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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (April 12, 2000)
See Metro YWCA Smart Choices art featured Jefferson High dancers in spotlight See Sports Bulk Rate U.S. Postage Vijay Singh takes the green at the Masters See The Focus PAID Portland, OR Permit No. 1610 University o f Oregon Knight Library Newspaper Section I Eugene OR 97403 Volume XXX. Number 15 Wednesday Committed to Cultural Diversity Established in 1970 www.portlandobserver.com 50e April 12,2000 Industrial dumping in the Willamette has doubled in 2 years “Things are getting worse in the Willamette,” said the report’s co-author, Joe Coffman, a Willamette Riverkeeper board mem ber. “These toxics are not m onitored consistently.” Coffman’s report and the research group’s rankings relied on the latest Toxic Release Inventory data compiled by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The inventory tracks releases of more than 650 pollutants'as they are reported by industries and city wastewater treatment plants. According to the reports, metal producers, high-tech firms and pulp and wood products industries accounted for the bulk o f the discharges. Wacker Siltronic in Portland and Oremet-Wah Chang and Oregon Metallurgical in Albany topped the list, each discharging about I million pounds in 1997. Nitrate compounds are commonly found in fertilizers as well, but agricultural and residential runoff were not part of the scope o f the research group’s study. Wacker Siltronic environmental manager Tom McCue said the com pany’s discharges stem from its use of nitric acid to rid silicon wafers o f oxides. The DEQ does not limit the com pany’s nitrate discharges, McCue said, and the Company and the city o f Portland have not determined whether the city's sewer system can handle the waste. “W e’re trying to do things right." McCue said. “(Nitrate) As if word o f declining salmon runs and a possible Superfund listing w eren’t bad enough, the Willamette Rivertook another hit Thursday as environmental groups released a report showing industrial and wastewater discharges doubling within the river system in recent years. The nonprofit Willamette Riverkeeper’s “State o f the W illamette” report found industrial sources reported sending 4.1 million pounds o f toxic chemicals down the riverin 1997,compared with about2million in 1995.Nitrate compounds — nitrates, nitrites and ammonia used in high-tech manufacturing and pulp mill wastewater treatment — accounted for about 85 percent o f that increase. Manganese compounds, methanol and copper discharge levels also rose. The results, gleaned from federal data, have led the U.S. Public Interest Research Group to rank the Willamette River as the nation’s 10th worst for toxic chemical discharges from identifiable sources, up from 17th last year. Environmentalists used the report to call on state legislators to boost funding for the Oregon Department ofEnviron- mental Quality so the agency can phase out all toxic discharges by 2010 and bring the river into compliance' with the federal Clean Water Act. (Please see 'D um ping' page A5) Free gun locks still available from Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office EO r T h E PO R TLAND O BSER VER Free firearm triggers locks are being distributed to adults who come to the a d m in istra tio n o ffic e o f the Multnomah County Sheriffs. The locks are limited to one per person. G etting a gunlock is an easy as stopping by the office at 12240 NE A Multnomah County Sheriffs officer explains the use o f the free gunlocks that they are offering to the public. Glisan between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. and requesting one. The sheriff s office has about 500 gunlocks available and has given out 4,5 0 0 to d a te . T he lo c k s, in c o m b in a tio n w ith e d u c a tio n a l materials, are intended to promote safe handling and secure storage practices among all firearms owners. According to the Oregon Health Division, 22,000 Oregon children live in homes where firearms are loaded and unlocked. T he N atio n al S ports S hooting Foundation, a trade organization consisting o f firearm manufacturers, distributors and retailers, is providing the gun locks to the Multnomah County Sheriff to distribute to citizens as part o f Project Home Safe. “Our goal istoreachouttoall firearm owners with key safety messages on safe firearms handling and storage," said Douglas Painter, executive director o f the N ational Sports Shooting Foundation. The gun cable device, which works like a traditional padlock, is placed through a firearm barrel or magazine holder so that the weapon can't be fired until it is unlocked. I’m excited about this partnership,” said Dan Noelle, sheriffofMuitnomah County. “I strongly believe that providing gun locks will prevent tragedies. These locks can be used with education, should hopefully reduce the risk o f unintentional firearm-related inj uries or deaths. For more information about free gunlocks available from Multnomah County Sheriff sOfficecall.255-3600 x607 or visit the Sheri I f s Web site at www.co.multnomah.or.us/sheriff/ Hail to the Portland's new Chief of Police bï J o i B amos uiTutPoRii asu O bslkmr Just several months into his job, new ChiefofPolice Mark Kroeker outlined for the Portland Observer his long range plans to reduce crime and the fear o f crime. His effectiveness as a leader will be based on how well he deals with hard policing issues and m aking th e in te rn a l c h an g es necessary to create good community relations where police accountability can be measured. The hope is that he doesn't foster a culture among his officers that supports misconduct, silence, h e a v y -h an d ed n ess and disrespect. After all, he has served in a troubled Los A ngeles police department described by the national Human Rights Watch as “a bureau that has for decades shown brutal behavior, poor management by the chief and his deputies, and racist attitudes expressed at all levels o f the police department in word and deed.” During an interview, he idealistically explained, “My responsibility to the com m unity here is to lead this organization toward notable goals in service to our community. On the professional side, we have several guiding lights out there including our vision for the city o f Portland such as a city that is free from crime and the fear o f crim e, a city that has neighborhoods that work together with one another in improving the quality o f life. A city where people have an unprecedented w orking relationship with their police-w here this is built in the years ahead where there is a confidence in police that is unprecedented.” A focus ofthe police department is to “ d e v e lo p p a tro l (o r c itiz e n Friday Weather Rain Z*7#*7 Through the weekend Today 70°F/21°C Saturday 50°F /7°C Rain Partly Cloudy Thursday 66°F/18°C 43° F /3 °F Rain * S»II(1ay Showers Z»7Z*7 relationship) w here the officers explain what they are doing after their work is done.” commented Kroeker. What is seriously lacking among field training officers are enough problem solving skills todeesealatepotentially explosive situations. As part o f their socialization process, they need to d e m o n stra te e th ic a l, re a so n e d decision-making. Police officers are required by their chiefto enforce the law fairly, firmly and according to the problems that are out there. Anything less would only solidify anger, hopelessness and fear that leads to violence, especially am o n g m in o ritie s th ro u g h o u t Portland that have been subject to and are highly sensitive to police abuse. According to the city’s Office o f Risk Management, the city pays approximately $500,000 each year in police misconduct eases through 60°F/14°C 45°F /5°C 61°F/21°C 45°F /5°C 61°F/19°C 45°F /5°C « settlements or jury awards. According to press reports, twenty-five to thirty excessive force claims are filed each year in this city. An effective policy forChiefK roekerto adopt is denying promotions to any officers who have received a specified number ofcitizen complaints within a given period o f time. Each complaint should be internally investigated. And. if the complaints are adjudicated adversely, • dism iss the officer as a consequence. According to many observers, the Portland Police Association union is apowerful forcetoreckon with. They have frequently defended officers accused o f using excessive force, critieizedjoumalistsand citizen review boards o f highlighting problems in the bureau. Correcting this would entail a police system that has (Please see 'C h ie f page A5) Inside-A Week in Review...................2 Mayor Vera Katz discusses escort services........................2 Old eyeglasses are a gift of sight to poor........................... 3 One in seven women doestically abused in Multnomah..............5 Portland C hief o f Police Mark Kroeker Metro-B Jefferson High School dancers in the spotlight..........................1 Ken Griffey Jr. youngest to reach 400 HR's...................... 1 IRS decides to extend due date to April 17............................... 4 El Observador....................... 5 April 14. 1865, President Lincoln was shot and mortally wounded by John Wilkes Booth while attending the comedy “Our American Cousin” al Lord's Theater in Washington. D C He died the next day. On April 15, 1912, the British luxury liner Titanic sank in the North A tla n tic o ff Newfoundland, less than three hours after striking an iceberg. About 1.500 people died. On April 17, 1961, about 1,500 CIA-trained Cuban exiles launched the disastrous Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba in a failed attempt to overthrow the govern, 'ent of Fidel Castro I
