> 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.
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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