Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current, August 20, 2003, Page 4, Image 4

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    August 20. 2003
Page A4
Opinion articles do not necessarily
reflect or represent the views
o f The Portland Observer
O pinion
If It’s New or Informative,
The portianci Observer
You Probably Saw It In I1''Jlortlanb ©bscrurr
Established 1 9 7 0
____________ USPS
The Portland Observer is Oregon s
Oldest and Largest Multi-Cultural Newspaper.
9 5 ^6 8 0 _________
4 7 4 7 NE M a rtin L u th e r King, Jr. Blvd.,
P ortland. OR 9 7 2 1 1
The Portland Observer’s distribution o f nearly 40,000
E
-is - C h i e f . P u b l i s h e d
Charles H. Washington
d it o r
p ap ers e n c o m p a sse s a w id e c ro ss-se c tio n o f
E D i t o R
Michael Leighton
residential and state readership, as well as a large
percentage o f the local business community.
D
M <s 4 c t »
Mark Washington
is t r ir iit io s
Become a part of our community.
C R
Read the Portland Observer News.
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r z r t I) 1 1 1 c r o i
Paul Neufeldt
O ffic e M t s 4 a c r
Kathy Linder
R E P O R T E R
Jaymee R. Cuti
1 Year $60.00
The Portland Observer welcomes freelance submissions. Manu­
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consent o f the general manager, unless the client has purchased the
composition o f such ad. © 1996 THE PORTLAND OBSERVER.
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IN PART WITHOUT PERMISSION IS PROHIBITED.
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1885, and The National Advertising Representative Amalgamated
Publishers, Inc, New York, NY, and The West Coast Black Publishers
Association • Serving Portland and Vancouver.
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P.O. Box 3137 Portland, OR 97208; 503.288.0033 or Fax 503.288.0015; portlandobserver.com
S M E L L GAS? HERE S W HAT TO DO.
As an energy source, n atu ral gas has a truly o u tstan d in g safety record.
But if o n e o f y o u r gas appliances has a m echanical p ro b lem ,
it could create a hazard. If you ever smell gas, leave the area
immediately. D on’t go looking for the cause, d o n ’t use
IHEI r
your telephone, d o n ’t operate any electrical switches,
d o n ’t light any m atches. A nd o n yo u r way o u t, leave
your w indow s and doors open, then head over to the
neighbors and use th eir p h o n e to call us.
W e’ll sen d so m eb o d y nice o u t to
check o n th in g s. N a tu ra l gas is
an exceptionally safe an d reliable
way to heat your home. By working
together, we can keep it th at way.
7
24 HOUR EMERGENCY LINE
1 800 882 3377
NW N a t u r a l
www
n w n a I u r a I
com
Recall Hurts Democratic Process
California initiatives rooted in attacks on civil rights
R ev . J esse J ackson S r .
to A1 Q aeda — none o f w hich has proven to be
The extrem ists’ plan to
true.
control our vote, our gov­
Proposition 54 is bad for health care, bad for
ernm ent, and disrupt the or­
public safety, bad for education and bad for
derly process o f democracy,
business. It underm ines A m erica’s prom ise o f
is at work in California.
equal protection under the law and seeks to roll
The state’s Oct. 7 recall
back the clock on A m erica’s struggle for civil
election is an attem pt to tor­
rights. Proposition 54 argues not for privacy, but
pedo our dem ocratic pro­
for ignorance.
cess; and Proposition 54, the
T o d a y , the legacy o f slavery p e r­
Connerly information initia­ A We will not allow
m eates ev ery seg m en t o f o u r so c i­
tive, w ould ban race as a Ward Connerly’s
ety. Racial d isp a ritie s and in eq u ali­
factor in pursuit o f research, information ban to
ties e x ist in e v e ry facet o f o u r
law enforcem ent and other deprive us o f the
society: health care, education, e m ­
legitim ate quests.
ploym ent, housing, crim inal ju stic e
tools to achieve Dr.
Recalling Gov. Davis is
and bu sin ess. H ow can w e fight
another attem pt to overturn King’s dream o f
H IV /A 1D S w ith o u t in fo rm atio n ?
a legitimate democratic elec­ equal access and
H ow can w e fight c a n c e r w ith o u t
tion by using an archaic law. equal protection
in fo rm atio n ? H ow can w e achieve
The atm osphere may be a under the law.
e
3 d u catio n al eq u ity w ithout in fo r­
circus, but the ram ifications
m ation? H ow can w e fight sickle
are m uch too serious. As
cell anem ia w ithout in form ation?
Stanford Professor David K ennedy states, “The H ow can w e fight hate crim es w ithout in fo r­
recall is really a nuclear w eapon in the political m ation? How do w e fight high infant m ortality
arsenal.”
rates w ithout in fo rm atio n ?
There is a standard for rem oving elected
W e w ill not allow W ard C onnerly to place a
officials from office. If there is m alfeasance, “gag order” on the collection o f data and infor­
corruption or treason, or if som eone is show n to mation needed to analyze social problem s, design
be unfit for office based upon the standard, there public policy and identify positive solutions. C en­
should be orderly succession and the people’s sorship o f inform ation is no way to achieve
governm ent continues.
equality.
A privately funded, multimillion dollar petition
W e will not allow W ard C onnerly’s inform a­
drive to initiate a recal I election is not the answer. tion ban to deprive us o f the tools to achieve Dr.
The state is facing an historic budget deficit, as K ing’s dream o f equal access and equal protec­
does nearly every other state. In part, this has tion under the law.
been triggered by a m assive cut in taxes w ithout
During these next 60 days, w e will engage in
the corresponding capacity to generate revenue. a m ass voter education and voter registration
We are now w itnessing a pattern o f destruc­ cam paign, a cam paign o f voter m obilization and
tion unleashed by theright-w ing:N ew tG ingrich’s coalition building. L et’s keep our eye on the prize
contract on A m erica in 1994, the confederate and not succum b to m isguided attem pts to sub­
agenda attacking civil rights and civil liberties, vert the dem ocratic process and turn back our
the false standard for im pcaching President struggle for civil rights.
Clinton, the stolen 2000 presidential election in
W e can and w e will win.
Florida, redistricting schem es in Texas and Colo­
No on Proposition 54. No on the Recall. Keep
rado to seek control the C ongress, and the w ar Hope Alive.
in Iraq under the pretenses o f im m inent threat,
Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. is a civil rights leader and
w eapons o f m ass destruction, and connections founder o f the National Rainbow Coalition.
by
Multnomah County is seeking applications for the 2003-2004 Board of Prop­
erty Tax Appeals Board.
Multnomah County property owners may appeal for reductions for real market
or assessed value of property. The Board also considers applications to excuse
liability for penalty imposed for late filings.
Once appointed, Board members must attend a mandatory training session
held in January. This is a volunteer Board; however, Board Members are paid
$ 100 a day or $50.00 for half a day.
There are two panels of three members each that need to commit 2-3 days per
week, during the months of February, March and April for hearing appeals.
Qualification for appointment includes one or more of the following;
• Applicants must be residents of Multnomah County.
• Real estate experience (e.g. broker, property appraiser)
• Title experience
• CPA or economist
• Educator in the finance or business area
• Banking experience (e.g. loan officer)
• Attorney with experience in property tax
• Property management experience
• Tax preparer
• Homeowner
• Past Board of Property Tax Appeals member
Oregon Action Fights for Drug Benefits
Applicants may contact:
Pat Thompson or Debi Huff at (503) 988-5241
501SE Hawthorne, Suite 175
Portland OR 97214
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS IS FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 ,2 0 0 3
»
Oregon Action needs your sup­ those on the Oregon Health Plan,
port to remind our elected offi­ for the uninsured and for the
cials to their responsibi I ity to carry private sector.
the fight for prescription drug
It is not enough to limit as­
assistance for all people - for sistance. The prescription drug
1
purchasing pool must include
each o f the above classifica­
tions.
Thank you for your support,
Rosalind “ Rosy" Foster