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Page 2...The Portland Observer...September 25,1991
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LETTERS TO
THE EDITOR
T o the Editor:
O nce again, the 1000 Friends and
LCD C have team ed up to stop a popu­
lar tourist attraction which provided
jo b s, entertainm ent and a service to the
m etropolitan area; the annual Spring
G allery near W ilsonville, attended by
thousands over the last 14 years.
This popular event, held in the
Maureen and Launn Larsen’s large bam
on Stafford Road featured 250 antiques
and crafts vendors. Farmers in the area
signed a petition saying that the Spring
G allery did not interfere with their land
use.
However, a com plaint Irom one
neighbor, and a letter trom an attorney
for 1000 Friends appears to have put an
end to the event. Jim Sitzman, LCDC s
field services manager, said that the
uses must comply with Exclusive Farm
Use statutes, which they don’t
W hen will Oregonians wake up
and realize that it is time to reevaluate
the role of LCDC? W hen will we begin
to require a little com m on sense and
flexibility to their regulations?
Our G overnor has indicated that
she will work for reform and improve­
ment in state government. The LCDC
would be a good place to start. Then,
maybe we could elim inate many of the
oppressive restrictions on uses of our
land such as the one which appears to
have doomed the Spring Gallery.
Sincerely,
Shirley Bryant
W ilsonville, OR 97070
Community
Empowerment
Emphasized at
RDI Conference
Prevention o f alcohol and other
drug abuse through com m unity action
is the focus of the first annual confer­
ence sponsored by the Regional Drug
Initiative (RDI) on Saturday, Septem­
ber 28,1991 at the Oregon Convention
Center. The conference theme is
“ W orking Together: Community Ac­
tion Against D rugs.’’ Reverend Cecil
W illiams o f G lide M emorial United
Methodist Church in San Francisco is
featured as the keynote speaker. Rever­
end W illiams is nationally known for
empowering people to take control of
their lives and their community.
More than 100 volunteers have
planned this conference. Local busi­
nesses and individuals donated funds
for more than 90 scholarships for needy
youth and families. In addition, seven­
teen local groups are co-sponsors of the
conference.
The conference program will in­
clude a panel of RDI Task Force and
Com m ittee M embers from education,
workplaces, neighborhoods, law enforce­
ment, and the religious community.
A presentation on “ Preparing for
D iversity” will be given by James
M ason, Project M anager for PSU ’s
Regional Research Institute.
Dear Editor:
1990 ushered in a new decade by
breaking a frightening record. 23,438
Americans were murdered last year —
more than in any single year of the
previous decade - according to the FBI
Uniform Crime Report. Firearms were
the weapon o f choice in nearly 60 per­
cent o f the murders. And handguns
alone accounted for nearly 50 percent
of the total.
It becomes harder and harder to
rationlize the growing violence around
us when we realize that the areas with
the fastest-rising levels o f violent crime
are rural states, according to a recent
Senate Judiciary Com m ittee Report.
Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas, Arkan­
sas, Iowa and O klahom a, among oth­
ers, all had higher increases in the rate
o f crim e than did New York last year.
Ten years ago, w hile serving as
Press Secretary to President Ronald
Reagan, I was shot in the head by a man
who easily purchased a handgun over-
the-counter. Since that time, there has
been mounting pressure on Congress to
pass legislation making it more diffi­
cult for criminals, drug addicts, and the
mentally ill to obtain handguns.
This year, Congress passed a bill
requiring a waiting period and back­
ground check for the purchasers of
handguns - a proposal long-advocated
by law enforcem ent officers nation­
wide. The measure, known as the Brady
Bill, will soon go to President Bush’s
desk. But, the hardcore gun lobby con­
tinues to fight the Brady Bill, and is
vigorously lobbying President Bush to
veto this life-saving measure.
President Bush needs to hear from
us - the other guys; the folks without
millions of dollars or arm ies of lobby­
ists. I have a fast and easy way for you
to send a message to the P resident Just
call 1-900-226-4455 and leave your
name and address. A letter will be sent
in your name to the President letting
him know you support the Brady Bill.
The call will only take two minutes and
the $2.75 cost will appear on your phone
The networking of local com m u­
nity groups and businesses has ena-
bledv an after-school basketball team
to stay on the courts for their second
season.
Formed in 1990, the team is com ­
prised o f eleven girls from the N.E.
Portland area, as a deterent to drug and
gang involvement. Tony W ashington,
Public Relations Director of the P ort­
land Observer, formed the team when
he became fed up with drug and gang
activity overwhelming the North Port­
land area.
“ My objective was to conduct a
fun and constructive activity which
would encourage positive interaction
with others and personal accom plish­
ment for the girls,” said Washington.
“ It’s actually an important learning
experience and, done right, is a lot
more fun than getting involved in gangs
and drugs.”
The local chapter o f the Church of
Scientology ’s “ Lead the Way to a Drug
Free U SA ” coalition upon learning of
the lack of community funding threat­
ening the team ’s formation for the new
year, found groups and individuals who
could help keep the team together.
“ The King Neighborhood Asso­
ciation provided funding for the team,
uniforms were created with the help of
Rhapsody, Inc. and Jamee A ubrey,”
said Angie Johnson, coordinator for the
Lead the Way coalition in Portland.
“ They have dem onstrated true com ­
munity spirit and are actively “ Lead­
ing the W ay” to a drug-free Portland
by participating in these sort of activi­
bill.
W e can quell the random violence
which threatens each and every one of
us. W e can make our neighborhoods
safer. We can send our children to
schools free from gun violence. A phone
call from you today start us on our way.
Sincerely,
Jim Brady
About half as much hot water is
used in the average shower as in
the average bath.
An elephant's trunk has about
40,000 muscles.
PORTLfi
‘ ‘We were very happy to put it all
together and help keep the team on the
courts this year. W orking together, we
accomplished something which ju st a
month ago was impossible, and, showed
that people with like-minded purposes
are stronger together than alone. This
sort of networking is an important part
o f “ Lead the W ay” . Together, we can
get behind and support activities which
will make a drug-free Portland a real­
ity,” concluded Johnson.
United Way Recipients
to Report Campaign -
Progress
Area residents helped by United
Way of the Columbia-Willamette funded
programs will give updates on this year’s
United Way campaign at a report lunch­
eon, Friday, Oct. 4, noon, at the Port­
land M arriott
The service recipients will provide
campaign progress reports as well as
tell how agencies such as Boys and
Girls Club o f Portland and Interna­
tional Refugee Center of Oregon have
made positive differences in their lives.
Campaign Chairm an Robert L.
Ridgley, president/CEO, Northwest
Natural Gas Com pany, will announce
the total amount raised so far toward
this year’s goal o f $20.5 million.
Jim Little o f K ATU will emcee the
event, which also will feature live music
and a final report on the Pacesetter
campaign (the early company fund drives
that provide a financial base for die
main cam paign in the fall).
Tickets for the luncheon are $13
and are available by contacting Susan
M itchell at 226-9326.
Joyce Washington
Operations Manager
Gary Ann Garnett
Business Manager
The PORTLAND OBSERVER is
published weekly by
Exle Publishing Company, Inc.
4747 NE Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
Portland, Oregon 97211
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zip-coda
The Portland Observer-Oregon’s OWest African-American Publication-is a member
of the National Newspaper Association-Founded in 1885, and The National
Advertising Representative Amalgamated Publishers, Inc., New York, NY.
( (
New Suspension System Eliminates Bounce and Sway
So says the “ Infinity” division of
the Nissan Motor Corporation in its new
ad cam paign, © 1991. W hat parents
should watch out for is a “ bounce and
sw ay” in the statistics put out by the
school district on minority SUSPEN­
SIONS; that, too, needs to be elim i­
nated.
This is an area of concern frequently
addressed by the Desegregation M oni­
toring Com m ittee after examining an
incredible ratio of “ black’ ’ suspensions
to white. As we emphasize increased
involvem ent o f minority parents this
school year, this is a prime area for their
attention. There are particular interfaces
between their children and the system
which require immediate attention.—such
as atheltic events where we often find
staff (even principals) predicating evic­
tions and suspensions on some rather
tenuous and quite unorthodox grounds
(going beyound “ gang” costum es and
paraphernalia, and indulging in personal
morés and prejudices).
It is interesting to note the correla­
tion between the dates of reinstatem ent
and the dates for submitting reports to
the state upon which financial alloca­
tions are made. It is hardly suggested
that there is any structured or fair proc­
ess in place here. Again, I emphasize
Thank You For Reading the
Portland Observer
that parents avail them selves (person­
ally) of the reports available at the
administration building -- and that they
attend meetings relevant to the dynam ­
ics that affect their children.
I understand very well that most of
the information received is LESS THAN
INFORM ATIVE - carefully and con­
veniently bundled in the form of STAS-
T1STICS - but there is still a pressing
need to exam ine and assess the data
available. Talk with other parents -
compare notes -- question teachers and
administrators who are on “ your’ ’ pay­
roll. Also, your daily new spaper fea­
tures some very good articles by inves­
tigative reporters of the educational scene
and most are w ritten in language the
“ laym an’ ’ can understand. And ‘ ‘race’ ’
variables are usually explored.
A case in point is that earlier this
month there was a rash of reports on the
latest Scholastic Aptitude Tests (S ATs)
in both the local and national media.
The Oregonian featured some very in­
formative exam inations and interpreta­
tions of the results - particularly in
respect to the perform ance o f m inori­
ties. As did the national media, all took
note that the national average dropped
four points for the com bined average of
1990. Now, a Septem ber 9 letter from
the Superintendant’s Office to Portland’s
parents and students stated that Port­
land’s Class of 1991 earned a combined
verbal-math score of 907 -- 11 points
higher than the national average o f 896
on the SA T’s’ ’ (The com bined average
rose 1 point locally).
It is seen that my advice to “ read
the m edia” is well taken when we ex­
amine the D istrict’s letter. As my neigh­
bor pointed out, the non-ethnic statis­
tics above are given the first paragraphs
o f the missive while the only inform a­
tion of specific interest to black and
other minority parents (?) is given in a
single concluding paragraph; * ‘This is a
remarkable achievem ent for any school
district, especially an urban system with
higher percentages of minority, impov­
erished and other at-risk students.” HIGH
THAN W HERE? KENEB UNKPORT?
D on’t forget the big event is this
Friday, September 27 from 2:30 p.m. to
6:30p.m . “ Open H ouse” forth e W hit­
ney M. Young, Jr. Education and C ul­
tural Center; Urban League Building,
10 North Russell St. The center offers
excellent after-school tutoring and li­
brary facilities for students from sixth
grade through college sophmores. If
you’re attending, call Judy Venable at
280-2600.
Schools Take Aim At Intolerance
ties.
(JSPS 959-680)
OREGON’S OLDEST AFRICAN AMERICAN PUBLICATION
Established in 1970
Alfred L. Henderson
Publisher
Pers
Local Groups Keep
Local Basketball Team
In The Game
Salem-Keizer seeks diversity in classroom
by Jillyn McCullough,
The Statesman Journal
O n the wall o f G eraldine Ham­
m ond’s office, next to a Mexican som ­
brero and a button that says “ Black is
B eautiful,” hangs a sign:
Tomorrow will be the same unless
you change something today.
In the Salem-Keizer sch o o ls-
H am m ond’s em ployer-that means of­
fering more multi-cultural education
for students so that the intolerance that
exists today w on’t tomorrow.
For too long, U.S. schools have
focused on the accomplishments of the
w hite culture, neglecting the contribu­
tions o f other people, Hammond said.
“ The community is changing, and
need in chance with it.” said Ham-
mond, who is coordinating the dis­
trict’s multicultural plan for the ’90s.
Administrators want to boost stu­
dents’ self-esteem by making them more
aware of their own culture’s history
and accomplishments. At the same time,
they want to teach students to respect
other cultures.
Administrators also want to create
more cultural diversity in the school
work force. The district traditionally
has had a hard time recruiting minority
teachers. It is working on an exchange
with Cincinnati schools to bring m i­
nority teachers here on temporary as­
signments.
The district will share its multicul-
tural plan for the ’90s today at a pro-
gram titled “ Valuing Diversity: C hal­
lenge for the ’90s.’ ’ Byron Kunisawa, a
multicultural specialist, will speak.
Originally, the day’s activities were
to include only people involved with
the school district. Now, members of
the Salem Human Rights Commission,
the Salem Police D epartment and the
City Council have been invited.
Hammond said recent hearings
concerning race relations and a spate of
racial problem s in Salem have made
multicultural education a hot topic.
“ Folks were asking things like,
‘W ell, w hat are the schools doing? said
Hammonds.
United Airlines
PORTIA
Are • The • Proud • Sponsors • Of
Reinvestments —
Community
North Precinct Community Policing Project Holds
Second Annual Iris Court Community Fair
cm Paper Products, Portland Bottle
(7-U P),T. J. Sentry M arket,Franklin’s
Ready Ribs, Blue Bell Chips, Inc.,
Oregon Chief, and Emanuel Health
Services
The food was prepared by the
D eacon’s o f Morning Star Church.
The following agencies staffed
an informational booth during the fair:
Sickle Cell Foundation, Red Cross,
Oregon Outreach Youth Resource,
AMA Head Start, AMA Family Day
Care, Self Enhancem ent, Northeast
C o m m u n ity
H e a lth ,
P ro je c t
Independence, N ortheast W orkforce
Ccnler/PCC, Oregon National Guard
Army-Air, Navy Recruiting, Oregon
Employment Services Division, Poi
son Control, Private Industry Council,
Portland Police Bureau Recruiting,
Northeast Neighborhoods (Crime
he Iris Court North PrccinclCom tor, Denny West.
Prevention), Youth Gang Outreach,
The event featured a job/hcalth
munily Policing Demonstration
fair,entertainm ent,citizen information Peninsular Children Center, Neigh
Project and the Iris court Residence
borhood Connection, Boys and Girls
Council held its Second Annual Iris and food in a block party atmosphere. Club, Together G reat Start, Urban
The fair featured several local
C ourt Community Fair from 12 noon to
League, Project hnani, lYojecl Linkage,
groups
including Sista’s N Motion,
4:00p.m . Saturday, A ugusl24, at North
MADD, Northwest Regional Educa­
Sum ner Succl and Vancouver Avenue. Unison, “ Bam Bain” and OMSI tional Lab, (P.O.l.C.) Portland Occu
M ayor J.E. “ Bud” Clark gave a “ R obots.”
palion Industry Council, M ull-nomah
Arrangements were made to pro­
kickoff address at high noon from the
Co. Community Health Division,
top of an Oregon Air National Guard vide ribs, chicken and hamburgers for Regional Drug Initiative, St. Vincent’s
flatbed truck. He was joined in opening 400 people. These items were donated 1 lospilal, OSU Extension Service, Chil­
rem arks by Darryl T ukulu, CLO/Di- by I'ood Service of America, R.M. dren’s Services Div., OM SI, and the
rcctor. Urban League o f Portland and Pamplin, Inc., PPB Sunshine Division,
YWCA.
Housing Authority of Portland Direc­ Life Center, Reser’s Fine Foods, W est-
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"Reinvestments in the Community" is a weekly column appearing
in API publications through out the USA
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