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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 16, 1987)
V • Page 6, Portland Observer, December 16, 1987 Energy Utilities M ake Special A rrangem ents for Low -Incom e People 1 /*-’• • Electricity and natural gas utili ties regulated by the Oregon Public Utility Commission have agreed to adopt special arrangements for heating customers who will be hit by an expected cutback and delay in federal Low-Income Energy Assi stance Program (LIEAP) funds. Under the agreement announced December 10, 1987, the utilities will make it easier for persons who may be eligible for LIEAP money to maintain or restore service through mid-January. The agreement grew out of meet ing Tuesday of the state s four electricity and three natural gas companies, the PUC Consumer As sistance Division staff, a Citizens Utility Board representative and other individuals. The informal meeting was re quested by Commission Chair Ron Eachus after CUB submitted a pro posal to temporarily modify utility collection and deposit rules. The CUB proposal was made because LIEAP funds will be delayed this season until January instead of December, and because funding is expected to be much lower. Last year, LIEAP funds averaging $186 per household for the winter helped some 90,000 low-income Oregon customers pay their heating bills, but assistance is expected for only about 55,000 customers this season. At the meeting, the utilities agreed to make special arrange ments in an effort to maintain ser vice through Jan. 15 for customers who received LIEAP funds during the 1986-87 heating season or may be eligible to receive LIEAP funds this season. The special arrange ments will apply to customers who use electricity or gas as their pri mary heat source. In the event a utility feels it is necessary to disconnect service to a customer in that category, the PUC Consumer Assistance Division will be notified and must approve the disconnection. The utilities also agreed to restore gas or electric service to persons in Persons who believe they qualify for the benefits of those provisions, or who are having other payment difficulties, should contact their lo cal utility. The special arrange ments apply to customers of Port land General Electric Co., Pacific Power & Light Co., Idaho Power Co., CP National Corp, (electric and gas), Cacade Natural Gas and Northwest Natural Gas. CUB submitted its temporary rule proposal at the commission's public meeting in Salem. Kathy Weaver, a CUB Board of Governors mem ber, asked that several provisions of PUC rules on utility service deposit and payment arrangements be made more lenient temporarily in response to the LIEAP fund pro blem. Eachus suggested instead that CUB and the utilities get together informally with the PUC staff in an effort to reach an agreeable policy that could be implemented more quickly than a change in rules. Eachus praised CUB and the utili ties for their willingness to sit down and reach an agreement. "CUB came to us with a legitimate con cern over the effects the LIEAP cutbacks would have on people who relied on these funds to help pay heating bills in the winter months," he said. "The utilities deserve credit for their willingness to cooperate and take steps to help many of these people. "Even though the PUC does not administer LIEAP funds, our staff was able to facilitate an agreement that meets CUB's concerns without the necessity of a time-consuming rule change," Eachus said. Public Service Announcement V* ì « • the LIEAP funding categories if the person pays 10 percent of any amount owed to the utility and agrees to negotiate a time payment agreement for the remainder owed. Also, deposits and deposit install ments will be waived for those per sons through Jan. 15. 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Name I Address State/Prov City Order your copy today from: Dianetics Center 709 5 W S A I M O N STR EET P O R T L A N D O R EG O N 97ZO5 15031 228 Ot 16 *6» im ht» '•»••>•0 ’<*«•> by < S KJ b y - H jge # Sf e»’ » ' 4 J » » ' 4 *00» ’ » » •'•'I»"'«'» l n<J BUFNY's Michael Spinks Day in New York - Over 300 families were recipients of the Black United Fund of New York (BUFNY) and heavyweight champion Michael Spinks' generous helping hands during a recent daylong celebration kicking off the season of giving. Children received T-shirts, families received Holly Farm chickens, the Harlem community received the gesture of kindness and Michael Spinks received the BUFNY "Help ing Hand Award." "The Black United Fund is an or ganization committed to self-helpd and community empowerment and because Michael Spinks is a cham pion both inside the ring and in the community, we felt he should re ceive our Helping Hands Award," said Kermit Eady, President and founder of BUFNY. "His giving spirit is reflected by the gifts he is always giving back to the commu nity whether he's giving food or simply giving of his time. Billed as "Michael Spinks Day,” the activities sponsored by BUFNY which Spinks participated in started with an early morning visit to City Hall to meet with the mayor of New York City, Edward I. Koch. Mayor Koch presented the champion with a wool "I Love New York scarf while Spinks presented the Mayor with a pair of boxing gloves. The New York, ny (L R) K erm it Eady, BUFNY President, Butch Lewis, M ichael Spinks and children receiving T-shirts and food. afternoon was spent visiting Harlem-based welfare hotels, apart ments for families living on welfare, where Spinks signed autographs, handed out T-shirts and Holly Farm chickens to families living in the hotels and gave advice to the child ren about how to be the best at what they want to be in life. The day's activities concluded at the Harlem School of the Arts where Spinks took questions and answers from a gathering of young people from five local youth organi zations and participated in a BUFNY fundraiser to benefit the organiza tion's building fund. The fundraiser was an opportunity for Michael Spinks to see longtime friends such as Howard Davis, one of Spinks Olympic boxing colleagues and gold medal winner, and it gave the Black United Fund a chance to acknow ledge Spinks for his outstanding community service. Proclamations and pronouncements declaring No vember 24, 1987 as "Michael Spinks Day" came from Borough of Man hattan President David Dinkins' Of fice, Bronx Borough President Fer nando Ferrer, New York State Se nator David Paterson and Bob Law, host of the nationally radio-syndi cated talkshow "Night Talk". Over 200 people attended the fundraiser and watched as Kermit Eady presented Spinks with a plexi glass trophy enscribed with the Helping Hands logo. In turn. Butch Lewis, Michael's manager and pre sident of Butch Lewis Productions, along with Michael Spinks, gave a $1,000.00 contribution to the BUFNY building fund and pledged their ongoing support to the numer ous efforts of the organization. An other major contribution to BUFNY's building fund was pre sented by the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Pi Kappa Omega chapter. Perhaps Spinks' humble remarks at the end of the evening best sum up his sentiments, and those of BUFNY, about the day: "I simply want to say thank you to everyone for everything. When I grew up in St. Louis it wasn't easy. I didn't even know where to get a chicken from. That's why I try to give a helping hand when I can. In the end, sharing and caring is what it's all about.” An Open Letter to Oregonians from Robert Parker The year 1987 represents the 200th anniversary of our Constitution: the document by which our democratic form of government is derived. It esta blishes our major institutions, sets the parameters of their authority, and pro vides checks and balances between one branch of government against an other. Our Constitution also provides for and protects the rights and liberties of the individual. The Bill of Rights, which comprises the first ten amend ments to the Constitution, was developed and ratified for the sole purpose of insuring individual rights and liberties against the tyranny of the govern ment or its citizens. It is true, however, that at the time that these matters were under consideration, some of us were excluded from the gambit o protection that was provided for others. Recognizing the inherent problems and injustices that resulted therefrom, an additional three amendments were proposed, debated, and opposed, but eventually ratified and enacted into law. I speak here of the 13th, 14th and 15th amendments. One of the major ele- ments that has allowed for and, indeed, contributed to and enhanced our form of government is that those people who have been elected and appoint ed to hold the public trust and execute their consti tutional duties, did so with both a respect for the law and an equally fervent re spect for the rights of the individuals on whose be helf they function. Our history is repleat with instances of the da mage done to individuals and our community when elected and appointed o f ficials, or those that they oversee, fail to adhere to a respect for the law or a re spect for the rights of the _ individual. A clear cut Robert Parker Photo by Richard J. B row n case of abuse can be found in Watergate, when our nation's Chief Executive decided to disregard the law as well as the rights and liberty and privacy of certain persons. Other examples can be found in the injustices perpetrated on Blacks and their supporters in the South during the freedom marches, pray-ins, sit-ins, and other forms of protest and civil disobedience to correct racial inequality and prejudice. Those who marched against the Vietnam War were abused; their rights to free expression snuffed out by elements in our institu tions that had an agenda in conflict with our Constitution. This year in Oregon, we have witnessed yet another example of the misuse and abuse of the public trust and power as applied to the detriment of an individual. This situation began unfolding on May 28, 1987, when Ore gon Senate President John Kitzhaber placed me on leave from my job and called for an Attorney General's criminal investigation into rumors he been informed of regarding me. It appears as though Oregon Secretary or State, Barbara Roberts, went to Kitzhaber and filled him in on what she had heard and how she felt. Ms. Roberts happened to observe me having lunch with an influential chairman and CEO of a very successful Oregon corpora tion that she felt I had no business being with, which led, ostensibly, to her went to my creditors and propounded leading questions in a further attempt to concoct some type of criminal case against me. So finally, after the Marion County Grand Jury demonstrated the common sense, human decency and back bone not to succumb to the poli tical pressure, and decided not to indict me, along comes District Attorney Dale Penn who files three unnecessary misdemeanor charges for something that was, and remains to be, totally unrelated to the reasons that I was initial ly subjected to an investigation. Ironically enough, it appears as though the legislative history of the sta tute under which I have been charged does not even apply to the conduct alleged to be criminal. District Attorney Dale Penn then turns over his file to the Oregon State Ethics Commission, and its investigator, Bill Pick, picks up the trail and fur ther expends time and taxpayer money in an attempt to ascertain if I have done anything wrong. His report, while not charging me with any ethical violations, lists all sorts of misinformation and other distortions of reality to continue portraying me as some type of sinister person that should be purged by the public. Finally, State Senator Jim Hill rises to the occasion and calls for a halt to this cycle of absurdity. He files ethics charges against Jason Boe and John Burns for making false statements to legislators. A press conference is held and Ron Blakenbaker, a member of the press, wants to know why Jim Hill is doing this. Mr. Blakenbaker feels as though this is all old hat; Bob took a beating. So what? Bob's life has been de stroyed. Who cares? Bob's family has been made destitute. Big deal. Bob Parker can't get a job, even though he has a law degree. That's his problem. Never once has it occurred to Mr. Blakenbaker that the 5th Amendment to the Constitution protects against unlawful deprivations of life, liberty, property and the pursuit of happiness without due process of law. Futhermore, it was of no consequence to Mr. Blakenbaker that my life has been destroyed by lies, rumors, gossip and racial innuendos from what appear to be very bigoted sources. Do we live in America or is this the Re public of South Africa? I know now how the Jewish people felt at the hands of Nazi Germany, and I clearly feel the pain and anguish of my ancestors who plowed the earth of this country as slaves. When will we as a people come to grips with ourselves and realize that if this sort of thing happens to any one of us, then it is prone to happen to all of us? I write in hopes of awakening in your hearts the desire to make Ame rica's and Oregon's bounty available to all of its people; not just the elite not just to those in the 'good old boy' network, and not just to those whose skin is white; but to all of us that constitute America and Oregon; all races both sexes, all national origins and religions. What happened to me was, and continues to be, nothing less than complete and total disaster. While my accusers and oppressors are enjoying Thanksgiving dinner with their family, friends and loved ones, my family and I are separated thousands of miles apart, because we have no job, no income, no home and no security. But I am thankful to the one true and living God that they are all still alive thus far. I can only hope and pray that true justice comes, that the real guilty parties who produced this nightmare be made to pay. I pray that my name be cleared, and that I be blessed with employment, so that I can begin to provide for myself and my family once again. Then maybe, just maybe, nex Thanksgiving my wife and I will be once again with our family and be able enjoy the fruits of our labor. Thank you. Robert R. Parker, Jr., LL.B J. J a c k s o n C a m p a ig n Continued from Page 1 questioning my presence. In addition, two former Senate Presidents, Jason Boe and John Burns, were furious with the fact that a piece of legislation that they and their clients had opposed had, some how or another, made it out of the Senate Business, Housing and Finance Committee. Hence they were faced with the prospect of being unable to deliver for these entities and organization that they were handsomely paid to represent. These two gentlemen were summoned by Mr. Kitzhaber. And, while neither of them could confirm that infractions of the law or violations of ethical standards had occurred, they all agreed that destroying Bob Parker was the proper thing to do, and they set out to do so, in no uncertain terms. As you will recall, I was flashed on the six- and eleven o clock news everyday for about a month. I could not wake up a single day when I was not confronted with more scandalous lies, rumors and accusations being levied at me. In the process, I was forced to resign from my job. But that was not good enough. The lies continued on. Meanwhile, my wife and family were nervous wrecks. I was totally frustrated trying to figure out what was really going on and trying to ascertain how to rectify this dilemma and restructure our life. We lost our apartment, and our car was wrongfully repossessed The Attorney General's investigators, dead certain that I was guilty of something, combed over every detail and facet of my life, bringing to life items that bore absolutely no relevance to the price of tea in China, and defi nitely of no relevance to anything that was happening here in Oregon. They Gross, 235 9800, and Linda Pitcher 246 8605, Literature: Jim Stuart, 244 6161, ext. 6691, Susan Jankow--; ski, 281 8540, Fundraising: Macceo Pettis, 287 2835; Voter Registration: Terry Anderson, 282-1300; Volun-> teer Coordination: Ingrid Swenson,? 224 2659, Bob Nash, 295-6248. Ja ckso n Speaks: "S tra ig h t From The H e a rt" "S pending on the arms race and the m ilita ry buildup is robbing us of m oney to fund social p ro gram s.” —M arty Hart Landsberg Photo by Richard J B row n paign moves into high visibility, the need for more volunteer support has emerged. Several campaign work ers have been identified as Jacksor committee contacts; Outreach: Bot For people who want to become ; more familiar with Jesse Jackson's : thinking on the issues, the Cam paign has announced that copies of his first book, "Straight From the heart", are available by contacting : Macceo Pettis at 287 2835. In the book, Jackson speaks eloquently on a variety of topics through thirty six public speeches, sermons, eulo - gies, essays and interviews. His positions are clearly revealed, as well as underscoring his appeal as : a human rights advocate and peace maker. W . ’K * í ; - J *■* « , -i V J.' u - ; ’ r 4 ’• tí T -1