Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (March 2, 1978)
Page 2 Portland Observer Thursday. March 2. 1978 We see the world through Black eyes Success equals service plus cooperation by Herb Cewtherwe Voice of the people are heard C itizens a te seeing th a t th e ir u n ite d o c tio n can m a ke a d iffe re n c e . M o n d a y n ig h t Dr. Robert B lanchard w ith d re w the "W o o d la w n M u b i-C u b u ro l C e n te r" p la n fro m co n sid e ra tio n by th e Sctiool Board, sa yin g the p la n needs fu rth e r re fin e m e n t. This was a d ire c t resu lt o f o p p o sitio n to th e p la n by citizens - The C o a litio n fo r School In te g ra tio n , th e C o m m itte e fo r Equal Education fo r A ll C h ild re n , C oncerned Block Parents a n d others. The fo ct th a t the a d m in is tra tio n a nd som e b o a rd m e m b e rs fo rm e d a cceptance o f the p io n w as d e m o n stra te d by Ms. G lodys M cC oy's le tte r to th e O b se rve r last w e e k d e fe n d in g th e p la n a nd re q u e stin g o u r e nd o rse m e n t. Dr B la nch ard d id not say th e p la n w as w ith d ra w n because o f co m m u n ity o p p o s itio n — b u t th a t is w h a i happened Lost w e e k o n e -h u n d re d a n g ry citizen s m et w ith C om m issioner M ild re d S chw ab a n d d e m a n d e d that 'Tomi the d a n g e ro u s p lo y e q u ip m e n t fro m L^pthank Pork be re m o v e d C itizens h ave c o m p lo m e d a b o u t this p la y g ro u n d fo r years, b ut it stayed A little g irl w as k ille d by a fa llin g s w in g lost fa ll, but it stayed. But w h e n citizens m od e th e ir d e m a n d in a u n ite d , o rg a n iz e d w a y — it took o n ly tw o days fo r the d e m o litio n to b e g in . In less th on a w e e k C o m m is sioner Schw ab h od o c q u ire d fu n d s fo r d e m o litio n fro m th e C ity C ou ncil. The jo b is not fin is h e d since the M ayo r a n d some com m issioners th in k U ntha nk Park should g o w ith o u t a p la y g ro u n d a n d c o m p e te w ith o th e r parks fo r fu n d s — b u t c o m m u n ity pressure can ta ke care o f th a t p ro b le m , too. The School District, th e city and others h o v e ta lk e d a b o u t citizens in v o lv e m e n t fo r a lo n g tim e b u t h a v e d o n e little to fa c ilita te th e process. N o w th e y h o v e little choice U mu Landowner Threat fro m The A tla n ta In q u ire r W h ile w h ite fa rm e rs across th e n a tio n have been h a v in g "tra c to r p a ro d e s ," Block p e o p le have fa ile d to re a liz e th a t the state o f Block ia n d o w n e rs h ip is pre sen tly in a crisis state. W e o re lo sin g an a v e ra g e o f 6,000 ocres o f la n d per w e e k, v a lu e d conserva tiv e ly a t n e a rly tw o m illio n d o lla rs, $100 m illio n a n n u a lly . A t th is pace, if th e cu rre n t rate o f loss continues u n a b a te d , Blocks w ill be v irtu a lly landless by 1990. The reason fo r such s ta rtlin g statistics con be la id at the fe e t o f o u r p e rp e tu a l e n e m y — d is c rim in a tio n . H ow is it p ossible th a t Black la n d o w n e rs h ip stood a t tw e lv e m illio n ocres in 1950 a n d b y 1969 d ro p p e d to 5.5 m illio n acres, a loss in excess o f f ifty percen t? It is n ot d ue to Blacks v o lu n ta rily re lin q u is h in g th e ir land. Block p e o p le h ave b ee n a n d a re th e victim s o f system atic p o litic a l, le g is la tiv e a n d ju d ic ia ry m e thods d e sig n e d to rid Block p e o p le o f th e ir land. H isto rica lly, Black fa rm e r/la n d o w n e rs have hod to sell th e ir la n d in the fo ce o f m o u n tin g fin a n c ia l a n d le g a l pressures They have had to rid th e m se lve s o f a c c u m u la te d d e b t; b ee n v ic tim iz e d by u nscrupulous attorneys, rea ltors a n d lan d sp ecu la to rs; a n d h ove re c e iv e d separate a n d u n e q u a l tre a tm e n t at the hands o f the South's court system in the la n d tax, p a rtitio n sale and fo re c lo s u re process Since n in e ty p ercen t o f a ll B lo c k -o w n e d fa rm la n d is in on e le v e n state re g io n o f the South, th e tra d itio n a l southern w h ite m e n ta lity once a g a in m ust be d e a lt w ith fo r Block e c o n o m ic d e v e lo p m e n t. W h a t does a ll this m ean? It m eans th a t Black p e o p le , w h e th e r u rb an or ru ra l, m ust b e g in to address the p ro b le m o f d e c lin in g Block la n d o w n e rs h ip . Since th e rate o f loss is so sto gg erm g, a d e la y in s te m m in g th is process c o u ld sp ell e c o n o m ic su icide a n d resu lt in th e c re a tio n o f a roce o f p e o p le lea sing th e ir h o m e la n d . W ith fa rm in g re p re s e n tin g one o f th e fe w o ccup atio ns in w h ic h a Black person can be an in d e p e n d e n t businessperson, each n e w parcel o f lan d snatched fro m Black p e o p le brings w ith it a little o f o u r hearts, souls, p rid e , d ig n ity , a nd m ost im p o rta n t, the sw ea t o f o u r ancestors w h o to ile d a g a in st g re a t odds to o b ta in th e lan d. S o rr^ Sort! X m getting in , one or a r o lh e r ... an A Aon‘f caU m e S on \ 11 OkAr eructa oÇ Klinorftífc.S »n "Hus u n io n i W e ckmi" need m o re l The “Observer" wr kow n Support your advertisers— they make this edition possible address si the w riter. The “Observer" rétalas the right ta edit far space. Portland Observer Published every Thursday by Exie Publishing Company, 2201 North Kilhngsworth Portland. Oregon 97217. Mailing address: P .0 Box 3137. Portland. Oregon 97208. Telephone 283 2486 Subscriptions: $7.50 per year in the Tri-County area. $8.00 per year outside Portland. Second Class Postage Paid at Portland. Oregon The P o r tla n d O b s e rv e r • official position is expressed only in its Publisher's column (W e See The World Through Black Eyes l. 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 HEN D ER SO N Editor Publisher National Advertising Re.weoewtative I Pahhshers. Inc New V a ri MtMSEV M E M *« Oregon N ew spaper Publishers Association letter«. N e J I p J I p ER Aooocidbon - Founded IMS la t Place ( ommunnv Service O N PA 1973 Is t Place Best Ad Renuit* O NPA 1973 5 th Place Best Edharial N N P A 1973 HaaoraMe Meotiao Herrick Editorial A ward N'NA 1973 2nd Place Best Editorial 3rd Place ( n w a i t y Leadership O N PA 1975 When you walk into Henry Scott's office, you immediately hear confidence talking And when you looa at the record of Coast Janitorial Service. Inc., of which Scott is president, you immediately roa bar that Henry Scott's talk is not cheap. I j a t year. Coast Janitorial Service reached the two million mark in gross sales and an all tune high of more than 200 employees. Promoted as a complete building maintenance service - from window washing to carpet cleaning, from floor polishing to general building upkeep - Coast Janitorial stands out as the largest Black business enterprise in the state of Oregon. Almost tw enty-three years ago, it was Scott's dream to build a company that made service its product and family cooperation its formula for success. And that is exactly what he did. "W hen you go out to talk to another buiness." says the 52 year old president, “the only thing you have to sell is labor and service. You have to sell yourself, then you have to sell your company You have to let them know what your company has done, what its doing now. and how many people in the community depend on it for their livelihood. When you can prove that your company can do the very best yob possible, then they are willing to listen.* When Henry Scott realized many years ago that it pays more to work for oneself, he also understood that the road would be a rough one. The sue of the task did not make him shirk. He and his wife. Bernice, worked day and night in the early days to deliver the service that would later make them famous The attitude he had then still serves today: “Once you can establish that you are the best, then you're going to get more of the work than your competition Eventually, the word will get out. This is our most effective advertisement - the work we do." said Scott, who is one of several brothers and sisters who came to Port land in 1944 from Louisiana. In the jam lonal business, service must be backed by knowledge. President Scott emphasizes this over and over again to his co-workers. “You have to know everything in the business. For example, there are all kinds of carpels, and you have to know how to take rare of the fabric in them. It's expensive and hard to replace You need more than a broom and a dust pan in this business." The special formula for Coast Janitorial Service, located at 714 N .E . Alberta, is a family spine of cooperation. Several members of the family and their children contribute to the success of the firm. But it does not stop there As Manuel Scott, vice president in charge of sales, told me. “We really don’t have any superstars. I don’t like super stars. The key to this company is togetherness. I t ’s unity. Everybody is important." W ith a determined look which emphasizes how much he believes in what he is saying. Manuel Scott conn nues. “I don’t care if you're a maintenance engineer or a salesman: 1 don’t care if you re a foreman or a windowwasher - everyone is important. If one person doesn't do the job right, it causes problems for everyone." Having seen the company's sales ex ceed the two million mark and continue to grow, Manuel Scott is very clear as to what the formula for success has been He says strongly. "This is a family working together. W hether the name is Scott or Smith or Johnson, we still think of everyone as a member of the family, all working together in unity to build a successful business. When a young person comes into the company, we try to get him into the swing of things. W e try to get him feeling a part of the family. And we intend to reward success." The company hopes young businessmen and women will consider a career with their company. Manuel Scott, the oldest of the clan, will tell you point blank what it takes, “You have to have desire. You've got to want to do something It takes hard work, dedication and motivation to get something done. This is what many vouag people seem to forget. They want everything too fast, before they sacrifice, before they pay the pnee. It just doesn’t work that way." Coast Janitorial Service. Inc., is a sparkling example of persistence, co operation. commitment, drive and future oriented thinking. If one takes a kook at the philosophy behind it. the reasons for its success become obvious. And there’s little doubt in Henry- Scott's mind that the future with Coast Janitorial Service will be enriching (in I o tko E â Ü m Explains legislative record To the Editor: In response to M r. Sampson s letter regarding Representative Priestley a re cord. indeed M r Sampson did check the numbers further than I did. though I deny seeking to distort his record. But. let’s check Representative Priestley ’s re cord even further because numbers are misieiding Of the bills for which Pnestley was sole sponsor that did not become law eight were related to criminal procedure and penal reform. Ia there any way these bills could have passed’’ Who would have benefitted’’ Should Representative Priestley be blamed for their failure or praised for having the courage to intro duce these controversial measures? There were some successes One bill that Representative Priestley was a principal sponsor of, HB2929. which was signed into law creates a “tax credit of at most $500 for personal income and corporate exiae taxes for increases in number of new. qualified full-time em ployees over minimum level of growth Creates a formula for determining amount of credit. Defines qualified employee to include persons receiving unemployment, public assistance. train ing and rehabilitation programs or Cor rections Division training." Who bene fit«? Of the bills Representative Priestley was a principal sponsor for that did not become law. one was HB2350 creating a State Bank. Who would have benefitted. the wealthy or the poor? Ia there any way it could have passed? Shouldn't it, nevertheless, have been introduced and considered’’ Whom should we thank? Another of the bills that did not become law for which Representative Priestley was a principal sponsor (at the request of the Consumer Power League, the Oregon State Grange, and the Org gon W a s h in g to n F a rm e rs U n ion ). HB2887, related to people's utility dis tncts. created new provisions and amend ed laws. Who would have benefitted? HB3229 for which Representative Priestley was a principal sponsor, and which did not become law. related to the Initiative and Referendum and created new provisions. (This relates to increas ing the power of citizens to pu7:cipate in and gain more control over decision mak ing.) Who would benefit? I am more concerned with what a legislator supports than what the House, Senate and jo v ern o r in their collective "wisdom” determine is, or ia not. worthy of becoming law. For instance, if one checks with Common Cause he or she will find that Representative Priestley voted “right" on ail the bills of concern to them last session. Many legislators by percentage of h ill« passed look good. Often these are legisia tors who introduce and support only non-controversial bills. They are not reformers, but may go far. Represents five Pnestley will support a bill on principle and will introduce bills too controversial to pass that session. His numbers record suffers accordingly. Recently, at Concordia Community Association Planning Study meetings when neighborhood problems were dis cussed, the planning consultants suggest ed as one crime prevention measure, putting locks on doors Representative Pnestley. sitting among mostly middle income white and Black constituents, suggested adding "redistributing wealth" as a crime prevention measure. Was there opposition? Yes. from some whites and Blacks. Did it get diicusaed? Yes. Did it get included in the community's plan? Yes. in modified form The idea that became acceptable was that of achieving "equity in income." Though obviously thia would involve "redistribut ing wealth" thia phrase as yet is seen as too radical to be acceptable? Who would benefit if this occurred? Whom should we thank for proposing it: What if all neighborhood associations in this country had a W ally Pnestley'.’ What if legisia tures had more Representative Priest leys'? Did Priestley stand to gain or lose by proposing this idea? W hat would most politicians have done? Should politicians and others be en couraged to consider this and similar ideas? Do politicians usually seek out information about such ideas? Do their usual associates and those with whom they aspire to associate present such idea«? terms of one's pocketbook) and reward ing (in terms of one's sense of cootribu lio n ). "In the next ten years." he says, as he leans back in his chair, "we're going to be at least ten times belter than we are today." In the comfort of his office in the warmly decorated space on N .E. Alberta. Scott notes. “W e’re learning more every day, and our people are getting more excited about this thing all the time. It's wonderful. I feel like in ten years we’re going to be one of the best companies in the d ty of Portland." There is such intense meaning in the voice of the chief executive that one cannot help but think that he knows exactly what he’s talking about. But. in case there is some doubt, all one ha» to do is look at the record. Through the eyes o f Mr. W . . . by Harold C. Wilhams M Y SON “T W O " Your world began with your mother and I. You are from the two of us. So comes your name. Two. Your world has two parts The one we built with hope and prayer. So that you and other children can live. The second part of your world you must build on a foundation af love, hope and peace With that, my son Two. maybe there will be a chance for number Three. stands taken io the community. One's social, political and ethical philosophy and the strength of one's character are tested and forged by fighting the political battles. Representative Priestley has done so and has remained faithful to the interests of the powerless. Representative Priestley describes po liticians as always looking up to the next rung of the power and status ladder. There are politicians though, like Priest ley. who get a grip on the first rung on the ladder and then look down instead of up and decide to keep their feet stuck firmly in the mud with the rest of us. They will not become powerful legislators if one defines ’‘powerful" in the sense of achieving recognition from those on high er ladder rungs. In fact those above will do their utmost to push such a legislator off the ladder altogether. Who should fight to keep Representative Priestley's grip on the ladder firm? Finally, M r. Sampson appears to make the rather pompous assumption that if I do not know the candidate he supports I must not spend my time in meaningful pursuits Though it is none of his business where I spend my time let me assure him that I too am a doer at good deeds and am active in several commu nity organizations where one will not meet the candidate he supports Sincerely, Claudia Fisher Record vs potential To the Editor: Hooray for Gary Sampson who took time to research Wally Priestley's inef fective legislative record as contrasted with Evie Crowell's potential. If only more of us would take time to do our homework the quality of our elected officials could be much improved. Is it more costly in a legislature or elsewhere to introduce such ideas, or is it more costly to our society in the long run not to introduce and support such ideas Priestley. He is here between elections and learns about the problems of Black people by joining in their struggles, even if they fail to pass now? Whom should we thank and support for his courage and perseverance? How many politicians should we oust or prevent from gaining office who do not support such measures? I doubt if there is a state or looal office holder in Portland who spends more time, energy, thought and heart in the Black community than does Representative When I refer to "community track record’ I do not mean the number of (certainly) worthwhile service organtza tiona that one is active in or maintains membership in, or the number of meet ings one attends. I am interested in the office seeker's political, issue oriented I Mary IXiwney 1740 N .E . Irving Portland. Oregon 97232 Let Africans choose To the Editor: Once more, another self styled South African white liberal has come up with a few theories on how to solve the South African crisis. A» usual, he claims to have the best interests of the Africans at heart and that he knows what they want. It's so sad that even in this day and age, 1978, just twenty two years shy of Century 21. the South African whites still think they know what's beat for the Africans. To all these "philanthropists," we say "Thanks, but no thanks." (Please turn to Page 3 Column 1) 1 ,
