Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 22, 1977)
I PORTLAND OBSERVER Volume 7 No. 52, Thursday, December 22, 1977 Ilk McCoy seeks County post GLADYS Mc(X)Y Mrs. Gladys McCoy has announced that she is a candidate for the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners. She has filed for the position now held by Mel Gordon. Mrs. McCoy recently resigned from her position of State Ombudsman, where she has served since her appointment by Governor Bob Straub in 1975. Mrs. McCoy also is a member of the Portland School Board. Of her campaign, Mrs. McCoy said. “I intend to run a grass roots, people oriented campaign to provide opportuni ties for listening, sharing, meeting and talking with the voters of Multnomah County. I believe the sole role of government is to insure the health and welfare of its citizens.” Mrs. McCoy expressed her concern that there has been only one woman elected to the Board of County Commis sioners. “I intend to be the second woman, not just a woman, but a woman concerned about the needs of women, the minority woman, the woman on welfare the battered woman, the woman wh< needs quality day care, handicapped wo man, the displaced homemaker ant others. “As a Black woman, I am concernef that Multnomah County the third larges public employer in Oregon needs to hav< federal intervention to accomplish ai affirmative action program. Obviously the county needs a new approach in thi area, not only at the board level, but in it general employment practices.” E Board expands Civil Rights Division staff The Emergency Board of the Oregon I-egiilature selected a “360 day cycle" budget of $571 035 and additional thirteen perma the board members -- particularly tho from the Portland Metropolitan ar whose constituents most often use t Civil Rights Division services - voted a 360 day cycle instead of 180 days.” The Civil Rights Division is the defi dent in a class action suit filed recently by Legal Aid. charging “intentional ne glect" of civil rights complaints. The Emergency Board provided funds to make processing discrimination com plaints in 360 days. This option has a City of Portland sets Housing Policy hearings Mayor Neil Goldschmidt encourages Portland citizens to participate in public hearings on the Proposed Housing Policy for Portland. 1 he policies, objectives and examples of implementation programs are proposed for adoption by the City Council in February, 1978. Over the past fifteen years, a popula lion shift has taken place resulting in increusing numbers of smaller house holds, primarily elderly and young adults, and fewer families with school age child ren. The city's housing is mainly large houses designed for families. The age of housing and the increased cost of maintenance result in deterior ation and housing costs preclude many people owning homes. The first two proposed housing policies are aimed at preserving existing housing units through general maintenance and some major rehabilitation. Policy No. 3 aims at encouraging home-owner families to return to the city by increasing their opportunities to find large houses suitable for families with children. The Fourth and Fifth policies are concerned with new construction, made possible through the private sector and through federally assisted housing for low income families. The Sixth policy is concerned with Fair Housing - guaranteeing equal ac S a n ta ö cess to housing for all people regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age or handicap. The schedule of public hearings fol lows: Westside - Tuesday, January 10, Wat er Bureau Auditorium, 510 SW Mont gomery Southeast - Wednesday, January 11, Mt. Tabor School Auditorium, 5800 SE Ash North/Northeast - Thursday, January 12. Cascade College Cafeteria, 705 N. Killingsworth. All meetings begin at 7:30 pm. Copies of the proposed policy are available at the information desk at City Hall. Q uecT I W x n t c fe'ef e a ale H e Ccxn T have Ck feel b<xby C<xT Cxnd O-Cloci CifpVxne. Biskar announces City Council candidacy Arnold Biskar has filed as a candidate for City Council, seeking the position now held by Commissioner Mildred Schwab. Biskar, a Certified Public Accountant, has lived in Portland only since 1975, but has become deeply involved in civic affairs. Biskar moved to Portland follow ing a short visit to the area. "I requested and received a transfer for my company so I could move to Portland. After moving to Portland and determining that 1 would stay here, I left the company in which I had been a partner for sixteen years.” Biskar is currently with the accounting firm of Laventhol and Hor wath. “I am an urban person, living and working downtown," Biskar explained. His involvement in the community began immediately after his arrival in the city. He served on the City of Portland Task Force on Parks and Recreation in 1976 77 and the Task Force on the Bureau of Neighborhood Environment and the Bu reau of Traffic Engineering in 1977-1978. He was appointed by the City Council to the Portland Hospital Facilities Author ity. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Oregon Trail Chapter of the Red Cross, a member of the budget committee of the Mittleman Jewish Com munity Center, serves as an advisor to Portland Youth Advocates, and is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and the City Club. His interests range beginning of my campaign as supporting full and equal human rights for all, a Council more responsible to an increasing self-determination for neighbors, and as supporting the maintenance and upgrad ing of our housing stock, including down town housing." Accusing the City Council members of browbeating, misusing or ignoring man agers, haggling over small items, and leaving the really big management tasks undone, Biskar believes the Council "should provide responsive leadership, a sound fiscal administration with a defi nite sense of direction and should not make a bunch of unrelated decisions. if v iic v c wt snouia nave a responsive Council which comes to the citizens with a sense of priorities, not a scattershot approach. We have to take a really good look at anything that would ‘radicallv change’ Portland. We should consider the effect of these new proposals on our energy supply, our traffic flow, our neighborhoods and our environment. 1 ARNOLD BISKAR ; -A
