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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 28, 1989)
'W • » .» * » P o rtla n d . O regon PO RTL ERVER VOLUME XIX NUMBER 38 25C 7» ’■ • ♦ •£ SEPTEMBER 28,1989 The Portland Observer changes guard Employees acquire interest in the nineteen year old ethnic newspaper. Will change name to African American Observer to reflect its broader spectrum. Robert Blume expounds on vision for Walnut Park Capital Development Corporation executive considers use of the newly acquired property with a view to meeting the needs and desires of the lower Northeast. The African American Observer will host a town hall meeting to air community views Dear R eaders and Advertisers: As we approach our 20th continuous year of successfully serv ing the Greater Portland Community and the entire State of Oregon, we want to pause and reflect on our past history and use it as a measure of our future. First of all we want to thank all of the persons who made this exciting venture possible. There are the advertisers who have stuck with us through the lean years and also ad vertisers who came aboard recently because both groups believed in what we as a minority business enterprise were attempting to accomplish here in the Northwest. There are also our readers who not only shared what we have published with their friends and families, but who also have given us a good amount of direction as to what they would like to see published in this their community newspaper.There was also a whole host o f dedicated community reporters who have ex pended many hours of their precious time in order to make the Portland Observer the authentic chronicle of our times. It is with respectful admi- ration that we oner you our most sincere thanks. Just as one watches clouds float by overhead we must be mind ful of the fact that we never will see that same awesome spectacle again. Times have changed since we first embarked upon this exciting ven ture. An entirely new dimension has been added to our sphere of responsi bility to the people whom we serve. It is in that light that we have updated and improved the manner in which we intend to serve you in the future. ■■ A. Lee Henderson Mrs. Nina Jackson, senior of the week After 54 years in Portland octogenerarian still very active. Contends that there is no delinquent child but bad parents by Jim i Johnson A typical day for Mrs. Nina Jackson who is in her mid 80’s begins in the early morning hours just after sun rise. She starts by taking a short walk around her modest home as she pre pares to tend her garden and do yard work. “ This keeps me busy and is good exercise’ says Mrs. Jackson. Nina Jackson was bom in San Antonio, Texas and moved to Port land in 1935, with her husband, Robert Jackson a Union Pacific Railroad employee who was transferred to the Northwest. Coming to Portland was kind of a cultural shock for the Jackson’s be cause of the lack of social events and functions for African-American people. “ I felt kind of lost when we first arrived here because there were very few places for Black people in Portland” , stated Mrs. Jackson. In 1938 at the suggestion of Nina Jackson, she and some African Ameri can wives of Union Pacific Railroad workers organized the Rose City Ladies Auxiliary Local 465. Mrs. Jackson became the first President. The ladies auxiliary would hold social functions and fund raisers to give African-Americans in Portland a place to meet, gather and have fun. The monies earned from these events usually went to the husbands in the Union to pay dues and take care of one another when in need. Many times visiting African-American dignitaries where hosted at the homes of auxiliary members and their fami lies. Mrs. Jackson, a retired civil serv ice worker from the Post Office and widow since 1952, has received numerous awards and certificates for her community and social work in Portland from the 40’s throughout the 70’s. One such award was com mendation from then Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt for her volunteer work with the U.S.O. service Personnel during World War II. In 1977, Nina Jackson formed the Senior Citizens Railroad Auxiliary Club where seniors can get together and socialize and share concerns. This club is still active today. A member of the Eastern Star for a number of years as well as an active member of Mt. Olivet Baptist Church, Nina Jackson is still very energetic and always willing to share her opin ion, or give some good advice. With reference to delinquent chil dren, Mrs. Jackson replied, “ There are no delinquent children, just de linquent parents....If parents would take more time with their children, things would be better” . Mrs. Jackson credits her longev ity to the basic principles of life. She says “ do good and help others, that gives you strength and makes you want to live on” . “ I’ve had a happy life” , stated Mrs. Jackson. Longevity also may run in the Jackson family as her mother Susie B. Francis lived to be 107 years old. Nina Jackson has been blessed with one daughter, Aquilla Bymes of East Port Maine, 3 grand children, 16 great grand children and one great great grand child. The Portland Observer salutes Mrs. Nina Jackson for her contributions to our community as our senior of the week. We are happy to announce mat ur. Alfred Lee Henderson, the pioneer ing Founder-Publisher of The Port land Observer for almost two dec ades, has agreed to relinquish the assets of the original company to its current employees. Dr.Henderson’s many other business interests in Ten- nessee and California make it pos sible for him to continue to oversee the very demanding requirements of the expanded daily operation of such an important source o f community information. It is the intention of the new, locally owned corporation to modernize and expand our already successful com puter graphics. We will also endeavor to increase our local ard national news coverage while at the same time modernizing the presentation of our advertising copy. With such a new look it is quite logical to expect a new name to emerge. A new logo is in now the preliminary design proc ess. One of our very famous local artists will be its creator. Beginning with Volume 19, Number 40, our new name will be the AFRICAN AMERICAN OBSERVER which we think more effectively describes our proud heritage and our compelling mission. In order for us to make a statement that underscores these important changes, a special Minor ity Business Enterprise section will be included with our inaugural pub lication. At this time we invite you to place your advertising order with us. Fifty per cent of the profits derived from this issue will be dedicated to the youths of this community for college scholarships in the sciences and communications; guest speakers for role modeling, and an all city youth conference to be announced in a special “ White Paper.” We do hope that you will be able to join us in this important endeavor for our community and our nation. Thank you for your past support and we look forward with pleasure to serving you better in the future. With your help we will retain our leader ship position in the area of mass communication. A Stephen E. McPherson The continuing saga of the Urban League’s former Walnut Park facil ity took a turn toward a brighter future this week. Robert Blume, one of the principals in the Capital De velopment Company of Lacey, Washington who purchased the prop erty made known his intention to develop that site with a sensitivity to the needs and will of the community. At the time the Urban League an nounced the sale of the property, Mr. Blume was not available to answer questions at a hastily called press conference. This week he spoke at length with the Portland Observer. He re-iterated the fact that his com pany was exploring several possi bilities for the use o f the property. One idea proffered had been similar to the one first proposed by the Wyant Corporation of Salem. It had been their intention to build an urban mall which would house not only a na tional super market but also a num ber of ancillary facilities commensu rate with the needs of the community it served. Mr. Blume also feels that a food outlet is a very viable idea. He too had considered the possibility of establishing a mall like structure which could expand to include some of the property adjacent to the present site. Previously he had also toyed with the idea of converting the structure for use by a federal or state office function. This later idea is one that has not been received very well in the lower Northeast sector of the City of Roses. Many community leaders have expressed the opinion that any use attached to the property should be one that generated revenue for the immediate area especially with a view to cashing in on the convention trade which is expected to commence sometime next year. In that regard, Mr. Blume stated that he would be meeting some time soon with the Portland Development Commission in order to explore some of the options open for such an endeavor. It will be remembered that at the time Como Foods an nounced its intention to supplant the old Fred Meyer Food Store, The PDC had offered substantial financial support. Como, however, was not able to generate all of the capital needed to shore-up the exchange for a successful conclusion. The idea that Mr. Blume finds most attractive is that of a membership mall. Such an arrangement generates its initial capital by having its inves tors pool their capital together in order to take advantage o f the power of volume purchases. They then offer their products to the public at a reduced or discounted price. Such an arrangement would be particularly attractive to the lower Northeast sector. Of even greater interest is the fact that Mr. Blume, although represent ing a group o f profit seeking devel opers, is keenly interested in explor ing the desires and needs of the com munity he serves prior to arriving at a decision that would be of mutual benefit to both groups of parties. To this end he will visit Portland some time soon in order to explore not only what is feasible for that site, but also to listen to the voice of the people. Within the very near future the Afri can American Observer, formerly known as the Portland Observe un der its new management will host such a community town hall in which Mr. Blume and his associates will be present to listen and to answer ques tions. It is the intention o f the Capi tal Development Corporation to make the Walnut Park facility the flagship of their initial economic develop ment effort in the Portland area. We are quite fortunate that it will begin here in the lower Northeast sector of the City of Roses. Congressman Fauntleroy Scores Big At NAACP Anniversary Affairs Coming next week: The African American Observer Watch f o r it! O ctobers. 1989 Very sincerely. The M anagem ent Kemp Announces $2.5 Million for President Management of Public Housing Secretary of Housing and U r ban Development Jack Kemp an nounced today that thirty-five public housing resident groups have been awarded $2.5 million in management training grants to help pubic housing residents manage their housing com- munities. Secretary Kemp announced the awards in Chicago, at a rcdedication ceremony at Rockwell Gardens, a public housing development “ Tenant groups who learn to manage their own communities are powerful instruments in the fight against poverty in urban communi ties,” said Secretary Kemp, “ be cause they have begun to take con trol of their neighborhoods and their families’ future. We in the Depart ment will give 100% to help resident management groups reach their full est potential.” Today’s awards brings to 72 the total of resident management groups now in training across the nation. The 35 resident management grants-up to $100,000 per aw ard - will be used for a wide range of ac tivities. These include: training of residents, promoting economic de velopment activities, assisting in the creation of Resident Management Cor porations (RMC), implementation of management func tions associated with operation and maintenance of proj ects, and administrative costs neces sary to implement resident activities. This is the second round of grants awarded under Section 122 of the Housing and Community Develop ment Act of 1987, signed into law February 5, 1988, which authorizes HUD to make grants to encourage increased resident management as a means of improving the quality of life in public housing. Democratic Congressm an Walter Fauntleroy, (L) Wash., D.C. is shown above with Mr. & Mrs. Waverly Davis, of Portland, Oregon while appearing at the 75th anniversary dinner of the Portland chapter of the NAACP. Before a packed house. Congressman Funtleroy, who is also a Baptist minister, delivered a mind enriching presentation on the state of corporate greed in America, as well as other issues which affect African Americans, the poor, the homeless, and the unemployed. Rate for Past Due Property Taxes to Increase The Department of revenue an nounces that the interest rate on de linquent property taxes paid on or after October 3, 1989 will be calcu lated at the new rate of 16 percent (1 - 1/3 percent per month). The new rate will apply for the interest that ac crues from July 16,1989 to the date of paym ent The interest rate on any delin quent taxes paid before October 3, 1989 will remain at the current rate of 12 percent (1 percent per month). The increase in interest docs not apply to interest accumulated before July 16,1989. For example, if a tax payer has delinquent property taxes for the 1987-88 tax year and does not pay the tax before October 3,1989,the interest charge on the outstanding amount before July 16,1989 is at 12 percent. The interest charged for the period beginning July 16, 1989 will b e a t 16 percent The interest rate increase is one provision of a measure passed by the 1989 legislature. J