Mrs Frane«« Schoen-Nenapaper Roos U n iv e rs ity o f Oregon L ib ra ry tugene, Oregon 97403 Court recommends against CR suit PORTLAND OBSERVER V Volume 8 No, 16 Thursday, April IS, 1978 10c par espy Police to continue prostitution crackdown The Northeast Precinct Council, head ed by Bob Phillips, clcoely questioned police officers Tuesday night regarding the recent operation against prostitutes. Officer Verry explained that there had been many complaints from residents and business men about the girls on Union Avenue. Also, women had complained about the large numbers of men stopping them assuming they were prostitutes. The police department. North Precinct, recently used two female police officers to catch men. On the first night they arrested eighteen men and found that all but two lived in other parts of the city. On the second "raid" they invited mem bers of the press along so the identities of the men would be publicized. Verry denied that "entrapment" is being used. He defined entrapment as "making somebody do something he wouldn't otherwise do." He expressed concern that the courts are lenient with prostitutes. The women are usually released on bail within a few hours and are given a small fine and probation. There is usually no jail time until the third or fourth arrest. The decision to arrest the male cus tomers with publicity was “a partial solution. There is never a total solution to prostitution " Citizens complained that arresting prostitutes and their customers on Union Avenue has driven them into the neigh borhoods. "The girls are standing on Grand Avenue instead of Union and their customers are harassing young high school girls on their way to school." The police crackdown has also brought the prostitutes out on the streets from 9:00 a.ra. to 3:00 p.m., they clear the streets before the 4:00 p.m. patrol begins. They also have moved South of Fremont into East Precinct. Captain McCabe explained that the problem moves from area to area, depending on who is having firm law enforcement. When the police begin arresting downtown, prostitutes move to Albina. A crackdown on one street moves them to another. I f the word gets out that Portland, or Seattle, or San Francisco is arresting - many move temporarily to another city. McCabe's answer is stronger punish ment. " If we could get them in jail th irty days on the first time, sixty days the second time, they would leave. I t you really want to clean up the streets get the courts to put them in jail where they belong and you will take the profit out gf it." Suggestions were made that legisla tion would control prostitution as to the areas of the city involved and avoid the harassment of women by men seeking prostitutes. Other solutions offered were counseling, job training and other ser vices to prostitutes, especially young girls, to encourage them to leave the profession. McCabe explained that the cutback of Multnomah County funds for the juvenile court destroyed the counsel ing services available to juveniles so that most teenagers who are picked up for prostitution receive no services. The current police plan is to continue the arrests, particularly of male custom ers, in an effort to drive them from the streets. U.S. Magistrate George Juba haa rec ommended dismissal of a federal suit filed by Carol Bryant and Carolyn Smith against Labor Commissioner Bill Steven son. Attorney General James Redden, and Assistant Attorney General Victor Levy. The suit charged willful neglect of the officials' duty to investigate and settle civil rights complaints in a timely manner. The recommendation is not binding unless signed by a federal judge. The plaintiffs, who are represented by Legal Aid and the American Civil Liber ties Union, have been joined by thirteen others who have filed complaints with the Civil Rights Bureau and who are dissatis fied with the lack of response. Responding to a motion by the defend- enta for dismissal, Juba found that there is no due process violation if the state fails to act. There are three federal acts allowing deferral of civil rights com plaints from the federal to the state agencies, but "there is no statuatory entitlem ent. . . and, thus, no due process violation when the state fails to act upon deferral.” "Even if the state does nothing, the plaintiffs cannot claim a due process violation because no process by the state, under federal law. was due them." Juba found that the state law gives the Labor Commissioner “discretion to attempt set tlement of civil rights complaints by concilliation." The plaintiffs had also charged lack of equal protection, stating that certain other cases handled by the Labor Bureau - wage and hour cases - received more prompt attention than civil rights cases. Juba found that for the federal court to require identical treatm ent of all com plaints would be "an officious intermed dling into the state's task of allocating its limited resources and administering its agencies the way it sees fit." Although the 1977 contract between the federal Equal Employment Oppor tunity Commission and the Labor Bureau obligated the state to process complaints, Juba said the plaintiffs have no cause of action on that ground because Congress intended EEOC to terminate contracts when they were not carried out. The suit filed last fall is the culmination of dissatisfaction with the time involved in the resolution of civil rights cases. When Stevenson took over the Labor Stevenson claims that much progress with a large backlog of civil rights cases. Stevensons claims that much progress has been made, that old cases have been disposed of and investigation of new cases can begin in about 45 days, but he considers the two and one-half years or more involved in concluding a case much too long. Some members of the Black community accuse Stevenson of failing to make civil rights a high priority and of failing to bring about proper adminstration of that department. In December, following the filing of the suit, Stevenson and Redden requested additional funds from the Emergency Board. Stevenson asked the E Board to determine the length of time that should be involved and to fund the agency accordingly. The E Board selected a *360 day cycle" with a budget of $571,035 rather than the 180 day cycle Stevenson requested. Legal Aid has ten days in which to file an objection to Juba's findings. School district raises AYOS budget, funds community school Several hundred spectators crowded into the Portland Public Schools admini stration building as the Board addressed emotional issues. A large percentage of the crowd were Benson High School supporters who had come to protest the transfer of their principal. Harold Anderson, from the school and what they predict as the resulting "deterioration" of the school. Anderson has been at Benson, reputed to be one of the nation's finest technical high schools, for 21 ye a n . The parent and community charges were that Anderson, a former journey man carpenter and contractor, is espe cially qualified to lead a technical school; v. that he has set aa atmosphere of disc» - pHne and education T a c liig - fif o t M f " Portland High Schools; that the Incoming principal. Davis Wieoecke of Roosevelt is unqualified, that the merger of Washing tan and Monroe, with some exchange with Benson, arili lower standards at Benson. Some speakers expressed then- opinion that Anderson's move was the result of his lack of enthusiasm over the funding the Community School which had been funded in the past but was cut from the 1977-1978 budget. Superin tendent Blanchard recommended no funding. The school enrolls forty to fifty elemen tary school children. Dr. Blanchard contends that these children could be served by the public schools and that school district funding should be restrict ed to programs for students who cannot adjust to public high schools. During the discussion over whether the Community School students could be served by school district programs, sev eral parents told how their children’s problem in public school were alleviated after transferring to Community. Ms. Lenora Secuniar told bow her fourth grader was withdrawn in public school but did well in Community. Mrs. Louise Coleman said her ten year old child, whom she described as emo tionally upset, refused to leave the Ockly Green Elementary School building, the police handcuffed her, drug her away and took her to W averly Children's Home. This child also has been successful at merger. The only School Board member to defend Superintendent Blanchard's deci sion to move Anderson was W ally Priest ley. who told the citizens that although the Board has given D r. Blanchard the responsibility for staff assignments, any opposition or antagonism should be di rected at the Board rather than at Blanchard. The Board is ultimately responsible for the Superintendent's de cisions. Another large contingent was in atten dance in behalf of private alternative «bools that are partially funded by the school district. To receive funding these schools must serve children who cannot benefit from programs offered by the public schools. Superintendent Blanchard had recom mended $18,350 each for Lents Educa tional Center and Open Meadow School and $33,300 for Albina Youth Opportu nity School. The board voted to increase these amounts to $19,500 for the first two schools and $47,300 to Albina Youth Opportunity School. The difference of opinion was over Community School. Voting to fund the school with $10,000 were Robert Ridgeley, Frank McNamara mara, W ally Priestley. Opposed were Jonathan Newman, Beverly York, and Phylis W einer. Gladys McCoy favored funding the $10,000, having individual children tested for eligibility for federal funds for the emotionally handicapped, then deducting any funds received from the $10,000. When this option was opposed by Dr. Blanchard and Jonathan Newman for possible legal complications, 4te voted, for the $10,000 funding. The Community fihool, now located at 109 N .E . 50th Avenue was founded in the Albina area ans was for some time located at Highland United Church ol Christ. Spring means high sc k ssl track. Jacqoie WflHama, Madison junior, soars over the hurdles in an easy win. Jackquie came in first in the 100 hardies at 16.0, the 200 hurdles a t 30.1 and won the long jump w ith a 16-4 leap in the dual moot with Grant. Seniors ask new sponsor Nickerson explains program shortcomings, goals by Den Fuller The Portland Office Urban League Acting Director, Nate Nickerson, has indicated that the day of direct services program are finished, and the Black poor must develop creative alternatives that meet their needs with available resources of the community. Referring to the Senior Service Center on Union Avenue, Nickerson said that “...It’s nice to advo cate for more services but the cost is not figured from available resources.” Ac cording to Nickerson, the real villains are inflation and unemployment. Admitting that the senior program is not offering the services it did under Model Cities, the recently appointed acting head of Urban Leagues’ main office in Portland added that more bureaucratic layers have been added under the reve nue sharing initiated by Nixon, “...but none of them (state, county or city governments) wants to be responsible for the 'nitty g ritty ’ service delivery. They compete for the funds, and there are more funds, but inflation and the admini strative costs involved in 'local control' mean less money and therefore less service. I'm not blaming the politicians," said Nickerson. " It ’s not (only) their fault. The public needs to know; the cost of services is taxes." Asked about the impact of the federal programs that initiated many services to the poor for a few years, and then * • 7 Srk ns (bis to the w w elected chairman «4 the Urban Leagne el Portland Beard ef D iraderà. Schaaiblu leads Urban League The Urban league of Portland elected Roy Schnaible 1978 president at their April 6th annual meeting. He replaced Geraldine Christian. 1977 president. Schnaible, Pacific Northwest Bell Port land division manager, has served on the Urban league board of directors since 1974, most recently as treasurer. He is also on the board of directors for Portland Junior Achievement and the United Cerebral Patoey Association of Oregon. In addition he is associate director of the Portland Rose Festival Association and a member of the City of Portland C E T A Advisory Council. The Urban League sponsors programs for minority employment, youth counsel ing, education and elderly services includ ing the Albina Senior Services Center. It is funded by Urban league member contributions, United Way, various trust funds and state and federal grants. Schnaible said the League is currently looking nationwide for a new director to replace James Brooks who resigned earlier this year. i abruptly got cut, the League chief be came more animated. “These programs (Model Cities) have been raising the expectations of people and providing short term relief without the long term resource planning for efficient develop ment and transition to local sources of...private industry.” While refusing to comment on what he considers “...an internal personnel m atter.” Nickerson did say (in reference to the article which appeared in the Portland Observer on 3/30/78, citing rumors of M r. Ruther ford's forced retirement) that “the direc tor of the Union Avenue Senior Service Center and his (his) board have a right to say whatever they want,” But that...“He (M r. Rutherford) has not been forced to do anything.” Rutherford, who haa been asked by Nickerson to resign from directorship of the Senior Adult Service Center, said hia termination date is still April 15th. The Center's Board has written to the City requesting that it no longer be sponsored by the Urban League. Reflecting on his career, Nickerson, who left Denver, Colorado to attend school in Texas, has been involved with the Urban League in this city since 1963. Asked if the position of Executive Direc tor had been opened for application, Nickerson said, “Yes and nationally circu lated.” Indicating that he intends to apply for the position, the interim direc tor outlined the sources and programs of MHRC forms Mediation Unit The Metropolitan Human Relations Commission has received funding for a Neighborhood Mediation Project - the first of its kind in this area. Initially there will be three Mediation Centers serving North Portland, North east (186 to 33rd Avenue and Columbia to Broadway) and far Southeast. Mediation is defined as “a process by which disputing parties air grievances in the presence erf each other in a controlled manner." The problems to be addressed include neighbor to neighbor disputes - simple assault, tresspass, menacing, har assment. animal problems, and other conflicts that disrupt neighborhoods. The object is to settle disputes before law enforcement officers have to become involved. The centers will be staffed by five paid persons and nine community volunteers. Staff and volunteers will receive special training. The general procedure will be that when a complaint is received, a staff member will talk with the parties involv ed. In about half of the cases the problem can be solved in the first meeting. In more severe disputes, usually those of long duration, a hearing might be required. In that case the community volunteers would become involved. These people will be form the community and will understand how dispute* affect the community, so hopefully they can bring about a compromise that will bring neighbors together. The project is expected to get under way in late May. I the Urban League as being primarily United W ay, Area Agency on Aging, The Department of Labor, and other private sources. The goals of the programs have undergone change over the years depend ing on the guidelines, but population increases and the other villain, inflation, have meant that direct services and salaries were cut. “The present functions of the Senior Service Center for example, are presently case planning and informa tion and referral but not direct services because we simply don't have the mo ney." In the future. Nickerson says that development for the elderly must encour age and support the extended family traditions of the Black community, to make direct services a family affair. Suggesting neighborhood concern; tax incentives to families to provide for their elders; and family counseling on the benefits of returning to the traditions which have their roots in African culture, Nickerson said that he prefers these to other “...risky and unproven alterna tives." According to Nickerson, the answer lies in “...more community con cern, more unity, more humanism and more collective efforts.” Nationally there has to be a commit ment to a decrease in unemployment or an increase in income security for those who are willing and able to work. Full employment is not inflationary. There should be more protest of that kind of thinking. “But the issue,” says Nicker son, “is who is going to be that four and one half or five or six percent acceptable for unemployment figures? Even if that group died or somehow went away, there would have to be another group or this system would not be able to work. It's Black people now and that’s my concern.". T H E W H IT E HOUSE W A S H IN G T O N F A IR H O U S IN G M O N TH . 1978 Discrimination in housing is forbidden by Title V I II of the 1968 Civil Rights Act, the National Fair Housing Law. Freedom in the choice of housing is a promise deeply rooted in American history and tradition. Yet, today, ten years after passage of the National Fair Housing Law, many Americans still experience discrimination when they attempt to purchase or rent or finance a home or apartment for themselves or their family. Some of us - whether through fear or prejudice or superstition or through plain selfishness - still attempt to limit the freedom of other Americans. Unless we can overcome these limitations, we will be unable to meet the challenges we face as a people. The denial of equal housing opportunity is a serious impediment to the cooperative, harmonious sense of community and brotherhood we need to meet our problems head on. Aa we commemorate thia tenth anniversary of the passage of the National Fair Housing Law, I call upon those in Federal, State and local government - and all who are directly involved in the housing industry and real estate profession - to intensify those efforts that promote fair housing. I hope this step will be followed by like-minded actions on the part of all Americana. The freedoms that we believe in, enjoy and benefit from cannot be secure unless they are shared by all Americans. As long as equal opportunity ia denied to one person, the promise of equality for ail will be unfulfilled. During this April commemoration of Fair Housing Month, let ua not just celebrate the passage of a benchmark law, but let us determine to put fully into practice the principles for which it stands. Let us make ourselves aware of the ways in which this law applies to us and to our communities. And let us earnestly examine both personal and professional attitudes that might be a barrier to equal opportunity for others. Nothing could be more important to the future of our society. Jimmy Carter t