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Page4..The Portland Observer...July 15, 1992
African American Views On The Environment, II
BY PROF. MCKINLEY BURT
In my first article I cued a danger­
ous concentration of the high poisonous
element LEAD in our urban environ­
ment. Particularly, I referred to lead
fittings on water pipes installed before
modem plumbing codes were written -
• and to the fact that small children
(especially crawlers) often eatflakes
from lead-based paints found on the
floor.
We also noted that a higher than
acceptable level of lead is found in the
Blood of innercity children who often
live in close proximity to freeways and
other arterials which flood their homes
with the fumes from :leaded gasoline.”
In all these cases it is obvious that
economics would prevent poor people
from remedy ing this problem; they can ’l
move to modern facilities or neighbor­
hoods. Governmental intervention is
required because in a decade or two the
health costs will be astronomical - for
all of us.
Then, there are the environmental
problems that transcend state or even
national borders. And they are proving
to be the most detrimental to people of
color and the poor of all races. For
instance in Mel, Alabama we find per­
haps the world’s largest toxic waste
dum p -located on “the other side of the
tracks” and adjacent to the black neigh­
borhoods. This has been a common
practice where counties hard pressed
for cash have solicited out-of-state
dumping.
This particular case has led to an
outrageous situation. The “Chemical
Waste Corporation,” America’s largest
operator and promoter of this type of
pollution has taken the state ol Ala­
bama to the Supreme Court in an effort
to force them to accept more waste at a
lower price. This, after the company
dumped over 7 million tons in 1988,
collected all up and down the east coast
from big cities whose dumps are lull.
I’m sure you just saw that GARBAGE
TRAIN on the news, finally returning
thousands of tons of waste to New Y ork
when the shippers couldn’t find anyone
to accept it at any price.
And in Arizona and other parts of
the southwest it is the vulnerable Indian
whose lands and health care threatened
by the devastating practice of open pit
or “strip mining” for minerals that leave
the land ravaged forever, run offs leach
out poisonous chemicals that poison
the grasslands and streams. Coal which
is mined in the same fashion is used to
fuel huge power plants that supply elec­
tricity for cities far away on the coast.
But the dangerous pollutants from the
smoke stacks settle right dow on the
poor native Americans who will have
no crops, no fish and NO LUNGS.
That “World Summit On The En­
vironment” just held in Rio, Brazil was
notable for more than a half-hearted
approach to pressing environmental
problems caused almost entirely by the
major industrial nations. We note, for
one thing, that the first “clean up” by
the Brazilian government was round up
all those thousands of homeless and
parentless “street children” of Rio De
Janeiro and place these victims of in­
dustrial progress in holding pens until
the conference was over. The govern­
ment certainly didn’t want the visitors
to be reminded that the 5 to 12 year-old
children were the “debris” from sudden
and traumatic changes in the nation’s
economy.
These catastrophes to peoples and
environment were brought about by tre­
mendous pressures from American and
European Banks, the World Bank and
the International Monetary Fund-hold­
ers of the scores of billions of dollars in
debt instruments against the country. A
condition with parallels throughout the
third world. They demanded QUICK
CASH type economic activities no
matter that strip mining for iron ore and
accompanying destruction of forest for
charcoal to smelt the iron would devas­
tate both lands and peoples. The same
for lands converted to cattle ranching.
Hundreds of thousands of Indians
and black were dispossessed and tied to
the horrors of Rio slums; without skills,
without education and without hope. It
was for this reason, and born of a com­
mon shabby experience, that a week
before the so-called “Summit” there
was called in the same place “The World
Conference of Indigenous Peoples on
Territory, Environment and Develop­
ment.” This meeting of exploited Third
World peoples drew hundreds of del­
egates from 26 countries and 5 conti­
nents. How much of the media dealt
with that-reality?
Buying A Franchise: How To Make The Right Choice
Scheduled For The Portland Area
Minority and women entrepreneurs
have a chance to learn the facts about
franchise ownership at no cost. BUY­
ING A FRANCHISE: HOW TO MAKE
THE RIGHT CHOICE will be held in
Portland on Thursday, July 23, 1992,
from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the World
Trade Center, 121 SW Salmon Street,
Mezzanine Level, Rooms 2-4. The three
hour program is designed for any mi­
nority or woman who would like to
learn about options available in fran­
chising.
The seminar, presented by the Port­
land Minority Business Development
Center and supported by the Economic
Development Department of the State
of Oregon, is the first of a series under
the National Franchise Initiative funded
by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s
M inority B usiness D evelopm ent
Agency (MBDA). The initiative is the
result of findings and recommenda­
tions by the Minority Enterprise Devel­
opment Council which reveal that mi­
norities currently own less than 3% of
the nation’s franchises, while they com­
prise approximately 25% of the Ameri­
can population.
“This seminar is a chance to learn
about the opportunities available in fran­
chising and also to evaluate franchising
as a viable business option. The benefits
to be obtained from attending the semi­
nar include increased understanding of
the risks, rewards and requirements in­
volved in becoming a franchisee,” says
Joe Lira, National Director of the Mi­
nority Business Development Agency.
Local experts in franchising and
small business development, along with
representatives from franchise compa­
nies and a franchise attorney will par­
ticipate as guest speakers. Each attendee
will receive Buying a Franchise: How
to Make the Right Choice, the Fran­
chise Self-Assessment Guide and addi­
tional franchise material. Seating is lim­
ited. Advance registration is necessary.
Registration is complimentary. For in­
formation and reservations, please call
(503) 245-9253.
A d vertise
Z \ i r x l T l-IE M
If your bank
Portland business entrepreneur,
Roy Jay, was one of the recipients of the
Portland Oregon Visitors Association’s
President’s award at the POVA annual
appreciation breakfast held on July 9 at
the new $85 million Oregon Conven­
tion Center. The events theme celebrated
the 150th year anniversary o f the O r­
egon Trail which attracted nearly 1,000
businesses, government officials, ho­
tels and V.I.P.’s involved in Oregon’s
growing visitor and convention indus­
try.
The 44 year old heads, both the
Oregon Business Network and the O r­
egon Convention and Visitor Services
Network, is the first Black business
owner to ever receive the prestigious
award in the history of the organization.
Jay, who has been a business member of
POVA since 1982 and a member of
their board of directors since 1988 rep­
resents one of the areas most positive
changes in the industry said one of the
attendees.
However it was just a few years ago
POVA’s nominating committee refused
to re-nominate Jay for another term on
their board of directors, which created
frustration and some anger among the
nearly all white membership. POVA
business members picketed the organi­
zations weekly breakfast meetings and
were instrumental and successful in a
massive write-in election campaign that
resulted in another term through 1993.
Although he was reelected, Board Presi­
dent, Mary Amstad, general manager
of the Heathman Hotel, removed him as
chairman of POVA membership com­
mittee as well as the executive commit­
tee. “Roy was the only board member
that was fair and equitable to all of us as
members...he is the type of guy that will
represent everybody’s interest...he is
the only board member that would at­
tend nearly every meeting and would
take time to hear our concerns, regard­
less of how busy he was, day or night”
said Betty Davis, a white tour operator
in Portland.
“Asa board member, Roy has been
very outspoken and challenged his
collègues with regard to certain issues
including the lack of minority employ­
ees and vendors within the organization
and small business parity. As a result of
his persistence, POVA was forced to
P D C S e ts In fo rm a tio n a l
B rie fin g O n Im p a c t O f
T a x C o u rt R u lin g
Americans,Gladys McCoy, Multnomah
County Chair, Sam Brooks, President
of the Multnomah County Exposition
Recreation Commission I Oregon As­
sociation of Minority Entrepreneurs and
Ed Washington, commissioner of the
METRO. McCoy explained that the
selection of Jay was an excellent choice
and had provided letters of support to
the awards nominating committee from
such businesses as Hilton Hotel, Benson
Hotel, Shilo Inns and others that recog­
nized the valuable contributions that
are being made by die native Portlander
in visitor and convention industry.
The announcement of the award
came as a surprise to some attendees
who were aware that Jay and POVA’s
current executive committee and offic­
ers are at odds regarding marketing and
promotional efforts.
In January, POVA’s officers and
executive committee, through their at­
to rn ey , c o n tac ted Jay w ith an
ultimatum...’’resign from their board or
cease all business activity dealing with
convention and visitor destination mar­
keting.” Jay responded through his cor­
porate attorneys, Curtis Kinsley of Lake
Oswego and Patrick Butler of Port­
land... “NO!” In spite of the recent
award, the business confrontation is
still pending according to reliable
sources.
One hotel employee said “Roy’s
operation has been able to provide a
great number of valuable visitor and
convention leads that we may not have
norm ally received through other
sources...the name of the game is heads
in the beds for hotels and we are grateful
for any help we can get.” In a time when
taxpayer funding for this industry is
shrinking, it is good to see someone
from private enterprise with the ability
to provide cost effective solutions and
alternatives to help the industry grow.”
Jay’s other business enterprises
include computers, barter, limousine
services, advertising, collections, mar­
keting, consulting, investments and
other joint ventures. He is among the
growing number of local African Ameri­
can men and women that are contribut­
ing and involved in many business and
professional arenas that were previ­
ously excluded to minorities in the Port­
land area.
C all 2 8 4 -1 2 & 2
Media representatives are invited
fo r Takeout and
to attend a briefing for businesses, non­
Information.
profit organizations impacted by the
hold the Portland Development Com­
mission (PDC) imposed on 40% of its
1992-93 budget in the wake of a May
5 5 1 7 N .lM .l.K .Jr,B lvd.
18th dec ision by the Oregon Tax Court.
C o lt « e v m
The PDC briefing is on Wednesday, Portland, Oregon 97212
July 15, 1992 at 1:00 p.m., in The
Open Late Throughout the Tournament, Call for hours
Portland Building, 2nd floor Audito­
Open Tues.~Sat. a t H'SOa.m. ,0 p e n Sunday at 12'-00noon
rium, 1120 SW Fifth Avenue.
The briefing is informational and
will provide PDC’s clients and contrac­
tors with a forum to ask questions. The
Sliced Beef Brisket Vinner
Fbrk Rib Dinner
Commission ordered the budget hold
w/Collard
Greens,BIackeyed-
w ith M acaroni & Cheese,
May 28th until uncertainties about the
fkas. Cole Slaw A Cornbread
Collard Greens & Cornbread
City’s continued ability to fund PDC’s
Small —17 .^ L a r g e - f 9 .^
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urban renewal, low-income housing and
economic development efforts are re­
solved by the Oregon Supreme Court,
which will hear the City’s appeal of the r ------------------------------------------ -
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Tax Court decision July 28th.
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Buy
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Sm
all
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P D C ’s C hairm an
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Any Large Dinner
Receive a Free 12 o z Coke
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McGregor and Vice Chairman Carl |
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Limit
2
per
Customer
Talton will participate in the briefing as I
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will Stephen C. Bauer, Director of the •
Good through July 25th
Good through July 25 th
,
City’s Office of Finance and Adminis­
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__________ ________ J
tration and PDC Executive Director
Patrick L. LaCrosse.
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The Tax Court ruling, if upheld by
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Buy Any Sandwich
the Supreme Court, would effectively 52 ^ O ff ' Slab cf fbrk Spaneribs |
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a t Regular Price
suspend the City’s ability to sell urban 1
* Limit 2 per Customer
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Second Sandwich ^ 2 ^ *
renewal bonds, the funding source for I
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more than three fifthsofPD C ’sbudgct.
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Limit 1 per Customer
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Good through July 25 th
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The Tax Court reversed an opinion of
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Good through July 25 th
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Oregon’s Attorney General and the Slate I
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Legislature by determining that, unlike
other bonded debt, urban renewal bonds j______ Come in and Check out Our D elicious B arbecue M enu_____ f
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arc not exempt from the Measure 5
limit.
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take some action by finally adopting an
affirmative action plan, and increase
theirminority contracting involvement.
He is a strong believer in private enter­
prise and allowing everyone an oppor­
tunity to make a buck,” said Davis who
has made thousands of dollars in busi­
ness leads and sales since joining Or­
egon Business Network in 1989. Johnny
Counterfeit, a well known national en­
tertainer and impressionist from Port­
land said “I’m sincerely glad to see Roy
get this award...he deserves it and much
more...I am sure that the reason that so
many “open minded” people support
his effort is because of his positive
attitude, competency, professionalism
and personality. He’s certainly not like
some people that are more interested in
self serving and social latter status...tl,is
guy shares.”
In 1989, he formed and funded
both the Oregon Business Network and
the Oregon Convention and Visitor
Services Network, Inc. with an initial
membership of 17 supporters. Two years
later the membership and affiliation
exceeds 2000, (nearly three times more
than POVA) making itoneof the largest
privately operated business organiza­
tions in the state. Jay said that the whole
idea behind these new entities were to
help enhance sales, networking and
business opportunities for everyone in­
cluding the convention and visitor in­
dustry. Over the past two years, his
operations have generated over $100
million in potential convention and visi­
tor referrals to both members and non­
members throughout the state.Jay’s
ideas of a Tele-Fax network is the first
of it’s kind in the state, which informs
subscribers of various business and sales
opportunities, 24 hours a day. “We
intend to expand the services in the near
future to provide even better access for
visitors and conventions in Oregon and
other states. We are here to enhance
existing efforts, not necessarily to com -
pete, said Jay.
The POVA Appreciation Awards
program recognized Jay for “Providing
valuable networking opportunities and
services for business owners involved
in the visitor industry and for serving as
a positive example for young entrepre­
neurs.” The POVA Awards Selection
Com mittee included three African
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Roy Jay Receives President’s Award
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send for
this helpful
book.
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