Portland observer., October 23, 2002, Page 4, Image 4

October 23. 2002
Page A4
O pinion
The Portland Observer
___________ USPS 9 5 9 -6 8 0 __________
Established 1970
4 7 4 7 NE M artin Lu ther King. Jr. Blvd.,
Portland, OR 9 7 2 1 1
Opinion articles do not necessarily reflect or represent the
views o f The Portland Observer
3
The Portland Observer welcomes freelance submissions. Manuscripts and photographs
should be clearly labeled and will be returned if accompanied by a self addressed envelope.
All created design display ads become the sole property of the newspaper and cannot be used
in other publications or personal usage without the written consent of the general manager,
unless the client has purchased the composition of such ad. © 1996 THE PORTLAND
OBSERVER A LL R IG H T S RESER V ED , R EPR O D U C TIO N IN W H O L E O R IN PA RT
W IT H O U T PE R M IS S IO N IS P R O H IB IT E D .
E d i t o * - i n - C h i e f , P u b l i s h e r
S>
T
A
F
F
Charles H. Washington
C » E A TI V E
E
d it o
D lI t e r D I
Paul Neufeldt
*
Michael Leighton
W H IT E * ,
l)i ST » i » v t i o n M a n
Mark Washington
a g e
P HO TO GKAPHEK
David Plechl
*
The Portland O bserver—O regon’s Oldest Multicultural Publication—is a member of the
National Newspaper A ssociation-Founded in 1885, and The National Advertising Repre­
sentative Amalgamated Publishers, Inc, Ne w Y ork, NY, and The West Coast Black Publishers
Association • Serving Portland and Vancouver.
P osthastes : Send address changes to Portland Observer P0 Box 3 1 3 7 , Portland, OR 9 7208
_________ P erio d ical Postage paid In P o rtla n d , OR t Subscriptions are $ 6 0 .0 0 p e ry e a r__________
5 0 3 2 8 8 -0 0 3 3 • FAX 5 0 3 2 8 8 0 0 1 5 • EMAIL: news@portlandobserver.com suhscriDtion@DortlandoDserver.com ads@DoniandQbs.erygr!£Qm
Some banks still have hidden
fees and service charges on
their "free" checking accounts
• I
It is time to raise the Oregon minimum wage
Card and Alan Krueger, showed that raising
J eff T hompson
If the polling is accurate, on Nov. 5 Orego­ the federal minimum wage in the early 1990s
nians will vote by a sizeable majority to did not result in adverse effects on employ­
increase the minimum wage to $6.90 and ment. The idea that we shouldn’t raise the
wages of very low paid workers because of
index it to inflation thereafter.
Voters should rest easy knowing that their a slow economy is not supported.
Still weaker is the notion that Oregon’s
vote to raise the minimum wage will not,
contrary to claims made by the opposition, relatively high unemployment rate is related
harm Oregon’s anemic economic recovery. to the current minimum wage. Anybody
As the Oregonian recently noted, voters making even a meager attempt to track
“don’t seem swayed” by the opposition’s Oregon’s economy knows that the workers
story of job loss and economic ruin. Why is who have lost their jobs are concentrated in
that? The opposition case is unpersuasive durable manufacturing, high-tech, construc­
because Oregonians have seen first hand that tion, and related service industries - not ex­
minimum wage increases do not cause job actly folks getting paid the minimum wage or
losses, whether the economy is good or bad. even close to it.
The chief industry affected
Voters are intelligent enough w ------------- ------------------
by a m inimum wage in­
to know that the states’ cur­
crease, restaurants, is cur­
rent high unemployment rate
rently one o f the fastest-
has nothing to do with the
growing, adding more jobs
minimum wage. Economic
than any other industry in
research on minimum wage
Oregon, up 3,200 from a year
increases repeatedly finds
ago.
that their impact on jobs
Restaurant ow ners op­
ranges between slightly nega­
pose the minimum wage be­
tive to slightly positive, but
cause they don’t want to have
centers on “zero,” as recently
w
to pay their workers higher
summarized by labor econo­
wages. This, however, is the
mist Jared Bernstein.
crux
of
the
issue.
Owners want the freedom
Oregonians will recall the “sky is falling”
claims of the opponents of the last minimum to be able to pay as little as they can get away
wage increase, and know that they did not with. Oregon voters, however, have said that
come true. Repeated examination has failed there should be minimally acceptable pay
to yield evidence of jobs losses from the last standards for workers. And now, as the value
time Oregonians voted to increase the mini­ of the minimum wage has been eroded by
inflation, it is time to raise it again.
mum wage.
The opponents of the minimum wage op­
Why would it be different this time? “It’s
the recession,” opponents scream. Those pose it in good economic times and bad. They
with longer memories will recall that the oppose it despite the lack of evidence of job
Oregon and the Federal minimum wages loss. Support or opposition to increasing the
were raised during the recession of the early minimum wage is not about economics, but
1990s, doing little to impede the long eco­ rather basic values. And, on this issue, Or­
nomic expansion that followed. Between 1989 egon voters have repeatedly made it clear
and 1999, Oregon’s minimum wage rose five where they stand.
Jeff Thompson is a labor economist and
times, and the state added 385,000 jobs,
policy analyst with the Oregon Center for
growing 3.2 percent annually.
Research by two of the country’s top Public Policy. He can be reached by e-
minimum wage experts, economists David mail at jthompson@ocpp.org.
by
* Owners want
the freedom to
be able to pay
as little as they
can get away
with.
■ ?
-
Promoting Basic Values
>
? ‘V
So where's the free?
/t's o f Washington Mutual. Where free checking means exactly that. No hidden fees or service
charges. No required minimum balance. No mandatory minimum deposit. No fee for cancelled
checks. Free access to tellers and customer service telephone lines. Free 24/7 access to your account
at our ATM's. Even a free VISA check card. So if you've been wondering where's the free in your so-
called "free" checking account, come to Washington Mutual. We're where it's at. For the location
nearest to you call 1 -8 0 0 -7 8 8 -7 0 0 0
Q Washington Mutual Where free checking really means free.
FDIC Insured
b etter te the (3Lditer :•
The power to
■ _
■ ■
quit smoking
■ ■ ■ I ■
is within
your reach.
Supporting Minority Business
As the nation celebrates Minority Enterprise Development Week
it is important to recognize those local agencies and programs that
have been developed to support businesses owned by people of
color. This region has a small but growing population of people of
color who wish to participate in the economic base.
We appreciate those public agencies that have been taken a
leadership role in developing programs that provide access and
assistance to us.
Two local programs have really risen to the occasion, the
Sheltered Market Program operated by the City of Portland and the
1-877-270-.ST0P
Mentor/Protdgd Program operated by the Port of Portland. These
programs are designed to meet the needs of small businesses. Both
focus on building capacity and teaching skills necessary to run a
profitable business.
The Sheltered Market Program, developed by the city and used
by the Portland Development Commission and Multnomah County,
...
'
HH i
-
.
.....
We know how hard it is to quit
smoking and we know what J
works. Let us give you a helping
hand. Call us today.
'
...
.
'. . i'
provides access to smaller construction projects and technical
assistance. The Mentor/Prot^ge program provides for direct assis­
tance from prime contractors who volunteer their time to work with
the small contractors providing the benefit of their experience and
expertise.
We believe these programs are instrumental in moving small
business in the direction of profitability and sustainability.
We want to take this opportunity to thank the City of Portland and
the Port of Portland for their efforts to create a fair and level playing
XfDHS
Oregon Department
of Human Services
O regon Tobacco Prevention & Education Program
field and to include all segments of the population in their contracting
www.healthoregon.org/tobacco
1-877-2N0-FUME (Spanish) TTY: 1-877-777-6534
activities.
Maurice Rahming, president, O'Neil Electric Inc.
Rhonda Herschell, president, Cherokee General Corp.
I
I