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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (June 12, 2002)
June 12, 2002 2C4je JJortlanb ©hseruer Page B4 Mortgage lïirns Sour for Portland Investor 9 mm Hispanic Arrested in ‘Dirty Bomb’ Plot D onna L einwand and J ack K elley , by Jose Padilla, whom U.S. authorities say changed his name to Abdullah al-Muhajirand joined Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida terror network. U S A TO D A Y With the arrest of a form er Chicago street gang member in a sus pected al-Qaeda plot to explode a radioactive “d irty b o m b ” in the United States, authori ties are seeking others who might have been involved, U.S. law en forcement officials said Monday. Abdullah A1 Muhajir, 31, who of ficials say changed his name from Jose Padilla after adopting a radi cal brand of Islam while jailed in Florida, was believed to have been on a scouting mission for pos sible targets when he was arrested last month in Chicago, where he grew up. A1 Muhajir was stopped as he tried to re-enter the USA at O ’ Hare International Airport after flying there from Zurich. He had been in Pakistan, where authori ties working the case have ar rested two unidentified Pakistanis. Authorities said that for much o f the past month A1 M uhajir, AFFORDABLE JJ LOCK & KEY 503-284-9582 FULL LOCKSMITH-SERVICE RE-KEY AND INSTALL LOCKS LOCKED 0UT7-WE MAKE KEYS FROM SCRATCH HOUSE, OFFICE OR CAR like several other detainees in terrorism probes, had been held in the New York area w hile offi cials investigated them. Sunday, he was m oved to the U.S. Navy jail in Charleston, S.C., authori ties said. U.S. officials provided few details on A1 M uhajir’s alleged path from C hicago’s gang cul tu re to a l-Q a e d a , b u t th e ir sketchy portrayal of him reflects the increasing threat they say is posed by the terror netw ork’s efforts to recruit W esterners. A Defense Department official said Abu Zubaydah, a top al- Qaeda official in U.S. custody, led U.S. authorities to A1 Muhajir — possibly to try to sow fear in the USA by showing that al-Qaeda had recruited an American. A1 Muhajir met Zubaydah in A f ghanistan last year and then trav eled to Pakistan, where he studied how to assemble a radioactive bomb at an al-Qaeda safe house in Lahore, a senior U.S. law enforce ment official said. Weeks later, A1 Muhajir met with senior al-Qaeda leaders in Karachi. The dirty bomb plot was in its initial stages and did not have a target, although A1 Muhajir has “indicated some knowledge of the Washington, D.C., area,” Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz said Monday. Intelligence sources said Chicago also might have been a potential target. A senior U.S. law enforcement official said part o f the plot involved attacking hotels and gas stations with con ventional explosives. continued Hispanic Chamber Hires New Business Coordinator The Hispanic M etropolitan Cham ber ap pointed G ladys Rom ero as the new B usi ness D evelopm ent C oordinator. Rom ero will contact and assist H ispanic businesses in the m etropolitan area. She will assess their business needs, provide direct technical business services and co McMurphy’s Appliance Center 4011 NEM.L.K. Portland, OR 97212 (503) 288-3233 ordinate additional services with other busi ness service providers like the Small B usi ness D evelopm ent C enters, the Portland Gladys Romero D evelopm ent Com m ission, and the Oregon Econom ic and C om m unity D evelopm ent D epartm ent. Before m oving to Portland, Rom ero worked for the U.S. Census Bureau as the Program C oordinator/Partnership Specialist at the Seattle Regional Office. She developed and im plem ented a minority outreach program throughout the region. Rom ero also served 4s the Project D irector of the M inority Business D evelopm ent A gency in Seattle. As a result o f her w ork with m inority businesses, Rom ero was recognized as W ashington’s M inority Business A dvocate of T he P ortland A lumnae C hapter of D elta S igma T heta S orority , I nc . Presents the Annual Women of Excellence and Scholarship Awards Luncheon At the Doubletree Hotel at The Lloyd Center 1000 NE Multnomah St. Portland, OR 97232 Tickets: $39 Complimentary Parking Alberta Street Market 503*2 8 1 *6 3 8 8 S.W /.A.P ’ S e n io r s With A P u rp o se* Presents Health and Wellness Seminar June 22, 2002 TLC-TnT based at Whitaker Middle School (Lakeside) 5135 N.E. Columbia Blvd. (503) 916-6320 Fax (503) 916-2753 In conjunction with Portland Schools and Portland Park Bureau Coordinated by Faye Palmerton & Roy Pittman TLC-TnT is a program for student and families to promote self-estee. The program is designed to offer everyone a chance to experience joy, fun gratitude, tenderness, love, accomplishment and victory. Please Call 503-916-6320 for 2002 TLC-TNT Summer Camp Registration Form. The camp is free to all. ACO RN , a national neigh b o rh o o d a d v o c a c y g ro u p , contacted Frunchess to let her know she was not alone. A CO RN accuses H ouse hold Beneficial o f targeting African Americans with higher interest rates and has filed a national class action law suit th at c o v ers $45 b illio n in claim s, nationally and $800 m illion in O regon alone. T he suit accuses H ouse hold Beneficial o f deliberately m isleading custom ers about the term s and conditions o f loans that exceed the actual value o f the hom es in ques tion. H o u s e h o ld B e n e f ic ia l spokesm an M egan H ayden disputes the claim s. “It’s alw ays been and al ways w ill be our policy to openly disclose the rates o f our loans,” H ayden said. For exam ple, she said in the of Commerce in Oregon, you can go online to www.hmccoregon.com. Featuring performances by Local Students & Silent Auction Saturday, June 15,2002 Noon-3pm from Metro Frunchess case, loan do cu m e n ts w e re s ig n e d by Frunchess that disclosed the term s o f the loan. H a y d e n s a id th e lo a n a g reem en t also allow ed fo r a 3 day c o o lin g o ff p e rio d in w hich the m ortgage could be can celled . H ay d en said ac c u sa tio n s o f race d isc rim in a tio n w ere particularly offensive, claim ing th e c o m p a n y is c o lo r b lin d , b asin g its len d in g on c re d it h isto ry and c o lla te ra l only. She said docu m en ts show the loan w as priced a p p ro p ria te ly g iv e n F r u n c h e s s ’ c re d it h isto ry and q u a lific a tion as only a su b -p rim e b o r rower. Company officials from Spar-* tan declined com m ent. M eanw hile, Frunchess said she is so saddled by the exor bitant paym ents. She is a t tem pting to sell the house for only $119,000. the Year. For more inform ation about the H ispanic M etropolitan C ham ber 9 1 5 ME A lberta Street, Portland, O regon K eynote S peaker : Rev Renee’ Ward r~ Maranatha Church Fellowship Hall 4 2 2 2 NE 13th Ave. Portland, Or 97211 Dr. T. Allen Bethel, Senior Pastor Rev. Cynthia Brathwalte, Assistant Pastor (OliBrrLicr Classifieds/ INSURANCE Processing Tech III Screener/Underwriting Support An exciting industry. A fun, fast- paced, yet business casual dress environment. And paid training to get you started. You’ll definitely be sold on us. Nation wide Insurance, a Fortune 500 company and a leading U.S. in surer, has the following oppor tunity. In this position you will verify rating information to assure proper premium classifications; authorize notices of cancella tion to agents, lienholder, poli cyholders and DMV per estab lished criteria as well as per form other duties as assigned. Qualified candidates must have a 4-year college degree and excellent customer service and PC skills. Knowledge of auto and property products a plus but not required. Nationwide offers competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits such as health, den tal, 401-(K) plan, and conve nient free parking at our loca tion in the Lloyd district. For im m ediate c o n s id e ra tio n , p le a se apply o n -lin e at; Nationwide is committed to hir ing candidates regardless of race, color, sex, national origin, religion, or disability. Nationwide Insurance PLANNERI Tri-Met, the region’s progres sive public transit agency, has an excellent opportunity for a Planner I in the Capital Projects & Facilities Division. This posi tion will provide planning and project management support for the District's bus stops and facilities development program. Duties include research, field investigation, documentation and technical analysis, develop ing design improvements and alternate project site plans, and participation In major planning studies and projects. Qualified candidates will have: • Bachelor's degree in city or urban planning, engineering, architecture or related field. • Master’s degree or one year of work experience in lieu of Master’s degree • Personal computer experience with word processing. Excellent benefit package and salary range of $15.90-$19.87 per hour. The closing date for applications is June 21,2002. Application materials and a de tailed job description may be obtained from Tri-Met’s Human R esources office, 1“ floor lobby, 4012 SE 17th Ave., Port land, OR 97202. You may fax your application, cover letter and resume to 503-962-7440. Those residing outside the Portland Metropolitan area or who are physically disabled may request application materials by calling 503-962-7635. Visit our website at www.tri-met.Qrg for more detailed information. Wanted: Shoeshine RiverPlace Athletic Club seeks e xp e rie n c e d p e rso n for shoeshine business. Profes sional appearance, demeanor & excellent customer service skills a must. Please apply in person Tues-Saturday 10-5 @ 0150 SW Montgomery or call 503.221.1212 TRI-MET Tri-Met Is an equal opportunity employer
