of influence around town. This serves to insure that the burdens for our destiny, as with a child, remain in the hands of others. Admittedly, growing up in the after math of cruel American slavery ought to be enough to render every Black person accountable for service to the Afro American community. It takes a lot of self-denial to escape such an obligation. Those who manage to do so should be reminded as forcefully as possible. Beyond that, however, we must re member that a Black face in state government does not represent change in state government; a Black fare on televi sion does not mean that our criticism of the media has been satisfied. We should hold each accountable for a competent representation of Black people on the job, but, if we want substantive political change, more of us will have to bund together to attack the deeply rooted prejudices and discrimination in this city. In other words, we need to help each other. The leadership is coming forward. The Portland Black community is strong er today than ever before, and we need to strengthen its influence. The developments over just the last year or so have been promising: Charles Jordan. City Commissioner for Public Safety, has been increasingly eager to advocate for causes helpful to the Black community. He has been outspoken on neighborhood desegrega tion. He took a stand for community action programs during the PMSC crisis; he asked for a delay in implementing the Newman Plan in the public schools; and the Metropolitan Human Relations Com mission has his total support. M r. Jordan is helpful to young people trying to organize for change. W ith our support, his base can be strengthened, and his political fortunes enhanced. Nick Barnett, Executive Director, Me tro lolitan Human Relations Commission, has charged that organization with a new spirit of activity. M HRC recently asked the city council to denounce the Kruger rand. South Africa's symbol of Black exploitation. In addition, it has been deeply involved in research into housing discrimination. M HRC was the catalyst for the Community Coalition for School Integration. The Human Relations C«m mission very often represents the in terests of the Portland Black community. It needs support. C h aro lette W illia m s . Chairperson, Black Justice Committee, has worked hard and long to revive that organization. Slowly, it will take the form of a group of people capable of forcing local institutions to answer our most difficult questions. From what I can see. she plans for the organization to be independent and chai lenging. It takes time, and it lakes people. There is plenty of room to help. The Community Coalition lor School Integration, chaired by Harry Ward, is one of the most significant developments of late. The Black community refused to place its need for change in the hands of others. In a broad based effort, the Portland Public School's desegregation program is being reviewed. Over $40,000 dollars has been raised, committees or ganized. and by June a report will be forwarded to the Board of Education which will assist them in the integration process. We can lie proud of the work done on our behalf by the Coalition. Brenda Green, Associate Superinlen dent, Salem Public Schools, may be entertaining plans to seek a position on the Portland Board of Education. If she does, our support should be waiting in the wings. No community gains political influence without work. And working for Brenda Green ought to be a pleasure. Carol Williams Bryant, Director. Neighborhood Options in Child Care and a member of the Metropolitan Human Relations Commission, has chosen to run for the Oregon House of Representatives. She takes on an incumbant. D r. Howard Cherry, and it will be a tough race. People from our community can assist her in many ways canvassing, writing letters, doing office work, publicity, and fund raising. Ms. Bryant plans a recep tion for Friday, December 17th. Watch for details on the place. I cite these few examples to illustrate that if we will look for the best in ourselves, we will find more than we expect. Hlack people have come far, and the future requires our continued strug gle. We don't need Super Negroes, and miracles will not be forthcoming. The last vestiges of the Sambo Complex which forces us to see the bad in ourselves at the expense of recognizing the good ought to be replaced by a commitment to improve those areas in which we are weak, and to advance those in which we are already strong. Civil Rights Law: Toward effective enforcement by Re,». Barbara Jordan Title V I of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits people and organizations which receive federal money from using the money to discriminate. The Act prohibits discrimination on account of race, color or national origin. The Act also contains provisions for its enforcement. After viewing the record. I am forced to conclude that Title V I enforcement has been characterized by affirmative ne gleet. Fact from the record; In the past five years of Title V I enforcement, all Title V I agencies throughout the federal govern ment have commenced nine administra tiv e fund term in a tio n proceedings against recipients exclusive of those against local school districts. Fact from the record; In thirteen years of enforcement five cases have been referred to the Attorney General for litigation. Fact from the record: Federal agencies spent $37 million for civil rights enforce ment and investigations in fiscal 1973. Twenty-seven million dollars were spent in fiscal 1977. That is a reduction of nearly thirty percent. Fact from the record: Between 1971 1976, the Civil Rights Commission con tinually found that the government's civil rights enforcement effort was "Beset with problems that were directly attn butable to. and exacerbated by, the ab sence of leadership from policy making officials." To remedy these deficiencies, I have introduced legislation which mandates that there be enforcement. The bill would apply to all federal agencies which provide financial assistance the same stringent civil right enforcement proce dures the Congress enacted for the Office of Revenue Sharing and the Law Enforce ment Assistance Administration. The Bill has three main parts: First, coverage. The Bill expands the basis of prohibited activities to include sex, aged and handicap discrimination. Second, coordination. The Bill assigns to the executive office of the President the power to coordinate the activities of Title VI agencies. This part of the Bill implements policy recommended by the United States Commission on Civil Rights. Third, procedure. The Bill applies many of the mandatory procedures of the Jordan Amendments to all Title VI agencies. Those procedures would re quire that when one of four things happens, notification must issue from the federal government to the recipient of federal funds. Notification would tell the recipient it is not in compliance with Title VI. Those four things are: 1) A finding of discrimination by a slate or federal court; 2) A finding of discriminating by a state or federal agency after a hearing; 3) A determination by a federal agency after an investigation that there is reasonable cause to believe one of its own grantees has discriminated; and 4) A referral through the executive office of the President of a reasonable cause deter mination from one federal agency to another. If one of the four triggers occurs, notification must issue. There is no discretion. After notification, the reci pient would have 30 days to sign a compliance agreement. Failure to sign a compliance agreement within 30 days would mean that further payment of federal money for the program or activity found to have been discriminatory would be suspended temporarily. There is no discretion. Unless compliance is achieved within 60 days after suspension, further pay ment of federal money would be termi nated There is no discretion. However, the Bill does provide that termination can be delayed pending the outcome of an administrative hearing or judicial appeal. The Bill also mandates federal agencies to suspend payments to a recipient within 45 days after the Attorney General files a civil action alleging discrimination. There is no discretion. However, the court could grant relief and order that the money not be suspended pending the outcome of the litigation. There is a similar provision in the law now and we know it works. This Bill sets up a procedure for simple, firm and effective enforcement of Title VI. It may fie a radical proposal to some. It is only radical because our past enforcement efforts have not been sim pie, firm and effective. They could hav« been The current law does not prevent it. In fact, most of the mandator) procedures in the Bill could be institute« today without changing the law. So thi: is not a radical Bill. The goal of current law and the goal o this Bill is compliance. We do not seek 1» cut off payment of federal funds. W'» prefer that the funds be used as intended Suspension and termination are las steps. But, we have to be willing to.us« the last steps before the first step- become meaningful. There are criminal penalties in th< statues for embezzling federal funds. Wi have thousands of auditors, backed up b) the FBI if n«*ed be. to catch embezzlers but if someone uses federal money t< embezzle someone's civil rights, there art no criminal penalties; no civil penalties and we continue to pay the money. We should not be allowed to rompro mise commitment to the people's civil rights. Ignoring the rights of some undermines the rights of all. If the administration of the law fails to protect the rights of all, it is Congress' tluly to rewrite the law. It is not the Executive's duty to deride through neglect whose rights shall be protected and whose rights shall lie ignored. . . . UNION OR COMPANY DENTAL INSURANCE is a valuable a s s e t. . . Use it to protect your health and appearance C O M PLETE CO O PERATION ON A LL D E N T A L IN S U R A N C E ( L A IM S W E H A N D L E A LL T H E D E I A IL S OF C O M PLETIN G YOUR C L A IM FORMS Open Saturday Morning NO APPOINTMENT NEEDED Come in at your convenience PARK FREE-Any Park n Shop Lot HOURS: Weekdays 8:30a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday 8:30 a.m. to I p.m. Dr. Jeffrey BRADY, T A K E E L E V A T O R TO 2nd F IA N IR 3rd ST. E N T R A N C E
