9 •*
T he P ortland O bserver • M ay 2 1 , 1997
P age A 3
How Much Capital In Our Neighborhoods?
B y
prof .
M c K inley B i rt
Last week we posed the question,
“W ho Should Interpret A m erica’s
N eighborhoods?” But at the same
time it was pretty well dem onstrated
th a t fro m th e v e ry b e g in n in g ,
A m erica’s U rban landscape’ has
been shaped by forces and philoso
phies far beyond the know ledge and
understanding o f m ost who would
com e to inhabit the metropolitan
areas.
And we expressed doubt that these
Culture-Shaping forces could be, or
would ever be objectively concerned
with the “Q uality o f Life” o f the
residents, as opposed to their own
pow er dynamic.
We saw that these compelling
influences began with the “Spiritual
Concepts” o f Europe ’ s earliest colo
nizers, then m oved to the “agrarian
paradise” envisioned by A m erica’s
Founding Fathers. And then as vil
lage became hamlet, become city,
became neighborhoods (and ghetto),
there arose the very secular doctrine
o f Urban Reform ” (Olmstead, Rob
ert M oses, et, al). The traumatic dis
locations o f Urban Renewal were to
come.
The “landscape no longer recalls
God through his creation”, says pro
fe s s o r o f U rb a n S tu d ie s , R.
M ugerauer (interpreting Environ
ments, 1996). W hat has happened?
Landscape has becom e Real Estate’
to alternately developed, abandoned,
P o lic e
paved-over, or used to warehouse
the "disadvantaged” our euphemism
for racial minorities, mostly Black,
hispanic.
The reader might very well in
quire, “under these circumstances
how can you introduce this concept
o f ordinary neighborhood people
possessing capital’, which is to say
pow er?” I suggest that m any o f us
blind ourselves to opportunity by
becoming enslaved to establishment
definitions.
Please note that in my May 7
article, “How Do You M easure The
Quality o f Life”, I refer to specific
areas where “we have “beautiful
people doing things to enrich our
less-than-wealthy existence.” And
I strongly insist that the inner city
resident whom w e’ve come to know
through these pages has m uch more
than in terms o f “capital” that can
produce economic wealth and op
portunity; Inform ational, ed u ca
tional, social and spiritual assets.
This is the human capital’ that can
make a city, community or neigh
borhood work. So who, indeed,
should be assigned the task o f “in
terp retin g A m e ric a ’s N eig h b o r
hoods”?
Many o f us believe - and have
dem onstrated - that with such capi
tal in hand, we inner city dwellers
need not be the economic captives
o f the establishment politicians and
bureaucrats who seldom play to the
consider, now, W ebster’s definition
o f capital’, “a stock o f accumulated
goods [or money] in contrast to in
come or wages received over a pe
riod o f time; or accumulated goods
devoted to the production o f other
goods” (according to Kart Marx or
Stock Exchange).
Now the question becomes much
more specific. How does the poorer
(“disadvantaged”) citizen find eco
nomic opportunity in a system where
the conventional idea o f capital is
the financial’ means o f creating
wealth — usually by buying goods
for one amount and selling them at a
higher price, or by hiring employees
to service clients who will be billed
accordingly?
O n Tuesday, M ay 20, 1997, at approximately 9:40 a m., Portland Police
responded to the 5000 block on N.E. 26th Avenue regarding a shooting.
Police arrived to discover Lonnie Gaston, male, black, 27 years o f age, shot
several times and lying on the sidewalk in front o f a neighbors house. Gaston
was transported to Emanuel Hospital where he was pronounced dead just
prior to 12:00 noon today.
It is believed that the suspect, driving a blue American-made vehicle,
drove up to the victim and called to him by name. The victim, who was
standing outside o f a residence, approached the suspects vehicle and was
sh o t several tim es by a handgun. The suspect and vehicle departed
southbound from the scene. The suspect is a black male. Investigators be
lieve this shooting is gang-related.
A nyone with information regarding this crime is asked to call Investiga
tive-Sergeants Derek A nderson or Cheryl Kanzler, at 823-0400.
Q uick action saves life
O n M ay 15, at 11:45 a.m., M ultnomah County deputies were dispatched
to N.E. Marine Drive and N.E. Blue Lake road. A car was in the gully and
the driver had apparently suffered a heart attack. W hen Deputy Staton
checked the driver, he could not find a pulse and the driver was not breath
ing. Sergeant Ingram arrived a few minutes later and both men pulled the
driver from the car and began administering CPR. They were able to m o
m entarily restore the victim's breathing and heart beat.
Deputy Stewart, a trained medical first responder, arrived on the scene at
11:50 a.m. and began using the defibrillator which some Sheriffs Deputies
carry in their vehicles. He was able to restore the victim's heartbeat. Medics
arrived and picked up CPR and care for the driver. Doctor's at Mt. Hood
M edical credit the quick action by sheriffs deputies with saving the man's
life.
S heriffs Deputies are trained in CPR and Providence/St. Vincent Medi-
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N ew s:
Police Investigate H om icide
traditional strengths o f the black
community. We have notable ex
amples o f the economic leverage
provided by “Inform ation Capital”.
And that is all around us if we would
but heed.
Now that we have identified the
actors and the play in progress on an
urban stage often called “The Geogra
phy o f Nowhere”, we can devote our
attention to proven models o f such
citizen’s capital being used every day
by Northeast residents. Next week we
continue with the Information’ cat
egory, exploring an economy as nch
and diversified as the community it
self; grass roots. Rainbow, student,
senior, caretaker and the cared-for,
parent and grandparent.
GRAND RE-OPENING
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This is the first time, the M CSO has had an opportunity to use the
defibrillators for a cardiac emergency.
According to Sergeant Dave Hadley, "This equipment provides us with
advanced lifesaving skills which is an incredible benefit for our commu
nity. We are often the first emergency people to respond in unincorporated
M ultnomah County."
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The Bureau o f W ater Works received a report o f salesmen going door-
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told a homeowner that the Bureau included an ad or flyer in last m onth’s
water bill supporting the product. The homeowner also was concerned
that the salesmen were accepting checks for merchandise to be delivered
at a later time.
The Portland Water Bureau does not endorse commercial products and
did not include an endorsement in its water bills for any product. We urge
customers to use common sense when approached by salesmen and to
consider carefully the claims made for any product.
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On 5/17/97 at approximately 9:00 p.m., officers responded to a shoot
ing at 230 Lincoln St., Fairview. Upon arrival, officers found the body of
Gabriel Herrera, a 17 year old. Herrera appeared to be the victim o f a
gunshot wound to the head.
Herrera's residence is 12209 SE Steele, Portland.
The Multnomah County Major Crimes Team was activated and are in
vestigating the events surrounding the shooting. At this time information
from witnesses indicate the wound to Herrera was self-inflicted.
Addition details will be available following the medical report.
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