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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 28, 1984)
Portland Observer, November 28, 1984, Page 3 WATCH A VIDEO MOVIE 3« METROPOLITAN Mediator quells neighborhood feuds by Robert Lothian Com munication it the main in gredient in resolving interpersonal disputes. But according to Emmanuel Paris, director of the Neighborhood Mediation Center, neighbors some times live next door to each other for years, letting hostilities simmer with out talking When there is no mechanism for diffusing the situation, he said, sim mering hostilities can lead to involve ment o f the police and courts, even violence. The M ediation Center exists so that neighbors and small business people can resolve their disputes peacefully outside the courts. “ I f no crime has been committed yet there is a lot of underlying tension because of disputes, >hen a much sim pler process is needed,” said Paris. “ A lot o f cities have neighborhood mediation as an alternative to the courts and the police.” A free service sponsored by the Portland Office of Neighborhood As sociations, the Center offers a staff of three mediation specialists who act as the crucial middle men in disputes. Sometimes, the problem can be handled by a phone conversation or by referral to another agency, said Paris. But often the Center's Media tors go out to the neighborhoods and meet with those who are arguing. The average case can be resolved in about 194 hours o f talking, he said, but some real sticklers have taken up to 16 hours in several sessions at the Center office. The bottom line, said Paris, is a contractual agreement "that is mu tually agreeable and acceptable to both parties.” In the Center’s five years of opera tion, he said, it has received an aver age of 1,000 complaints per year, and taken some action on about 5,500 cases. In 1983, parties in 315 out of 347 disputes handled by the Center approved of the outcome when rou tinely contacted 30 days later. The mediation process not only saves the disputing parties and the criminal justice system money and time, said Paris, it also makes con verts who will hopefully go through their lives knowing better how to re solve disputes on their own. Disputes are referred to the Center by the District Attorney's office, the Neighborhood Crime office, the police and other agencies. Sometimes the disputing parties just call or come in. Common problems dealt with in mediation are trespassing, littering, Emmanuel Perla helps nalflhbora to resolve confíete through mediation (Photo: Richard J. Brown) they can't remember the original source of the problem, he said. The Neighborhood Mediation Cen ter's staff also includes mediator Jacqueline Carey-Webb, secretary Yvonne Cardwell and 35 trained vol unteers. Paris has been director since 1978. He attended Central Catholic High School and received a B.A. in educa tion from the University of Oregon. As a member of the Teacher Corps, he taught at McClaren, Hillcrest, Jefferson and John Adams High Schools, and the Albina Youth Op portunity School. Mediation has potential for resolv ing disputes not only in neighbor hoods, but in the schools, prisons, even in custody battles, according to Paris. The Center's advisory com mittee is currently studying the pos sibility of going non-profit and con tracting with the city and other agen cies. Going non-profit might enable the center to expand into new areas, said Paris. The Neighborhood Media tion Center can be contacted at 284-2829. S / PGE e le c tr ic ity w o rk s a ro u n d th e c lo c k . W hen y o u con sid er all i t does f o r y o u , i t ’s ' a m ig h ty good b uy. Let Portland Observer JOBS •s * 3 5 work for you! , K rail oQq.nnon harrassment. trash, petty theft, land- lord/tenant disputes and pet control. “ Whenever there is a problem with animals, we realize people are in volved, also," said Paris. One contract delivery dispute in volving two small businesses in the Southwest area was resolved only after several sessions totalling 16 hours with lawyers for both sides present. "Both parties actually had their attorney ready for a court bat tle,” said Paris, "but they reached a written agreement without going to court.” you’ve come a long way, baby. Another dispute involved two apartment house tenants. One was a 6’2” , 350 lb. man who lived above a woman v/hose daughter was an honor student and needed quiet to study, the dispute was resolved when one of the Center’s mediators. Eddie Collins, brought the parties together and the woman realized that the man's noise was due to his size and not personal hostility directed at her and her daughter. “ What we try and get them to understand is that in apartment house living you are going to hear the other person,” said Collins. VRGNA SUMS “ Often, we see the solutions right aw ay," but it may take disputing neighbors several hours to finally see the light, said Collins. Sometimes neighbors have disputed for so long MRS. C’a WIGS r L * Í M.ny wifl» pnc.d .t S6 *10 ** *'& c Vlk‘ M**** VIK( ilN,A i si lM s » * • * • A X **** , .„o *""" fj I *»«iiwe,4 Betty Catena P'OpneKx M N A U M I S IM S R801 Marilyn Now Menthol and Lights Menthol A N 0 . I O O U C LA S N A I A , « C O ll » M K H A I l W H , S ♦15°° Now Rag. »36.00 ______________ *2895 C Philip M « m Im Rag. »18 96 W arning: The Surgeon G eneral Has D e term in e d That Cigarette Smoking Is Dangerous to Your Health. MRS. C^s WIGS 707 N.E. Framont l‘»M 2 8 1 -6 5 2 3 Menthol 15mq tar.” 1 0 rrg nicotine lights Menthol 8 mg " tar" 0 6 mg nicotine ay per cigarette F1C Report Mar 84 Claaad Sam. A Man. OF«« Tuaa. «mi tat. 11:30 AM to 0:00 PM I I-
