Page 6. Portland Observer, February 18, 1987
Revitalized
UVW Project
by Leon Harris
ONLY
The Union A ve m edian strip it one of the concerns the U V W Pro
ject w ill deal w ith
Northeast Portland received a much needed shot in the arm recently as
a group of local area busrnessmer met to revitalize the Union Vancouver
Williams Avenue Protect which has been lying dormant for over one year
The project (U V W I is a main street approach, assisted in part by the Ore
gon Downtown Development Association IODOA) and would enhance
businesses along the three corridors through an action oriented plan
UVW . although first launched almost two years ago. was forced into
inactivity due to a series of miscalculations which necessitated a restruc
luring of the board of directors and a re evaluation of priorities
The current board (reduced to 9 from 27). while recognizing that North
east Portland is confronted with many social and economic problems, has
decided to focus its attention on those that are business related due to lark
of resources While this is contrary to recommendations presented by a
resource team of outside consultants, the decision was a wise one. as the
newly created board is comprised mostly of businessmen with a history of
proven success in the area
Undertaking the recommendations of the team of consultants was too
cumbersome, the board felt, as the report cited prostitution, drugs, crime,
and poverty as issues which should be addressed by the U VW project But,
in singling out economic development as its only priority for the present,
the board has aligned itself with community thinking and rightfully so
Future meetings are planned to ifevelop a comprehensive blue print for
action
Board members include Bernie Foster, Nathan Redditt, Horace John
son. Howard Glazer. Rev Watley. Charles Bedford. Paul Knauls, VF
Booker and Kevin B row n
Photo by Richard J B
C on't from Page 1
C ity C h arged W ith N o t F o llo w in g G u id e lin e s in R egards to Federal Funds
hasn't had time, but will make a response in the near future He said he
can t understand why Hall is saying that SCA wasn't involved in the pro
cess
The Beech Street proposal was approved by the old board Just
last week, the new board voted 8 0 in support of the plan He is incorrect
when he states that the SCA didn't have any input into the process I don't
understand why he is complaining ."
Hunter was asked about allegations that federal dollars will be used on
the project That portion of the project receiving federal funds reguires
competitive bidding, but will not be competitively bid He replied. "Federal
funds were used only to purchase the five lots No contractors have been
givon the job of building the houses. Once HAP comes up with its provision
specifics for the houses, the job will be put out for public bidding sometime
in April. Any contractor that's met our requirements and can do the job at
the lowest price will get the contract ." Hunter said HAP must borrow
money to pay for the construction of the units
The Observer also spoke with two city representatives who are familiar
with the Beech Street Project regarding Hall's and Hansen s allegations
They spoke on condition of anonymity "Their (Hall's and Hansen s) com
ments that SCA wasn't included in the process in regards to the Beech
Street Project are untrue The SCA board voted 5 4 in favor of the pro|>o
sal
Both officials, one no longer in city government, accused Hall and
Hansen of "sour grapes" and stated. "Hall and Hansen wouldn't be satis
fied unless the plan implemented for the project is theirs
Told of the comments. Hall responded by saying that "Although the SCA
board voted 5 4 to accept the Beech Street projiosal, he has recommended
that the new board reconsider the plan Hansen also alleged that city offi
cials aren't using federal Block Grants properly "Federal Block Grant funds
are targeted for depressed neighborhoods These neighborhoods are used
by the city to pull millions of federal dollars into Portland The money usual
ly doesn't get into those neighborhoods; it is siphoned off The Portland
Development Commission is the biggest offender of this practice." Hansen
said.
Spencer Invisions NW
Boxing Tournament
He said this year the Portland Development Commission will receive ,2
million dollars
They always walk out with most of the money Last year
they received eight million dollars What disturbs me the most is that the
area with the greatest needs does not gel the money." Hansen is critical of
the manner used to dispense community development funds "When they
must comply with regulations of citizens' participation, they must form a
planning body within those neighborhoods made up of citizens What they
do is this They put eight agencies on the community board, each of which
now receives funds for their own programs Each agency then must fight
for the small amount of funds that the city gives all six neighborhoods The
city only allows the citizens six votes while Ron Herndon, co chair of tfie
Black United Front, and his associates get eight votes They, the city, stack
the deck This is improper."
Hansen said in S E Portland things are done differently
Although S E
neighborhoods are not as bad as N E neighborhoods, they receive equal
amount of H C D money But they are a little smarter than most of us in
Northeast, because they said the six neighborhoods each have one vote
and the eight agencies reduced theirs to three This way the agencies who
wanted the money cannot out vote (he citizens They made all the busi
nesses and commercial agencies group together, social and educational
agencies combined, and the chuiches, with each having one vote "
Hansen believes that the Northeast Neighborhood Association should
adopt rules similar to their Southeast counterparts. He said presently
the N E Housing and Community Development Steering Committee is
illegitimate "It is a political farce "
Is Y o u r
C h ild
A
P ro b le m
L e a rn e r?
Parents whose i hildren have difficulties in school often don't know
where to turn for help Learning disabilities and how they can be treated
will be the topic of a program offered to the general public The program
will take place in the Conference Room of the Sylvan Westgate Building
5319 S W Westgate Drive (next to the Sylvan Exit off Highway 26)
Learning Disabilities Is Your Child A Problem Learner?" will be offered
on Saturday. February 28th. from 1 00 3 00 p m Larry S Hart. Ph D
Psychologist. Christina Peterson. M D , Neurologist, and Lin Clark. M S
Ed Learning Specialist, will discuss the different kinds of learning disabili
ties, how they are diagnosed, and the types of treatment available Tips for
parents on how to improve their child s learning will also be presented
Cost of the program is $7 00 per person or $10 00 per couple Seating is
limited so pre registration is required
For more information, or to pre
register call 297 2019
Black History Program
On Sunday. February 22, 1987,
there will tie a Black history pro
gram entitled ' A Return to Our
Spiritual Roots" at 5 00 p m at
Berean Baptist Church, 4822 N
Vancouver, Portland. Oregon
Pastor Nathan Barnett will be the
special guest speaker
Spirituals,
special music selections, and dra
matic readings will be featured
Refreshments will be served after
the program
For more information, contact
Anita Noble. 284 0547
TALK IS
CHCAP,
by Jerry Garner
Thad Spencer, former number one heavyweight contender of the world,
has visions of hosting a Northwest boxing tournament
"Presently, I am
negotiating with the Millers Brewing Company to become sponsor of the
tournament
The tournament will be called "Thad Spencer Promotions
Presents Millers Boxing Tournament", Spencer said
He said if the deal with Millers continues to go smoothly, he plans to
promote his first three fights beginning April 17th in Pasco, WA, at the Red
Lion Inn. "Then, there will be a championship tournament afterwards
The Millers champions will compete against the Strohs campions for the
Westcoast Championship "
The Strohs Boxing Tournament is promoted by Dr. Jerry Buss owner
of the L A Lakers basketball team and the Fabulous Forum
Spencer said he has been working on the tournament, trying to find a
beer sponsor since 1983 Just recently, Spencer was granted a match
maker’s license by the Portland Boxing Commission after having applied
three times over the past several years
When I returned from Bakersfield and applied for my license, the Boxing
Commission acted as though I didn't exist I had to go back to Bakersfield
and bring back statements from the California Athletic Commission and
from the Mayor of Bakersfield I had to prove to the Portland Boxing Com
mission that I had promoted boxing matches successfully in Bakersfield
They though I was the old Thad Spencer " Spencer was referring to his
past problem with substance abuse
Spencer was asked why it took the Boxing Commission so long to grant
him a matchmaker's license He replied, "I hate to think it was because I'm
Black However, I feel jxtlitics were involved " He said there are individuals
who would like to see him not promote boxing matches in Portland or the
Pacific Northwest
A case in point, he said, is the Feb 4 article in the Skanner newspaper.
In the article, Eddie Cotton, Commissioner of the Washington State Com
mission, was quoted as saying that the Commission would never grant
another license to Spencer because of unpaid bills associated with his last
fight card in the Sea Tac area
Spencer's response to the Skanner article was this "I don't owe any
bills for past matches I've promoted If anyone can find bills I owe, I will
be glad to pay them No one called me before they wrote the story to hear
my side regarding the charges levied against me."
He said the reason he is back in Portland is to bring back big time boxing
to the Pacific Northwest Spencer said he knows there is a market for box
ing in the area "I plan to have Portland on two national TV shows for box
ing This will help promote tourism for the state.”
Thad Spencer Promotions is located on the west coast with offices in
Bakersfield, California, and Portland Thad Spencer is president founder
of Thad Spencer Promotions William Moore is vice president.
W inter Mini-Term to Stert
Classes will begin throughout the
month of February for Mt Hood
Community College's winter mini
term, offering a wide selection of
concentrated courses for those
whose daily schedules don't fit with
a regular academic term
More than 60 courses make up
the mini term
Start dates range
from Feb 9 to the second week in
March, depending on the course
length and subject matter
Business, computers, basic skills
and AutoCAD training are among
the subjects offered Also included
are a wide variety of community
education classes and small bust
ness seminars.
Schedules listing the mini-cour
ses are available in the MHCC ad
missions office. Telephone legistra
tion is available for part time stu
dents For registration or more in
formation on mini term courses call
667 7392.
DAVE'S
xsfct SHOP
buying everything of value
W e Pay Cash"
Open 10:00 5.00
Mon Sat
5600 N E Union
Any company can talk about
a Rood corporate citizen, but at
M iller Brewing Company, we put our
money where our mouth is. We sponsor
and provide financial support for such
educational programs as college scholar
ships and internships for Rlack students. We
have spent m illions of dollars to purchase
goods and services from Black contractors and
vendors. We sponsor workshops and seminars that
teach Black contractors and vendors skills
sk ills that
help them more effectively do busi
ness with major corporations such as
Milles We contribute substantial sums to
Black civic, charitable and civil rights
organizations. We have substantial
sums of money on deposit with Black
financial institutions that, in turn, make
investments in projects that benefit their
com m unities. We sponsor fund-raisin
events for programs that b en efit Blac
communities. And, we employ Black people
at all levels of the company. All this costs
money, but we view our activities as an investment
in the future of this country. By encouraging the
economii
economic development and participation of all
segments of our society, we strengthen
our whole society. That's why we re
com m itted to our partnership with
Black communities.
GjjVgr
AT MILLER COMMITMENT IS PART OEOUR DOTTOM LINE.
Peer Brewed by Miller Brewing Co
Milw . Wl
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