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Clip out & Send to: We can do better tor our vulnerable people and we must The following guest com m en tary’ on the income tax measure facing voters ina vote-by-mail elec tion on Jan. 28 is from our Port land legislators, Sen. Avel Gordly, Rep. Jackie Dingfelder and Rep. Steve Marsh. If Measure 28 fails on Jan. 28, cuts to mental health programs and services would cause irresponsible and irreparable harm in com m uni ties across the state The state would most likely face lawsuits. Cuts to mental health would have severe, im m ediate im pacts on people and services. Efforts to build a culturally responsive and compe tent system will be stalled. More programs will close. More jobs will be lost. Homelessness^and crime will increase. Fewer children, al ready underserved, will have ac cess to treatment. Collaboration between the local mental health authorities and local law enforcement will be eliminated. Because thousands of Oregonians w on’t be properly treated or be able to function in the community, many will find their illnesses worsening; some will become suicidal. A gain, the only option left will be the streets, and the future costs o f repeat acute stabilization will be far greater than the costs of prevention and rehabilitative ser vices today. Where are these people to go? How are these mental health clients to become self-sufficient if we don’t provide the social support they need? With the state facing an other huge budget shortfall, are we prepared to pay the legal costs of our actions? If we consider ourselves a hu mane, compassionate and caring community, this scenario— which is already underway - is not ac ceptable. ThisisOregon. W ecandobetier for our vulnerable people and we must. Already over 20 percent o f O r egonians with mental health d is orders are not receiving the ser vices and m edication they need. If we are forced to make tens of m illions o f dollars in additional cuts, the long-term effects will be catastrophic. These are not exaggerations; the consequences of the cuts will far exceed any savings to the current budget. We can do better than this and we must. W ith one vote, you have a chance to save countless children, families, and communities from de spair and irreparable harm. Please vote yes on Measure 28 on Jan. 28. <rin JJartlanh (Dhsmier Attn: Subscriptions PO Box 3137, Portland OR 97208 s u b s c r ip tio n s a re j u s t $ 6 0 p e r y ea r (please include check with this subscription form) N ame : A ddress : T elephone : EDITORIALS for the Portland Observer? Do you have an opinion on current events that hasn't been discussed In White House Doesn’t Match its Rhetoric It’s time to revive Dr. King’s commitment to civil rights, poverty and peace N um berofkids who will be cut off child care because o f the Bush budget: 33,000. Num berof workers who will be cut off unemployment insurance because o f the Bush budget: 1 million.” As we speak, the Bush Adminis tration is planning for more tax cuts for the rich, and weakening taxes on dividends and stocks for the upper less kids who will be cut off educa classes. Yet the Bush budget shows tion programs because of the Bush callous disregard for those most in budget: 8,(MX). N um berof kids who need, the working families and poor will be cut off after-school programs people of America, even in this time because of the Bush budget: 50,000. of giving. other newspapers? If so, the Portland Observer editorial s ta ff would like to know. Please fill our this form and attach a brief description of your editorial so we can contact you. Title, Author & Outline of Editorial; The Bush Administration sold itself to the voting public as compassionate and conservative, but so far only the conservative part of the label has been revealed. - Rev. Jesse J ack son Sr. Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., founder and president o f the Rainbow / PUSH Coalition issued the fo llo w ing statement regarding this sea son o f compass ion, gi ving and < -are fo r our fellow humans: Christmas season warms our hearts, but cools the air. And if you cannot afford 'a present for your child, or food for the holiday table, or heating oil for your home, it can be a very cold time of year. It is time for the Republican Party toelevate its game, and match its record with its rhetoric on compassion and car ing. The Bush Administration sold itself to the voting public as "com passionate" and “conservative," but so far only the "conservative" part of the label has been revealed. As columnist Molly Ivins and Con gressman Jesse Jackson Jr., have each pointed out, the President did a Christmas photo-op with a ftxxl bank, while cutting assistance for the poor at the same time. This is politics at its worst - all image, negative substance. Consider the record on “com passion": The President spoke well on the sin of segregation during the Lott scandal, but how does that stack up against the attorney general he appointed, who shares many of Lott’s beliefs, fought school de segregation for years and years, and spoke glowingly of several of the same neo-Confederate groups that Lott also favored? Lott was demoted for his hurtful words; but the Justice Department and the White House were upset at him because the controversy was get ting in the way of more hurtful deeds, such as joining in on the University of Michigan affirmative action suit on the wrong side and rolling back even more gains of the Civil Rights Movement. The President last year hung Dr. M artin Luther K ing’s picture in the W hite House, another nice photo-op. But what evidence is there that this W hite House has put any o f Dr. K ing’s ideals and beliefs into practice? Dr. King sacrificed a great deal for peace; but we are on the verge o f unilat eral war. Dr. King led the civil rights m ovem ent, but neither the P resident nor the attorney gen eral will meet with topcivil rights leaders. Dr. King died leading a march for union sanitation w ork ers, but the P resident will not m eet with John Sweeney and the AFL-CIO . The W hite House has an open door policy on trade, but a closed -d o o r policy on civil rights and labor. Most poignant of all, given the circumstances of Jesus’ humble birth. Dr. King launched a War on P overty, but the Bush budget slashes funding for those most in need. Consider this list of budget cuts from those most in need dur ing this winter season (taken from a column by Molly Ivins): “Number of seniors who will be cut off meal programs because of the Bush budget: 36,000. Number of fami I ies that wi 11 be cut off heat ing assistance because of the Bush budget: 532,000. Numberof home b etter to the (fffditor Pedestrian Killed Remembered My childhtxxl recol lections of Anita Nichols were of a young girl who endured abuse and poverty with her siblings in a large house on 13th and Sumner. On several occasions we would share our food with “Nita Ree" as we called her. I am saddened that her life would end so violently. Although she endured much Nita Ree loved to laugh and play like any otherchild. I will not forget her as she was innocent and lacking love. Anthoney Orr N a m e : __________________________________________________ Phone; Send your response to: The Portland Observer Editorial Staff, 4747 NE MLKJr. Blvd., Portland, Or. 97211 or fax 503-288-0015. Submissions can be made by emailing news@portlandobserver.com 18th Annual Keep Living The Dream Tribute To: Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. U n iv e rs ity O f P o r tla n d ’s “C h ile s C e n t e r ” 5 0 0 0 N o rth W illa m e tte Blvd. M o n d a y , J a n u a ry 2 0 , 2 0 0 3 1 2 : 0 0 P .M . - 6 : 3 0 P .M . Live Broadcast/Simulcast Portland Cable Access, Television Services (PPS) K B O O 90.7 FM Donation: $2.00 OR 3 cans of non-perishable food For More Information Please Call (503) 816-9001 A Production of World Arts Foundation, Inc. Sponsored by: Portland Public Schools • Oregon Education Association • SAFECO Corporation Portland Association of Teachers • Portland Parks and Recreation • Enterprise Rent-A-Car • University of Portland