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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 3, 1990)
Portland. Oregon VOLUME XX • NUMBER 51 100 Public Housing Communities Share $2.4 Million Count Committee To Help Youth Avoid Drug Use Grants totaling $2.4 million for new or expanded sport and recreational programs w ill mean expanded positive opportunities for youth in 100 public housing comm uni ties across America, Secretary o f Housing and Urban Development Jack Kemp an nounced today. "Sports and other competitive activi ties can be important in preventing children from being lured into drugs and crim e," Secretary Kemp said. ’ ‘Too often, children in public housing communities are exposed to the destructiveness o f drugs and violent gangs, and too infrequently exposed to the challenge o f sports and team activities." Secretary Kemp has pledged to em power fam ilies in public housing to help them rid their communities o f the scourge o f drugs. Kemp believes that a local youth sports club is just one o f many ways local governments, public housing residents, and the Federal government can work together to provide positive role m odels and activi ties for America's youth. In an effort to m a l» s o n everyone h i Portland b counted in fee 1990 census. Committee members represent a broad cross section o f the community. They in- chub Congressmen Lea Aucoin, State Chairperson o f the eam nthtoeb Kath leen Saadat, Director o f Affirm ative Ao- tion fo r fee State o f Oregon. “ The success o f the 1990 census count land), C ounty C h a ir G ladys M cC o y; Sam B rooks, Sam B rooks and Associates; Rev. T .L . L e w is, M o rn in g Star B aptist Church; Frank D ix o n , N eighbors W est/N orth- west Review Board; Pam Arden, N o rth on csnsus population totals, but large amounts o f federal and state hinds are returned each JIMHr bated 0© ft—ft« ItAtlStiCB.*’ B o g b said i f everyone b not counted, Portland could receive "less d u n our fair Share” o f three funds. According to Bogle, die cammittoe w ill undertake an intensive public < household on M arch 2 3 ,1 9 9 0 , w ith pread- draaaad envelopes to be mailed back by A p ril 1. In some areas, census workers w ill piofc d u n The committee w ill focus on groups believed to be underrepresented in foe 1980 Portland C itizens C om m ittee; F rank Lepp, Bast Portland N eighbors; B ill M a rkw a rt, Central Neighbors N o rth ; Ron Herndon, N ortheast C o a litio n erf Neighbors; G retto G rim ala , Southeast U p lift; John M ille r , Southwest N eighborhood In fo rm a tio n , In c .;N a n c y B ia s i, O ffic e o fN e ig h b o r- hood Associations; Jean DeMaster, Burnside Projects, and Blanche Schroeder, P ortland C ham ber (rf Commerce. W o rkin g w ith the com m ittee to iden t if y ways o f assuring pa rticip a tio n b y the homeless are D iane Hess and M a rcia M o s k o w itz o f M e tro p o lita n C o m m unity A ctio n . T he com m ittee w ill be staffed b y p o litic a l liaiso n Faye B u rch o f C om m issioner B o g le ’ s o ffic e , and J im C laypo ol o f the P lam fog Bureau. They w ill coordinate their e ffo rts w ith H a rvey L o cke tt, d ire cto r o f the lo ca l Census Bureau. count, such as the 1 SBA Funds Statewide Minority Business Assistance Program The U.S. Small Business Administra tion recently announced the award o f $149,774 to the Oregon Association o f Minority Entreprenucrs (OAM E) and the Portland Community College (PCC) to fund a business assistance program targeted at disadvantaged businesses located through out the state. This award was a result o f a competitive process in which profit and non-profit organizations were asked to develop innovative programs the would provide for management and technical assistance to disadvantaged firms. The winning proposal for this area teamed the Oregon A ssociation for Minority Entrepre- nuers with the resources o f the Portland Community C ollege’s Small Business Development Center. Under the contract, OAME/PCC w ill provide eligible firms with one-on-one business consultation as w ell as workshops and seminars covering a variety o f business topics. Special emphasis w ill be placed on matching the needs o f the private and pub lic sector with disadvantaged firms capable o f providing those goods and services. It is anticipated that these services w ill be ac cessible throughout the state through the use o f a circuit rider program and a coop erative arrangement with the twenty Small Business Development Centers located throughout the stole. Firms interested in receiving assistance should contact the OAME Center at (503) 2 36-1190 or the PCC Small Business D e velopment Center at (503) 273-2828. Charles Jordan Appointed Many o f the applications are supported by national, collegiate, or local sports fig ures. The $2.4 m illion was awarded on a competitive basis to localities in 36 states, including Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. The grants, up to a maximum of $25,000, w ill help the local governments provide sport, social, educational or cu l tural programs for youth in H UD sponsored public housing developments. H U D 's grant funds are being matched by contributions from local public and pri vate resources. Program participants will include public housing authorities,, resident management organizations, city recreation departments, police and sheriff departments, Boys and Girls Clubs and YW CA’s and YW CA’s. Activities w ill focus on creation o f recrea tional facilities, sports clinics and team building activities and self improvement and developm ent programs. Metropolitan Human Relations Commission To Hold Sixteenth Annual Awards Luncheon TV Congress and in the State Legislature rest JANUARY 3,1990 “ The Eyes and The Ears of the Community” Kathleen Saadat Appointed To Special Complete is vitally important to die c ity ’s future," Bogie stated, “ not only does our commu nity’s political representation in the U.S. ERVER 25C Give Another Chance. Give Blood. Celebrate Martin Luther K ing’s Birth day a special way this year. Sign up to donate blood at the Martin Luther King Memorial B lood Drive on Monday, Janu ary 1 5,1990, at O.B. W illiams Convention Center, 220 N.E. Beech, 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call Christine Robinson, 285-0493, for more information. The sixteenth annual Metropolitan Human Relations Commission Awards Luncheon w ill be held Friday, Jan. 12, at N oon at the Red Lion Hotel, downtown Portland on Southwest Lincoln. The event is $ 1 2 .5 0 per person, and open to those who make reservations by January 9. Call MHRC o ffice, 796-5136 to obtain reservation in formation. The awards luncheon is held every year in commemoration o f the spirit and work o f Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. During the luncheon, individuals and organiza tions who have made outstanding contribu tions in the field o f human rights and rela tions w ill be honored. The Russell A . Peyton Award, named for the first executive director o f the MHRC, is presented to individuals who have made notable contributions in their advocacy o f human and civil rights. The 1989 award Census Bureau Opens District Office The U.S. Census Bureau is getting ready for the Big Count in 1990 with the opening o f a district office in Beaverton. There w ill be a total o f five district offices in the state, located in Portland, Salem , Eugene, Bend, and Beaverton. The Beaverton census office is located at 3800 SW Cedar Hills Blvd. Approxi mately 100 persons will be employed at the district office, which w ill be the nerve center for census activities in a seven county area. Hiring for approximately 600 field census jobs throughout the district w ill begin in January. Throughout the state, the Census B u reau w ill recruit and hire enough people to fill som e 3,400 temporary census p osi tions, with an econom ic contribution to the state o f $10 million. The effort to achieve a complete and accurate count o f the state's residents is o f critical importance to Oregon and to each community. R ü m i I ob the b»»>k by < otrtu Scott king, and forteto« (hitti en betoni photographe ¡md qeofcHmin THE « WORDS-OF i l A D T V iy J m A m P - * JR JR ffiülJR.'W CALENDAR 1990 A four-color p o rtrait o f D r. King highlights T H E W O R D S O F M A R T IN L U T H E R K IN G , JR. 1990 C A L E N D A R , the fourth season for this inspirational wall calendar based on the bestselling book. ($9.95; Newm arket Press, 18 East 48th S t , New Y o rk , N .Y . 10017; (212) 832-3575. w ill be given to Rabbi Joshua Stampfer of Congregation Neveh Shalom. The Sonja Hilton Award is given for the advocacy o f the rights o f disabled per sons. Kitty Purser, chair o f the Metropoli tan Human Relations Commission A dvi sory Committee for the Disabled from 1987 through 1989, will receive the award. The Special Recognition Award will be presented to the Albina Ministerial A lli ance. The facility is wheelchair accessible and the program will be signed for the hearing impaired and deaf. For more infor mation about accessibility, call Jan Campbell, MHRC Disability Project Coordinator, 796- 5210. The TDD number is 796-5393. M H R C Mission Statement The M etropolitan Human Relations Comm ission believes in the dignity and worth o f a ll human beings. M H RC's m is sion is to fo s te r mutual understanding and respect, an d to protect the human rights o f all economic, religious, ethnic, racial, na tional origin, disability, age, sex, and sex ual orientation groups in Multnomah County. Be Planner-For-A-Day At Growth Conference Jan. 10 Citizens can help shape the future of the region at a conference entitled, “ Plan ning a Livable Future: Growth Strategies for the 21st Century." The event will be from 8 ajn. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 10, at the Lloyd Center Red Lion. The conference is co-sponsored by the Metropolitan Service District, Portland General Electric and the League of Women Voter» (Columbia River Region Interleague Organization). Registration fee, including lunch, is $25. Advance registration is re quired. The conference is open to the pub lic. John DeGrove and Neal Peirce, na tional experts on regional growth issues, are featured speakers. DeGrove will pres ent the keynote address on “ Framing the Issues in 1990.” He is director of the Flor ida Atlantic University/Florida International University Joint Center for Environmental and Urban Problems. Peirce is a nationally syndicated col umnist (appearing locally in The Oregonian)d, TV commentator and author. His luncheon speech, “ A Tale of Two R egions,” will explore growth problems in the Puget Sound region o f Washington compared with the Portland metropolitan area. Arnold Cogan, of Cogan Sharpe Cogan, w ill give a talk and slide presentation on growth management issues facing this region today. A panel discussion, "Strategies for Livability," will be moderated by Ed Whelan, PGE, and feature Metro Councilor Mike Ragsdale, Grubb & Ellis; Henry Richmond, 1000 Friends o f Oregon; and Earl Blume nauer, Portland city commissioner. POE President Kay Stepp w ill also be among the conference speakers. The afternoon workshops, moderated by Metro Councilor Jim Gardner will fea ture small-group discussion o f planning strategies for the region. 5 ♦ A.K Charles Jordan Commissioner Mike Lindberg announced today he has appointed Charles Jordan in the permanent position o f Superintendent o f the Bureau o f Parks and Recreation effective immediately. Jordan has served as acting Superintendent for the Bureau since December 11, 1989 and has successfully completed the required civil service process. Jordan's salary is $ 6 3 3 7 8 a year. Commissioner Lindberg w ill authorize reimbursement o f Jordan' s relocation costs. The $9.805.08 w ill be funded through the existing Park Bureau budget For the last five y e a n , Jordan has served as Director o f Parks and Recreation in Austin, Texas. Prior to his tenure in Texas, Jordan served ten y e a n as a City Commissioner in the City o f Portland. "Throughout this process, I have had one goal: to hire one o f the most talented Parks Superintendents in the country to manage our city’s parks system ,’ ’ Commissioner Lindberg said. "1 am elated that this goal has been realized.” Goldschmidt Urged Senior Health Insurance Freeze At Governor N eil Goldschmidt’s sug gestion, senior health insurance premiums have been frozen until sometime next spring by Theodore Kulongoski, Oregon Insur ance Commissioner. Premiums for the private health insur ance sold to supplement Medicare are expected to increased as companies move to pay benefits that the federal government no longer covers. This follows repeal o f the Catastrophic Coverage Act by Congress last month. The repealed program was funded by a controversial premium charged to all Medicare beneficiaries. Last week, the Social Security Administration announced that it will be unable to reprogram its computers to stop taking those premium deductions from benefit checks until at least May 1990. In a letter to Kulongoski, Goldschmidt said the charge is unfair. He also said the delay by the Social Security Administra tion will create “ a great amount o f confu sion among our retirees as to what actual medical coverage they have and how much that coverage costs." Goldschmidt suggested a moratorium on all Medicare supplement rate increases until the federal government reprograms its computers. According to Goldschmidt, the decision " w ill give regulators and the in surance industry more time to evaluate the effects o f repeal of the Catastrophic Health Care Act." Kulongoski announced a freeze M on day on Medicare supplement premium increases until the government deductions stop. The Governor’s suggestion and many letters o f concern from Oregon seniors prompted Kulongoski's decision. He pointed out that individual seniors are not in a position to ask the federal government to stop the deductions. H ow ever, he argued that ’ ’Insurance companies have the time, money, and power to im ple ment cost containment and to lobby the federal government to refund the repealed Catastrophic Coverage Act premiums.” Kulongoski's order applies to only the individual Medicare supplement policies held by Oregon seniors. It does not apply to policies purchased on a group basis be cause the insurance Commissioner does not have authority to approve or deny rate changes on group plans. Kulongoski asked companies that sell such plans to voluntar ily comply with his moratorium. Kulongoski urged his fellow insurance commissioners across the country to join him in imposing the moratorium, “ and in protecting seniors from unfair and exces sive charges.” Black College Satellite Network to Telecast “The State of Black America 1990“ Press Conference The Black College Satellite Network will telecast live the press conference on the release o f ‘ ‘The State o f Black America 1990, Tuesday, Jan. 9, from 10 to 11 a.m. from the National Press Club in Washing ton, D.C. The press conference, conducted by John E. Jacob, President and Chief Execu tive Officer o f the National Urban League, will also be received by other satellite net works, cable stations, as well as homes with private satellites with receive capabilities. Individuals who have KU-BAND or C -B A N D and satellite receive capabilities will be able to pick up the press conference. The satellite coordinates for the KU-BAND will be Satcom R-2 transponder number 6B (vertical) channel 9 o f 30, downlink fre quency o f 11876.5 Mz and audio frequency o f 6.2 o f 6.8. Those with C-BAND will be able to receive the program through Westar IV, transponder 6D (horizontal) channel 11 with downlink frequency o f 3920 Mz and an audio frequency o f 6.2 o f 6.8. For further technical information and to register as a downlink site, contact Dr. Walter Barwick at Black College Satellite Network at (202) 737-2405. "The Slate o f Black America 1990 is the most authoritative annual document examining the current status and conditions of African Americans in America. The State of Black America is a publication of the National Urban League.