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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 12, 1983)
Pag« 4 Portland Obaarvar, January 12, 1983 EDITORIAL/OPINION Continue the fight for freedom “ W e know through p o w erfu l experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be dem anded by the oppressed.” These are the words o f D r. M a rtin Luther King, Jr., a man who was revered throughout the world and despised at home. He was a man w h o , though he strived to o b tain the rights guaranteed by the US C o n stitu tio n through non-violent action, was the target o f FB I and C IA surveillance and government-sponsored smear campaigns. Though the early years o f his campaign were dedicated to obtaining civil rights — the vote, an end to jim crow , jo b s, education — fo r black people, he soon saw the oppression o f black people, minorities and poor whites as the product o f a corrupt system. As early as 1965 K ing came to the conclusion th at the w ar in V ie tn a m had a d irect negative im pact on the struggle fo r e q u a lity in this c o u n try . H e soon began to speak out against that war and peace became one o f his m ajor themes. A t the same time he began to call for an end to the imperialsm that oppresses the people of the Third W orld and shortly before his death called for a non-violent mass action to bring about a redistribution o f wealth in this nation and in the world. W hen he began to o penly connect the poverty and sufferin g o f the w orld with the m u ltin atio n al corporations and the govern ment that supports them, his assassination was certain. M a rtin L uther King gave his life for all o f the people o f the w orld who are deprived o f justice and freedom. The best way to honor his memory is to continue his struggle. Jackson secession is elitist We must agree with D r. M atthew Prophet, Superintendent o f the Portland Public Schools, that the Jackson High School community’s Fight to form their own school district is elitist. The decision to close Jackson, which was made before Prophet came to Portland, was ac complished through an unfair process and per haps for reasons more political than education al. The fact remains, however, that the residents of Northeast Portland suffered far more dislo cation from the closure of two of their schools, Adams and Washington. The sudden closure of these two schools forced the overcrowding and racial strife that occurred at Jefferson a year ago and caused the scattering of students from these two schools. The students from Jackson High School had an entire school year to adjust to the change and to plan with the Wilson com m unity for the change. Those students were transferred in a group to Wilson, which is fre quently called Portland’« finest high school. The Northeast community did not attempt to secede from the School District— it swallowed another b itter p ill, although the children o f Northeast Portland have suffered at the hands of the School District for years. The Northeast community and the inner Southeast community Washington High School served do not have the resources to engage in extended legal battles and whether they would have the property tax base to support adequate schools is debatable. The fate o f the children o f North Portland is tied to that o f the Portland School District. The fight is not to destroy the School District but to make it better for all children. The Jackson H ig h School area is another story. Ninety-seven percent white, middle and upper class, this area has an adequate tax base to provide an average per pupil expenditure at the Portland District level or above. It would not be burdened by low-income and refugee children who have special needs. I f the Jackson commu nity succeeds it will create a nearly all-white, ho mogeneous school district that cannot prepare its children to live in a m u lti-cu ltu ral w orld. Jackson secession would be a step-backward into elitism. Remember Tom McCall Tom M cC all, form er Governor o f Oregon, died Saturday following a long fight with can cer. Governor from 1967 through 1974, McCall gained a reputation for his independence and his Among the accomplishments during his ad ministrations were the beach bill, the Willamette River cleanup, state land use planning, the bottle bill, and billboard removal— all of which were designed to protect the natural environment. A l though he favored ’ ’clean” economic develop ment, McCall recently warned that Oregon’s en vironment should not be sacrificed for a few smokestacks. McCall received ridicule when he asked Americans to visit Oregon but not stay too long. Those who have witnessed the helter- skelter growth of California and the attempted encroachment o f C a lifo rn ia corporations on Oregon’s beaches and desert land understand what he meant. Among M cC all’s failures were his inability to draw more income taxes from the corporations in order to lower property taxes and stabilize school financing. McCall— who was elected with heavy support from Democrats— was not entirely happy with the Republican Party although he faithfully sup ported Nixon. He frequently toyed with the idea of a third party, which he called a “ third force,’’ and, after his attempt to regain the Governor ship (after sitting out the mandatory four years after his second term) was stopped by the con servative wing o f the Republican Party he re registered as a Democrat. McCall dimmed his image somewhat when he made paid political commercials for private util ity companies, but more than regained his credi bility when last fall, dying o f cancer, he hit the campaign trail to save the Land Conservation and Development Commission (L C D C ). A ll but forgotten is M c C a ll’s work with the Urban League of Portland in the early 1950s to obtain passage of Oregon's civil rights laws. A l though there were no significant gains for black people during the M c C a ll ad m in istratio n , M c C a ll did ap p o in t C halm ers Jones to the p osition o f O m b sb u d sm an , the highest p osition in state governm ent a tta in e d by a black person at that time, and later appointed Jones to the Parole Board. Tom McCall was one o f Oregon’s better gov ernors. He was strong and independent, hu mane, genuinely concerned. Even in death he provided an example of courage and determina tio n . In m any ways he e x e m p lifie d w hat is good in Oregon; his weaknesses were typical of the weakness o f our state and our society. Salem watch Odd thing» are happening in Sa lem thete day*. Merchant», report edly. are stockpiling band-aid», but it'» not a ra»h o f skinned knee» they're anticipating. During the 1981 special session, legislators used every band-aid in town as they tried to devise a workable lax program. This created a run on drug stores, and panic in the streets. As shop keepers prepare for 1983, rumor has it (hat House Revenue Committee chair Tom T hroo p (D -B end ) has formally requested Speaker Grattan Kerans (D-Eugenc) to authorize ad ditional monies for the purchase of these adhesive plastic strips. Economic development specialists are looking at manufacture of this product as a source of new jobs for Oregonians. Advantages of manu facturing such bandages include the large numbers required each year, as well as the renewable demand for the product: by the time the last one is affixed in June, the first ones are already coming undone. State legislators are not alone in their purchase o f adhesive plastic strips. County Commissioners in Columbia and Tillamook Counties (both faced with a projected $2 mil lion deficit) and Washington and M ultnom ah Counties, to mention only a few, are also placing unusual ly large orders. One economist has predicted that band-aids may prove to be a more stable industry than timber. The only problem is this: if the manufacture o f adhesive ban dages diversifies and stabilizes Ore gon’ s economy, then demand for those little adhesive strips will fall o ff. and the Oregon economy will be back to where it was in 1983—de pressed. W ith or without a band-aid-in duced recession, Oregon has plenty of other economic problems. One of the over-riding setbacks is the na tional depression that is draining revenues from income tax-depen dent governments such as Oregon's. In addition, voter rejection of local tax bases, coupled with industrial flight and other private sector trends may mean revenue shortfalls and curtailed public services will become a permanent part of life in Oregon. If this occurs, our quality of life will flee south along with some of our larger corporations. Voter anger is easy enough to un derstand: folks are being hit hardest just when they need state and local services the most, but are least able M l M ill ill I Portland Observer 751 1 T M P o rtla n d O b t r r r a r IU S P S 959 8801 i t p u b lith td every Thursday by I « » P u b lis h in g C o m ç t n y Inc , 2201 North Killing» worth Portland. Oregon 97217 Post Offtca B o . 3137 Portland Oregon 97208 Second class postage paid at Portland. Oregon The Porrtaad O barrvrr w a t eatabhafied m 1970 by A Laa Han darton founder and Precedent MfMBfR Subscriptions »10 00 per year m the Tri County araa P o t t m a tte r Send addret» change» lo the P o rtla n d ( Ib te r r v r P 0 B o. 3137 Portland Oregon 97208 4 / Mctiilherry, Editor/Publisher * AaaocraNon - Founded IM S A i Williams, Advertising Manager 283-2486 N a tio n a l A d v e r tis in g R e p r e s e n ta tiv e A m a lg a m a t e d P u b lis h e r » In c N e w V orti finance sectors, coupled with a gradual decline of good-paying jobs in heavy industry means that wage levels and state revenues w ill not grow. They may even decline. The dilemma this creates is easy to diagnose but d iffic u lt to cure. Slower growing revenues are accom panied by increasing demand for state services. In addition to the ex isting unmet demand for adequate transportation, sewers, water, solid waste disposal, and a healthy and safe environment, new burdens are created by larger populations o f poorer residents, increased urban density, and corporate demands for bail-outs. A pparently, the only m ajor need being met at the mo ment is for more band-aids. Recent responses by state and lo cal elected officials have only exa cerbated the problemss. By laying o ff over 7,200 public employees during the past year, the govern ment has actually increased its long term burden and placed adidtional strains on community life. By in creasing tuition at state-supported colleges and universities by 19 per cent while cutting back on allocated revenues, Oregon is cutting into its own recuperative capabilities. By re defining the standards of poverty in Oregon, the governor has knocked 30,000 needy people from the public assistance rolls. In this economy, we can be certain that very few of these Oregonians have become productive taxpayers. In effect, Oregon govern ments have reached the point where actions taken to help themselves will only increase the risks for those they are supposed to serve. Unfortunately, any effort to raise revenues will only anger significant groups of individuals. I f the tax bur den is increased for the well-to-do, be they individuals or corporations, cries o f "bad business climate” or "disinvestment” will fill the air. I f the burden is shifted to the dissolv ing " m id d le ” class, as has been done by both Democrats and Re publicans, a new skirmish in the tax “ revo lt" w ill be inevitable. I f the burden is shifted to the unemployed and the bankrupt.. well, they can’t pay taxes, anyhow. As the legislative session proceeds and more band-aids are applied, be fore you scream, ask yourself this question: " In whose interest is this new tax?” W ith some careful thought, you could recognize that it might be your own. Letters to the Editor To the editor: So, here we go again. Starting the discussion of the whys too late. Why have we lost another beauti ful black girl to death so young? To those who yell prostitute, how do you decide what a prostitute is? Is it a person coerced into doing what they do or a person who willingly becomes what the label implies. To those who say so what! funny how so many of you openly want prosti tutes' bodies for sale on our streets, in the clubs, etc, because a woman has a right to do with their person what they see fit, especially if it ben efits you! Just let a person decide they no longer want that style of life and there are not the screams o f in justice when bodies are found and killers are free. Color should not have mattered but it did. People were helping her for a long time. The police were in formed o f her plight many times. They were informed of the house in which she was held captive but (hey did not search the attic, which is where she was hidden. Malicious ne glect and disrespect for human life is appalling. Something has been taken from the human race that can never be gotten back. A life — will anybody ever give a damn? r [Oregon Newspaper i Publishers Asso« ration to pay. Assessed valuation, especial ly in rural areas, it increasing at a time when wages— for those lucky enough to be employed—are needed for basic necessities. In Curry Coun ty, assessed valuation increased by 4 4 . 1 percent during the past year, and in Lincoln County it grew by 20.5 percent, although both coun ties have tax rates considerably be low the state's average. When elect ed officials cut state programs to compensate for revenue shortfalls, the quality of life for all Oregonians is adversely affected. Much of this voter frustration, however, is self- induced. M any, many Oregonians still believe their tax dollars are sup porting programs which serve no one and which no one would miss. The harsh reality is that one per son's “ waste” is another's liveli hood. The residents of the Stayton/ Silverton area know this: curtailed services at Detroit Lake and Silver Falls State Parks will mean fewer tourist dollars and fewer jobs this summer. Contrary to much public opinion, state and local programs serve the very real needs o f quite a few interest groups— groups that can be expected to mobilize people and resources to protect their own livelihoods. These various special interest groups are one reason legislators re sort to the adhesive plastic strips. The "b and -aid " approach seeks to reduce political conflict by either placing the additional tax burden on the smallest group possible, or by placing the smallest tax burden pos sible on the largest group. This in cremental approach is teaching its limits for several reasons: I) It tends to maximize frustration for all; and 2) given Oregon's dependence on personal income tax for revenues, a poorer population generally means a poorer state government. Sadly enough, Oregon's problems are more the rule than the excep tion . M any states are sim ilarly strapped as their trad itio n al eco nomic sectors decline in profitabil ity, their new growing sectors tend to create only low er-paying jobs, and this trend receives encourage ment through federal tax policy. A l though high technology firms are producing a few relatively high wage jobs in Oregon (mostly located in growing urban areas and taken by more experienced immigrants), the majority of new jobs ciealed in Ore gon are low paying. Rapid expan sion of the service, retail trade, and i i i i i i i i i i i i i i To the com m unity: Here was a girl on the campus of PCC. She was accosted and visibly beaten as she was taken from the PCC grounds. What kind o f people saw what was happening to her and stood by to watch. Yes, watch! Folks get upset when a dog is kicked, when a cat uses one of its fictitious nine lives. But when a black girl is beaten by two to three men, strange how unin volved, uninterested, unconcerned, unfeeling, uncaring, one can get. What made it alright, who made it O .K ., why? There are no words to help ease the pain o f her m other, her aunt— who lost her eldest son in a fire less than a year ago— to sisters and brothers— to cousins who hurt and will for time to come. But there is something the community can do. We can become closer and use our own methods to rid our community of those who would harm our chil dren. We must watch over them one and all to ensure that a person can not decide to take anyone's life or harass them into a lifestyle that only leads to drugs, prostitution, their deaths or the deaths of others. The people o f the com m unity should learn to communicate physically with those who would do the same with us. There would be less of what happened to Trina Hunter if we all decided to put ourselves on the line. Criminals would know they would not survive, if beatings, rapes, kill ings and the like were perpetrated upon us. It's time we used their wea pons to put the fear o f dying into them. I understand S I50 is about all it takes. Yes, it’s horrible. Like I said the whys always come late, the pain lasts too long, the lost life of a beau tifu l black girl forever. The police care more about her arrest for pros titu tio n than really exploring her death. They have said they must wait until the end o f th ewek to know if she died accidentally or was killed. Strange how the community knows but the police don't. O r, as stated before— does anybody give a damn? Sheirian E. Haggar Warren ^ - KOLBE IN S U R A N C E SERVICES A h lttd tp tm i« h i A g t f ii 6616 N.E. Union Av«. P o rtlan d . O reg o n 87211 2M -1718 For All Your Insurance Needs --------------- —------- ——1 Receive your Observer by mail — < Subscribe today! Only $10* per year. ' Mail to Portland Observer Box 3137 Portland. Oregon 97200 | | | ______________________________________________________________I I Name ____ I Address _________________ City_____________________ State____________ zip_____ _ | !
