Portland observer., October 30, 1980, Page 2, Image 2

Page 2 Portland Observar October 30.1900
EDITORIAL/OPINION
«
□ N o -N o tax limitation
□ Jim Hill - House District 31
James Hill is a can­
didate
for
House
District 31 in Salem. A
Democrat, Hill has
received major en­
dorsements and is
considered to have a
strong chance of elec­
tion.
Hill is a graduate of
the Indiana University
Law
School
and
currently is employed as an Appeals Division
Hearings Officer on Income and Property Tax
in the Oregon Department of Revenue.
We encourage our Salem readers to vote for
Jim Hill.
LI Judge Ed Peterson -
State Supreme Court
Judge Ed Peterson was appointed to the
Oregon State Supreme Court in 1979 and prior
to that was in private practice for 22 years.
His work included trial and appealate cases for
individuals and businesses. He has taught, lec­
tured and written for legal journals.
During his short stay on the Supreme Court
he has earned the respect and endorsement of
most of Oregon's judges and lawyers.
His opponent, Shirley Field, was removed
from the District Court, the State's lowest
court, in 1978 because she was determined to
lack "knowledge and judgement". Now she is
seeking a position on the State's highest
court.
Judge Peterson is clearly the only choice.
He should be retained on the State Supreme
Court.
U No - No new jails
Measure 8 authorize the sale of $85 millon
worth of bonds to provide a prison building
fund. The measure does not say what type of
facilities will be built or where they will be
located, does not provide for staff or
rehabilitative programs. It does not address
prevention.
Although called a $85. million expenditure,
the measure allows future legislatures to con­
tinue to borrow at an inflated rate until it
reaches a $288.5 million expenditure in 1990.
The most commonly mentioned use of this
money is to build another large maximum
security prison to relieve overcrowding at
Oregon State Penitentiary.
The population at OSP should be reduced
through the establishment of half-way houses,
work-release programs, intensive drug and
alcohol programs to assist addicts and
alcoholics, realistic job training and job
placement programs, psychatric treatment,
etc. Those locked up for preventive detention
and minor non-violent crimes should be placed
on probation rather than jailed. Prevention
programs should be designed and financed to
deal with problems of very young children and
their families.
The most important step to solving the
overcrowding problem at OSP is eliminate the
poverty and racism that cause crime - not to
build more prisons.
The Observer recommends a "N O " vote on
Measure 8.
Letters to the Editor--------------
U Yes - Let them vote
Measure two extends the right to vote to
mentally handicapped persons who have not
been adjudicated incompetent to vote. The
State Constitution says "No idiot or mentally
diseased person shall be entitled to the
priviliges of an elector."
This measure provides that persons who
might be considered mentally retarded accord­
ing to testing, academic achievement, or
otherwise, still have the full right to par­
ticipation in the elective process. It is long
overdue.
Vote "Yes" on Measure 2.
L Yes - Zoo/Metro
Measure 26-12 establishes a tax base to
finance the zoo and to subsidize the
Metropolitan Service District. The zoo is now
financed by serial levies, which are not eligible
for property tax relief. This measure would
replace those bonds with a new tax base,
making it eligible for property tax relief.
□ Yes - Support PCC
This measure, 26-13, is similar to the
Zoo/Metro measure, creating a new tax base
for the Portland Community College.
1st Place
Best Ad Result
ONPA 1973
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outside Tri County area P ostm aster Send address changes to
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Best Editorial
ONPA 1973
The Portland Observer was founded in October of 1970 by
Alfred Lee Henderson
The Portland Observer is a champion of |ustice, equality and
liberation; an alert guard against social evils; a thorough analyst
and critic of discriminatory practices and policies; a sentinal to
warn of impending and existing racist trends and practices; and a
defender against persecution and oppression
The real problems of the Black population will be viewed and
presented from the perspective of their causality; unrestrained and
chronoically en trenched racism N ational and in ternation al
arrangements that prolong and increase the oppression of Third
World peoples shall be considered in the context of their ex
ploitation and manipulation by the colonial nations, including the
United States, and their relationship to this nation's historical
treatment of its Black population
283 2486
A m oci «*«»
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Community Service
ONPA ,973
The Portland Observer IUSPS 959 680) is published every Thurs­
day by Exie Publishing Company, Inc , 220, North Killingsworth,
Portland, Oregon 97217, Post Office Box 3137, Portland, Oregon
97208 Second class postage paid a, Portland, Oregon
Honorable Mention
Herrick Editorial Award
NNA ,973
2nd Place
Best Editorial
3rd Place
Community Leadership
ONPA 1975
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Community Leadership
ONPA 1978
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In depth coverage
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A m e lg a m a te d Publishers. Inc.
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L No - Don't eliminate vote
voters. In the meantime prices have risen and
roads and highways have been severely
This
measure
would
change
the
office
of
the
The most dangerous measure on the ballot
damaged by ice storms, studded tires and
State Superintendent of Public Instruction
this year is Measure 6, the property tax
heavier trucks. The Highway Department
from
an
elected
official
to
one
appointed
by
limitation which limits taxes on real property to
estimates
that half of the state's highways are
the
Governor
from
a
list
of
candidates
one per cent of the true cash value as of July
proposed
by
the
State
Board
of
Education.
in
need
of
repair.
1, 1977. Reasons for voting NO include:
The
State
Superintendent
of
Public
Instruc­
The
highway
fund did receive a boost this
• This restriction on the amount of taxes
tion
administers
the
education
department;
spring
when
the
people voted to remove the
raised would severely damage, if not
currently he is elected. The State Board of
cost of parks and state police from the high­
eliminate, all state and local services.
way
fund and pay for them out of the general
Education
make
policy;
they
are
appointed
by
• It would make the sale of bonds for
fund.
Also, when other state agency budgets
the
Governor.
Proponents
of
this
measure
say
veterans' home loans, housing for the elderly,
were
cut this summer due to shortage of
it
would
take
the
Superintendent
out
of
the
capital construction, highways, energy pro­
funds,
the highway budget was kept in tact.
political
arena
since
he
would
not
run
for
elec­
jects, etc. nearly impossible because it would
This
protection of the highway fund at the
tion,
and
would
assist
coordination
and
restrict the ability of the State to repay loans.
expense of this needed proqram does not
cooperation between the Superintendent and
• It would be permanent. Two-thirds of the
the
Board.
negate
the fact that Oregon's roads, high­
eligible voters would have to agree to levy any
In
theory,
the
election
process
could
make
a
ways
and
bridges - especially in many rural
additional taxes.
areas
-
need
repair.
"political
football"
out
of
the
Superintendent's
• It applies to all real property and does not
office,
and
a
strong
citizen
group
could
under­
We
recommend
a YES vote on Measure 4.
differentiate between owner-occupied homes,
mine
sound
educational
decisions
by
threaten­
rentals, large property holdings. The owners
ing to oppose the Superintendent's reelection.
of large apartment complexes and large land
L Yes - Protect animals
Organized
groups could run candidates who
owners (including large corporations, would
Measure 5 forbids the use or sale of snare,
would
not
be
sound
adm
inistrators,
who
benefit most.
would
not
foster
good
educational
programs.
leghold
traps except for predator control and
• It would eliminate the Homeowner and
protection
of human health.
This
type
of
thing
could
happen
in
any
political
Rental Property Tax Relief (HARP, now
position.
Should
the
danger
of
the
election
of
The fur business is big business. Those who
available to middle and low income home
a
poor
candidate
be
an
excuse
to
remove
the
.think
the cruel use of leg traps to hold coyotes
owners and renters.
election
process?
for
the
kill is entirely a method of saving the
Why a "tax rev« It"? How much taxes do we
On
the
whole,
the
elected
Superintendents
farmer's
sheep should check out the latest
really pay? In Portland, home owners are billed
have
been
of
a
good
quality
as
the
other
elec­
coyote
fur
coats being sold by one of Port­
approximately $20 per $1,000 assessed value,
ted
officials
-
and
as
the
appointed
officials.
land's
finest
shops.
or about $600 on a $30,000 home. Of this, one
New methods are available to protect sheep
third or $200 is paid by the State leaving a bill Passage of this measure would allow the
Governor
to
appoint
the
Superintendent
and
from
coyote - fencing and trained dogs to
of $400. Low income persons receive all or
the
Board,
with
no
input
from
the
public.
name
two. Contrary to the opponents ad
most of it back through HARP. In fact, any
The
Observer
recommends
a
NO
vote
on
campaign,
young trees can be saved without
family with $17,000 income or less will receive
Measure
1.
billing
the
already
scarce beavers.
at least $100 rebate, leaving only $300 or less
Leg traps are cruel, inflicting unnecessary
to be paid.
pain
and injury. The animals turn and twist off
Senior citizens can defer payment until their
I J Yes - Raise gas tax
their
legs trying to get loose, or they remain in
estate is sold, and even though they are not
Measure 4 will increase the state gas tax
the
trap,
suffering, until they die of hunger or
paying taxes they can file for HARP and
from 7C to 9C per gallon and slightly increase
thirst,
are
killed by other animals, or are mer­
receive their annual refund just as if they were
the "weight and mile" tax paid by truckers.
cifully
killed
by the trapper.
paying.
The Legislature has attempted for many
The measure does not prohibit mouse, rat or
Are the people of Oregon really unwilling to
years to increase the gasoline tax, but each
gopher
traps or live box traps. It prevents un­
pay taxes to support education, police and
time an tax increase has been stopped by the
necessary
cruelty and torture of animals.
fire, water, public, public health, and other
essential services? Oregon's existing tax laws
allow those who are unable to pay to avoid
paying. Those who are able should be glad to
To the editor:
Hiding Behind the Public Inters!,
Because this is repugnant to most
pay for the services they receive.
It is dishonest fo r PUD
shows that most activists have a d if­
Americans,
it is being done behind
Vote NO on Measure 6.
proponents to lead people to believe
Portland Observer
Bruce Broussard
Editor/Publisher
-------------------------- —
I *
IM I
that PUDs form ed in the 1980s
could furnish adequate power at
rates comparable to those o f the
four operating PUDs in Oregon.
Operating PUDs were formed years
ago and have had power contracts
for low-cost electricity throughout
the years.
However, the days o f adequate
power and low rates fo r public
power utilities are rapidly coming io
an end.
This is because o f a power short­
age.
This means that if new PUDs are
form edfand 14 o f them are
proposed througho ut Oregon),
there w ill not be adequate firm
power available fo r them. (How
could BPA supply them i f it is
unable to meet the needs o f the four
existing PUDs?) This means that
(using the case o f the proposed
Multnomah County PUD) if voters,
after having spent 5250,000 for an
engineer’s study, subsequently ap­
prove the 51.3 billion dollars that
ODOE estimates it could cost to buy
PG E’ s and P P & I’ s d is trib u tio n
systems, they w ill not own one
kilowatt o f power nor one bolt on a
generating facility.
Informed activists certainly can’ t
have our w elfare or our
pocketbooks at heart.
H. Peter Metzger, in his booklet,
G o v e rn m e n t-fu n d e d A c tiv is m :
To the Editor:
As State Superintendent o f Public
Instruction, I understandably am
concerned about the devastating ef­
fect the passage of Ballot Measure 6
w ill have on local school districts
and community colleges.
Something else troubles me.
Measure 6 w ill enact a constitutional
amendment which w ill lim it the
rig h t o f citizens to make local
decisions a ffe ctin g their public
schools and other local govern­
ments. Under present law, voters
can say "Yes” or " N o " to higher
taxes. Under Measure 6, even if an
overwhelming majority o f the voters
wanted to exceed the Levy
Lim itation in order to provide more
services, they would be prohibited in
practically all circumstances from
doing so by the State Constitution
Why have more state regulation?
Oregon's present local budget law
ferent p o litic a l and economic
ideology - an ideology that the vast
majority o f Americans do not hold.
In his w ritings M r. Metzger
shows that several hundred leading
activists, through hiring and ap­
pointment (and in turn hiring and
appointing their ilk ) to key
regulatory and policy-m aking
positions in the Federal govern­
ment, use the power o f these o f­
fices to channel tax dollars to create,
tra in and fund organizations to
bring about the change they desire.
This is being done without the con­
sent o f Congress or the knowledge
o f the taxpayers.
The goal is the nationalization of
energy, corporations and utilities.
Nationalization means government
ownership o f industry.
To the editor:
Contrary to the scare tactics used
by the anti-P U D advertisements,
passage o f Measure I I w ill not
establish PUDs(Peoples U tility
Districts); it w ill merely set up a
legal, elected board o f directors that
can commission a feasibility study
to determine the source and cost of
power and, if advisable, to submit a
measure to the voters two years
from now allowing them to establish
a PUD. The feasibility study w ill
cost no more than 5250,000, or 40«
to 50« per property tax payer.
I f a PUD is authorized at that
provides a greater degree of control
over local government budgets than
the law o f any other state in the
Union.
It makes good sense to me to keep
the control we have now, rather
than lose it to a state constitutional
amendment.
„
VernA. Duncan
the humanitarian facade o f "public
interest” - behind so-called environ­
mental protection, consumer
protection and anti-nuclearism.
What we’ re confronted w ith,
because o f the capture and
m anipulation o f the Federal
regulatory bureaucracy, is the
Government using government to
create more government. PUDs are
a strategic part o f this.
The solution isn’t more govern­
ment it’ s recinding existing govern­
ment guarantees and requiring in­
vestor-owned utilities to compete in
the free market.
It is imperative that Americans
wake up before it’ s too late and our
freedom is lost.
Beverly Bottorf
time, the PUD w ill sell bonds to
purchase the existing distribution
facilities o f PGE and PP&L and
establish a utility district owned by
the citizens.
I am running for a position on the
PUD board of directors because I
believe the public - the u tility
customers - should have a voice in
our energy future. Citizens don't
have a voice in the decision makeing
process. The private utilties are con­
trolled by their board of directors,
with about 75 per caent o f the mem­
bers living in the east.
The customers have to suffer for
the mistakes o f the board, because
the private utility is guaranteed a
a 16 per cent return on its invest­
ments by Oregon law.
I would be proud to serve the
community on the new PUD board
and urge you to vote for Measure
11.
Robert Phillips
QUALITY CHILD CARE
by
TRAINED FAMILY PROVIDERS
through the
CHILD CARE
DEMONSTRATION
PROJECT
Cad 4-C's Project Referral Office
232 3464
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