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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (March 19, 1981)
> W '1 Page 8 Portland Observer March 19,1981 Register and Vote March 31 School Board - City Council Elections EXODUS 1639 N E Alberta PORTLAND. OREGÖN 9721 1 284 7997 From the Front Door From the Front Door, I witnessed a most interesting situation Monday night March 9, 1981, at the Hansen Building Auditorium 12240 NE Gilsan. The meeting was billed as a Public work session on the County budget." The meeting and discussion centered around a potential (6) million dollar cut in revenue to provide services in Multnomah County. The meeting was well publicized by the County, but the strange thing was that most Agen cies, Businesses and citizens located in the Black communty who will be greatly affected by the Potential Budget cuts were not present at the meeting. As compared to the agencies, Businesses and Citizens who are less dependent directly upon County funds were present in full force. The Black community was represented by the House of Exodus (Staff and Clients), and by a larger number of members from the Sharon Seventh Day Adventist Church, including their pastor. Point blank, I will be happy to see the day when our Black citizens find the time to participate "on tim e" in Socio-political processes, as opposed to showing up "Late after the fa c t" complaining and critizing the results of a political excercise. Many Blacks w ill be affected by Federal, State, County and City Budget Cuts, many are already affected by Welfare cuts. Now is the time to plan and find productive alternatives to our community's economics, much of which will depend upon whether we function on time in to Socio-political processes. ,.îr- A * j Horses races, dog races, booze and dope has a negative effect on the Black community and the results of such indulgence benefit the Bureaucratic system far more than it does Black employment or the Black community in general. Yet, there are Black citizens spending just about all of their extra dollalrs on horse races, dog races, booze and street dope. Black citizens will show up in numbers and on time at the races, in line at the booze store, some even use taxi cabs for transportation, and will be on time for the dope man. 5 -, A beautiful spring day brought Mrs. Mary Howard and her son Elzie Howard. Jr. out into the sun to dig for fishing worms. (Photo: Richard J. Brown) We as Black citizens need to learn what is FIRST and w hat is NEXT. This is called prioritizing. 1. (Priority number one) should be the security and welfare of your immediate family. From coons to 'possums (Continued from Page l Col 6) are submitted to him he will make a decision regarding discipline. Jordan said that although the possum incident is under in vestigation there w ill be no in vestigation o f the other acts o f harassment. As fo r the racial m otive, Jordan said he could not call this “ racial harassment.’ ’ Racial harassment is hard to p ro ve ,’ ’ he said. “ I can’ t get in someone's head and find out what motivated him .’’ Police spokesmen have said that the investigation report will be given to Powe and that they cannot prevent him from releasing the names. Powe does not feel he should have to make that decision, which could lead to further harass ment. Powe resents the im plications being made by the press that police fingered his business establishment because it is a “ headquarters fo r d o p e ." He says that there is drug dealing in the area, but that he does not allow any dealing in the restau rant. " I can’ t search people when they come in; I d on’ t know i f they have anything on them. But if I ever saw anyone trying to deal in my place, I would put them out. People know that and d o n ’ t try it. They have enough respect for me not to try to do business in my restaurant.” Powe explains that drug dealing is common. “ I saw a $20,000 sale at th e _____________not long ago. Anywhere you go you can see it. The people that hang around Union Avenue can’ t make a $20,000 or a $300,000 buy. They have to get G eneral C on tracto r U can aa » Bond Concreta • CurtM • Srrtawa* 3334 N E 41st 8t. MAILING ANY TNAAM ON MKTAL DUMPTRUCK » 7 - A 2 9 1 ___ it a little at a time and they have to steal to buy it. That makes them vulnerable. The people who spend big money are not on the spot - they don't get caught.” Powe added that there has never been a drug arrest in his restaurant. Commissioner Jordan said Wednesday that the investigation report w ill not be completed until the first o f next week. The delay is •to enable the bureau to investigate the participation o f eight officers who were present, in addition to the two who have confessed. After he receives the investigation report and recommendations, Jordan w ill determine disciplinary measures, which will be announced. Powe recently made news when he lost his $85,000 home - paid for - over a $176.00 b ill. According to Powe, his son was injured and had a $7,000 hospital bill. Eventually he collected his insurance and paid the b ill. In the meantime, Bob’ s Messenger Service (Bob Harris) was hired to serve papers on the bill, and the messenger service was charged to the son, unknown to him. Recently Powe went to pay the property taxes on six pieces o f property, but had not received a tax statement on his home. When he went to find out why, he was told that Robert Harris had claimedthe house fo r the $176.13 b ill. Powe said he was never notified that there was a bill, that certified letters were sent by the County but were re turned to them by the Post Office, that Bob’ s Messenger Service was hired to serve a notice o f a court hearing to recover the bill. He said papers were not served, he did not attend the hearing, and a Judge gave the house to Harris for the $176.13. (The dealings o f H arris w ith various political figures are current ly being investigated by the State A ttorney General and the Leg islature«' Ethics Commission.) A fte r H arris received the prop erty, Powe did not receive the required notice that would have given him an opportunity to recover the home. Now, not only has Powe lost his home over a bill that was not even his, but Harris has borrowed 2. (Priority number two) should be the condition of our community, the livability of our neighborhood. $35,000 against the property, further complicating the situation. Powe has heard from two additional persons who lost their homes to Harris under similar circumstances - both Black. “ I w ork hard, pay my bills on tim e, have money in the bank. 1 can’ t understand how any Judge could take an $85,000 home fo r $176.13 and not attempt to look in to what was happening.” 3. (Priority number three) can be our personalized sports and pleasures. Let me say again, you can't spend your time or money for a better purpose; join with the Exodus Youth Mental Health Offensive, building our community into a better and safer place to live and raise our children. Join with me and make our family and community, priority (NUMBER ONE). Brought to you as a public service by House of Exodus LEGISLATIVE BRUNCH Meet your representatives • Discuss the issues Rep. W ally Priestley House District 16 Chairman: Aging and Minority Affairs Member: Revenue Coffee, rolls $1.50 Senator Frank Roberts Rep. Barbara Roberts Senate District 9 Chairman: Local Government/ Urban Affair«/Housing Vice Chairperson: Rules Member: Human Resources/Aging Ways and Means House District 17 member: Revenue Business and Consumer Affairs Bourbon Street Restauran NE Weidler and Grand Saturday, March 21st, 9:30 A .M . Sponsored by: The Portland Observer
