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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (May 28, 2003)
Page A4 (E I] e Jlortlanò (ßbseruer EDITORIALS for the Portland Observer Do you hare an opinion on currant events th a t hasn't been discussed In other newspapers? If so, the Portland Observer ed ito rial s ta ff would like to know. Please fill our this form and attach a brief description of ycur editorial so we can contact you. Please Include Title. Author & Outline of Editorial: May 28, 2003 O pinion The Portland Observer ____________ USPS 9 5 9 -6 8 0 ___________ Name: Phone: Send your response to: The Portland Observer Editorial Staff, 4747 NE MLK Jr. Blvd., Portland, Or. 97211 or fax 503-288-0015. Submissions can also be made by emailing news@portlandobserver.com Established 19 70 4 7 4 7 NE M a rtin L u th e r King, Jr. Blvd., P ortland, OR 9 7 2 1 1 E d i t o i - z n - C h i c f . P u i l i s h c h Charles H. Washington E d it o i When You've Got Family Behind You, You're Never Alone! M ichael Leighton M 4 n A a 1 i Mark Washington D is t iiiu t io m C I I I I I H D I I I C T O I Paul Neufeldt O ffic e d i m m i Kathy Linder J s s o c n n E d it Wynde D yer Opinion articles do not necessarily reflect or represent the views o f The Portland Observer The Portland Observer welcomes freelance submissions. Manu scripts 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 o f the newspaper and cannot be used in other publications or personal usage without the written consent o f the general manager, unless the client has purchased the composition o f such ad. © 1996 THE PORTLAND OBSERVER ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, REPRODUCTION IN W HOLE OR IN PART W ITH O UT PERM ISSION IS PROHIBITED. The Portland Observer-Oregon’s Oldest Multicultural Publication- -is a member o f the National Newspaper Association-Founded in 1885, and The National Advertising Representative Amalgamated Publishers, Inc, New York, NY, and The West Coast Black Publishers Association • Serving Portland and Vancouver. Posnusra: Send address changes to PortlandObserver PO Box 3137, Portland, OR97208 Periodical Postage paid In Portland, OR Subscriptions are $60.00 per year 5 0 3 -2 8 8 4 0 3 3 • FAX 5 0 3 - 2 8 8 4 0 1 5 nevrs&xxtlatrdQbserver.cQm • sdbschiXion@oortlandobserver.con) tfs@DQrtlandQbserver.com • classifieds@Dortlandobserver.com o i Change the System People from all walks oflifejoined together to call for accountability and changes in our police depart ment, the office o f the district attor ney and the office o f the mayor. James’ death remains completely unacceptable in our view. We question the fairness o f the The follow ing is an editorial o f police investigation, the district The Portland Observer: attorney’s presentation o f the facts The voices were strong, deter before a secret grand jury and the mined and from the heart. attack on Jam es’ background. Saturday’s march for justice in A uthorities have painted the memory o f Kendra James was a 21-year-old m other o f tw o ch il defining moment for north and dren as a “crack ad d ict”, but as northeast Portland. A frican A m erican P astor LeRoy A sea o f African Americans H aynes cried out to m archers joined by people from al 1 races gath Saturday, “W e say she was a child ered peacefully in one o f Portland’s o fG o d .” largest civil rights protests. We echo the words o f Bishop Community finds unity in outrage over Kendra Jam es’ death That's why so many single people, in your hometown and all over the country rely on American Family Insurance for their insurance protection. American Family Insurance Is A. A. Wells, another black leader, who spoke o f good cops who are true peace officers who have re spect for all human life, compared to “outlaw cops, cowboy cops, trig ger happy cops, rude cops and disrespectful cops that must be weeded out.” James obviously made a mistake when she resisted arrest by getting behind the wheel o f a car to escape a traffic stop. But police must be accountable for their actions. We encourage you to support another rally for justice on Wednes day, June 4 at the capitol in Salem. The voices raised will call for changes in the grand jury system and the laws governing police use o f deadly force. committed to providing insurance coverage at a competitive price for millions of people, just like you. And, we're dedicated to handling your claims with Impeccable speed and better ta the (Suiter care. Call an American Family Insurance agent today, or visit us at www.amfam.com Guilty of Driving While Black AMERICAN FAMILY T I i N l l S « U R A N C E I X <2> L=J A ll Your P rotection U nder O ne Roof. 0 2 0 0 2 American Family Mutual Insurance Company and its Subsidiaries. Madison, Wl 53783-001 w w w am fam .com What exactly is a routine traffic stop and why have 1, as a white female, never been stopped for “fail ing to come to a complete stop?” I see all kinds o f questionable driving, including failure to stop at stop signs, failure to use turn sig nals while driving fast and reckless driving in freeway traffic. Yet I rarely see police officers stopping some one for “failure to come to a com plete stop.” White privilege means I don’t have to worry much about these things. Driving while black resulted In her case, the ultimate price in the tragic death o f a young woman was paid during an interaction with o f color who was out late— the same “public servants” out to suppos activity w hite people take for edly keep the peace and protect the granted. White people don’t worry public. about a police officer following their Then, the white officer walks and car or keeping their hands in view people say this has nothing to do so cops don’t shoot them. with race. The Black community puts out 1 don’t understand why the en brochures on how to interact with tire city is not on fire with rage police, outlining what your rights about this injustice. are. Why? To save lives and pre Linda Kanzinger vent tragedies such as the Kendra Northeast Portland James shooting. W h a c k e d B u d g e tin g CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN APPRENTICESHIP Are you interested in a FUTURE in the Piping Trades? U.A. Local 290 will be accepting applications for Metal Trade Pipefitters Apprentices (MA #1043) by M ichael This is a notice to establish a pool of eligibles. WHEN: MONDAY, June 30 through FRIDAY, July 11,2003, 9:30am - 4pm weekdays WHERE: Apply in person: U.A. Local 290 Training Center, 20220 SW Teton Avenue, Tualatin, Oregon 97062; 691-1997. Contact: Robert Kimes AGE: Must be at least 18 years old (proof required — non- returnable copy of birth certificate, or current driver’s license) REQUIREMENTS: High school graduate with C average or better OR GED with a minimum score of 255 if test was taken before 1/1/02 or a score of 2550 if the test was taken after 1/1/02; AND C or better in one year high school algebra. Official transcripts are required and must be mailed directly from the institution to Local 290 Training Center before July 18, 2003. NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATORY POLICY AS TO STUDENTS The United Association Local 290 Apprenticeship and Journeymen Training Trust Fund admits students of any gender, race, color, national and ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to apprentices at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its apprenticeship policies, admission policies and other Trust-administered programs. John Endicott, Business Manager I Tax breaks for the wealthy should not be the priority now 1 L eachman Public policy decisions often come down to a matter o f priorities. Which spending proposals are more important to fund? During the state budget process, legislators scour state agency bud gets, demanding that various ser vices and programs be reduced or eliminated. At the same time, O r egon spends millions o f dollars through tax breaks with little over sight. These tax breaks are not ac counted for in agency budgets, but they are government spending all the same. Because tax breaks have re ceived so little scrutiny while state agency budgets are being slashed, Oregon’s priorities are increasingly outofwhack. Forinstance.overthe next two years, Oregon will provide tax breaks worth about $36 million to well-off residents, those earning over $100,000, to help cover the costs o f medical and dental care. Meanwhile, legislators are elimi nating the Medically Needy pro gram which provides prescription drugs and other medical services for low-income seniors and dis abled Oregonians. The cost o f this program over the next two years will be $37 mi I lion, roughly the same as the cost o f the medical care tax breaks. Which o f these two programs is more important? The Medically Needy program is a matter o f life or death for some recipients. Douglas Schmidt ofPortland fell into a coma after losing access to prescription drugs for epileptic seizures when the Medically Needy program was eliminated on Feb. I . The medical care tax breaks, on the other hand, are typically a luxury for high-in- come Oregonians. W hile low-income seniors are losing access to prescription drugs through the M edically Needy pro gram, tax breaks are helping high- Because tax breaks have received so little scrutiny while state agency budgets are being slashed, Oregon s priorities are increasingly out o f whack. - Michael Leachman, Oregon Cen^r for Public Policy income seniors purchase both pre scription drugs and a wide variety o f less vital products, including contact lenses. W hile low-income Oregonians o f all ages are losing access to alcohol addiction treat ment services, the tax breaks are subsidizing the same services for w ealthy residents. W hile thou sands o f low-income Oregonians are losing all access to preventive and dental care, the tax breaks help wealthy Oregonians cover the costs o f these same services, and help pay for other services such as acu puncture and chiropractic care. If the medical care tax breaks were budget line items, would they have survived the last two years o f budget cuts? Imagine your local legislator standing before her colleagues to defend the “Contact Lenses for Rich Ladies program," while at the same time voting to eliminate anti-sei zure medication for low-income Oregonians. Other tax breaks would likely not have survived as direct spending programs. Would you support an affordable housing assistance pro gram that helps millionaires buy mansions? In fact, you do. Under the guise o f making housing more affordable, Oregon allows people buying million dollar houses to deduct all o f the interest they pay on their mortgages. M e a n w h ile , o n e -fifth o f O regon’s renters are paying more than half their income in rent with no additional low-income rental assistance in sight. By offering tax breaks that pro vide government assistance to the well-off, Oregon spends money that otherwise could be used to help pay for good schools and safe neighborhoods. At a lime when vulnerable Oregonians - children, disabled people, low-income se niors and other poor families - are bearing the burden o f extreme state budget cuts, tax breaks for the wealthy ought to be receiving more scrutiny. It’s time to put our priorities in the right order. M ichael Leachman is a policy analyst the Oregon Center fo r Pub lic Policy.