^<*ge 2 Portland Observer Februar} 21, ! 990 N e w s A round T ow n P ortland O bserver County Audit of Performance Releases Tax Audit 313 NE VVYGANT HÛIÎT LAND, O il S7211 3OJ 202-3533 ilJfc 1 ' CLOTH ILK ruig fur OrgansuUoro • Alterations • MXxldmgs • Tailoring L u s lu z i.e s • bcvwng (or Any Occasions Fast • Efficient • Quality sewing 30 yrs. ex¡ jener xc H U C tS VARY * iieslyii. ,ij A valuóle * Hems - One day service * sorne saii»c day aacntuons Present this coupon to receive a special 10% discount on all or any o f your sewing needs. February 1 st-28 th Tues.-Fri. 9 a.m.-5 P.M. SaL ★ y(iX¿^i£CíLí ir 9 a. m.-3 p.m. I’a ps • Holes • PatcHes • B uttons • bindings • Hems b utto n Holes • Em blem s • Hoo* 4, Eye • Zippers and m uch more:’ P o r.-aru — M _ tzjocuh Ccimry aud.-'-e D ir 1 « * » sodxv re la x e d i p e rio rB u n .e a - c z o i the A ssessm eci « tc Taxation Di • i- u o e. The report seals » iUs the accuracy « id iem eu .:( a e c sx rr. i •ew xrca. n l a r r i i . j . tax assess.- . c i s h ancte said the majority o: hom es » e re b e ..-j assessed a t values w idu* 10 percent o f w hat - 'e y » ere w o rth oo the o pen m a r­ ket. B - t there - a s a jrr.ii-x y for asseii- csents to decre ase as tne v al ^e o f use home increase-i M a n , lo w e r > i . z c hom es were o v er assessed. trie r ow ners w ere paying snore ta x than t h e , sh o u ld . H ig h e r priced hom es o e the o t h a hand le a d e d co be under assessed. trie..- ow ners tended to pay less tax cruet they sh o u ld 1» a n cie said, 61 o f 9 9 residential neigh­ borhoods sam pled had as erage assessm ents w id u B 10 percent of » .ta t the properties were worth. Forty percentofriom es is these areas had assessm ents th at differed by m ore than. 10 percent from » hat the property sold for State la » says assessm ents should be w ithin 10 percent o f » h a : trie property is worth. For com m ercial properties, the average ^Imagination is as good a s ^ many voyages — and how much cheaper. The Portland Observer X e w sp a p e r PORTLAND OBSERVER FAX # 503)288-0015 4747 N .E Martin Lother King Jr., Blvd. (Formerly Union Avenue) A Letter to the Community b , J.C. Cowan Manager, Single Family Housing Portland Development Commission difference bet w ees » - a l trie property sold for. and the assessed « alae. was about 17.5 p ercen t F ct residential properties. the average difference betw een » h a t the property sold for and the assessed value w as about 14 p ercen t V ader assessm ents occurred prim arily as Southw est and N orthw est P ortland Over assessm ents w ere found in N orth. N orth­ lishes incom e and fam ily size guidelines that determ ine w ho’s eligible for the loans O ne unique aspect of our loan program is the opportunity for borrow ers to work with a PDC housing specialist. O nce ap ­ proved for a loan, the specialist w orks with the hom eow ner to identify housing m ainte­ nance problem s, help prepare construction budgets, prioritize work, obtain bids and m ake certain all the work is com pleted properly The housing specialist w orks on each step of the repair project to provide a personal serv ice tailored to the homeowner. east and Sc-_f.east P o rtla n d b an.i .e s a d the B eard of County C om ­ m issioners and the public should b e kept better inform ed about the accuracy and taim ess o f county assessm ents “T h e As sesamen « Í T axiocn Dn s e e has an c c c g x c n to render a com plete and understandable account of the accuracy and fairness o f its assessm ents d ire c t), to the public C hanges in the way the county esttm ates property values, a rd reports o n its perform ance m doing so are se e d e d .“ I . artete said Iv an.cie asks trie county to consider the recom m endations m this report tn. order to im prove property assessm ents throughout M u ltn o m a h C o u n ty . Black United Fund Sponsors Forum The Black United Fund of Oregon is sponsoring a four part series of fun­ draising forums. The purpose of the forums will be to give com m u­ nity-based organizations basic in­ formation about developing diver­ sified fundraising stratedles. The first forum in the series is on AL- TERXATTv’E FUNDS. March 1. 1990 from 9-11 a.m. at the King Neigh­ borhood Facility. Deb Ross Co- Director of McKenzie River G ather­ ing and Eunice Letzing. Executive Director of ATerritory Resource will present information on the applica­ tion process for their perspective funds. In addition, they will dis­ cuss the similarities in funding pri­ orities of national and west coast alternative funds. The subsequent forums will be as follows: March 28 Private Foundations: April 25 Cor­ porate Giving Funds: and May 30 Special Events Fundraising. The series will end with two half-day workshops tentatively scheduled for Ju n e 13 and 27 to review fundrais­ ing strategies of agencies th at have participated In the series. For addi­ tional information, call Elizabeth ____ Waters at 282-7973. J .C . C o n a n Mr. Jones w is blm d and living in North Portland in a hom e w ith m ajor roof leaks and decay ing front steps. A call to the Red C ress H oaxing H otline connected him with the Portland Dev eiopmen.t C om m ission, the C ity s urban renew al agency. A fter talking with a PDC finance advisor, M r Jones qualified for a low -interest loan to fund his home repairs- M r. Jones benefits from a new roof and stairs: the neighborhood benefits by keeping a good neighbor and preserving good, safe housing. The PD C ’s Single Family H ousm g loan program has been operating since 1968 with a strong com m itm ent to preserving neighborhoods. T hat early com m itm ent is still in piace along with a national track record the program has earned for innova­ tio n and perform ance. The program is aimed at k»» - to-m oder are-incom e households— households earning less than 8 0 ^ o f the m edian family' incom e. It offers those who could not continue to m aintain th en homes, k)» - interest loans for repairs o f health and safety concern. The loan program is one of many PDC housing program s w hich, to ­ gether with other city program s, m ake a difference in the quality o f life in our n eigh­ borhoods. Since 1985PD C ’sSingleFamuly Housing program has loaned $8.7 m illion to repair 1.670 houses. H om eow ners qualify ing for the program can receive interest rates o f 0%. 3%, at (fit. Portland’s BiaeauofCommunity D evelopm ent determ ines eligible neighbor­ hoods. and the federal governm ent estab ­ Address _ C ity____ t h e H oyt C h o ir o j H arlem State _ O n N ational Tour 7 ;.e * r!d rer. wned Boys C hoir of Harlem is scheduled to visit more than 40 cities and towns in the L S. betw een February a,id J,Iy, I99iJ, in a tour sponsored by the second straight year by the Pepsi-C ola Company. With a repertoire o f spirituals, gospel, the classics and xJcrn m m e , the choir m em bers attend the Boys C hoir o f H arlem 's school and they m ust m aintain a "B average in order to rem ain in CREED OE THE BLACK PRESS The Black P re « hetteva that America can best lead the world away from social and national antagonisms when it accords to every person, regardless of race, color, or creed, full human and legal rlghu. Hating no person, fearing no person, the Black Frew strives to help every person In the firm belief that all are hurt as long as anyone . Z ip . Phone _ 1 Year - $20.00 _ 2 Years - $35.00 (A llo w 2 lo 3 weeks fo r D e live ry) Outstanding Corporate Business Award tsbeid back ERVER PORTLfi OREGON'S OLDEST AFRICAN-AMERICAN PUBLICATION ExtabUhod in 1970 Allred L. Hender«orVPutikkh«r Laon Harria/Gonaral Manager Joyce Washington Sales/MarKa’ang Dveckx O«ry Ann Qarnett Qu&inata Manager r o K T L A V D O IS U V t a II povllllua »,,»17 »7 KlU ruW llllInt ( Olii»«,? Ir» « ta t N . t M L X - Bll«, ronw aa, Origaa S t i ll s«« n r rasnaa anaalopa M c'aalad Saaignad daeWy adi bacama Wa sola waoarty o< iha rawspapai an* can aal ba «aad at « h a , p u tm o a m oí panana uiaga Mhowl Wa a<«lan aenaanl al Iba (anaial managa«. «nWa« »W e*am haa p v e b a a ^ lha cw rw o ilo n al »ue* ad , SM ponnxM) oesrRvtR m i romis Rtscnvio. Rtpnooucto« w wwou on h ptnuissiON o pnoneitEO paat without SabawekwW ' »20.00 pai yaar In lha To-Caarty w a a . Tha PO RILA RO O a W R V t R - Oiagan a aMati «nean Anwncan P«Abeaben- ,a a twnW ai W Tha Nalonal Hawapwaai «atacaamn - Taonkad w IMS. Tha Oiagen Naaaapapai Pabkahaia AaaooaMn. and Tha NRonjJ AkraiSw«* HawaaartaRva Aarwganwsad PakRahars. Ina., haw YaW. G eorge L. Knox, S taff Vice President, Public A ffairs. Philip M orris C om panies Inc., right, accepts an "O utstanding Corpo rale Business Award” for Philip M om s from the N ational M inority B usiness Council, Inc. (N M B C ) With Knox is John F Robin son. President o f the NM BC who presided at the C ouncil's 1 Oth A nniversary Business Awards Luncheon recently at the G rand H yatt Hotel in New York City. One o f the five national corporations honored by the N M BC, Philip M orris was identified by the Council lohave increased us minority suppliers from 1,500 to m ore than 2,500 during the past tw o years, "accounting for m ore than $238 million spent with minority businesses in 1988." There is much satisfaction to be gained from a program that sees real results: an older couple on fixed incom e is able to install a home security system ; a single m other is able to lower her m onthly bills by w eatherizing her hom e and fixing her bro­ ken furnace. In addition to providing loans. PDC encourages the use o f m inority con­ tractors for repair projects. My staff and 1 rem ain com m itted to the preservation of single fam ily housing as healthy neighbor­ hoods are the backbone o f a great city. For more inform ation about our housing p ro ­ gram s visit P D C ’s Eastside O ffice, 1425 N.E. Irving, or call 230-9550. "Glasnost" For American Educators And Publishers _ New Subscription _ Renewal _ G ift Subscription N am e_________________ Company. T he 90 s will bring special challenges and change for P D C ’s hom e loan program. We will be looking for new ways to im ­ prove the program and m ake it m ore re ­ sponsive to the com m unities it serves. C it­ ies across the nation have traditionally looked to the federal governm ent for m oney to help finance housing program s. A s these dollars dim inish and com petition for them increases. PDC will look for new and inno­ vative ways to obtain money for its housing program s. The PDC has entered a success­ ful partnership with Security Pacific Bank O regon to help fund these program s and we will continue to seek such public/private partnerships. As m oney for our housing program s becom es m ore difficult to get, it will also becom e increasingly im portant to target existing housing dollars w here they are not needed. P D C ’s Single Fam ily H ousing program is only one o f the tools em ployed in the fight to keep neighborhoods vital for the citizens o f our comm unity. R evitalization is one piece of a broader city plan that includes program s to reduce crim e, unem ­ ploym ent, and drug and alcohol addiction— problem s contributing to decline in our neighborhoods. — O ur front page article o f February 7 (H istory As A Weapon O f Racists) has provoked so many inquiries from readers w anting more inform ation on 'A lexander P ushkin', the great . African poet w ho raised Russian literature to w orld class status, that we reprint the follow ing ty M cK inley Burt. >y P rofessor M cK inley B urt G rove Press, 1967, 1969. The new Russian policy o f “glasnost" is As w ith many o f E urope’s geniuses of defined as openness. May we take this opportunity A frican Descent who influenced the d es­ to dem and a forthright expedition o f this tiny o f that continents' affairs, there was in process at hom e as well as abroad1 Pushkin a very early m aturation o f talent. For instance, we need to m ost im m edi­ At the age o f 12 he entered the Im perial ately develop reading program s and su p ­ Lycee at St. Petersburg where, incredibly, porting m aterials that high light the great his passionate outpourings led to his b e ­ B lack contributions to the w orld's finest com ing R ussia's leading poet at the age o f literature. T here is o f course the vaunted 15. His first poem "R em iniscences o f T sar­ w orks o f Byron, Yeats. T ennyson. L ongfel­ skoye Selo" was not w ritten in the conven­ low and Poe, but w hat about the m agnifi- tional French o f the Russian intellectual cient w orks of the authors o f A frican d e ­ circles, but in Russian. Russia had at last a scent— w hoseworksiwith notations ofancestry I would provide m otivation and self-imagery great poet using her own language; “W ith one cut o f the sw ord Pushkin had freed for A frican-A m erican students: Pushkin. Russian literature from the ties that were Dumas(es), SamuelColeridgeTaylor. Robert keeping it enslaved." Brow ning, and m any others. The passage below from the “In tern a­ Ale xandcr Pushkin (1779-1837): Today's tional Library of Negro Life and H istory" article is about this A frican-R ussian liter­ acy giant who changed the history of R us­ ( p . I l l ) indicates that Pushkin’s pow erful sia (and the w orld) for all tim e to com e w ith pen was a pow erful force in die overthrow the passionate hum anity o f his prose and o f the C zars o f tyranny, and w as crucial to poetry. In direct relevance is “T he C ap­ the development of that mindset which blossom­ tain's D aughter”, a historical novel o f epic ed into the Russian Revolution. "Placing proportions, a story of the p easan t’s revolt. the language of his people among the w orlds' In this country and as late as 1940, two o f m ost im portant, Pushkin cried out for free­ dom and protested bondage and serfdom ... Pushkin's shorter w orks appeared in many prim ary school readers; his m ost popular becam e spokesm an for the poor and o p ­ pressed." poem, "T he Fisherm an and the F ish" and Marx, Lenin, and K erensky have their “T he G olden C ockerel", a fairy tale o f great beauty and fancy. due in Russian history, but most o f us know Two o f his novels were converted into that it is first the soul o f man w hich m ust be fam ous operas; “ Boris G odunov" (M us- reached. Ale .ander Pushkin did just this in sorgski), and“EugeneOncgin"(TchaiKovsky). shaping the psyche o f the Russian m asses At the library you will find a m ost inform a­ w ith o u tsv o rd o rc annon— th isgreatgrand- son of G .n cral H annibal, the freed A frican tive article in the "N egro H istory B ulletin, M arch 1948; The N egro’s Literacy Influ­ slave who becam e chief m ilitary engineer for Czar, Peter the Great. ence on M asterpieces o f M usic (pp. 134- 137)". A lso, if you can find it, there is Several lines from Pushkin’s poem, “©de to Liberty", say it all: “ Pushkin, the Shakespeare o f R ussian" by Boris Lee B rtsol, N.Y., 1931. More recent “O h shake and shiver, tyrants o f and of special interest to English teachers the World, developing lesson plans( we hope) is “Pushkin: But lend and ear ye fallen slave A B iography", D avid M agarshack, N.Y., G ain courage and rise." Say You Saw It In The Portland Observer! !