I
Portland Observer July 23. 1981 Page 3
butch coorc
From the Capitol
H O c T
C U T S S P E C IA L
o n d it i o n in g tnMBtnxer ’t w iV * e v e r y c u t
fre e
Congressman Ron Wyden
Q. Earlier this week. Treasury
Secretary Donald Regan advocated
high interest rates as the only way to
c o n tro l in fla tio n . H ow do you
feel about this?
A. I couldn’ t disagree more. All
high interest rates do is make a bad
economic situation
worse
paticularly in a state such as Oregon
which depends so heavily on the
housing industry and which has
traditionally been capital short.
High interest rates are killing our
state and region just as surely as if
you cut o ff all train, truck and air
traffic. To deliberately promote still
higher rates would be suicidal.
What we need to do is come up
with reasoned policies that stimulate
productivity and real growth -• and
begin to ease credit restraint. That
w ill allow our workers to get back to
work - and permit the juices o f our
free market system to flow again.
Congress w ill have its chance to
go on record in opposition to high
interest rate policies when the tax
b ill comes before it in the next few
weeks.
It can make this stand by ap­
proving a targeted tax cut that en­
courages savings, rewards work and
spurs increased economic activity —
without fueling inflation and man­
dating higher and higher interest
rates.
Q. This week you joined forces
on a b ill (H R 4140) that w ould
restore m inim um Social Security
benefits to individuals 80 years o f
age and older. Why only these
people?
A. 1 would like to see minimum
benefits restored for all beneficiaries
S15.
1406 NE Broadway, Portland. Oregon 97212
who are tru ly vulnerable and low-
income. HR 414C is ju st the firs t
step in that direction.
But it is also a particularly impor­
tant first step. Some 532,000 o f the
3 m illion current minimum benefit
recipients are 80 or older. And
401,673 (or 77 percent) o f those 80
and over are women.
Pacific
Citizen
Power o f the Week
It is absolutely critical that these
hundreds o f thousands o f elderly
widows who barely subsist from
check to check not be unfairly vic­
timized as we balance the budget.
An Open Letter
Ronald R. Still
Chief o f Police
In my first open letter to you and
the citizens o f Portland on June 9,
1981 I mentioned that a major goal
o f my adm inistration w ould be to
re-establish good communications
with the Albina community.
A situation recently came to
my attention which ty p ifie s how
seemingly m inor things can cause
misunderstandings between the
police officer and the community. A
uniform ed police o ffic e r (Frank
Jolly) w hile w orking the area
around A lb e rta Park at NE 19th
and K illin g s w o rth , was inform ed
that some users o f Alberta Park ob-
jected to “ no parking” signs recent­
ly put up on NE 19th. They believed
that the police had these signs put
up to harass users o f the park. These
signs were put up in response to a
citizen’ s petition. Residents o f the
area near the park complained that
there was damage being done to
their private property and tra ffic
congestion so bad that driveways
were being blocked. This type o f
situation occurs occasionally
around parks throughout the city.
Traffic control signs and devices are
often used to resolve the problem.
It is my hope that by explaining
this situ a tio n in your newspaper,
users o f Alberta Park will better un­
derstand why the signs were put up
and why the police are enforcing the
parking ordinances at that location.
1 know that there are other police
issues o f concern to the A lb in a
community and all citizens o f Port­
land with which, as the new Chief of
Police, 1 must attempt to resolve. 1
w ill, on a regular basis, send you
these open letters to the citizens o f
Portland. I want to communicate
those issues and the resolutions I
have in mind. That one situation 1
have ju st described is a m inor
example. In each open letter to your
newspaper and readers, I w ill ex-
plain Police Bureau policy, laws, or
issues which are tim ely and in fo r­
mative.
I invite your readers who would
like to ask a question or address an
issue to send them to me at the Port­
land Police Bureau, Public In fo r­
mation O ffice, 222 SW Pine, Port­
land, Oregon 97204. I w ill not be
able to respond in my open letters to
each and every concern, but w ill
select those which are most im por­
tant for improving communications
and relations with the community. I
w ill regularly d is trib u te , to each
community newspaper, my answers
to citizen concerns.
lack political power thrives in California
M ayor Bradley, especially, has
tion, Wilson Riles, who in 1970 was
been described as a man who exudes
the first Black elected to statewide
“ self assurance,” and “ makes
office. He now plans a fourth bid
(E d ito r’ s Note: Though Blacks
people feel c o n fid e n t.” Said one
fo r that post. The Los Angeles
represent less than eight percent o f
associate, “ He has this inner
Black
who
served
1974-78
as
the California population, they have
serenity that people seem to need at
lieutenant
governor,
M
ervin
gained a remarkable degree o f clout
a time o f insecurity. People sense a
Dymally, won election to Congress
in state p o litics - a trend which
character
they can trust at a time
last fall, edging up to 18 the total of
could be significantly increased by
when
politics
has lost trust. Many
Black
congressmen,
three
o
f
them
the predicted election o f Los
find the roots o f this quality in his
C a lifo rn ia n s. And the liveliest
Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley to the
Blackness.”
presence these days in the state
governorship next year. PNS
It is also said o f school superin­
capitol
is
not
Governor
Jerry
Brown
correspondent M ary Ellen Leary
tendent
Riles that he defies polari­
but
the
San
Franciso
lawyer-
explores the reasons why Black
zation; that he has a gift o f bringing
legislator who captured the lower
p o litic a l power has thrived in
factions together because "he seems
house Speakership this year, the
California and whether it may be a
to
offer something larger, a humane
sp
rig
h
tly,
w
itty
and
adept
W
illie
sign o f future trends in the U .S.,
understanding.”
Brown.
generally. Leary is a regular con
This array o f C alifornia “ Black
trib u te r to PNS and the London-
Some cynics scoff that these are
Power’ ’ is reinforced by Black
based Econom ist magazine on
simply
Blacks who “ don’t frighten
mayors
in
Oakland
and
Berkeley,
by
Western politics.)
white people.” But others, like State
seven other Black legislators, and by
Perhaps the most interesting
Consumer C hief Lytle, believe the
approximately 75 Blacks appointed
feature o f the political landscape in
answer is far more complex. “ The
to
the
ju
d
ic
ia
ry
by
Governor
trendsetting California these days is
contributions o f the Black race to
Brown, and one Black woman,
its color. Increasingly, the upper
American society in music and the
A lice L y tle , a lawyer who is
echelons o f the state’ s p o litic a l
arts are w idely recognized,” she
secretary
o
f
the
State
and
Consumer
establishment are inhabited by
said. “ But the more subtle con­
Services
Agency.
Samuel
Williams,
Blacks.
trib u tio n s, the anthropological
an influential Black Los Angeles at­
Whether this fact portends an in­
ones,
arc not recognized. Not yet.”
torney,
recently
turned
down
an
ap­
crease in political clout for Blacks in
Another
dimension was identified
pointm
ent
to
the
state
supreme
other regions o f the nation, or
by Black Assemblyman E lihu
whether it is merely another * court, only to be elected president of
H arris. Today’ s leadership stems
the State Bar, the first Black ever to
C a lifo rn ia q u irk , remains to be
from a sense o f “ assertiveness”
hold
that
prestigious
position.
seen. But for now, the trend is un­
Blacks learned in the 60s, he said.
This remarkable Black accom­
deniably enriching C a lifo rn ia
A ll Blacks now in top C a lifo rn ia
plishment has not yet extended to
politics, and there is evidence that
positions
have been involved in
the
state’
s
other
principal
ethnic
the greater ethnic m o b ility in the
public
service
back to that period.
m
inorities,
Latinos
and
Asians.
political sphere is spreading to other
To a great extent, their talent was
Latinos, inspired by the in ­
areas, such as business and the law,
shaped by their personal in ­
defatigable union leader Cesar
as well.
volvement in the serious issues o f
Chavez,
are
now
at
about
the
entry
The clearest example o f the ex­
the civil rights era.
level where Blacks stood two
panding Black presence is the
Among the successful Black
decades ago. Asian participation in
prominence now given Los Angeles
politicos
the prevailing view is that
p
o
litics
is
very
active
at
the
local
M ayor Tom Bradley. C a lifo rn ia
sheer
individual
drive, energy and
level,
and
a
feminine
descendent
of
pollster M ervin Field has verified
persistance built their careers. Said
Chinese im m igrants, March Fong
that throughout the state Bradley is
Speaker Brown about M ayor
Eu, now holds Governor Brow n’ s
the front runner in the race to suc­
Bradley: “ Most voters don’t know
form
er
position
as
Secretary
o
f
ceed G overnor Jerry Brown next
his color and don’ t think about it.
State.
year. Other polls concur, and as fur­
He is perceived as a decent human
In short, while B radley’ s
ther evidence o f his p o p u la rity
being
who inspires trust.”
po
p
u
la
rity
and
W
illie
B
row
n’
s
Bradley recently won a third term as
Brown added: “ Each o f us has
cocky command o f the capital are ,
mayor by the largest vote he ever
fashioned a political career in an in­
the two highlights of this new phase
recorded, 64 percent, fo r the first
dividual
style. Our success relates to
of
ethnic
mobility,
the
record
seems
time carrying even the conservative
us
as
in
dividua ls. O nly demon­
to
suggest
that
voters
in
California,
San Fernando Valley.
strated ability can elevate Blacks to
when presented with a candidate of
Popularity which increases a third
a role that is beyond considerations
proven political ability, simply cease
time around confounds the experts;
o f race.”
to
consider
race
or
color.
a ttritio n o f votes is norm al. But
O f Speaker Brown, Black Assem­
But from another perspective, the
Bradley’ s aura o f assured com­
blyman Elihu Harris said: “ Willie is
Black leadership has to be viewed in
petence has earned him a statewide
recognized in the legislature as in ­
relationship to overwhelming white
favorability rating that is the highest
tellectually the most gifted, the best
preponderance.
U
n
like
some
of any political figure in the state.
o ra to r, the quickest and w ittiest
Eastern cities, where Blacks are
Bradley has not yet concluded he
mind and the ablest politician o f us
numerous and have produced
will run, and i f he does he may run
a
ll.”
notable
leadership,
C
a
lifo
rn
ia
's
headlong in to President Reagan,
Some see this leadership develop­
Black leaden came to o ffic e on
who m ight com m it his personal
ment as evidence that C alifornia is
white vote«. Among the 23.6 million
prestige to the Republican forces in
increasingly tolerant, in contrast to
Californians, more than two-thirds
his home state next year. But con­
the prevailing trend in Washington
are white. Blacks constitute only 7.7
sidering that no state in the union
po litics. The national figures
percent. This prompts some to ask
has ever elected a Black governor,
President Reagan has summoned to
whether there are ethnic charac­
the fact that Bradley rates so highly
W
ashington come prim a rily from
teristics
among
these
Black
leaders
represents a rem arkable dent in
business
or academic top rungs, ac-
particularly
suited
to
the
moment,
racial barriers.
or whether their experience in the
And Bradley is not alone.
ct stomed to success and wealth and
California also has a Black
struggle fo r c iv il rights may have
they have not included any notable
Superintendent of Public Instruc­
sharpened their political edge.
Blacks. The m inority personalities
By Mary Ellen Leary
in C a lifo rn ia ’ s public life come
from poverty and personal ex­
perience w ith discrim in a tio n and
racial ho stility. Both Bradley and
W illie Brown were born in Texas,
endured broken homes and scramb­
led fo r jobs as youngsters; March
Fong Eu worked in the fields and as
a domestic. But each moved upward
through the University o f C a lifo r­
nia.
Prejudice does s till make itse lf
felt in California. “ Not in personal
politics but in issues,” said Speaker
Brown. “ There is s till a strong
negative feeling about Blacks.”
Dr. Troy Duster, head o f the In­
stitute fo r Social Change at the
University o f California, observed,
“ Blacks don’t dominate urban life
as clearly in C alifornia as in many
parts o f the East, and so they don't
arouse as much fear.”
The Democratic Party’s canniest
p o litica l leader in C a lifo rn ia , Los
Angeles attorney M icky K antor,
suggested
that
C a lifo rn ia ’ s
prosperity and expanding economy
has accomodated more easily to in­
coming Blacks than static Eastern
cities. He expects Bradley to be
California’s next governor.
Robert M aynard, e d itor o f the
Oakland Tribune, believes that "the
rhetoric about opportunity being at
hand if you work hard seems to pay
o ff here in California more than in
some Eastern states.” Maynard is
the nation’ s first Black editor o f a
major daily newspaper.
Yet ugly incidents o f racial
discrim ination do intrude in
C a lifo rn ia ’ s public life , observes
Dr. David Wellman, another U.C.
Sociologist. Kian demonstrations,
the Nazi Party presence, cross bur­
nings, housing harassments, all at­
test to the continuing problem.
“ There is no evidence C a lifo r­
nians love Black people,” said
Wellman. “ We just have examples
o f shrewd politicia n s. B radley’ s
popularity is just a new C alifornia
quirk.”
But a number o f C alifornians -
including Jewish leaders. Blacks in
the professions and white scholars -
feel the state’ s m obility, it relative
lack o f fixed ethnic neighborhood
patterns, and its freedom from
either party or ethnic control over
political access, provide a flexibility
that makes it easier to break
through racial barriers.
Interested in current books
about Civil Rights? Visit:
JOHN REED BOOKSTORE
In the Dekum Building
519S.W . 3rd Avenue
Sixth Floor
Or call: 227-2902
Linda Johnson can be seen nearly any day of the
week involved in activities to promote the rights of
people. She is executive director of CRIB, a three-
year-old program that develops cooperative programs
in education, child development, food and housing.
Among its activities are serving as advocates for
students and parents w ith the school d istrict,
operating a Summer Academy for young people, and
operating a tennant hot I ine.
Ms. Johnson is chairman of the new 25 member
Housing and Community Development Advisory
Committee. The committee will advise the City on
use of its federal HCD funds. She is a member of the
Northeast coalition of Neighborhood Organizations
board.
One of her main interests being education, Ms.
Johnson is a member of the King Parent Advisory
Council and the Citizen Involvement Committee for
King (teacher selection). She is active in the Black
United Front.
She is also active in the Oregon Human Rights
Coalition, which seeks to protect rights of welfare
clients.
B R O U G H TTO YOU BY
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Power
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