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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 26, 1978)
Portland Observer Thursday. January 26, 1978 Rage Federal watchdog must watch From behind the wall by Ke.tresenUtive Ral.ih H. Metcalfe by I j u t y Baker. O .8.P. Correa;tondent SANDY RICHARDS The lady's name is Sandy Richards, born in Anchorage, Alaska a couple of months prior to the end of World War II. Today, Sandy Richards is a housewife who lives in Portland, Oregon. As a matter-of fact, about this time last year, may have still found Sandy Richards surrounded daily by family members, friends, and neighbors asking questions about the laws and bills being introduced in the legislature. Sandy Richards had just been elected to go to Salem, as the new State Representative of the 22nd District in the Legislature. But on the night of January 4. 1978, Sandy Richards found herself not in Portland, but in Salem...not surrounded by her family and friends, but surrounded by a large group of convicted male inmates whom she was meeting for the first time. She was not in the comfort of her fashionable home, but sitting in a room, inside the walls of the State’s Penitentiary. Why should this lady be in a State Penitentiary? What was she doing there? Sandy Richards cares about people. She cares about all types of people who live not only within the borders of her district, but throughout her State. On this rain swept night she had driven fifty miles alone to prove this, just as she had done on many other occasions when people needed her - even if those people are at the moment spending their lives in a cell, surrounded by gun towers. On this night in January, State Repre sentative Richards was the 'guest lectur er' at the Oregon State Penitentiary le g a l le w Class, a class developed and governed by the inmates, to learn as much as they can about civil, state and federal statuses. Sandy Richards, in the company of Diana Stewart, an attorney for the Oregon Prisoner's Legal Law Project, sat in a brightly lit classroom in the O.S.P. Education Department with twenty-two A^en whose crimes ranged from check writing to murder, men who's sentences ranged from five years to life. They sat in a room where there were no guns, no guards, and no cameras...and it can even be said that these two young ladies were receiving more protection than they might find in their own homes: that protection is called RESPECT - Respect from those prisoners within that room, for the appreciation of the lecture. Made possible because of the trust the prison staff and officials place upon these men each week to govern themselves with respect for any person that comes to offer assistance and teach these mini-session courses of law. For a period of two solid hours Sandy Richards lectured about Legislative bills and laws - how bills are developed, drawn up, lobbied, presented in sub-committees and acted upon. The inter action between the ladies and gentlemen was handled with such intelli gence that much was learned by every listening ear. The words...DEDICA TION and SANDY RICHARDS...were spelled out with the same meaning during the round-circle discussion, be cause what she was contributing to these individuals was all on a voluntary basis. Not one cent would she be paid...she even used her own money to finance her journey. Even at the end of the session Representative Richards didn't feel that she had covered her lecture thoroughly enough and volunteered to return the following week. What can the Correction's Division say? What can the officials of the Oregon State Penitentiary say? What can the people and citizens of Oregon say? And what can the prisoners of this prison say? Except...THANK YOU, SANDY RI CHARDS and we hope there are more individuals like you in our State's elective offices who are willing to work among other human beings from the inside-out, instead of judging them from the outside- in. ment to become the first woman given the judgeship on the Court of Appeals. It is quite apparent...when the Oregon State Legislature and Senate made their ratification of this woman's appointment for this high State position they would not dream they might actually find her in the midst of thirty convicted prisoners inside the walls of O.S.P. Or explaining criminal laws and court procedures which govern this State with the Attorney General's Assistant Scott McAllister. What did 30 prisoners learn from this woman? Simply that she cared for them as human beings...with or without an Honorable title. Cared about their needs...their rights...and the knowledge to grasp the laws and duties she was sworn into office to up hold. She cared about these individuals as she had cared about those students in her classroom years before...as she cared about her clients in the courtroom, or even as she cared about her colleagues in the House and Senate. At least that was the way this O.S.P. Corres,M»ndent of the “Behind the Walls” column witnessed such an historical event on the night of January 16, 1978. The sad part is that this woman should have had the title of Governor or even President, then not only a classroom full of prisoners could enjoy her honesty, warmth, and sincere concern for people no matter who they may be or what title they may be forced to carry...but then again maybe these rare qualities can only be found in Her Honor Judge Betty Roberts as she administers her services to the people of Oregon...as a WOMAN. JUDGE BETTY ROBERTS How does a man keep a good woman in her place? Since the beginning of time many men have fallen in defeat trying to accomplish this impossible task. Only to recognize their valuable abilities at finding the answers to many questions asked. At last the State of Oregon finally conceded that a woman can defend herself and even excel mentally beyond and above the call of duty in decision making processes by merely caring about our fellowman. There was a community college in the State of Oregon who knew such a woman...as their political science instruc tor. The same woman many judges, counselors and juries in Multnomah County and the City of Portland respect as an Attorney of Law. The people in her community have, for twelve solid years, demanded she go to Salem as their voice in the House of Representatives and the Senate. The same woman who served on or headed such committees as the Judi ciary, Ways and Means, Aging and Minority Affairs; where budgets and reasonings become the main avenues to what progress this State claims in this day and age. Anyone would think when a man or a woman reaches this plateau that they would have fulfilled obligations to coun try, state, community, and to the people they serve...but NO!...this same woman is not about to put on an apron and make her kitchen her office and ignore the needs of the people...neither is this woman about to turn down the gavel that administers law and justice for a house coat and dust-mop. Not while the State of Oregon Court of Appeals needs her loyalty, devotion, and intelligence to make decisions which govern people's lives and security. This woman answered Governor Bob Straub's wishes by accepting an appoint- . . . UNION OR COMPANY DENTAL INSURANCE is a valuable asset. . . y o u r h e a lth and a p p e a ra n c e COMPLETE COOPERATION ON ALL DENTAL INSURANCE CLAIMS WE HANDLE ALL THE DETAILS OF COMPLETING YOUR CLAIM FORMS NO APPOINTMENT NEEDED Come in at your convenience PARK FREE-Any Park n Shop Lot H O URS: Dr. Jeffrey BRADY, Dentist S.W. 3RD A YAMHILL ST., PORTLAND. OREGON TAKE ELEVATOR TO 2ND FLOOR 3RD ST. ENTRANCE Office, Congress' independent audit agency. Effective government action to reverse We found in Illinois, for example, a the continuing trend toward two separate screening rate less than two percent. and unequal societies in the United Last year, of the thirteen million children States remains critical. eligible nation-wide for comprehensive Many government programs to serve care under this program only 1.4 million minorities and the poor are on the federal were served. law books. How well are the various To improve this situation I am encour federal agencies implementing these pro aged by a proposal to Congress from grams? Are the agencies doing what the President Carter for a new Child Health programs are intended to do? Assessment Program to revise substan In addition to passing laws. Congress is tially the existing EPSDT program. This also charged with overseeing their imple will provide much higher Financial incen mentation. This oversight or watchdog tives for the states to move out and responsibility, I am sorry to report, is too identify the poorest children, have them often overlooked. I feel strongly that examined, and have them treated. none of these is effective until it is Homeowners Assistance Program. actually serving the people. Another example of effective Congres On a number of occasions my oversight sional oversight work is with the Section efforts have revealed serious inadequa 518(b) program of the federal Home cies in federal programs, and these owners Assistance Program. The need findings have often resulted in agencies for adequate and safe housing in our changing their practices. cities is pressing. Let me cite two examples, one in the Many of my constituents wrote to me field of children's health and one in detailing difficulties they were having federal assistance to low-income home- with HUD, so I started an investigation. owners. In this program many low-income home EPSDT. There is a federal program buyers relied on government appraisals which is intended to assure that low-in to uncover structural problems when come children receive regular, high qual they bought their homes. ity medical examinations, preventive However, in the appraisals such dan care, and necessary treatment. It is called gerous problems as worn-out roofs, defec the Early and Periodic Screening, Diag tive heating systems, and rotten porches nosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) Program. and steps were often overlooked. The After Congress passed the EPSDT homeowner claims resulting from these legislation in 1967, it took the Depart conditions were badly mishandled by ment of Health, Education, and Welfare HUD. until 1972 to issue the EPSDT operating As a result of my investigations with regulations and longer still to get started. the help of the Comptroller General of the Furthermore, the program has not work United States, the Department of Hous ed as intended. ing and Urban Development agreed this It is painfully clear that no segment of year to reconsider thousands of unpaid our population is more in need of regular and underpaid by homeowners. and complete medical examinations than Federal Urban Ombudsman. This the children of poor families. Therefore, I December I met privately with President investigated the failure of this program Carter at the White House. Our discus with the help of the General Accounting sion ranged over a wide array of issues affecting my partly depressed, urban Uongressioral District on Chicago's South Side in particular and urban America in general. I suggested to the President that a comprehensive urban revitalization pro^ gram included appointing a Federal Ur ban Ombudsman The responsibility of the Federal Urban Ombudsman would be to respond to complaints of citizens and local government officials when a federal program is not meeting the needs of those whom it was designed to serve. Congress appropriates each year bil lions of dollars for federal programs to revitalize our urban areas. Past program management practices like those uncov ered in my oversight work have cost taxpayers millions of dollars. Such agency mismanagement has contributed to continued urban blight. When the intent of Congress if fru strated and negated by the ineptness of local administrators, then it is we in the Congress who must and will take action to correct the situation. You Can Hel;>. Individual citizens and organizations can help in oversight by informing your own legislators about the performance of federal programs in your community. This may influence their view of the program and could lead to action. My own experience has convinced me that effective legislation oversight is necessary to insure that federal pro grams do in fact operate as intended. Congressmen can get action rolling to bring services to the people, and we can work to insure that in a given program citizens get a fair shake. We in the Congressional Black Caucus work to be articulate and effective advocates for minorities and the poor. We are in a special position to make known to the rest of the Congress and to the Administration the impact and results of federal programs designed to aid minori ties and the poor. State agencies battle weatherization fraud increase SALEM - Governor Bob Straub and Attorney General James Redden have launched a Consumers' Weatherization Protection Network to combat the poten tial for consumer fraud in Oregon's burgeoning insulation and home weath erization industry. The Network will comprise consumer protection agencies in the Departments of Justice and Commerce, local law enforcement agencies and the newly-or ganized Oregon Weatherization Contrac tors and Manufacturers Association. Rising costs of electricity, heating oil and natural gas and heavy emphasis on energy conservation, coupled with Ore gon’s new weatherization incentives for homeowners (tax credits and refunds and low interest loans) are “likely to attract unscrupulous operators who are neither licensed nor bonded and who may know next-to-nothing about insulation and weatherization or criteria for tax incen tives." said Governor Straub. The Portland Better Business Bureau has noted a “significant increase in the number of complaints about shoddy insu lation work and weatherization paid for but not done," according to Bernard Muller, BBB Director. Redden said a substandard insulation job “means the customer may get his pocket picked twice. First, he's paying for work that doesn't meet state building codes. And second, because the work does not meet code, he won't get a tax credit.” When state building codes apply, wea therization measures must meet those codes. Some weatherization items quali fy for a tax credit or refund but are not required by standards or codes. Before buying, consumers should consult the Oregon Department of Revenue or a local building codes office. The Network's thrust will be to per suade homeowners to be skeptical about “pie in the sky" advertisements and claims, particularly if those claims come from contractors who are not registered with and licensed by the State Builders Board. Second, the Network will help custom ers check the reliability and performance records of licensed contractors. Third, the Network will assist homeowners in filing complaints on fraud, misrepresen tation or shoddy workmanship and ma terials. Governor Straub said he agreed with Redden that the Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Division should be the Network's lead agency. Two other consumer-oriented state agencies, the Builders Board and the Consumer Ser vices Division of the Department of Commerce, will assist in the program. Redden said the state is “particularly concerned with protecting the interests of elderly homeowners who often are victimized by fast-talking, hard-sell operators. “In one instance, an elderly woman was talked into signing a contract for $1,400 worth of insulation. Subsequent reviews of the work indicated she should have been charged about $400...of which $300 could have been refunded by the Depart ment of Revenue under Senate Bill 4." Persons seeking information on con tractors’ registration (or lack of it) can call the Builders Board, toll-free, at 1-800-452-9104 (in Salem, call 378-4621). Administrator Caroline Wilkins, of Com merce’s Consumer Services Division, can be reached in Salem at 378-4320. In Portland the agency's number is 229- 6479. Both agencies are situated in the Labor and Industries Building, Salem 97310. Assistant Attorney General Ross Lay- bourn is head of the Justice Department's Consumer Protection Office at 500 Pacific Building, 520 S.W. Yamhill, Portland, 97204. The telephone number is 229- 5548. A branch office in Medford is situated at 107 East Main, Suite 7. The Medford telephone number is 776-6185. The Portland Better Business Bureau may be reached by calling 226-3981. IE SPECIAL VALUES: fa m o u s, to p -q u a lity Whirlpool 2-Speed, 3-Cyde W ASHER An economy washer with features you'd expect to find only in higher priced models. Two washing and two spin speeds. Three cycles: NORMAL, GENTLE and SOAK. Cool-down care for Per manent Press fabrics. 3 Wash/Rinse water temp selections; 2 load-size water-saving selections. E a sy -to -clea n filter. Heavy duty H hp. mo tor; super SURGILATOR agitator. Boc-Pak Laun dry Information Center. Job program seeks youth Applications will be accepted through March 15th for about 1,000 jobs with the Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) in Ore gon this summer. The continuing youth program is operated by the individual states, U.S. Department of the Interior, and the U.S. Forest Service. Entering its eighth year, the YCC is designed to provide employ ment during the summer for persons at least fifteen and not yet nineteen years of age. There is no restriction in the YCC in regard to race or economic background but applicants must have an interest in the natural environment. Selection for employment will be by statewide random drawing. Former enrollees are not eligible for youth leader positions. Form er YCC participants interested in a Former YCC participants interested in a youth leader position should apply at a National Forest headquarters or a De partment of Interior office. Participants in the YCC, a work learn program, are introduced to environmen tai problems, contribute to their solu tions, and work with the management and development of public lands. In past years, the YCC has completed projects involving stream improvement, tree thinnning, range fencing, trail clear ing, fish and wildlife habitat improve ment, wildlife studies, and construction of recreation facilities, among others. Young men and women work side by side beginning about the last week in June and continuing about eight weeks. Persons interested in the program may obtain more information and applications from high school counselors, state em ployment offices, and other youth service organizations. In addition, persons may obtain information and applications from the Governor's Commission on Youth, National Forest offices, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Reclamation, Bureau of Land Management, and National Park Service offices. Applications should be mailed to the Governor's Commission on Youth, 325 13th Street., N.E., Salem, Oregon 97310, on or before March 15, 1978. GED test Permanent Press Dryer scheduled Testing for high school equivalency for those adults who have not graduated from high school has been added at the Portland Community College Cascade Center, 705 N. Killingsworth, Appointments to take the GED (Gen eral Educational Development) tests should be made through the counseling department at Cascade. To qualify for the certificate a person must be eighteen, a resident of the state and able to score at least forty on each of the five GED tests. The Oregon Board of Education awards a certificate of equiva lency to those who successfully complete the examinations. The tests are given in the areas of expression, readings in social studies, readings in natural sciences, interpreta tion of literary materials and mathema tics. Those wanting help in preparation for the GED tests may use PCC classes and tutoring centers. Arrangements for this should be made through Adult Basic Education. □ home furnishings Cool-down care for Permanent Press. 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