Volume XXV Number 13
March 29, 1995
Committed to cultural diversity
Join In Celebrating Our
High School
Track Survives
Portland schools compete in
track, hurdling budget cuts.
Jazz On The
Willamette
Ron Steen and other
musicians will cruise this
summer in “A Taste O f
Jazz. ”
See Sports, Page A 7.
See page B3.
A N N IV E R S A R
(the Ijlnrtíanh
ter
250
Tiernan
Denies
Racism
THE i n
b \
Police, Firefighters
Sought
S
A team recruiting police officers and
firefighters EMTs for the Eugene Depart
ment of Public Safety will meet with inter
ested individuals on Thursday, April 6 at
the Portland Urban [.¿ague. ION. Russell.
Two sessions are planned at 5:30 p.m. and
7:30 p.m. Department officials said in
creasing the number of people o f color and
women in public safety services isacritical
element in the city's long-range plans to
provide quality services.
Master of Ceremonies Jimmy Brown and Tamera Stevens of the Solid
Flocks Speech Choir, perform Saturday at the Dishman Community
Center. “It’s Time To Make A Change. Salute to African-American
History, ” was presented as a self-esteem building project for youth.
Many organizations, including the gang resource intervention team and
Emmanuel Temple's Redirections Youth Program participated.
PCC Library Opens To
Party
Area residents are invited to help cel
ebrate the opening of the new library and
resource center on the north Portland cam
pus o f Portland Community' College. The
event is set for Friday, April 7 from 2 p.m.
to 4:30 p.m. Mildred Oilee, the new PCC
Cascade Executive Dean will welcome the
community in her first speaking engage
ment at the school. Tours of the new build
ing will be provided.
Astronomer Had “Right
S tu ff”
University ofOregon astronomer Greg
Bothun had a project aboard the recently
completed space shuttle Endeavor. Bothun
used a highly sensitive ultra-violent imag
ing telescope on board the space shuttle to
photograph hidden galaxies. He said the
project was a big success.
No Fault Found W ith
Farrakhan Firms
Housing and Urban Development Sec
retary Henry Cisneros has told Congress
that he found no evidence to support alle
gations that security guards were recruit
ing for minister Louis Farrakhan while
patrolling federal housing projects.
Cisneros said his agency's investigation
was limited, but warned that any further
probe would amount to the “persecution"
of the Nation of Islam.
Shakur S tarts Sentence
Controversial rap music star Tupac
Shakur has begun serving a four and a half
year prison term after being found guilty of
sexual assault of a woman in a New York
hotel The 23-year-old will be eligible for
parole in 18 months.
N
The House Commerce Subcommittee
on Business has held hearings on the bill
Carl Taitón of the North Northeast Econom
ic Development Alliance. Inc and Jorge
Guerra of the Oregon Association o f Minor
ity Entrepreneurs testified in favor of the bill,
as did Don Mcl ave ofthe Portland Chamber
of Commerce. Multnomah County Commis
sioner Gary Hansen and the stall of the
Portland Development Commission
The original enterprise zone w as created
in 1988. and additional zones were added in
EDITORIAL
A2
tate Rep. Bob Tiernan of Lake
Oswego is as confrontational
as he is controversial.
The conservative Republican lawmaker
had taken on the state's employee unions in
support of Ballot Measure 8 which slashed
the pension benefits for public employees.
His recent fight against the Children
Services Division and its administrator Kay
Toran, made him Oregon's most contentious
politician once again
And now Tiernan continues his forays
into battle by sponsoring a bill that would
eliminate affirmative action, the system of
awarding contracting and employment pref
erences to woman, minorities and the dis
▼
(Photos Donn Thomas)
Continued to page A4
Kitzhaber: A Shining Democrat
n\
P romise K ing
he power of his warmth. His
irrepressible energy and his
deft political calculations, has
made Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber a
star Democrat.
T
Many political pundits were stunned last
November, as Kitzhaber resiliently trounced
his Republican opponent, conservative die
hard Denny Smith.
But this is not a surprise as you explore
the governor's past political exploits. Even in
his first election in the Republican threshold
of southern Oregon's Douglas County , he
pummelled his way successfully to the state
Senate.
He powered his way also through the
thick political wall of his colleagues to be
come the Senate President, while still ventur
ing out at intervals to practice his beloved
profession of medicine.
And because of him and a few other
Democrats who survived the Republican
hurricane of the elections, the torchlight of
the Democratic Party, at least in Oregon,
continues to glow.
The Portland Observer caught up w ith
the governor in an exclusive interview at the
State Capitol. The sky light overlooking his
office was calm, but the bustling and hustling
o f the bevy of politicians around him under
mines the serenity .
We listen as the governor speaks about
his career in politics, his family life, the party
Gov. John Kitzhaber in his office at the Capitol in Salem.
agenda and his disappointments and aspira
tions.
”1 was completely un-political. I really
1993. Enterprise zones are designated geo
graphic areas in which cities or counties can
offer tax breaks to encourage business in
local
vestment in economically deprived areas.
In exchange for property tax conces
sions, a business agrees to hire a percentage
of its workforce from residents of the enter
prise zone.
Under the best of circumstances, the
community and the company mutually bene
fit. But after eight years of experience with
the North Northeast I nterprise /one. not all
local officials and community leaders be
lieve the community has received full value,
all ofthe time, for the tax concessions.
Issues at stake include the percentage of
workers hired from w uhin the enterprise zone,
how long those employ ees much be retrained
AUTOMOTIVE
A5
HEALTH
A6
the civil rights period, when Dr Martin Luther
King and Bobbie Kennedy were assassinat
ed.
“I think a lot of people of my age thought
that this was an enormous tragedy," he said.
Kitzhaber said King and Kennedy dem
onstrated that individuals could make a dif
ference in the system.
"That was literally the point which 1
decided to be involved in politics." the gov
ernor explained.
Kitzhaber's success at politics didn't
come on a silver platter.
Fresh from his medical internship in
1978. Kitzhaber settled in Douglas County
and forayed into politics. He Started w ith his
liberal political beliefs and inclinations, a
clear contrast to his conservative constitu
ents.
"I was making political moves which
didn't reflect the philosophy o f southern Or
egon." he said, contending instead, that "I ran
for election because leadership is about not
necessarily getting people to agree with you.
but getting people who don't agree w ith you,
to bring them along.’’
That is exactly what this astute politician
has done, as evidenced by his support, even
among his political foes.
Neither his parents nor his medical col
leagues could fathom his new found taste for
this uncertain world of politics.
His family, however, stood behind him,
▼
Continued to page A4
Youth Vie For Portland Honor
and at what wages they are paid.
Carter's proposed law would give city
and county officials the option to negotiate
agreements with employers that would have
greater long-term impact on the community
"Negotiating enterprise zones is a balanc
ing act," Carter told the House subcommittee.
"Ifyou ask too much, businesses will not locate
within the enterprise zone, but ifyou ask too
little, the community won't receive full value
for its property tax concessions.
"But these are essentially local concerns
and the decision on what to require should be
made by local officials w ith the agreement of
the employer. Local control over enterprize
zones is the only way we can be sure that we
are getting the greatest benefit for our tax
dollars," Carter said.
SPORTS
(Photo b y Don Thomas)
had no interest in politics until 1968," he said.
Kitzhaber said his mind was changed
during the Vietnam War era in the height of
Would Add Flex To Enterprise Zones
orth and northeast Portland
could see a greater return in
jobs and wages if a bill by Rep.
Margaret Carter to give more
control over property tax enterprise
zones survives the Legislature.
P romise K ing
he Boys and Girls Clubs of
Savings Bond.
Portland will putthe spotlight
The candidates are interview ed prior to
on o u ts ta n d in g yo u th ,
the banquet by a panel of area judges. They
including two kids from northeast
are asked about club activities, school activ
Portland, at its annual Youth of the
ities, community service, home and family,
Year banquet Friday. March 31,
spiritual values, obstacles they may have
b e g in n in g at 6:30 p.m. at the
overcome and public speaking.
Pantheon Banquet Hall, 5932 S.E.
The Portland Youth o f the Year
92nd.
will have the opportunity to com pete
T
Five finalists, representing each
o f the Portland-area Boys and Girls
clubs, will be honored during the event.
A generous sponsorship from Chevron
Corp helps award the winner a $2.000
scholarship for educational or voca
tional purposes, while the four run
ners-up will each earn a $500 U S .
ENTERTAINMENT
A7
B2
with other representatives for state hon
ors and possible national honors.
Ken Boddie of KOIN-TV will emcee
the celebration. Former Trail BlazerMicha-
el Thompson will.deliver the keynote ad
dress. For more information or to reserve a
seat, call Dana Gritzmacher at the Boys and
Girls Club at 232-0077.
RELIGION
CLASSIFIEDS
B4
B7
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