Volume X X V I, Number 12
Committed to cultural diversity.
Marquis Apparel
Appeals
Kids Eye Future
Careers
Portland s Ramon
Blackburn aims to become
the King o f men s casual
wear.
Engineers from Intel Corp,
help students get ready for
the modern job market.
Ain't Misbehavin’
The Pointer Sisters head to
Portland’s Civic Auditorium
as stars in a Broadway hit
musical.
See Education, page B2.
CLlu'
Clinton Nomination
Cinched
The luxury o f being unopposed in the
Democratic primaries has paid o ff for Pres­
ident Bill Clinton. Clinton, who hasn’t
even formally announced his plans for re-
election, has now received enough dele­
gates to clinch the nomination.
Mabon To Battle
Smith
Lon Mabon, leaderofthe anti-gay rights
Oregon Citizens Alliance, will challenge
Gordon Smith in a battle o f conservatives
for the Republican nomination to succeed
Mark Hatfield in the U.S. Senate. Mabon
entered the race last week just before the
filing deadline.
House Leader
Aims For Hill
Oregon House Speaker Bev Clarno has
launched a campaign for State Treasurer
In announcing her candidacy last week, the
Bend Republican said she has had a long
interest in financial management, invest
ments and watching the bottom line. The
office is currently held by Jim Hill, a Salem
Democrat.
b \
M ichael L eighton
McKinley Burt said she was a “model of
Washington, 59, died Friday, after suffer­
ing a heart attack Feb. 6.
Funeral services will be held W ednesday
at 1 p.m. at M aranatha Church o f God, 4222
N.E. 12 Ave. Burial will follow at Skyline
Memorial Gardens, 4 1 0 1 N. W. Skyline Blvd.
Arrangements are under the direction o f Vann
and Vann Funeral Directors.
Friends, family and community members
are expressing sorrow in her death and re­
membering her as an advocate for family
values, elderly care and the community.
Long-time friend, journalist and professor
signs o f improvement and was moved to a
skilled nursing care facility, but never re­
gained full consciousness.
Washington served as publisher o f the
Portland O bserver since purchasing the com­
munity paper in 1989 after several years as an
account executive.
She was a member o f the West Coast
Black Publishers Association.
Her success as the only female publisher in
a group o f more than 20 minority-owned
publications, was an accomplishment that
made her very proud, family members said.
In December, she hosted the Portland
O bserver’s 25th Anniversary celebration, an
event that was testament to her hard work in
keeping alive O regon's oldest continuing
minority publication.
She served her community as a member o f
the Oregon Association o f Minority Entre-
preneurs, the Oregon chapter o f the N A ACP
and the Urban League o f Portland.
She was committed to senior services and
volunteered with Meals on Wheels and the
Northeast Multicultural Senior Center.
▼
Continued to page A6
The Legacy Of Joyce Washington
m P kof . M c K inley B urt
stances, I wou Id now express my regrets that
here are articles you wish nev­
I did not state often enough my appreciation
er to be called upon to write;
for the opportunities Joyce provided for
and so it is as we mark the
many o f us to reach our community (and the
passing of a great lady whose appoint­
world) with the news and information so
ed tim e among us has ended, leaving
vital to our well being.
us to lament, yet tearfully thankful for
And the chance to motivate our youth to
her presence as God has chosen to
greater achievement and fuller lives through
allot.
the medium o f the Portland Observer news­
T
All of-- family, friends, employees, griev­
ing associates and the community at large
find it difficult to express the full measure o f
the loss we feel.
We do not know how far we will have to
search for another such model o f strength,
character and commitment to family, friends,
professionals, and all with whom she came
in contact. But we are sure that the strong,
bright light o f her memory will make that
task the easier, and the choices the more
intelligent.
As is too often the case in these circum-
paper.
Indeed, it was with these goals in mind
that Joyce Washington drove herself so
relentlessly to establish a family enterprise
that is at the very same time both a valuable
economic unit o f our community and a
significant gain in the ability to express
important concerns.
We shall see that the energies, the time
and the sacrifices will not go unrecognized,
nor be forgotten
Goodbye dear friend and counselor, thank
you for sharing.
Joyce Washington, a model for her commitment to family and community, died
Friday.
Teachers Talk Strike
P
by
Metropolitan
Human Rights
Commission
Appointments
P romise K ing
ortland Association of Teachers Presi­
dent James K. Sager's tough strike talk
failed to move the Portland School Dis­
trict from colliding head on with the association
over a protracted budget crisis.
Coast Route
Reopens
Flood damaged U.S. Highway 30 has
been reopened, connecting Portland with
Astoria on the Oregon coast. A 300-foot
section o f the highway was completely
washed out in a massive landslide during
the early February flooding. More than
180 separate road closures or restrictions
occurred statewide during the height o f the
flood.
School Crisis
Grounds Katz
Mayor Vera Katz canceled a three-day
business tripto Washington, D C. last week.
Her office said she wanted to stay home
and focus on how Portland can best help its
public schools bridge a budget crisis. The
school district has announced plans to cut
500 or more jobs because o f a multi­
million dollar budget shortfall.
Detention
Alternative Opens
A program for juvenile offenders was
dedicated Friday at M allory Avenue
Church. The Detention Alternative Re­
porting Center, 126 N.E. Alberta, will be
open 15 hours a day and managed by the
staff o f Emmanuel Temple general servic­
es. The purpose o f the program is to hold
delinquent juveniles accountable for their
behavior and provide educational services
and drug and alcohol counseling.
250
Community Mourns Publisher’s Death
P
Kansas Sen. Bob Dole won the Oregon
Republ ican Primary last week in his bid for
president. Dole received 5 1 percent o f the
vote in the mail-in election with commen
tator Pat Buchanan receiving 22 percent
and publisher Steve Forbes 13 percent.
President Bill Clinton ran uncontested in
the Oregon Democratic Primary.
See Arts and Entertainment, page B3.
ffi
ortland Observer Publisher Joyce
strength, character and commitment to fam­
Washington is being rem em ­
ily, friends, professionals, and all whom she
bered as a model of human
came in contact.”
strength for her lifelong com m itm ent to
Washington was hospitalized in intensive
her family and community.
care following the heart attack. She showed
Dole Wins Oregon
Vote
tifi
4 v
See Metro, inside.
IN
March 20, 1996
Portland teachers pick up picket signs on their way to the meeting o f the
Portland School District Board. (Photo by Michael Halle)
“ If it takes a strike or a breath o f a strike to produce
action, so be it,” Sager said, appearing before a tumultu­
ous crowd o f teachers holding a rally Thursday at
Cleveland High School.
It was clear that the teachers are tired o f labor contract
talks and are bent on going on strike after a dispute that
has lingered for a year.
“What we are saying and what we continue to say is
that we are ready to reach a fair agreement, but not at the
expense o f our right to strike,” said Sager, alluding to a
possible walk out as teachers prepare to vote Tuesday on
a strike resolution.
The school board and adm inistration is not budging in
the dispute.
“We don't just have the money,” district superinten­
dent Jack Bierwirth told dozens of parents, students and
educators pleading for the teachers at the board’s public
meeting Thursday evening.
The district is facinga financial squeeze brought on by
fewer dollars from local property taxes since Oregon
voters approved Ballot Measure 5.
To make up for the deficit, the board voted to elimi­
nate 456 to 493 full-time jobs and cut back on many
special programs.
The school budget will be trimmed from $319 million
this year to $309 million next year.
Teachers in the past have recommended cutting jobs
through attrition to save money tor the system But until
now, district officials replaced retiring teachers to keep
class sizes from growing.
I he proposed new cuts in teaching and instructional
staff will save $ 17.5 million and class sizes will grow.
The board is also calling for an emergency roundtable
o f commun ity, business and pol itical leaders to come up
with a new fund raising campaign for Portland schools.
our new members have been
appointed to serve on the
M etropolitan Human Rights
Commission. The Commission, a fif­
teen member volunteer group, is ded­
icated to fostering mutual understand­
ing and respect and protecting the
human rights of all persons in the City
of Portland and Multnomah County.
F
Rev Cecil Charles Prescod, appointee
by County Chair Bev Stein, is the pastor of
the Highland United Church ofchrist. He is
a graduate o f Haverford College and re­
ceived a Masters of Divinity from Union
Theological Seminary Rev Prescod has a
long history o f community involvement
serving with Coalition o f Black Men, Peo­
ple o f Faith Against Bigotry, Oregon Fel-
lowshipofReconciliation, Brotherto Broth­
er and other groups dedicated to peace anil
human rights.
Leon Fox, appointed by County Chair
Bev Stein, is the founder and Director o f
the Lazarus Art Society, Inc. Fox has been
active in the Civil Rights movement o f
since his days at Fisk University, where he
received a BA in Psychology. He brings
years o f business experience, partivulaiiy
in the field o f affirmative action and re­
cruitment ofqualiflcd minority candidates.
Fox has a particular interest in preparing
young people to function effectively in
this society, accepting nothing short of
full inclusion socially and economically.
▼
Continued to page A6
UK
EDITORIAL
HEALTH
FAMILY
ENTERTAINMENT
RELIGION
HOUSING
A2
A4
CLASSIFIEDS
A7
B3
B4
B5
B6
t