M r» f r a n c .-s
-’ x s p a p c r Roca
U n iv e rs ity o f Oregon L ib ra r y
tu ro n a , Oregon 974J3
PORTLAND OBSERVER
V olum e XVII, Num ber 9
J a n u a ry 7 , 1987
25C
McCoy Sworn
In As Chair
by Jerry Garner
Former Multnomah County Commissioner. Gladys McCoy, was sworn in
last Friday as Chair of Multnomah County by Circuit Court Judge Mercedes
F. Diez
McCoy defeated veteran state legislator Glen Otto of Wood Village in
the November general election for the newly created position The Ch er
position pays an annual salary of $43,180
McCoy, a North Portland resident, was County Commission for six ye
before resigning in 1984 to run unsuccessfully for the Portland City Council
seat vacated by Charles Jordan.
Before that, she was on the Portland School Board for eight years and
aiso served as state ombudsman
The Chair position was created by voters in a ’ 984 charter change that
eliminated the position of County Executive As Chairman, McCoy will
administer the county but also will be one of five voting members of the
Board.
McCoy said it was a wonderful feeling to win the election and to be
sworn in. "It's a wonderful feeling. I think people don't go back too often,
so I feel fortunate that the citizens of this county decided that they wanted
me back."
McCoy is believed to be the first Black woman in the United States to
hold such a position.
McCoy defeated Otto despite being outspent by 2-to 1 in the race The
Oregonian newspaper endorsed Otto over McCoy.
McCoy is married to State Senator Bill McCoy The couple have seven
children.
County Commissioner Gretchen Kafoury was also sworn in by Judge
Diez
Kafoury will serve her first full term as County Commissioner
Commissioner Kafoury said one of her top priorities will l a to lobby for the
reopening of Claire Argow Center and for the use of space at the Donald E.
long Center to relieve crowding in the Justice Center jail.
Gladys M cC oy being sw orn in as Chair of M u ltn o m a h C ounty by C ircuit C ourt Judge M ercedes F. D ie*
First Lady Inspires Oregon Company
by Leon Harris
.
Many months have passed since First Lady Nancy Reagan, while addres
sing a group of school children on the hazards of drug and substance
abuse, first uttered the words, "Just Say No". Since then, members of
Congress have embraced the "Just Say No" theme and passed legislation
aimed at eradicating abuse. The "Just Say No" theme has also been given
wide coverage by the media
Now those words can be displayed on automobile bumpers, thanks to
an Oregon-based company called Marie Creations.
With most states, the problems of substance abuse has mandated a long
overdue re evaluation of this nation's feeble efforts to address a growing
tragedy. Coping with antiquated techniques, drug and alcohol dependency
was previously aligned with the narrow vision that punishment was the
only alternative.
The epidemic emergency of cocaine (especially "Crack"), coupled with
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our school systems, Portland, Oregon , not withstanding Instant success
appeals to most and a mind not yet matured more readily succumbs to
temptations without regards for the consequences
Thus, as a society, we must undertake a more meaningful task in addi
tion to law enforcement for the provocatuer. W e must educate the abuser
to the fact that drug and substance abuse destroys the family's moral fitter
Somehow First Lady Nancy Reagan's now famous slogan, "Just Say No"
m ust be adopted as a household word And "Just Say No" is also being
articulated by Marie Creation through the use of the Bumper Board! TMl
Marie Creations is the brainchild of Joanne Mansfield and Carthel Gales
who, together as a team, offor a variety of profit sharing ideas through
community involvement and economic development
One of its creations is the Bumper Board (T M I which is a plastic sleeve
with a ziplock pocket that accommodates bumper signs (stickers, etc.)
JUST SAY N O
Photo by R ichard J B row n
Police,
Firefighter
Benefits
Generous,
Says Audit
by Jerry Garner
By all definitions, the Portland Police Bureau is a conservative organi
zation However, members of the department are receiving liberal benefits
from the public. According to a 66 page audit conducted by former Port
land City Auditor Jewel Lansing, Portland's police officers and firefighters
are disabled more often and for longer periods that other uniformed em
ployees statewide and receive higher disability benefits.
In addition, the audit reported that the disability benefits of the police
and firefighters were seven times greater than those provided to other uni­
formed public employees. The report also revealed that police officers and
firefighters receive less in retirement benefits than members of the Public
Employees Retirement System (PERS). However, the audit said the dif
forence is due to higher contributions by PERS members.
The audit said changes are needed in the police and firefighters disability
fund It said the Board of Trustees and the Portland City Council can take
a variety of actions to bring about those changes They are
the already crippling effects of heroin and marijuana, forced this society to
accept the fact that drug and alcohol abuse was indeed a disease and must
be treated as such.
The difficult part was selling the idea that the "law and order" doctrine
has little effect on combating the sale, distribution and usage of drugs, and,
in fact, may have contributed indirectly to its popularity.
Of course, this contributing factor was abetted some what by a liement
judicial system
But we hasten to add that while law enforcement officials perform, for
the most part, a yeoman's-like task fighting the drug war, they were con
siderably undermanned on the streets and at the borders
To understand why drugs, especially, are so popular, one must first
understand the dynamics created when you either "hold" or have access to
the "package". With It, friendship comes easily; long sought luxuries are
now accessible; you gain prominence and status in your circle of "friends"
And all of a sudden, you're in demand.
But watching this sudden rise in illicit self esteem is a faction with a cun
osity that must be defused immediately. That faction being the youth in
commonly found on vehicles traveling on streets, roads, highways and
freeways
While offering a complete network of bumper signs, Marie Creations
offers two of particular interest as it addresses a major concern in this na
tion's school system. The slogans on the two bumper signs are "JUST
SAY NO" and "CRACK KILLS".
The purpose of the bumper signs, once inserted into the plastic Bumper
Board (TM), is to educate youth in the nation's schools of the hazards of
drug and alcohol abuse through promotion of the "Just Say No" theme
This would be accomplished through participation and profit sharing and
would establish an on going program vocalizing the schools' efforts at cur
tailing drug and alcohol abuse, as well as provide fund raising opportunities
to ensure project continuity.
To accomplish the above stated goal, as well as promote a program de
signed to incorporate the efforts of drug abuse agencies, private business,
the media, athletic programs, school administrators, students, parents and
North Portland Bible College
Offers Classes
King's Son to Speak at Lewis and Clark
• Eliminate the Basic Plan and Supplement Program and integrate fully
with PERS, Social Security and Workers' Compensation program.
• Retain the Basic and Supplemental Plan administrative and manage
ment structure. Repeal charter benefits provisions and replace with
new charter language redefining retirement, disability, death benefit
and vesting coverages
• Modify Basic Plan extensively and eliminate Supplemental coverage
Change management and administration duties of the Board Revise
charter and base benefits and employee contribution levels on PERS,
Social Security and Workers' Compensation system
Contract for
pension management and disability claims services
Martin Luther King III will speak at Lewis and Clark College's Agnes Fla
nagan Chapel at 3 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23. King, the son of slain civil rights
leader Martin Luther King Jr., will speak on; "Mainstreaming Outsiders:
Increasing Educational Opportunities."
The free lecture is sponsored by the Martin Luther King Jr Scholarship
Fund, the Northwestern School of Law of Lewis and Clark College Alumni
Association, the Minority Law Student Association, campus ministries.
Associated Students of Lewis and Clark Education Programs and the Col­
lege's lectures and concerts committee
King's father, the winner of a Nobel Prize for his work in leading the civil
rights movement in the United States in the 1960s, was assassinated in
Memphis, Tenn., in 1968 King also will speak at the Martin Luther King
School in Northeast Portland and at Portland State University
For more information, contact Tony Kneidek, Office of Public Informa
tion, Lewis and Clark College, 293 2777
The report recommended that Board members of the Fire and Police
Disability and Retirement Committee direct the Chairman to appoint a
committee independent of the Board, and recommend city charter am
mendments that could be referred to voters by 1988
Lansing said she had wanted to conduct an audit of the retirement and
disability fund for four years Lansing said, "The fund was a black box
nobody wanted to touch. There's a feeling that it's a sacred cow ."
The Fire and Police Disability and Retirement Plan is funded by annual
property tax levy and contributions from plan members The tax levy for
fiscal year 1984 85 was $1 49 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, and mem
bers contributed 7 percent of their pay The plan currently covers 1,343
active members and 974 disabled beneficiaries. Total benefit costs for
1984 86 were $204 million, three fouths of which was for retirement pen
sions and one fourth for disability benefits.
North Portland Bible College, 4222 N.E. 12th Ave , Portland, OR 97211,
will offer a series of classes, "Building God's People -G od's W ay", begin
ning the week of January 8, and continuing through March 21
Tuesday Classes 16:30 9:30 p.m.): "Old Testament Survey II” , Rev
I . J Madison, "Christian Teacher Development II, Sis. E. Nance; "The
Parables of Jesus ', Rev. B B. Yazzie.
Thursday Classes (6:30-9:30 p.m.): "World Christian Outreach II” , Rev
P. Nelson; "The Book of Genesis", Rev. M .V . Lindsey
Saturday Classes (9:00 a m .-12:00 noon): "N ew Testament Survey II",
Sis E. Nance; "Basic Bible Doctrines” , Rev. M .V. Lindsey
Register by phone —it's easy and quickl Just call 288-7241 weekdays, or
288-2919 anytime Or talk to the N.P.B.C. Representative at your churchl
You don't pay anything until your first class session'
The fees are »10
registration per term, and 120 tuition per class.
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