Portland observer., April 13, 1978, Page 2, Image 2

I
Not ¡ost in Albino!
Tuesday n ig h t the C ity C ou ncil m e t in St. Johns to
co nside r its p la n to o p p ly to the fe d e ra l g o v e rn m e n t
fo r fu n d s to d e v e lo p p riv ó te and p u b lic h o u sin g on
th e A i ¡la m erte River in St. Johns.
This o fte n noisy a n d a n g ry m e e tin g lasted u n til
a fte r m id n ig h t a n d e n d e d m the p re d ic te d a ffir m a ­
tiv e vo te A lth o u g h c o m m u n ity reside n ts a re d iv id e d
on th e issue th e re is c e rta in ly e n o u g h o p p o s itio n to
p re v e n t the assum ptio n fro m b e in g re a c h e d th a t th e
c o m m u n ity w h o le h e a rte d ly w an ts th e p ro je c t.
As usual, th e re a re m an y reasons fo r o p p o s itio n —
som e p ie fe r in d u stria l d e v e lo p m e n t; so m e fe a r th e
e ffe c t o f o su dd en in flu x o f p e o p le ; o th e rs b e lie v e
the site s n o ’ s u ita b le fo r h ou sin g. There a re o thers
w ho do not oopose ’ he p ro ie c t but n a ve som e serious
concerns
A fe w w ee ks o g o a s im ila r th in g h a p p e n e d in
A lb na The d iffe re n c e is th a t th e p ro p o se d b u ild e r
w ith d re w b e fo re th e rea l fe e lin g s o f th e c o m m u n ity
c o u ld be d e te rm in e d a n d th e P ortland D e v e lo p m e n t
C om m ission d e c id e d ’ o soend its m o n e y e ls e w h e re
A n othe r im p o rta n t d iffe re n c e w as th a t th e p e o p le o f
A lb na w ere asked to g ive up th e ir hom es, w h ile
those m St. Johns w e re asked to m o ve a fe w
businesses a nd g iv e up som e em p'ty lan d
\
But a fie ' N ordstro m d e c id e d to d ro p its p la n to
b u ild on U n io n A ve n u e , a ll h e ll b ro k e loose. C ity
H a il w a s a n g ry ; th e O r e g o n ia n e d to r< aily c a s t-g a te d
the residents; a n d the citizen s w e re b la m e d —
b la m e a fo r d e m o n s tra tin g o n interest in p la n n in g fo r
th e ir n e ig h b o rh o o d . They w e re accused o f " p la y in g
g am es' p o litic a l m a n ip u la tio n , re fu s in g to fa c e the
fu tu re , tu rn in g d o w n w h a t w as " g o o d fo r them **.
A e h a v e n 't h e a rd this a tto ck on the p e o p le o f St
Johns. They a re |ust co n ce rn e d citizen s w h o h a p p e n ­
ed to d isa g re e on w h a t is best fo r th e ir co m m u n ity .
There p ro b a b ly is som e a n g e r m C ity H a ll o v e r th e ir
b e h a v io r, b u t w e d o n 't see a n y p u b lic c o n d e m n a tio n
I ke th a t d ire c ’ ed at the p e o p le o f A ib in a .
30 days no answer
P ro stitutio n co n tin u e s to be a se riou s p ro b le m m
P ortland as H is iA m ost o f th e w o rld . A lth o u g h rt is
c a lle d a victim le ss crim e , p ro s titu tio n is a c rim e
o g a m st th e w o m e n w h o a re in v o lv e d w ith it. It a lso
co u ld be said to be a c rim e o g a m st th e m en w h o
su pp ort it a n d th e yo u n g m en w h o id o liz e th e
" p im p "
P ro stitutio n c e rta in ly is d e g ro d in g to e v e ry person
it in v o lv e s a n d to th e c o m m u n ity th a t m u lt be
harassed by th e 'jo h n s ', the p o lic e a n d th e in flu e n c e s
on its c h ild re n .
The m ost fre q u e n tly m e n tio n e d s o lu tio n is s t if f t r
p u n is h m e n t — lo n g ja il sentences -- to m a k e the
p ro fe s s io n less p ro fita b le . This has n o t p ro v e d to be
d e te rre n t to o th e r crim es
A n o th e r s o lu tio n , a n d o n e th a t m ig h t h a v e som e
short te rm b e n e fits, is le g a liz a tio n . This w o u ld
p ro v d e a se ction o f th e city a n d th e re fo re e lim in a te
th e p ro b le m fro m n e ig h b o rh o o d s ; w o u ld p ro v id e
p o lic e p ro te c tio n fo r those w h o in d u lg e ; w o u ld
p ro v id e g o v e rn m e n t re g u la tio n a n d ta x a tio n ; a n d
w o u ld insu re o d e q u a te h e a lth standards. It w o u ld
fre e p o lic e a n d c o u rt tim e — a n d th e to ils — fo r th e
m ore d a n g e ro u s o ffe n d e rs . This is a p io n th a t is used
in so m e o th e r n a tio n s (a n d has b e e n used r ig h t h e re
in O re g o n ) a n d it dese rve s se riou s c o n d id e ra tio n as
a sh ort te rm p la n .
The re a l s o lu tio n can o n ly c o m e w h e n th e re is no
n e e d fo r y o u n g g irls to sell th e m s e lv e s — w h e n th ey
w ill h a v e jobs, e d u c a tio n , resp ect a n d s e lf-c o n ­
fid e n c e . C ub a a n d so m e o f th e s o c ia lis t c o u n trie s
h a v e e lim in a te d p ro s titu tio n by e lim in a tin g those
w h o re a p th e p ro fits a nd k e e p th e w o m e n in
b o n d a g e a n d by p ro v id in g e m p lo y m e n t a n d so cia l
services W h e n w e co n s is te n tly see te e n -o g e g irls
w c lk in g th e streets, it is tim e fo r g o v e rn m e n t to m o ve
to g e t a t th e e c o n o m ic a n d so cial causes o f
p ro s titu tio n a n d to e lim in a te th e m U n til th a t d a y
a rriv e s , th irty days in ja il w ill h a v e little e ffe c t.
Tax credits racist
Every since th e 1954 school d e s e g re g a tio n d e c i­
sion , rocists h a v e a tte m p te d to set u p " w h it e o n ly "
p riv a te schools.
Across th e South these schools
sprang up, s ip h o n in g th e students a n d th e resources
fro m th e p u b lic schools. In these days o f d is c o n te n t
o v e r th e p u b lic schools, th e m a in d e te ra n t to th e ir
su b s titu tio n w ith a p riv a te system has b e e n th e lock
o f access to p u b lic funds.
Schools are e x p e n s iv e to o p e ra te a nd the m id d le
class has n o t b e e n a b le to b u ild a n d s u p p o rt th e ir
o w n schools. They h a v e lon g lo o k e d fo r a w a y to
fin d th e fu nd s.
N o w S enator Pock w o o d has co m e to the rescue
His b ill to p ro v id e ta x d e d u c tio n s fo r p a re n ts w ith
c h ild re n in p riv a te schools is |ust a n o th e r e ffo rt to
fin d p u b lic m o n e y to su pp ort those schools.
If P a c k w o o d 's b ill is passed it w ill m ea n th e d e a th
o f th e p u b lic school. O n ly th e p o o r, th e m in o ritie s
a n d o th e rs w h o o re “ u nd e sira b le ** w ill g o to p u b lic
schools. The m id d le class w h ite s w ill h ave th e ir o w n
schools — w h ic h a ll o f us ta x p a y e rs w ill be h e lp in g to
support. The b ill is ro a s t a n d m ust be o p p ose d
...W E WON’T HAVE THE
W ith THE
ST 30HM5 COMKUHITY
It has been a great pleasure for me to
have been associated with the Commu
nity Coalition for School Integration In
my short lim e in Portland, after my
return from the University of Oregon,
there has been no development in local
education more exciting.
It has been
wonderful to be a part of it.
The Coalition began last summer, a*
the new bom baby of the furtile interne
lion of many Portland area citizens who
»ere tired of the arbitrary and inaensi
live actions of the Portland Board of
Education. The response in this case
regarded another step in the Portland
Pubbr School's desegregation
plan.
Another step in the same direction
simply meant greater burdens for the
Black community.
Out of widespread
response against the Board's plan to
restrict more Black students from attend
mg Jefferson, th eir neighborhood school,
the Coalition formed.
When the Coalition comes to m u d . I
can think of so many good th ug s to say.
I could w rite about the marvelous job of
organization, which, in a short period,
pulled together over eighty individuals,
more than 31 organizations, and raised
close to $50.000.
Easily. 1 could say
something about Coalition s research on
the so-called "Jefferson Problem" when
its report conclusively prove that the
action contemplated by the Board was
unnecessary.
I could say so many good things about
so many accomplishments, but my appre
nation for the w ork of the Community
Coalition for School Integration runs
deeper. I am appreciative of the fine and
dedicated people I have had the good
fortune to meet. I'll tell you about a few
of them.
H arry W ard, the Coalition Chairper
son. has been a model of leadership. He is
underestimated by many in our commu
nity. His leadership is composed of a
remarkable balance of opposites: He is
firm, but encourages openness. He is
demanding, but understands particular
circumstances of individuals.
He is
soft spoken and rather mild mannered,
but be does not attempt to trample the
intelligent anger of the youthful members
of the organization. H arry W ard strongly
directs the work of the Coalition's staff,
but he knows the difference between
good direction and stifling interference.
He has giv-vn the Coalition stability with
his leadership and credibility with his
name.
For his consistent, quiet, yet
positively productive work. H arry W ard
deserves the thanks of our community.
Benfta Streughter, who serves as the
Coalition s secretary and sits on i u Task
Coordinating Body, has been a standard
of consistency throughout. No one has
produced more, and few have been so
readily available. Ms. Stroughter's in
sights have been instrumental to the
positive direction the Coalition has taken.
Her sense of good politics has added
balance when our perspectives seemed
onesided, and her voice stands out when
she speaks because she seldom speaks for
nothing. Bemta Stroughter is a prime
example of the type of people participât
ing in the Coalition - she is strong in her
thought, unafraid to speak her mind
anywhere to anyone, yet on the other
hand, she is willing to listen to the point
of view of those around her.
Veaia Loving gives and gives and gives
and gives.
H er contribution to the
Coalition has been constant and inde
spensable. W ith the help of Sara Cogan.
a member of Schools for the C ity, Mrs.
Loving organized community forums all
over Portland She look time to speak at
many of them herself, and she earned the
message that the Black community was
tired of shouldering the burden for
integration alone. There was no hedging,
no hesitation, no reluctance, no fear. But
always, in the style only Vesia can
command, there was a sense of hope that
the people of our city can make schools
better. Mare than 430 people took part in
community forums, representing every
high school in Portland and over half of
the elementary schools Vesia Loving has
been a tower of strength and consistency
The Coalition, as well as our community,
would be less without her.
Arm inds Lagaardia. the Co-chairper
son of the Resources Committee, was
instrumental in developing the financial
base for the Coalition. He waa, in the
beginning, perhaps the only one capable
of defining needs, documenting potential
expenses, and formulating those needs
and expenses into a realistic budget.
More than ho work in developing re­
sources. however, Armondo gave the
Coalition a seasoned perspective, one
informed by several years of close work
with the desegregation program in Port­
land. His patience as he prodded the
growth of the organization was rooted in
one basic understanding: You cannot
achieve balanced racial participation in
integrated schools without participation
from all elements. “It's time to go beyond
numbers to a consideration of quality,
multi-cultural education." he said.
Ruth Spearer comes to the Coalition
with experience and a relentless reputa­
tion for speaking freely against the
unequal manner in which Blacks have
been considered by the Hoard of Educa
tion.
In working beside her. 1 have
seen the fear of the administration and
the Board. Ruth Spencer, they know, is a
person with whom they must deal. She is
not for sale. She cannot be intimidated
with the threat of losing her job. for many
in our community and in school admini
stration know she is an excellent teacher.
Ruth Spencer adds a toughness to the
vision of the Coalition: a toughness that
we have come to respect.
She is
informed: she recognizes historical de
velopments and is determined to see that
they do not repeat themselves. We have
learned from her and she from us.
O ver the past few months, in rather
isolated quarters, some have said or
thought. T h e Coalition is likely to be
ineffective, impotent because it has many
white people involved."
Perhaps what those tentative voices
fail to fully grasp is that progress in
public school integration requires coali
tk n politics. To the extent that it must
be done, both Black and whites are
required, together. In a city such as
Portland, a movement to improve the
multi-cultural atmosphere of public
schools which did not include whites
would be an instant failure. It seems
d ear and understandable that the "alarm­
ing" aspect comes from the past, when
the white leadership turned its back and
thrust the burden for desegregation upon
the Black community.
However, when the Black community
is represented by the kind of dedication
and skill and experience possessed by the
committed people mentioned here - plus
the many others un mentioned here -
there is no need for anyone in the
community to sound a false alarm.
The Community Coalition for School
Integration is in good hands.
Through the eyes of Mr. W . . .
by Harold C. WaKams
When opportunity knocks it doesn't
wait around long for an answer I t never
knocks the second time, it moves on to
the next door.
Opportunity came to the door of Union
Avenue and the residents in the sur­
rounding areas took too long in answer
ing. as in the case of Nordstrom building
a new facility in the slow business area on
Union Avenue. By the time the residents
decided to open the door to the opportu
nity that Nordstrom was offering,
Nordstrom moved on to an area where
the community was quick to respond. A t
a time when unemployment is 20®* and
upward for Black people, one can t afford
the intellectual game of rhetoric. Econo­
mics is plain and simple, you either deal
or you don't.
W hat Nordstrom waa
saying to the community, “you either
want us or you don't."
The Black community cannot continue
to be led by the blind that are stupid to
economic stability.
Mayor Neil Gold
schmidt did everything in his power to
get Nordstrom on Union Avenue. He
almost put it in the community's lap. He
got Nordstrom to agree to put its new
facility on Union Avenue, signed, sealed
and delivered and what did a few blind,
short sighted, narrow-minded individuals
do? - cut off the hand that would feed and
bring new life to the community. It is
time that the community act instead of
react.
Losing Nordstrom has set back the
economic progress on Union Avenue at
least five years or more.
The Black
community can't blame Mayor Neil Gold
schmidt for this one. The community has
to take it on the chin and hope that Mayor
Neil Goldschmidt is willing to fight as
hard the next time in the community's
behalf.
I t is tune the Black community realize
that Model Cities is long gone
poverty
program«, are long gone - easy federal
money is long gone.
What's needed now is strong and true
economic stability that will breathe new
life into the dead souls of Union Avenue.
We either become politically and econo
mically aware or we will miss the good
train - lollypop of opportunity when it
knocks.
It is time that the community have an
opportunity to fill its plate on progress
and strong economic stability and get off
the starvation diet of indecision and
stupidity.
Jj&Ml to tkí ZÙJtM,
1st Piare
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School Board
To the Editor:
obnoxious
A recent editorial in your paper ad­
dressed the issue of possible termination
of Multnomah County's contract with the
Juvenile Law- Center
The purpose of
this letter is to put that issue in its proper
perspective, since I am the one who is
responsible for negotiating that contract.
First of all. for the County to maintain
its fiscal stability, we are operating under
strict budgeting control. This year, my
Department received a seven percent
increase for its contract services for next
fiscal year. The Juvenile Law Center
made a request that was in excess of
th irty percent I , in turn, asked if they
could provide their services with a seven
percent increase and was informed that
the thirty percent increase request was
not negotiable A t this point. 1 informed
Honorable Meatum
Herrick Editorial Award
N N A 1973
2nd Place
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3rd Place
Ss t innsl Adveruoiag Re.treoentatrve
New York
the head of Legal Aid Services that
because of fiscal constraints, the County
would not be contracting with them for
legal services at the Juvenile Court next
fiscal year.
The citizens of Multnomah County can
be assured that the County recognizes its
responsibilities tor providing legal ser
vices to the Juvenile Court and will carry
out those responsibilities. Unfortunate­
ly, the Juvenile Law Center's "non Dego
liable" request exceeded the funds avail
able and we are now pursuing alternative
methods of providing those services. It is
my responsibility to see that the services
are provided in the most cost-effective
way possible. This I will do.
Sincerely,
Lee P. Brown, Director
Department of Justice Services
K in g lives in hearts
To the Editor:
The Portland O bserver s official position is expressed only in
its Publisher's column We See The World Through Blsck
Eyes i 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 H E N D ER SO N
Editoi Pubbober
Ju ven iles to get services
In regards to Lee Ivory's article “The
King is Dead," I don't think so. I don't
know for sure, only Blacks in their hearts
can know for sure, but I don't think so. I
believe D r. King lives on in the dreams
and goals of millions just as the dreams
and goals of Jack Kennedy live on in the
hearts of millions.
Maybe his ideals live on in the heart of
some impoverished »chad child, maybe in
the heart of a factory worker, maybe in
the heart of a prisoner, maybe in the
heart of a school teacher, maybe in the
heart of a field worker. Somewhere they
live. If they are not alive then there are
no such things as dreams, goals, heroes
and honor. And there will always be
dreams, goals, heroes and honor. The
foundation of civilization rests on such
substance.
Sincerely.
Donald Danford
The averaqe depth of the ocean it between 2 1/4 and 2 1/2
milet
Although the ni^itingate it known at a brilliant tinqsr,
itt piumaqs it drab, with rutty brown and pray feathers
1
»
t
To the Editor:
I'm w riting to express my dissatisfac­
tion with School Board members Frank
McNamara and Jonathan Newman's
treatment of Board member Wally
Priestley.
I find their conduct and behavior
towards M r. Priestley obnoxious, degrad­
ing. and distastefully cruel.
I have
watched and listened to this for the past
few months without expressing my con­
cerns.
I can no longer sit ldlely by
without addressing this matter.
M r Priestley was elected to the Board
the same as the rest of the Board
members and with an even larger vote,
and for them to treat him in this manner
is being disrespectful to the people who
elected him to serve. This is a further
showing of conceit and insensitivity to
others feelings that have been so ob­
viously shown against the Black commu­
nity.
I am also concerned about the vicious
attack of M r. McNamara against Mrs.
Ruth Spencer at a recent Community
Coalition for School Integration Thsk
Force meeting with some members of the
School Board and staff. I feel the people
should have more respect from their
representatives on the Board.
If Board members can not respect
fellow Board members and their views
what ctm the rest of us expect from them.
Sincerely,
Vesia Loving