Page 2 Portland Observer May 25, 1989
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OPINION
Don’t Believe The Hype
To Be Equal
Dear Editor:
By Dr. Lenora Fulani
I was much very interested in the article by Stephen E. McPherson, in die
current issue of your paper--"Embattled Urban League struggles for fiscal
integrity.” Two paragraphs particularly caught my eye:
1) The one stating “ that the Fred Meyer organization is only a name that
its eastern parents have applied for local identity.” 1 have not checked up on
this personally, but recall reference to this in Newsweek magazine in
December 1983,1 believe, indicating that the original Fred Meyer organi­
zation had been divided into two entities by its then-new owners: an
operating business which owned the buildings, did all the hiring and tiring,
and conducted all other aspects of the original business; and a privately-
owned entity that held title to all of the land and collected groundrent from
the business (and .presumably, all other businesses located on the land
surrounding the Fred Meyer stores, which the original company had held
before that sale). Because this groundrent is very substantial-and only a
small portion of it need to paid to the respective counties as the land portion
of the property tax—Newsweek added, for the benelil of those who might
buy shares of the new Fred Meyer Stores, Inc. (the business entity), that it
was not the same company that it was belore, meaning, in terms of earning
power.
2) The one referring to the present site being “ one of the largest pieces
of real estate held by any African American unit in Portland.” This is an
extremely important point to make. But it is much more important in terms
of its land value than in terms of the building. That is, while buildings
require a great deal of maintenance to retain their value-and also the
property lax burden falls much more heavily on buildings than land-the
value of the land itself will continue to rise. Thus, it the Urban League is
finding the building too much of a drain on its own resources, but would like
to continue holding the land lor its rental value (as the private company
reportedly does with respect to other Fred Meyer Stores), perhaps it should
seek a new owner for the building, alone.
In making these comments, I am mindful that a new interest in land
economics is taking root in this country today, alter more than a century ot
the general populace having forgotten how vital land-holding is to economic
success in a society where most,land titles are privately held. One result of
this is that most communities assess the land portion of each property at far
below its actual value (which is publicly created), then collect too high a tax
from buildings (whose value is privately created) to make up for the loss of
the groundrent that title-holders are permitted to keep. But ten cities in
Pennsylvania are now beginning to resolve this problem, by taxing land at
a much higher rate, and buildings at a lower one. Whenever such a shift of
the lax burden occurs, from buildings and onto land, two things happen
which should be of special interest to the Black community and others who
have, traditionally, been at an economic disadvantage in this country. The
first is that the vast majority of property taxpayers owe less total tax on their
properties than they do when a single tax rate is applied to the values of land
and buildings combined-as is the case here in Oregon and almost every­
where else in the US. For example, in the most recent Pennsylvania city to
make this shift, it is estimated that 94% of all taxpayers now pay less tax than
they would have, had the old single-rate system been continued, even
though the community receives the same amount of public revenue. The
market for housing, shops of their own, etc.
You may wonder, If this is such a good deal, why aren’t more cities using
a two-rate system? The answer is very simple: Most people do not know
about it, and those who do, find the present system too profitable for them
to want its inequities publicized. Consider, for example, that by 1972, some
95% of all privately-held land in this country “ belonged” to only 3% of the
population; or that one company in California holds more land than all of
that State’s residential homesites combined! When it is remembered that
everyone who pays rent (whether for a home or a workplace or both) pays
enough to cover not only a fair price for use of any building(s) on the
property and the entire amount of the property tax, but also the MARKET
RENTAL VALUE of the land plus a PROFIT for the landlord, it becomes
clearer why a higher tax rate on land (and lower one on buildings) would
benefit all tenants: a) lower taxes on buildings would permit lower rents; b)
higher taxes on land cannot be passed on to tenants because they are already
paying what the market will bear for the site on which they live/work; c) as
the tax on land value approaches its market rental value, thus decreasing the
profit for landlords, such holdings move onto the market at prices more
tenants can afford to buy J
There are now excellent materials available for study in this field, some
of which might be readily adaptable to serial study in a newspaper such as
yours. Of your columnists, Mr. McKinley Burt has sometimes come close
to alluding to these aspects of land economics, so he might already be
familiar with the teachings of Henry George (e.g, his seminal work,
“ Progress and Poverty,” which prompted leaders throughout the world to
seek solutions to the problems of land use and tenure by creative adjust­
ments in the property tax mechanism) and his present-day followers in many
parts of the world. I should add that Oregon is one of only a handful of States
where a two-rate system could probably be implemented without having to
amend the State Constitution first; most require that land and buildings be
taxed alike. Therefore, whenever a significant number of property taxpayers
become seriously interested in achieving a greater degree of economic
justice in this State, we could probably achieve on a statewide basis what
Pennsylvania is aiming for, city by city. Congress has recommended this
method to Washington, D.C., and the UN has done so to a number of less
developed countries, But, until the vast majority of citizens (i.e., those who
would benefit) can mobilize sufficient political pressure to overcome that of
the relative few who would no longer be able to enjoy this UNEARNED
source of wealth, we shall all have to go on paying increased taxes on our
homes, rising income taxes, perhaps even sales taxes, to make up for this
loss of public-created wealth to a very small group of private citizens/
corporations.
Thank you for putting out a fine newspaper!
Sincerely,
Elizabeth R. Dana
Voter Registration Reform
By John E. Jacob
It may seem out of season to be thinking about changing the way we
register to vote, but this is the best lime to reform a system that actively
discorages many people from exercising their right to vote and thereby
undermines political democracy.
In last November’s presidential election, for example, there was the
lowest voter turnout since 1924 - barely half of the voting age population
went to the polls.
Only 52 percent of African American citizens voted, a sharp decrease
from 1984‘s 56 percent. In the South, the African American voter turnout
plummeted to only 48 percent.
And that was in a presidential election that dominated the media tor
months - voter turnouts in state and local elections are far lower, often
falling below 20 percent in many places.
Other countries routinely have voter turnouts above 70 and even 80
percent, and if we lag that far behind them it can’t be due to reasons that
should affect all insustrial democracies - reasons such as voter apathy, the
felling among many people that their votes won’t matter, and other
explanations that are often advanced for low voting levels.
A major difference may be that those countries take voting as a right more
seriously than we do. Often, our official outlook on voting appears to be that
it’s a privilege and the tougher we make it for citizens the better. That, in
tum, is a hangover from the old days when voting was indeed a privilege of
the propertied, and women the poor, and African Americans were denied the
vote.
.
. .
In our more enlightened times, we don’t explicitly bar people lrom
voting; we just throw up barriers to make it more trouble than they think it
may be worth. The results arc similar.
Reform of such an anti-democratic voting system has to focus cn
registration, since the overwhelming majority of people who register
actually do vote. But in many places registration is made difficult, if not
impossible, for working people and minorities.
The Congress is currently considering legislation that would help to
sweep away the tangle of inconsistent registration procedures that disourage
potential voters.
Among the proposals is the vitally important one of Election Day
registration. That would allow people to register on the day they vote an
essential step to bring everyone to the voting booth - people who recently
moved those who were stirred by a late-campaign event, and those who
make a last-minute decision to participate.
With proof of identity and residence, and other safeguards, Election Day
registration should not increase the danger of fraud, and in fact there has
been no such increase in the three slates that currently employ it
Another proposed reform would be to require all states to have a system
of mail-in registration. That’s essential in many rural areas where a trip to
town to register imposes severe financial and transportation hardships.
Another initiative would allow registration services to be provided by
any government agency and by any private agency that agrees to voluntarily
register voters. And still another plan would automatically register people
applying for drivers’ licenses.
As well as removing barriers to registration, Congress should limit
removal from the registration rolls without strong cause. In most places, not
voting in one or two elecions means you have to go through the registration
process all over again.
The steady decline in voting and the height of the barriers discouraging
minority electoral participation demand voter reform laws now.
way.
I can only respond with my own testimony. Sister Mayes has many times
been the only one I could call to shelter someone in a crisis. When the
vouchers ran out, the person’s problem didn t lit the criteria, or when the
situation was just too tough for the other agencies to handle — 1 called Sister
Mayes. She always said yes...though there was never any money or promise
of funds. 1 called on her night or day.
Although minority led organizations are usually the tirst to fall by the
wayside when tried this way, the beautiful brothers and sisters at Wings of
Love have kept this from happening.
Without a word in her own defence, Sister Mayes has brought meaning
to the scripture, “ You shall know them by the fruit they bear” .
I suggest that if KOIN T.V. reissues the Jefferson Award, that they give
it to Sister Mayes of Wings of Love, who has worked so hard with such a
PE N IN SG rLA PA RK
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humble spirit
Elisa G. (Lisa) Clay
Friends of S.O.S. (Sisters on the Street)
Se™ ’ l‘| £ . Sunday morning .he Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem
played bosi io die Gevakin Choir, which is on an extensive lour of Black and
whim Bapiis. churches ihroughou, the United Sm.es. The lour is sponsored
by ihe American Baplist Foreign Missionary Society. The choir s name is
derived from the firsl letters of Gospel Evangelical of Kinshasa, the capital
of 7m i rc
The tour is part of a propaganda campaign by the regime of Mobutu Sese
Seko designed to convince the American people that this brutal dicUitor and
friend of apartheid is a humane and progressive Air,can leader who deserves
our support and respect. Nothing could be further lrom the tru h.
In 1961 Mobutu Sese Seko aided the CIA >n ns assassmat.on of the
beloved Congolese independence leader. Patrice Lumumba,
24 years
since he seized power in a CIA-orchestratcd coup President Mobu u has
acquired a personal fortune in excess of rive billion dollars while the
Congolese people have become the poorest of the world,s poor, half of the
children in Zaire die before they are three years old and one-third of those
who survive past the age of three will die of malnutrition.
These crimes against African humanity were not menuoned during the
Mother’s Day service at which the choir from Zaire sang-despitc my
written request to Reverend Calvin Butts, Abyssinian s pastor and a
longtime leader in the Black community, to cancel Gevakin s visit or at the
very least to permit someone familiar with the actual situation tn Zaire to
make a statement on behalf of the Congolese people.
The American Baptist Foreign Missionary Society, which is sponsoring
the tour, operates a large number of missions in Zaire. Unlike many of the
US-based churches there, the Society has a reputation not only for refusing
to take a stand against the atrocities committed by Mobutu but for working
hand in glove with this murderer of African people.
The explicitly political nature of the Gevakin Choir tour became evident
during its appearance at the 19th Street Baptist Church in Washington, DC
(whose paster, Reverend Moore, was recently appointed US ambassador to
the southern African country of lesotho by President George Bush). At that
event Congressman Mervyn Dymally made a statement in support of the
Mobutu regime. Mr. Dymally-Mobutu’s best friend on Capitol H ,ll-is and
adamant opponent of HR 1899, legislation introduced by Congressiona
Black Caucus chairman Ron Dellums of California that would cut off US aid
to Zaire unless there is a substantial improvement in the dismal human rights
situation there. So far 14 of the CBC’s 23 members have agreed to co­
sponsor the bill with Mr. Dellums. But Mr. Dymally-anxtous to maintain
his position as the main broker between a circle of Black Los Angeles
investors on the make and members of the Zairian elite looking to sell their
country to the highest bidders-doesn’t want to kill a goose that lays such
8 Dr Lertufi Fulani is the national chairperson of the New Alliance Party
and a practicing'Soeial Therapist in Harlem. She can be contacted at the
New Alliance Party, 2032 Fifth Avenue, New York NY 10027 and at (212)
996-4700.
CIVIL RIGHTS JOURNAL
Lessons From Panama
Congratulations to Wings of Love
Thanks to those who helped save this unique community in our city.
Thanks to the family of Wings of Love for pulling together and surviving so
that others may benefit by what they have done.
Often a person can be tried and judged by the media with no attorney to
dispute hcrcsay testimony or words taken out of context.
Sometimes those most eager to find fault would never consider sheltering
even one individual or ever think of being personally inconvenienced in any
Many millions of words have been written and spoken by African
American leaders on die subjeciof southern Alnca and die snuggle Against
apartheid. Bin wha. abom the Congo-Zaire, where our sisiem and broihem
S y i h g of poverty and repression under ihe bridal dicpnorship of Mobutu
Advertitmg A«pr»«*rtaiiv* Amalgamated P u b ie lw t. Inc., Naw y odt.
By Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr.
In the wake of President George Bush’s call for the people and military
of Panama to overthrow General Manuel Antonio Noriega from power, the
old adage “ what goes around, certainly comes around” appears to be true
in this situation. No one wishes continued hardship on the people of
Panama. No one who is interested in the cause of justice and freedom would
deny that there needs to be a change in Panama. Yet, it should be of great
concern not only to the people of Panama, but also to people here in the
United States and throughout the world that to date President Bush has not
admitted to his role nor the role of the United States in helping to prop up
General Noriega in the first place.
During the Reagan Administration years, Noriega was viewed as a
strategic ally of U.S. intelligence agencies knew of Noriega’s involvenment
in the transportation and selling of drugs to sources in the United Slates,
Noriega was tolerated and even supported.
It is important for African Americans, Latin Americans and others to
remember the paternalistic and exploitive relationship that the United States
has had as a matter of policy toward Latin America and the Caribbean. In
the echo of Bush’s inference that U.S. military forces might have to be used
to protect or evacuate U.S. citizen in Panama, we still remember the unjust
imvasion of the African Caribbean nation of Grenada.
Of course, what is happening in Panama was not the same situation that
was happening in Grenada when President Reagan ordered the invasion.
The point that we are raising is that the very persons and forces that help to
set Noriega up as a military strong man in Panama now have the loudest
voices calling for Noriega’s overthrow. The United States should not use
Noriega’s contradictions as an excuse to launch an invasion of Panama. The
reason why the people of Panama arc having problems now is because of the
history of U .S. overt and covert intervention into the internal affairs of that
nation.
Just as the invasion of Grenada was wrong, any thought of invading
Panama is also wrong. What Latin America and the Caribbean people
deserve is a little less tampering and violation with the sovereignty of the
nations of this region and more effective assistance in helping to eliminate
poverty, drugs and exloitation which has become commonplace in this
hemisphere largely due to the history of U.S. military intervention and
multi-national corporate exploitation.
With all the problems that drugs have created throughout the United
Slates we believe that Bush should first lead the charge against the drug
barons who have found haven and great livclihotxl in many cities of this
nation. Noriega in Panama for the United Slates is as Malcolm X once said,
“ This is a case of the chickens coming home to roost.”
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