Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 7, 1990)
November 7, 1990---l he Portland Observer-"Page 9 Whatever Happened to Minority Business? -Part 4 by Professor McKinley Burt It was brought to my attention last week that my observation o f the federal M in o rity Business Program s- ” You can’ t force the government to do anything (w ith ou t political heat)” - is till holding true in the “ disadvantaged” area. I was referred to a “ Letters to the Editor” item in the October 29 edition o f the publication “ American Contrac tor” . Here, a m inority contractor criticizes the Small Business A d m in i stration and affiliated agencies for plac ing him in a “ Catch-22” situation in respect to promises o f S urety Bond guar antees. Months o f expensive effort, time and other preparation went down the drain when the firm was confronted with the “ zapper” : The government (SBA) w ill not guarantee bonds/con- tracts i f the age o f the requesting firm is UNDER 12 M O N TH S. Further, mud dying the waters was a less than satisfy ing “ Financial Capability Review” : a young firm w ith no infusion o f capital required to satisfy the prerequisite f i nancial capabilities demanded by the U.S. A rm y .” In respect to the first situation, it imm ediately occurs that it would have been crim inal for the SBA and those af filiated agencies to allow this firm to waste so much o f its time and energy w ithout inform ing them o f the ” 12 month” requirement (the question arises, ofcourse, " I s thiskey stipulation pro m i nently displayed in the 's c rip t’ , scuh that any’ applicant would have been aware o f the fatal constraint?” ) And is the system still so impaired? The second situation propels us into one o f the most confused and nebulous areas in all the interface be tween government and citizen. Just what is “ F IN A N C IA L C A P A B IL IT Y ” w nhin the context and rubric o f A m er ica’s widely heralded programs to “ bring m inorities into the mainstream o f com merce and in d u s try ." Somehow the message gets conveyed that many o f the laws and rules o f generally accepted financial via b ility and c re d ib ility have been suspended in varying degree in o r der to bring the disadvantaged aboard. Wistful, many seem to believe this. After all, we did not get the 40 acres and the m ule-so, conceivably, something is still due. I can certainly understand it i f you are reminded here o f the piece I wrote a few months ago citing a passage from “ A lice in W onderland” as rem i niscent o f the federal bureaucracy: caught up in an attempt to mask his own confu sion, Humpty Dumpty exclaims, “ Things are what I say they are!” Right on! Let the buyer beware (caveat emptor). Again, I refer to m y own experience cited last week. I had a sufficient financial base until I allowed the government to attain the position o f an unenforceable finan cial commitment. Shame on me! I t ’s a learning game--things went quite w ell in previous commercial enterprises where there was no federal involvem ent. So what is it that we are saying in all o f this? First, disabuse yourself o f all those naive expectations. Politics and voter registrations reign supreme. Ig nore the rhetoric and the large advertis ing budgets and display ads, and ap proach the agencies just as you w ould a USED C AR D E A LE R . Assume that you are as innocent as any other con sumer entering a new marketplace; per haps more so. An interesting aside here is that a lot o f this kept ringing a bell in my memory u ntil fin a lly things fe ll into place. Loo kin g through my Black H is tory files used in my university classes, I found ju s t what I was looking for: ma terials relating to that over a century old debacle set up im m ediately after the C iv il W a r-th e Freedmen’ s Bureau, obstensibly designed to expedite the entrance o f the freed black slaves into the Am erican mainstream w ith “ all deliberate haste.” So, what else is new? W ill we learn? More next week. Tenth Cans Film Festival To Benefit Hungry M ovie fans can see a first-run movie o f their choice and help Oregon ’s hungry people by attending the Tenth Annual Cans Film Festival on Wednes day evening, November seventh. Forty- two A c t lll theaters throughout Oregon and Clark County, Washington, w ill cele brate the event’ s tenth anniversary by opening their doors to movie-goers who contribute tw o cans o f nonperishable food items in lieu o f the regular movie admission price. Congressman Ron Wyden w ill k ic k -o ff this year’s Festival w ith a pub lic appcrance at L lo yd Center Cinemas at 9:30 a.m. the morning o f the event. Stajc Senator Jane Cease and State Representative Ron Cease w ill read the M ayor’ s Proclamation, establishing November 7, 1990 as Cans F ilm Festi val Day. OFB Executive D irector Ra chel Bristol L ittle and representatives from the G irl Scouts and A ct III Thea ters w ill also be on hand to answer questions about the event and its 10- year history. On the evening o f November seventh, local G irl Scout troops w ill gather at area theaters to assist Oregon Food Bank in collecting the canned goods. Last year, Oregon Food Bank received 34,400 pounds o f food from Cans F ilm Festival, a 38% increase over 1988 to tals. This year’s goal is 40,000 pounds statewide. Cans F ilm Festival one o f a series o f Oregon Food Bank pre-holiday events that raise public awareness as w ell as food. By participating in these events, individuals and fam ilies help the Oregon Food B ank’s netw ork’s member agencies prepare fo r w inte r emergency food nceds-a time when many Orego nians face the m ounting financial pres sures that so often come when the weather turns cold. Oregon Food Bank is a private nonprofit network o f 19 regional food banks serving nearly 600 social service agencies throughout Oregon and Clark County, Washington. I Business Profile: Don Bankhead of L o ca l’s O nly BY C Y N T H IA B R O W N hard i f you have a relationship. I spend “ A lot o f record stores do carry local most o f my tim e at this. People don’ t artists but they don’t do it like we do,: understand why I work so hard. I l gets said Don Bankhead o f Local’ s Only. really stressful and hard on friends and “ We feature local bands, show their fam ily. But I always want to be in busi posters, sell their l-shirts, bring them ness for m yself. I ’d much rather be my in to the store fo r liv e , all-age own boss than have someone tell me performances,and hold record release what to do.” parties.” W hile growing up in Salt Lake Bankhead and his partners C ity, Utah, Bankhead showed his deter (Sarah Moran, A rt Thomas and Dan ______ Sause) decided to open this unique outlet after experi encing the trials and trib u la tio n s of trying to sell their own music. “ W e’re a ll m usicians, w e’ ve a lld o n e a lo t o f recording and we a ll had a hard time selling our tapes.” « t The store stocks $ C D ’ s, album s, tapes, and other merchandise on 500 Don Bankhead co-owns downtown 's diverse diffcrcntnorthw est artists ranging from Kenny G to the Oregon Symphony to U- m ination at an early age. ‘ ‘When I was 8 Krcw . years old I cleaned a music shop in “ But we concentrate more on exchange for piano lessons. I bought my the guy who is up and coming and trying first piano at age 12 by w orking at the to make a name for him self,” he added. shop and m owing lawns. I got a good “ And there aren’t as many black artists deal from the owner o f the store,” he as there should be. I know they’ re out recalled. “ M y parents had no idea I was there. We want to sell their tapes.” buying a piano until it was delivered.” The broad range o f styles is a He continued to take lessons and listen com m itm ent to freedom o f creativity. to an eclectic array o f music, m ostly “ W e ’re here to sell music regardless o f rock and roll. “ M y major influences what it is. Our doors are open to all were James Brown, The Beetles and kinds. W e’ ve even had Aryan Nation E lvis Presley; none played keyboards. and Neo-Nazi bands. We have some M y favorite keyboard players were in thing for everyone,” said Bankhead. ‘Chicago’ and ‘ Spint’ ” . Bankhead cut When Locals O nly opened one and a his first album in 1978 and then changed h alf yearsago their first m onth’ s income his musical style to classical and jazz. was S37O.OO. Now they average be A fter high school he attended tween $2500 and $3100 per month.But the University o f Utah and majored in business can s till be rocky. * ‘What w e’d business and marketing. “ Going to co l like now is to fin d a way to stabilize. lege and studying business d id n ’ t really W e’ re looking for money fo r advertis help me out to run a business. But c o l ing and we want to expand to other c it lege is good to learn to get through and ies,” he said. stick w ith something,” he commented. The biggest challenge for A fte r college he went to C a li Bankhead as a small business owner is fornia and studied fashion design at the the impact on his personal life, “ it ’ s not U niversity o f San Francisco and worked. ju s t a fu ll-tim e jo b ; i t ’s your life. I t ’ s However, he soon decided to leave the Portland Observer CLASSIFIEDS DATA PROCESSING PROGRAMMER/ANALYST MEDICAL CLAIMS ANALYSTS Blue Cross and Blue Shield is currently accepting applications fo r the position o f Programmer/Analyst. The Programmer/Analyst w ill: Design, develop and implement system improvements using current technology Gather, analyze and document inform ation for developing or m od ifyin g opera tional and inform ation systems to pinpoint areas where improvement can be made Designing programs, develop code and perform the necessary implementation activities involved in the installation o f new and improved systems. The successful candidate w ill have 1-3 years o f IB M mainframe experience and a m inim um o f 2 years OS and C O BO L experience, w ith training in systems analysis, and special emphasis in project management, user relations, data gathering techniques and written & oral communication. A college deg desired. College experience may be substituted by demonstrated commendable per formance as a programmer. Blue Cross and Blue Shield o f Oregon offers an excel employee benefits package, flex-tim e work hours, and competitive salary. Pre-employment drug screening required. To assure your resume is processed imm ediately, place ad #438 at the top o f your resume or in you cover letter. Send resume to: Blue Cross Blue Shield o f Oregon Human Resources Dept., 5th Fir. 100 S.W. Market LWJ Portland, OR 97201 T D D #225-6780 Blue Cross and Blue Shield o f Oregon is currently accepting applications for Medical Claims Analysts. This position is responsible for accurate and tim ely payment o f blue Cross and Blue Shield o f Oregon’s medical claims. Experience necessary to perform this task w ill include: 1 year recent clerical w ork experience in a doctor’ s office or hospital setting Demonstrated knowledge o f medical term inology and anatomy. This may be obtained through a classroom setting or o ffice experience ICD-9/CPT-4 Coding A m inimum o f 6-12 months experience using a C R T in a production oriented en vironment Fast, accurate use o f a 10-key calculator Previous claims processing or insurance b illin g experience highly desirable. Starting salary S1347/mo.Training class w ill begin Jan.2, 1991. BlueCrossand Blue Shield o f Oregon offers an excellent employee benefits pack age, flex-tim e work hours, and com petitive salary. Pre-employment drug screening required. To assure your resume is processed immediately, place ad #457 at the top o f your resume or you may apply in person between 9 A M -4P M M on-Fri. m Equal Opportunity Employer Sub-Bids Requested Oregon Department of Transportation UPRR Overcrossing To Pendelton Highway Pendelton - Cold Springs Highway Umatilla County, Oregon Bid Date: November 15,199019:00 A.M. Kiewit Pacific Co. P.0. Box 1769, Vancouver, Wa. 98668 (206) 693-1478 258-4687, FAX (206) 693-5582 CCB063471 We are an equal opportunity employer and request sub-bids from women and minority business enterprises. Blue Cross Blue Shield o f Oregon Human Resources Dept. 5th Floor 100 S.W. M arket Portland, O r 97201 Blue Cross Blue Shield Equal Opportunity Employer PUBLISHED FIRST TIME TODAY PORTLAND BUREAU OF PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN BELLROSE CORRIDOR OF THE 40 MILE LOOP Bids due Noon, Nov. 21 REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS The Bureau of Parks & Recreation is inter- ested in consultant services to assist the Bureau in developing a master plan for the Bellrose Corridor. Strong design and engi- neering, and pubic involvement skills are sought. Scope of work includes develop- ment of a master plan, cost and funding analyses, and an operational plan. If you wish to receive a Request for Proposals, or have questions, please contact: Mary Anne Cassin, Portland Park Bureau, (503) 796-5229 Published Nov. 1, 1990. bay area. "O n e day I was coming home from w ork and saw some guy running down the street shooting people,” he said. Bankhead took some vacation days and checked out Seattle. He spent one day hitch-hiking to and from Portland. “ It was a great experience. People were friendly and h elpful..” The same people who brought him to Portland gave him a ride back to Seattle. “ C om ing to Portland and Se attle was a breath o f fresh a ir,” he added. “ E v e ry thing you could ask for is in one place, m o u n ta in s, the ocean and nice people.” Another thing Bankhead discovered in Port land was blatant racial harassment. “ The firs t tim e I was spit at and called nigger was in Portland. Grow music store ing up in Utah was a great thing. M y fam ily was always treated w ith respect,” he said. But he retains a positive attitude about race relations in Portland. “ I turn the other cheek. I f they’d spend 5 m in utes w ith me they’d know that it was totally inappropriate to spit at me. L e t’ s get into the deep roots o f racism, like how alcoholism is studied-why is an a l coholic an alcoholic? W e’ ve got to get along.We have to meet in the middle and tolerate each other u ntil the point o f understanding each other.” A fte r m oving to Portland Bankhead worked as a manager fo r Fred Meyer, wrote fo r the now defunct “ Pre v ie w ” magazine, and started a lim o u sine service before deciding to open a record store. Bankhead is comm itted to his business and is in it for the long haul. “ I ’ ve never had a better w orking rela tionship than this one. I also think I can set an example. I m ight have a chance to be a role model fo r kids w ithout being a basketball player,” he said. “ And I ’ m doing it fo r me, not fo r anyone else. I ’ m a type ‘A ” person. I always have to be doing something and i t ’s an opportunity to prove to m yself what kind o f person I am and to g ro w .” m Advertising »Employment » Bids/Sub-Bids EMPLOYMENT CITY OF PORTLAND Data Entry Clerk-to $1,768/mo District Aquatics Coordinator-to $2,468/mo Energy Director-to $49,130/yr Engineering Associate B (Traffic)-to $3,662/mo Police Officer-to $3,217/mo Senior Accountant-to $31,013/yr Urban Services Manager-to $48,255/yr For more info/closing dates call (503) 248-4573 (24 hr jo b inform ation) No resumes please B U R E A U O F PERSONNEL 1220 S.W. 5th Ave., First FI. Portland, OR 97204 Apps also available at: U R B A N LE A G U E 10 N Russell M inorities, females and disabled encouraged to apply.