Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 2, 1987)
Ai Kra Frances Schoen-Mewspaper Rooa University of Oregon Library *u”rnì. Oregon 97403 S I Atlantic Treatment in Defense of Life • - V • v ; .’/S'*? Page 4 Page 6 ** 7 Starr Catch the Spirit Page 9 1 ‘ • •• k.<v £ 25C w ? ERVER PORTL •4 ,• t , • December 2, 1987 -•V J. Charged With 1987 has been a devastating year for the American voter. Across the country, the carcasses of fallen politicians are piling up faster than they can be buried: Bork, Ginsberg, Biden and Hart, to name a few. Among Black Oregonians, there is a growing feeling that, in Oregon and in other parts of the country, some politicians have become cul turally offensive, partial to political carelessness, and dangerously out- of-touch with the average American voter. And many of these Black voters belive that former Oregon Senate Presidents Jason Boe and John Burns fit these descriptions well. Boe and Burns have charged Robert Parker, former Committee Administrator to Senator Jim Hill (D-Salem), with political mis conduct. State Senator Jim Hill has de nounced the allegations as impro per, unfair, disturbing and poten tially harmful to Oregon's political process. "The conduct of Robert Parker has almost been the entire focus of this matter, and his con duct should be fully investigated. However, the most important issue is the integrity of the legislative process. We cannot allow it to be compromised by those who are un- scrupulous enough to make false statements to get their way," he said. On November 24, Senator Hill filed a complaint with the Oregon Government Ethics Commission. The complaint asks the Commission to determine if Boe and Burns are in violation of Oregon Revised Statute 171.756(4) which states: "N o lob byist shall knowingly or wilfully make any false statements or mis representation to any legislative or executive official, or knowing a document to contain a false state ment, cause a copy of such docu ment to be received by a legislative or executive official without notify ing such official in writing of the truth." Senator Hill explains: "Based on the best information that has been given to me by Senator President John Kitzhaber, Jason Boe and John Burns made false statements about my former Committee Admi nistrator, Robert Parker. They did so in an attempt to undermine the work of the Senate Committee on Business, Housinu and Finance in order to sabotage the impending passage of Senate Bill 664, also known as the Gasoline Dealers Bill State Senator Jim Hill Photo by: Richard J. Brown Kenyan Editor Visits Observer Photos by Richard J. Brown by Nyewusi Askari For Africa, the 17th to 20th cen turies were devastating. In addition to losing well-over 100-million A fri cans to slavery, she was also at tacked and robbed of her monu ments, artifacts, history, treasures, land, and in some cases, her cul tural identity. Consequently, Africa found herself divided into colonies and ruled from afar by greedy, bru tal European nations. With the ending of slavery, Africa began to regain her strength and a new leadership emerged. It de manded that Africa be returned to her rightful owners, the Africans. Thus began a movement for libera tion that mirrored the Civil Rights Movement in America. by the ruling colonists as a way of keeping themselves informed of each other's activities. The news paper didn't consider the Kenyans to be newsworthy, and it certainly didn't think they were capable or willing to fight to regain their libera tion. When the African liberation movement took root in Kenya, it spread like wildfire. The country was returned to the control of Ken yans; and so was a small newspaper called "The Standard." In the beginning (1902), The Standard was owned and operated Even before Senator Hill filed the complaint, Black Oregonians were starting to question the political conduct and wisdom of Boe and Burns. Why, they asked, would two former Senate Presidents make such damaging allegations without evidence to back them up? Why didn't Boe and Burns seek out the political input of Black Oregonians before they went about designing the allegations against Parker? Didn't they realize the potential harm to Parker and his career even if the allegations weren't true? Or did they care? These questions have not been answered by Boe and Burns. Ac cording to Senator Hill, "W hile the Ethics Commission has yet to make a determination on ethics charges relating to this matter, my conver sations with the Commission's in vestigator indicates there is no sub stance to allegations (1) and (2). Indeed, none of the investigations have even suggested that there was any validity to allegations (1) and (2)." In the meantime, tarnished and choiceless, Robert Parker resigned from his job and has since dis appeared from the Oregon political scene. Boe and Burns, unrnoved by it all, continue to walk the halls of the State Capitol. Said one angry Black Oregonian: " If Boe and Burns are in violation of an Oregon Revised Statute, I hope the Oregon Government Ethics Commission throws the book at 'em. Surely Boe and Burns must know that what goes around comes back around." Sharon Mitchell Becomes Co-Host at KGW-TV V A V X ?• o 3ZÏ .J R I* & s sis & ween The Standard and the Port land Observer. The proposal was Channel 8 News reporter Sha ron Mitchell will become co-anchor for News 8 at Sunrise, announced KGW-TV News Director Reagan Ramsey Friday Viewers can look forward to seeing her in the morning beginning December 7th. Mitchell joined the news team at Channel 8 as general assignment reporter in April, 1984. □ “To the level to which they’ve been pushed, I am convinced that black South Africans are ready to do whatever Is necessary to achieve their freedom.’ □ “I came to the United States to observe the culture, the elec tions, the people and to promote friendship. And I am very de lighted and honored to be a guest today In Portland’s black com munity. Very honored Indeed.’’ of Rights. "Specifically, it was alleged by Boe and Burns, who represent pet roleum industry clients, that: (1) Parker used a credit card belonging to a lobbyist who represented the Oregon Gasoline Dealers; (2) that Parker negotiated favorable treat ment of City of Salem-supported legislation in exchange for the City's favorable disposition of his overdue parking tickets; and (3) that Parker offered favorable treatment of legi slation in exchange for money from other members of the lobby. "A fter six months of thorough investigation by the Attorney Gene ral's office, the Marion County Dis trict Attorney and Grand Jury, Par ker was not charged for any crime even related to the principle allega tions." Since gaining its liberation, The Standard has forged an African readership of 50,000. One of its bureau chiefs, Mr. Amos Marenya, visited the office of the Portland Observer last Wednesday while on a fact-finding tour of Portland. In addition to sharing an abundance of information about Kenya, its peo ple, its children and its culture, Mr. Marenya brought forth the idea of an international news exchange bet- Before coming to KGW-TV, Mitchell spent three years as a radio reporter and anchor for KGW Radio. Her coverage of the area's news earned her an Associated Press Spot News Award. She also had four years of television experience at KPTV in Portland, where she functioned as news production aide, weather reporter and staff an nouncer. □ “In Kenya, we record our cul tural history. Every week there is a given program at a theatre, a community gathering, etc. Here, we are reminded on a daily basis of what our cultural heritage is and what is expected of us. At our public ceremonies, Kenyans are expected to display their heritage and culture.” _____________ accepted. This means that begin ning early next year, Mr. Marenya will be featured in the Observer as a columnist. It also means that the Observer will send local news to Kenya on a daily basis. This historical agreement comes as the Observer prepares to cele brate its 18th year of publication. Mr. Marenya's visit and commitment to bridge the gap between Kenya and Portland's Black community will be remembered as one of the most memorable moments in the Observer's young history. Mitchell also hosts Northwest Faces, a public affairs show broad cast Sunday mornings on Channel 8. The program, which highlights ethnic diversity and contemporary cultural issues, received a 1987 award of recognition from the American Association for Affirma tive Action. Sharon Mitcheli. Channel 8 News reporter Meeting Scheduled DMAC to Meet The Oregon Commission on Black Affairs will hold its regular monthly meeting Wednesday, December 9, 1987, from 3 to 5 p.m. in Room 354 of the State Capitol Building in Salem, Oregon. The meeting is open to the public and all interested persons are welcome. The next meeting of the Desegregation Monitoring Advisor/ Committee (DMAC) will be held on Wednesday, Decembe.r9 198_ at Cleveland High School, 3400 SW 26th, Portland. OR 97202, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. --------------- —— Nancy Francis co-anchors News 8 at Sunrise, Carl Click is sports anchor and Jim Keiter is pro ducer. Being in front of an audience, whether on the air or in person, is a familiar experience for Mitchell. While a student at Jefferson High School she excelled as a performer in musical theatre, and her love of singing and acting motivated her to attend the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, N.Y. I V. I I
