K r» F ra n c e s S cho e n-Le w sp a pe r Toon
I : • - 3 '.ty o f C - n L ib r a r y
AFRICAN-AMERICAN
HISTORY SPECIAL
Randall Robinson
Speaks at PSU
Athletic Discipline
Page 8
Section II
Page 8
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PIIAC:
Progress
Report
by Nyewusi Askari
Back in the early 1980s when alle­
gations of police officer misconduct
were running rampant, the City of
Portland appointed a Citizens Task
Force On Internal Affairs. Its pur­
pose was to conduct a six-month
study and make recommendations
on how the Police Internal Investi­
gation process might be improved
and how the public's confidence
could be restored or enhanced.
On July 16, 1982, the Task Force
submitted a final report to the
Mayor and Police Chief. The re­
port listed eight major conclusions
and made 20 specific recommenda­
tions for improvement. One specific
recommendation called for the esta­
blishment of an on-going Citizens'
Committee to verify the fairness of
the Internal Investigations process.
In November, 1982, City Council
voted to create such a committe
comprised of three members of the
Council, city staff personnel and
citizen volunteers. They were char­
ged with the responsibility, autho­
rized by Section 2-109 of the Char­
ter of the City of Portland, to in­
vestigate the Internal Investigations
System, utilized by the Bureau of
Police for resolving allegations of
police officer misconduct, by re­
viewing the overall process and by
hearing certain appeals, filed by
either the complaining citizen or the
accused officer in such cases.
Survey Reveals Losers in
Price War: The Consumer
by Ian MacCrae
A 20-pound box of laundry deter­
gent costs $9.49 at Fred Meyer.
The same item costs $12.99 at Safe­
way and Albertson's, and $14.69 at
Kienow's and Corno Foods. An
apple which costs 15 cents at Corno
Foods costs 48 cents at Albertson's.
A loaf of white bread may cost 33
cents at Corno Foods, but 85 cents
at Fred Meyer. Meanwhile, several
grocery chains claim to have lowest
overall prices, and cite "indepen­
dent surveys" to back up these
claims. For the consumer, the re­
S tudents at H arriet Tubman M iddle School w ere show n the Japanese
sult of all this is confusion, and,
art o f paper fo ld in g . O rigam i by an 84-year-old M arie Furukawa.
according to the Oregon Public
Furukaw a, a retired teacher w h o lives and w orke d in Japan, is v is it­
Interest Research Group, that con­
ing frie n ds and classm ates in this co u n try fro m her college days in
fusion may be costing Oregon con­
the U nited States. (L-R) LaToya Ham pton, 6 gr.; Le Cherya King, 6 gr.;
sumers millions of dollars every
J o r ^ tu b e n v o lH U a n d Ju lie Hering
Furukaw a; Nailah O ko n kw o , 7 gr.; and Angela Kaiser, 6 gr.
year.
OSPIRG's survey o f grocery prices.
Photo by Richard J. Brown
On February 2, OSPIRG released
categories,
however,
including
the results of a survey which its
Of concern to the committee is
dairy, grocery non-edibles and gro- •
spokespeople claim could help to
On November 20, 1987, Com­
Blumenauer's proposed, "Back to
eery edibles; with Thriftway coming
clarify which stores are offering the
missioner Earl Blumenauer sent a
the
Basics"
approach.
As
Blumen­
lowest
prices.
After
surveying
in last place in frozen foods.
memorandum to Commissioners
auer
sees
it,
"under
the
current
or­
Fred Meyer was the least expen­
prices
of
most
commonly
purchased
Lindberg and Bogle stating that
dinance,
PIIAC
has
little
power
to
sive
in terms of overall prices, fol­
items
at
major
supermarket
chains
"PIIAC (Police Internal Investigation
grant
meaningful
relief
to
individual
lowed
by Waremart and Albert­
in
the
Portland
area,
OSPIRG
found
Auditing Committee) is a source of
complainants
and
that
it
cannot
re­
son's.
Highest overall prices were
that
overall
prices
differ
greatly
as
frustration to the citizen volunteers,
verse
or
impose
discipline
on
police
found
at
Thriftway, followed by
they
do
for
the
various
categories
the appellant, the police, and the
officers,
(thus)
to
the
extent
it
takes
Corno
Foods
and Safeway. Kie­
of
grocery
items.
Project
Coordina­
Council
Committee
members.”
it
[PIIAC]
should
take
only
those
now's
chain
prices
are in the middle
tor
Julie
Hering
called
the
results
Blumenauer's memorandum noted
that
help
it
perform
its
auditing
of
the
price
range
for local chain
"startling
in
that
an
equivalent
mar­
that "The Citizens Committee has
function.''
ket
basket
cost
$77.64
at
Fred
asked Council for direction and gui­
stores.
In response, PIIAC has drafted a
Meyer and $101.21 at Thriftway, a
dance, thus opening the door for
Stubenvoll said that message of
letter to Mayor Clark and City Com­
difference of over 23 dollars . . . For
some concerted thought and a fresh
the survey is that consumers should
missioners requesting a meeting to
a family that spends this much every
look at the committee and its role."
be "a little skeptical when they hear
discuss any proposed policy chan­
two weeks, this savings would
In the memorandum, Blumenauer
advertising claims by grocery chains
ges.
amount to over $600.00 per year."
made four specific recommenda­
claiming to be overall price leaders. "
While
noting
the
quality,
selec­
tions which included reorganization
He also said OSPIRG would con­
See "PIIAC" Page 3
tion, location and service are also
and/or elimination of the commit­
duct other surveys in the future to
important factors in deciding where
aid consumers who want to shop
tee.
to shop, OSPIRG consumer advo­
around for the lowest prices.
cate Jon Stubenvoll called prices
In related news, this reporter has
therefore, we appreciate the efforts
the "bottom line" in being a smart
found evidence that overcharging
of this body to keep tabs on how
shopper. Here are some of the sur­
customers may frequently be occur­
the police handle citizens' com­
vey's conclusions as to which stores
ring as a result of the electronic
offer the lowest prices in various
plaints."
pricing system now used by all
categories.
Addressing the issue of public
major grocery chains. Reports of
Fred Meyer has the best prices for
opinion, Avel said the BUF believes
overcharging suggest that a com­
meat, dairy, grocery edibles and
PIIAC has an obligation to "help
bination of several factors makes it
non-edibles. The chain was second
the community understand how it
increasingly widespread and diffi­
lowest in prices for frozen foods.
has functioned in the past, and
cult for consumers to detect.
Corno Foods was the winner in the
what its present functions are.”
Among those factors; electronic
produce category, followed by
She said one way to do that is
pricing means that prices are no
Waremart and Thriftway.
Corno
through a series of public hearings.
longer stamped on the items them-
Foods came in last in several other
In a letter addressed to Commis­
sioners Blumenauer (Chairperson,
PIIAC), Lindberg and Bogle, the
Black Leadership Conference voic­
ed its support for PIIAC.
» • •• I
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»
OSPIRG
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t > - r
(R) respond to questions about
Photo by Richard J. B row n
selves; it is up to the buyer to
remember what price was listed on
the shelf. Thus, if the computer at
the check-out stand contains an in­
correct price, the customer may be
overcharged.
Adding to the problem is the fact
that many stores list prices in a man­
ner which customers regard as con­
fusing. The unit price by volume
or weight may be listed without the
price of the item itself, or may be
difficult to read and understand.
Finally, the speed with which
items are run through the check-
stand makes it virtually impossible
for the customer to keep up with
the sum on the register. This com­
bination of factors makes double­
checking a time-consuming and
complex task even for experienced
and careful shoppers, much less
those whose mathematical skills are
poor or who suffer from impaired
vision.
Bob Jenks, OSPIRG Campus
Coordinator at Portland State Uni­
versity, said that numerous com­
plaints of overcharging had been re­
ceived by the consumer interest
organization since the release of the
price survey. He said that OSPIRG
is now deciding whether to syste­
matically investigate electronic pric­
ing with a view toward urging a
return to individual pricing of items.
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Overall Gocery Prices — Comparison by Store and Item
Ranking Order; Least Expensive to Most Expensive
PIIAC m em ber, Jean Vessup. proposes p ublic hearings to a llo w c iti­
zens the o p p o rtu n ity to fin d o u t w h a t the C o m m itte e ..
PIIAC Update
Responding to efforts by the Po­
lice Internal Investigation Auditing
Committee to strengthen its investi­
gating and monitoring standards,
improve its image and regain citizen
respectability, Jean Vessup, Vice-
Chair (PIIAC), has proposed a three-
point plan that is gaining support
from the African-American commu­
nity.
Ms. Vessup's plan calls for setting
up public hearings, soliciting public
opinion via questionnaire, and eval­
uation of questionnaire responses
and testimony to determine public
sentiment and support for the future
direction of PIIAC.
At PIIAC's February 4th meeting,
Vessup stressed the importance of
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citizen input. "W e are talking about
a Committee that was voted into
existence by the voters. The voters
have never really had a chance to
even address the issue of the Com­
m ittee."
Vessup said media's focus on
PIIAC has generated public interest
and curiosity. "W e have not taken
the opportunity to go out there and
talk to the public about the Commit-
We have not talked about
tee.
it's
done or what it stands
what
she
reminded Committee
for.
members.
Avel Gordly, representing the
Black United Front, said the BUF
"believes the community has a right
to know how the Police Bureau,
funded with their tax dollars, is
functioning in specific areas. And,
p ittin g
r * f»* * •>-»
"W e believe it is necessary to
reiterate the importance of PIIAC
and emphasize the vitality of having
a group of independent citizens
oversee the Police Bureau's hand­
ling of citizens' complaints of police
misconduct.
"W e would like to be involved in
any future discussions regarding the
Police Audit Committee. It would
probably be a good idea to hold a
public hearing so other citizens can
express their opinions," the letter
concluded.
Ms. Vessup has proposed that
public hearings be held in North­
east (March 8), Northwest (March
22), Southeast (April 5), Southwest
(April 19), and North Portland
(May 9).
After some brief discussion, the
Committee voiced its support for
the proposal and said it would work
closely with Ms. Vessup on imple­
mentation of the plan.
?’ ?l
Albertson s
Corno Foods
Fred M ey e r
K ienow s
S a fe w a y
T h riftw a y
2
•19 06
$23.74
$18 81
$20.51
$20 96
$22.87
13 Items
G rocery
Non edibles
21.82
24 33
16.72
23 62
21.52
24.08
16 51
12.50
14 97
15 41
16 38
10 25
9 53
10 51
9 69
11 35
03 45
05 67
05 49
06 32
05 09
07 85
06 94
07.45
08 94
06 23
W arem art
grocery item s
G rocery Edibles
4
7 Items
Dairy
7 Items
Frozen Foods
5 Items
Produce
8 Items
M eat
5 Items
TO TALS
45 Item s
3
13 67
7
4
9 85
6
6 00
3
1
3
07.31
3
$77 71
$86 13
9 19
$70 17
4
B
$82 55
$82 84
7
$88 00
•EDITOR'S NOTE; Only Item s available at every store w ere included in these totals. Stores w h ic h
c t r y house brands may decrease these to ta l figures - "store brands" were n o t tnc.uded In the
to ta ls above if any store did not have a store brand fo r the item on the grocery is