Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (March 9, 1983)
• • Portland Observer, March 9, 1983 Page 3 METROPOLITAN My husband and I did everything together. We even decided on our funeral plans together. When John died it wa« much easier lor me There were so many things that had to be done. I know I carried out his wishes because we discussed them ahead of time. We even had money put aside in a special plan available through our funeral home. It was a great relief. I wish more people knew about it. Please send for our free booklets on funeral planning CALDWELLS COLONIAL MORTUARY Rlch Jali and Ellaa Campbell demónstrate m a china w o rk at Banaon P olytachnlcal School'a "Tach Show." Tha ahow providas tha community an opportunity to saa demonstrations of studanta' work in a variety of vocational areas. (Photo: Richard J. Brown) Contractors oppose MSD process by James H ill Over the principled abstention of District II councilor Marge Kafoury, amidst protests from sev eral black businessmen in the audi ence, the Metropolitan Service Dis trict (M S D ) awarded what is reput ed to be the largest contract granted a m inority owned concern in Oregon on February 24. The Alaska Tundra E xhib it, to become a part o f the Washington Park Zoo, was awarded to a joint venture formed February 9, to Rob erto Roles & Associates and RP&I General Contractors on a low bid of $1,482,352. Several options avail able to Metro could reduce the bid by two-thirds the awarded amount. Several spokesmen and officials from the National Business League. Oregon Chapter (N B L O C ), and black-owned businesses, questioned the procedural process, the lack of consistent M SD minority business enterprise (M BE) policy in contract letting and a seeming lack of integ rity demonstrated by the winning general contractors on the largest contract to be let during this fiscal year. The code of ethics governing con tractors appeared to be violated in this contract. The usual case, a r ticulated by O .B . h ill. Vice Presi dent N B L, is that general contract ors “ generally make their intentions to bid on a contract known to all in terested subcontractors and sup p liers.” They make the process known so that, according to M r. H ill, “ the lowest competitive bid possible is submitted to the con tractor in order to maximize profit and minimize loss.” Two MSD councilors raised con cern about the M B E program and although members Jack Deines and Bruce Etlinger presented logical ar guments about staff conduct they joined the m ajo rity in voting to award the contract to the joint ven ture. “ I think there is something wrong with M e tro ’ s contracting proce dures.” added Etlinger, after allud ing to possible bribes or other staff misconduct. He held M S D blame less. Councilor Cindy Hanrer did not feel that council member were duty bound to comment on a n d /o r to question policies proposed by the staff, and Jack Deines* comments suggested that there was too much ambivalence and loo many options available to contractors. $52,447 separated the successful joint venture and the second lowest apparent bidder O .T .K .M . C on struction. Inc. The total minority and female participation is approxi mately 58 percent based on informa tion from Metro at press time as A l exander Landscaping is reportedly in line to receive a subcontract for $75,000. The A lexander contract was not a part o f the documents submitted to Metro during the com petitive bidding period. Alexander and R P& I spokespersons were not available to answer for comment per telephone calls made to their o f fices. It would appear that Alexan der Landscaping will receive some funds from the contract on a negoti ated basis. Gary D . Hansen, councilor o f District 12, whose district includes DR. BRADY’S à E C O N O M IC R EC O VER Y FOR SA V IN G TE E TH FOR FA M IL V DENT IS TR V A T LOWER COSTS “ SA VIN G TEETH 1983” HIGH QUALITY PORCELAIN CROWNS A BRIDGES TWILIGHT SLEEP REINFORCED PORCELAIN CAPS PHONE IN FOR A FREE ESTIMATE 8 OTHER A N E S T H E T IC S BY R EG ISTER ED A N E S T H E T IS T W HILE PREPARING Y O U R C R O W N S 4 B R ID G ES REPLACE VOUR MISSING OR OECAVED TEETH WiTM PERMANENT CAPS COME IN FOR A FREE ESTIMATE C om plete C ooperation on ALL DENTAL INSURANCE PLANS , OPENSATUROAYS NO ADVANCE APPOINTMENT NECESSARY Hours W e e k d a y s 8 30am to 5pm S atu rd ay 8 30am to 1pm Park F r e e — Any Park n Shop LOt DR. JEFFREY BRADY, D E N T IS T - SEMLERBLDG. SALEM S W 3rd A Yamhill , 10’ j C om m ercial N E Downtown PORTLAND - . » • A « - 581 8699 ' - • • . ’ t . v • « ' ' ' . W - ' • - , 7 • , about half o f the black community, received notice from Charles Crews, President o f NBL, about his voting conduct on the matter. In a March I, 1983 letter, M r. Crews writes. “ Although clear evidence was pre sented before you concerning the in consistencies in Metro's MBE poli cies which caused mass confusion among contractors, you still voted to award the contract. The most devastating blow to black contract ors was your insensitivity to the needs of your constituents who live and operate in your district.” Crews later added, “ One thing Chicago taught us is that persons not sensi tive to black needs.. .w ill feel the sting o f that action at the ballot box.” The apparent winning contractors were simply represented by Donald Matsuda, Small Business Adminis tration (SBA) minority business ad vocate, who substantiated that joint venture participants met all qualifi cation as 8(a) contractors. Henry Pelfrew, President, D irt and Aggregate Interchange, In c., emoted words to the effect that he was “ c o lo rb lin d ” on the award letting matter. Pelfrey was a mem ber of a bid review panel established February 3 by a motion sponsored by councilor K afo ury. A black walkout occurred during the Febru ary I Ith bid review panel meeting after a black businessman was re buked by McCay Rich of the Zoo and Sue Kobertznz, Metro contract officer who decides the meeting di rection panel’s course of action. Other testimony by black people before the board included a charge that “ Metro has joined forces with the Associated General Contractors who represent to black entrepren eurs today in the economic market place what the Klu Klux Kian has al ways stood fo r—which has resulted in numerous lynchings, castrations, and other forms of genocide against black people. A GC has a national policy with respect to Minority Busi ness Enterprise programs to destroy and destabilize black contractors and suppliers.” James Berry, NBL Executive Sec retary. contacted by telephone, added, “ MBE contractors were de ceived by M E T R O and R P A I. The joint venture was not on the revised list supplied by Alaska Tundra Ex hibit architects, “ so no one knew they were bidding." Metro’s MBE program appears to be founded on the premise that, “ We (M etro) provide the rules and the problems; black entrepreneurs follow the rules and end up as the problem while not benefiting eco n o m ically,” adds N B L President Charles Crews, summing up his or ganization’s position on the Alaska Tundra Exhibit. Metro has plans on the drawing board for an African Tundra Exhib it, according to a reliable source who desires to remain anonymous. He adds, “ We (blacks) need to come into the bid process as the low bidder as ’greasy as possible* and slide into some of Metro’s money.” ■HI t » , .4 . ' \ - » ■ ' . r “ , » ’ • « < RUNYAN'S 880 STORE • 00 6 46 MON SAT Closed Sunday 3716 N .E . UNIOÍS Family Pack Charmin 20 pack ct. Reg. $1.48 Rag >1.18 Sale Price SALE PRICE Burly Garbage Bags Pina Sol. 40 o i Rag >3« SALE PRICE Rag 2.58 Saia Price >1.IB Introducing Lova Craft Daalgnar Hair Clips SALE LASTS MARCH 10 THRU MARCH 26.1 wrZ m m