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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (April 20, 1978)
i r » Frane»» Schoen-K'awspaper Roo» U n iv e rs ity o f Or»g»n L ib ra ry rugane, Oregon 97403 ET PORTLAND OBSERVER Volume 8 Ne. 17 Thursday. April SO, 1978 10c per copy Young earns 'Mother’ Merit Award KAREN BELL Ball a o m eagiaaariag award Karen Bell, a junior at Monroe High School, has been selected to represent the Oregon Chapter of American Society of Civil Engineers at a two week engi neenng summer institute at California State University at Long Beach. This will be an expense paid trip for Karen and twenty-four minority students from across the nation. Miss Bell is enrolled in the Portland State University Educational Center pre engineering program tor minority high school students, where she attends after school classes in engineering and math. Miss Bell is interested in pursuing a career in engineering. She received the award at a special assembly sponsored by the Urban Lea gue of Portland and Monroe High School. She has been a participant in the Urban League's “Career Awareness Day" d ur ing the last two years and two Nuclear Engineering- Workshops sponsored by Oregon State University. Karen is the daughter of M r. and Mrs. John Bell. Mrs. Maude Banks Young was one of twelve Oregon women to receive M erit Awards in the annual Mother of the Year competition. Mrs. Young received her award from Governor Bob Straub this week. Mrs. Young and her late husband. Nick Banks, who was a chef on the Great Northern Railroad, were parents of three children. Bernice is married and lives in California. She is a former teacher. Audry Parsons is an adjudicator for the Oregon City office of the State Employ ment Division. Nick Banks, Jr. is a driver for Mobile Oil, the first Black driver on the West Coast. Mrs. Young has always been involved in community activities. While her children were small she was active in P T A at Holladay and Eliot schools, which was uncommon for Black parents at that time. She also was a G irl Reserve Advisor for the segregated Williams Avenue Y W C A . Mrs. Young and her husband became irvolvetl with the USO at the Y W C A , volunteering hundreds of hours. H er husband cooked and baked for the ser vicemen and was a special inspiration since he was an amputee. Their home was always open to servicemen. Mrs. Young was one of the first members of the Urban League Guild and was president for five years. She served on the Urban League of Portland Board of Directors for four years. Mrs. Young was active in women’s clubs, and was a member of the Portland Federation of Women's Organizations. She chaired the Child W elfare Committee and actively worked with the Legislature and the Juvenile Court to promote legislation to protect battered children. A member of St. Philips Episcopal Church for forty years, she has held every office open to women. She is currently President of Episcopal Church Women of St. Philips, chairman of United Thank Offering, and a member of Daughters of the King, a national service organization. She has sung in the choir for forty years. Mrs. Young was sponsored in the Oregon M other of the Year competition by the Urban League Guild. Irving Park neglect charged There ia no cloud of dust when little leaguer's slide into home at Irving Park because there is no dust. For more than two yeart. the L ittle League officials have attempted to get the Park Bureau to put dirt on the basepaths at the Irving Park ball fields. “I t is dangerous for a player to slide on the hard ground," Ron Sykes, President of Irving Park L ittle League, explained. “I've seen many kids tear up their legs sliding because the ground is hard and there is no loose dirt or sawdust to slide on. “How can we teach young people to play baseball when they are afraid to slide. In practice they will refuse and I don't blame them for not wanting to scrape their legs and tear their clothes." Sykes states that he has attempted to get dirt from the Park Bureau. “Last year, when we hosted the tournament, some of the managers from other dis tricts were surprised at the terrible condition of the base paths. The Park Bureau did come during the tournament and sprinkle a little d irt, but not enough.” When Sykes talked to Paul Keanon this week. Keanon indicated that he did not think more dirt is necessary. “Although he had promised last month that dirt would be delivered, he said Monday that that problem is not as bad as we think. When I asked why they didn't bring a load of dirt during the w inter so it would be there when needed in the spring, like they do in other parks, he said he didn’t think they could leave d irt at Irving without it disappearing by the time its needed. Some parents have been calling Commissioner Schwab's office and he seemed upset." The condition of the paths is considered dangerous by the team managers and parents. Crow, Mrs. Hazel G. Hays, and Attorney Keith Buras. Travelling from Lea Angeles to receive his award was former State Senator Monroe Sweetland. Sweetland, who was Oregon's Democratic National Commit teeman during the Truman administra tion, a time when few Democrats held elective positions in Oregon, served as titular head of the party. He is credited with reviving the Democratic Party in Oregon to the extent that the election of liberal Democrats was possible. A former editor of the Milwaukie Review, Sweet rocks. The infield is mostly d irt but has grass between the pitcher's mound and home plate. “W e need a load of d irt to bring up the d irt part of the intield even with the grass, unless they want to take out the grass. The entire infield needs to bo worked over.” Brown said the Irving Park field ia in terrible condition compared to other fields. “W e have always had problems getting anything done at Irving Park. The other fields nearby are kept in much better condition.“. Paul Keanon of the Park Bureau explained that Irving Park will receive dirt when it stops raining. He said that since the playing season does not start until the coming weekend, the mainte nance crews have started on other parks that are used earlier in the spring. He mentioned that Irving Park is in no worse condition than the other fields. “I think Irving Park should get as much attention as any other park but it shouldn't get more. I t is in as good shape as any other field.” The crews that work on the fields don't give the “extra loving care" that a group particularly interested in that field would. They spend from one half hour to forty five minutes on a field and service from fifteen to sixteen fields a day during the height of the season," he explained. Thia is due to shortage of manhours and funds. Keanon has not checked the park himself but sent a crew out last week. They filled a hole but did not do much else, he admitted. He said Sykes admitted that the base paths are the biggest problem and explained that if they did put on loose d irt it would bake in the sun and get hard again. He said Sykes had offered to provide volunteers to do the work if the city would provide dirt. “They added. haven’t been forgotten," he Biskar opposes office flowers In the City Council's budget hearing on the Park Bureau budget Tuesday, Arnold Biskar, candidate for the Council position held by Mildred Schwab, blasted the Bureau's budget; for providing cut flowers for Commissioner's and Bureau offices. According to the proposed budget, the Park Bureau will spend $60,337 to pro duce 4,400 bouquets of flowers and $6,286 to service and grow 2,010 office plants. “Can Commissioner Schwab really be lieve that the citizens of Portland want their tax dollars spent on cut flowers when basic needs of citizens remain unaddressed?” he asked. “There is something wrong with Com missioner Schwab's sense of priorities where she can include cut flowers in her budget request at the same time seniors and other groups in this community are in need of real assistance finding adequate housing, health care, transportation or one hot meal a day." Commissioner Schwab, who admini sters the Park Bureau, replied, “I agree with you.” She explained that the budget for cut flowers had been reduced two years ago and that in light of the need for more cuts in the Park Bureau budget, cut flowers might be discontinued. DOL investigates city discrimination complaints “It's as racist as any place you can find in the south or worse,” said one former C E T A employee, speaking of the Bureau of Human Resources under M ayor Gold schmidts' administration. The criticisms abound and are summarized in the complaints filed against the city and the state of Oregon: • The City is racist and sexist in its hiring, promotion, and funding of propo sals. • The State D .O .L. functions to sup port statewide racist practices by not enforcing violations of civil rights or setting precedents in court. ■ A complaint was filed w ith the Depart ment of Labor, which funds the C ETA program. Investigative teams came, investigated and left town. . .twice. Yet, no detailed report was made public. The second team from the national office reportedly left after the M ayor protested their “secrecy” and what seemed to be an unsportsmanlike “pouncing” on the city, to the Seattle Regional Office of the Department of Labor. The regional office is believed by some, to be insulating the city from vigorous investigation and avoiding the admini stration of the spirit, if not the letter, of civil rights law on the books. Ms. Freddie Petite of the Mayors' office confirmed that a worried Gold schmidt had complained to Regional Director, Wehmeyer, “. . .about the (investigation) teams'tactics.” In answer to the charges of mismanaged funds. Ms. Petite said, “we can account for every penny of the money. . .”, but added that city general fund money had to be used to cover the “overages” of the C E T A pro gram in the Bureau. “W e have to stop the practice of managers hiring assistants to spread the (work) load” added Petite, giving weight to the charges that “friends” were being hired for the C E T A staff. As assistant to the Mayor, Petite reported that the Bureau is “. . .taking up most of my time because there are so many complex problems involved.” In fact, the Observer learned that there are positions that have been an nounced since November at 1977 and are (Please turn to Page 5 Column 1) Bentley seeks County Commission post N A A C P Broach awards former presidents, workers The N A A C P presented a number of service awards to past presidents and members who have given devoted service to the organization at a “Pre Convention Awards Banquet" Sunday evening. Past presidents honored were: Herman Plummer, Ulyses Plummer, Mrs. Marie Smith. Mrs. Lorna Marple, H arry Ward, Otto Rutherford. Mayfield K. Webb. Thomas R. Vickers. Reverend Ellis Cas son, Reverend Clow and George Thomas Members selected tor recognition were: James Lee, C.A. W hite. Ural P. Cannon. Ma. Betty W hite. Mrs. Gertrude Charles Brown, manager of the Mina Temple Senior Little League Team, de scribed the infield as having holes and land went to California in 1962 to represent the Nations Education Assort' ation in the western states. A native of Oregon, he was long active in the Portl-nd Branch, N A A C P. According to Branch President, Rev erend John Jackson, the event also served as a fund raiser for costs of hosting the National Convention in July. Mrs. Verna CAnson, director of the N A A C P Western Region, was the feat ured speaker. She also presented a new charter to the newly reorganised Youth Branch. \ PAULA BENTLEY Paula Bentley is a candidate for M u lt nomah County Commission, Position S, the position vacated by the resignation of Mel Gordon. Mrs. Bentley considers herself to be a candidate with a proven record in the major areas handled by the county - transportation, land use, personnel. Cur rently a member of the Gresham City Council, she has served on the CRAG Board of Directors and the T ri-M et Task Force studying long term financing of public transportation. “Land use is one of the most important issues facing the County Commission and it is an issue in which I have proven experience," she explained. “The way land is used will determine whether we have safe, livable neighborhoods. W e can meet the demands of growth and still retain a good environment if we plan properly now." H er experience on the Board of Directors of the Columbia Region Association of Governments (CRAG) has largely been involved in land use. Finding land use. economic develop ment and transportation are inseparable issues - she also includes housing, em ployment and education in the areas that will be affected by current planning efforts of the cities and the county. Of affirm ative action, Mrs. Bentley said, “T o me affirm ative action is not just words, something to talk about. I t is something that requires commitment and shows results. I cannot believe that the county, which until recently had an affirmative action officer with no staff, could be truly committed. I would not be part of an organization without there being strong affirmative action.” When she joined the Gresham City Council. Mrs. Bentley found there was no affirmative action plan and few minority or women employees. ‘T h e city could not even get federal funds. This immediately became one of my projects and now we have a viable program and are making changes in the city’s work force." Mrs. Bentley professes to be a hard (Please turn to Page 2 Column 5) Fighting the PMSC 'blacklist’ The following is an interview with Don Fuller, former executive director of the Portland Metropolitan Steering Com mittee. Mrs. Lets SeyWe, President sf the Portland Chapter of Ltofcs, Inc. and Mr*. Bernadette F l am a n i. Chairaaaa of the Jessie Mae Johnsen Campship Fuad, present funds fur campship. to Salvation Army Community Center director Leon Smith. Salvation Army receive» Links contribution The Portland Chapter of Mnks present ed the Salvation Army Community Cen ter four Campships in the amount of $260.00. from the Jessie Mae Johnson Campship Fund. M r. I^eon Smith is Center Director. This campahip fund was made possible by contributions from her friends as s memorial to her unselfish community work in civic, religious, and cultural programs. She loved children and work ed hard to help all children have a better life full of opportunities. She was especially interested in children with special needs. For over thirty years, Mrs. Johnson was Director of Volunteer of America Day Nursery 8chool. Other agencies receiving campships from the Jessie Mae Johnson Campship Fund were the Multnomah Association for Retarded Citizens Campship Fund and the Easter Seal Society for Crippled Children Campship Fund. Mrs. Jessie Mae Johnson was a charter member of the Portland Chapter of Links and served many of the offices. Link members presenting the campships were Mrs Bernadette Plummer, chairman of the Campship Committee and Mrs. Lois Sayles, newly elected president of Links. Other committee members are Mrs. Alda Ruth Monroe and Mrs. Carmen Walker. Observer - Well Don, here it is six months after you left Portland Metropoli tan Steering Committee (EO A) Inc., and now you are granting an interview to the press. Why? W hat have you been up to? Fuller: I've been paying dues, and the reason I am giving an interview now is for history, documentation. I t is im portant to me to do it because it com pletes the record and can be instruc tive to the other would-be Black leaders in Portland. Observer: But you were supposed to interview with Herb Cawthorne on hia television show weren't you, in Novem ber? Fuller: Thereabout, yes. I wanted to do that show, but family illness prevent ed it. I don’t think I would have been very coherent anyway. That was a period depression (following the folding of P.M.S.C.), worse than being in 'Nam for me. It wasn't until I got worked up into a rage about the “whitebait” or “whitelisting'' as I call it, that I could begin to organize myself and my thoughts again. This interview may seem self serving (and it is), but it can't help but teach. I liked and still like teaching, because I learn so much in the process. Observer: W hat about this “whiteball ing" thing; what exactly do you mean? Fuller: Well, right after I was term i nated from P.M .8.C ., I blamed myself a great deal for the failure, the term ina tion, of the agency. I thought that there were things, there must have been some things I could have done to keep it going. Yet, others would say “you didn't do it. It wasn't your fault, you can't be blamed... just don’t worry about it...You’re only thirty-fivv years old, you can pick up and start again..." I suppose that would have been true if the white power structure had gotten Gil (Cleveland Gilcrease), pinned him to the wall and made a good example of him to cower the poor and, primarily, the Black community. They had after all, stacked his board of directors against him with city and county appointees who had to be the most vindictive, blind and racist people avail able. They had brought John Rice as chairman to hia knees and he resigned in hopes of becoming employable. Then, Gil resigned and left town! The real target was gone. That “arrogant Black bas tard," as Gil often referred to himself when reflecting on hia enemies, got clean away. Where was the example? Destroy the agency? Yesl Spread lies. Speculation and innuendo in the media? Yeal But who could be publicly flayed? Connie McCready said it in open city council meeting “No one from this agency ...should ever work in this city in a (social service) program again." Now with a couple of clear civil rights complaints against the city and the state claiming discrimination (for whatever it is worth to try to bring ..“a criminal to trial in his own court," as Malcolm X once said), I can't give details, but on competitive exams I have scored in the nineties and hundreds and still can't get a job even after appeal to the Governor's Office. 1 expect to file another one concerning C ETA and the Mayor's handling of that mess. But their purpose is to make an example of a Black man, some Black man, any Black man who worked for P.M .8.C. and Gilcrease, just as Jordan was strip ped and left “to twist slowly in the wind.” Now, just because the Oregonian Editor is also the husband of councilwoman McCready could be “incidental”, or the comments in council meetings, or my unemployment for seven months, but I doubt it. Observer: But in fact, weren't you working for the city Bureau of Parks and Recreation in the Children's Museum just recently? Fuller: Yes I did for about four weeks, and you know, it seemed perfect, (I was number one on that examination list, too, I might add). Here I was, an education director, second to the director (again). (Please turn to Page 3 Column 4)
