Volume XXVI, Number
Hard At Work
Cropper Scores For
Tech
Jefferson students are
television stars for Tahan
Advertising.
It's a winning basket and
one point win for Benson
over Wilson.
See Metro, inside.
See Sports, page B2.
ortíanh
■
V 1
Audit Attacks
Portland Crime
Portland compares favorably with other
cities around the county, but its crime rate
is a little higher that average. That’s ac­
cording to City Auditor Barbara Clark’s
annual report, which also reports that ser­
vices have helped make the city safer and
cleaner than five years ago. The report also
warns o f declining street conditions and
increased sewer bills.
Senate Ballots Go Out
Mail ballots in the race to succeed Ore­
gon Sen. Bob Packwood were sent out last
week. Voters must return the ballots to the
county election’s office by Tuesday, Jan.
30 at 8 p.m. The latest polls show Demo­
crat Ron Wyden and Republican Gordon
Smith locked in a fierce battle, each with
42 percent support.
opening ceremony o f Living the Dream: A Tribute to Martin Luther King Jr
'r
'
County Eyes
New Courthouse
Multnomah County is considering anew
courthouse at a cost o f $ 115 million. Offi­
cials say the current downtown courthouse
is too old and small to meet current de­
mands.
Heroes Honored
Mayor Vera Katz honored several citi­
zens and paid tribute to the Portland Police
Bureau for their help during the recent
hostage taking and shooting at KOIN Cen­
ter. The mayor’s first “Order o f the He­
roes” awards was presented in her office.
Environmental
Challenge Launched
Portland was the national kick-off site
for an environmental leadership challenge
by several businesses and organizations.
Vice President Al Gore is one of the lead­
ers behind the effort. The goal is to expand
technologies in order to create more liv­
able communities.
Salvation Army In Crisis
The government shutdown, proposed
federal budget cuts and a critical reduction
in holiday giving has jeopardized impor­
tant social services for thousands of needy
Oregonians. The Salvation Army is con­
cerned that the financial impact to its orga­
nization will reduce its ability to provide
services.
Tri-Met Upgrade
Announced
I
Tri-Met has adopted 13 changes to en­
hance the transit agency’s customer ser­
vice. The $2 million program includes
computer upgrades, additional staff to in­
vestigate and track complaints and dis­
playing employee numbers in the front of
buses for passengers to identify the driver.
Rights Bill Supported
Low wage workers and their supporters
called on the Metropolitan Human Rights
Commission last week to adopt a Workers’
Bill of Rights. The document would out­
line fair employment standards for work­
ers in the Portland area, including livable I
wages, health insurance and safe and
healthy workplaces.
________________
j
(Photo By Tony Washington)
Momentum Builds Against Median
m P romise K im ,
ounting voices are demanding
that the concrete medium give
way on Martin Luther King Jr.
Boulevard.
M
Phyliis Gaines of Vessels Tableware and
Vicki Jack of McCoy Plumbing and many
other businesses who have offices along the
streetscape are asking for the removal o f the
center divide.
The median is bad for business” says
Gaines. “It is really hard for drivers to park
and that drives potential customers away.”
The same concern was echoed by James
Posey o f the Association of Minority Con­
tractors.
“( I he medium) is strangulating business
here,” screamed Posey. “Traffic flow is not
the issue. The whole idea, that we don’t have
on-street parking is pathetic. The issue is
there is no real plan for the vitality o f this
community.”
“The median is an economic spoiler and
should be removed from our back yard,” de­
manded O.B. Hill, a business owner. “It is a
control mechanism to keep this community
perpetually dependent on outside malls, be­
cause the median takes one straight to other
shopping centers in other communities.”
Hill is the co-owner of Reflections, a cof­
fee house, bookstore and gift shop at Walnut
Park Center at Martin Luther King Boule-
vard and Killingsworth Street.
Nobody really like it in this community,”
said Hill.
Even the Portland Development Commis­
sion believes the median stands in the way of
economic development.
I he lack of left turns has constrained
opportunities for business growth and expan­
sion, says Michael McElwee, the commis­
sion’s project coordinator.
‘We think it’s an important issue. We will
be glad to be part o f the discussion on the
modification of the median,” McElwee said.
But Fred Sawyer, a traffic specialist with
Oregon Department o f Transportation, is not
convinced that the concrete divider is re­
sponsible for economic woos along the bou­
levard.
Is the medium on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard an unfriendly barrier? Many
residents are saying yes, and point to the many places that vegetation is worn
away by pedestrian traffic where no crossings exist.
(Photo By Tony Washington)
®
iewit Construction, Inc. and
tional Inc., Woodburn M asonry, Inc.
its minority contractors were
M ooreCom m ercial Interiors, Bilinco,
recently cited for work on Tri-
Inc., Brainard Sheetm etal, Inc., Pa­
M et s Elmonica project, a $ 1 6.7 mil­
cific C ascade C ontrols, SAS B alanc­
lion operations facility for Westside
ing S ervices, Tri-C ounty Concrete
light rail.
K
Kiewit exceeded a D isadvantaged
Business Enterprise (DBE) goal by
two percent, finishing the construc­
tion with 18 percent o f the work per­
formed by minority and women-owned
businesses, Tri-M et officials said.
The subcontractors included Joe
Building M aintenance, photographer
Cathy Cheney, W estlake Consultants,
Inc., Edmunds Trucking and Excavat­
ing, MRC C o., N orthern C ascade,
Northw est C oncrete Pumping, Inc.,
Northw est B oringC o., Rebar Interna-
“They can say that, but I don’t think they
can prove it” argues Sawyer.
He said the median has enhanced traffic
safety and improved traffic flow.
State Transportation Department spokes­
man Ron Scheele said removing the median
could open the boulevard to traffic gridlock
and a floodgate of accidents.
Statistical data shows that in 1976 there
were 158 accidents on the boulevard, with an
average daily traffic load of 17,245 vehicles.
In 1994, daily traffic loads increased to
22,245 vehicles, but the number ofaccidents
dropped to 123.
I he Portland Observer has learned the
state is in the process of doing a study with
Portland State University on the effects of the
median on business and its immediate envi­
ronment
Details about this study are still scanty,
according to Scheele.
Ultimately, the city, Scheele said, dictates
what’s to be done as far as the median is
concerned.
“If the city calls for any action and it fits
within our guidelines. We're going to do it,”
the state official said
The question of who will pay for the cost
of reconstruction is uncertain and no one at
this point is ready to pay the bill. Besides, the
Pumping, Inc., Pro Landscape, New
D im ensions Landscape, Inc. and C ap­
itol Concrete.
I ri-M et also cited the contractors
lor an outstanding safety record. The
tw o-story, 70,000 square foot build­
ing was com pleted with no accidents
reported.
I he structure is the first m ainte­
nance facility in America designed
to serve the easy boarding low floor
light rail cars that are being intro­
duced with expansion o f the Max light
rail line.
SPORTS
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Continued to page B5
Cooperation Sought For
Discrimination Study
study to determine if race and
owned business program activities, r
gender bias restricts minority
and woman-owned firms from
competing for public contracts needs
business owners to participate in re-
create new approaches,” said Portlar
Vera Katz.
Over 300 personal interviews wil
ducted with local business owners, p
ministratorsandconstructiontradeapi
and joumeypersons
Mason Tillman President Eleanor
said one of the key purposes of the st
determine if discrimination exists in
ketplace
“The average minority or woman I
,
A
? rC, * ° 8‘
Last February, seven state and local govern-
ment agencies established a consortium and
commissioned an independent research study
ofpubhc contracting in the tri-county Portland
area
. .
Eocalofficialsarcurgingminorityandwom-
en business owners to coonerate with thn r.-_
ENTERTAINMENT
RELIGION
CLASSIFIEDS
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