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October 20. 2004
Opinion articles do not
necessarily reflect or represent the
views of The Portland Observer
O pinion
Speak up on fu tu re
tra n s p o rta tio n projects
Portland Observer Endorsements
Measure 26-64:
_ o Ô CP1
Repeals 2(X)4.2005 Multnomah County income tux for
He
le lp shape local, regional and statewide transportation
funding decisions for the next four years. Public comments on
regional and state projects will be taken through Monday,
Dec. 6, 2004
schools, public services. Don t cut needed revenue
for our schools, senior and health services.
marijuana fo r medically-approved pain relief
ST. HELENS
5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 21
Metro Regional Center
600 NE Grand Ave
TriMet bus 6 or MAX
To reserve a time to comment, call
Olde School Conference Center
251 St Helens St. (near the
Courthouse and City Hall)
(503) 797-1745 starting Oct 20
NORTH PLAINS
5 to 8 p.m., Wednesday,
Nov. 3
OREGON CITY
5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 26
Pioneer Community Center
615 Fifth St. at Washington
TriMet bus 33
Jessie May Community Center
30975 NW Hillcrest Ave
(from US 26, go north on Glencoe
Road, left on Hillcrest Avenue)
GRESHAM
5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday,
Oct. 27
HOOD RIVER
5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 4
Multnomah County East Building
600 NE Eighth St. at Kelly
TriMet bus 4. 9 or MAX
Hood River County Library
503 State St.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
BEAVERTON
5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 28
Beaverton Resource Center
12500 SW Allen Blvd. at Hall
TriMet bus 76, 78 or 88
If you can't attend a meeting,
send comments by:
ODOT's program: call (503) 731-
3490 or TTY 1-800-735-2900 or
visit www.oregon.gov/ODOT to
comment.
Metro's program: call (503) 797
1839 or TDD (503) 797-1804 or
visit www.metro-region.org/mtip.
Mail: Metro Planning, 600 NE
Grand Ave., Portland, OR 97232
E-mail: trans@metro.dst . o r us
Phone: (503) 797-1900 option 3
Fax: (503) 797-1911
Web: w w w metro-region org/mtip
All comments are due by
5 p.m. Monday, Dec. 6, 2004
Measure 35:
Oregon Department
o f Transportation
M ETRO
PEOPLE PLACES
OPEN SPACES
n
NO
L im its damage for patients in lawsuits. Don 't put
President'. John F. Kerry
U.S. Senator: Ron Wyden
Mayor of Portland: Tom Potter
State Sen. Dist. 22: Margaret Carter
limits on patient rights.
ADDITIONAL ODOT MEETINGS
PORTLAND
4 to 8 p.m. Monday. Oct. 25
CANDIDATES FOR OFFICE:
Amends M edical M arijuana Act. Ease access to
The $1 billion draft Statewide Transportation Improvement
Program is the Oregon Department of Transportation's capital
improvement plan that identifies the highest-priority state
transportation projects proposed for 2006-09.
Meetings to take comments on local and/or statewide trans
portation projects will be held as follows:
VES
Measure 33:
Metro's $60.5 million draft Metropolitan Transportation
Improvement Program (called Transportation Priorities 2006-
09) outlines proposed regional transportation projects in the
Portland metropolitan area.
METRO AND ODOT MEETINGS
NO
Measure 36:
NO
Amends C onstitution to make marriage only be
tween one man and one woman. Don 't put dis
State Sen. Dist. 23: Avel Louise Gordly
State Rep. District 43: Chip Shields
crimination into the Constitution.
Measure 38:
NO
Abolishes State Accident Insurance Fund (S A IF ).
Don 't throw away a state asset.
Mailed ballots must be received at
Multnomah County Elections by Tuesday,
Nov. 2. Postmarks do not count.
Our Choice for Mayor: Tom Potter
I h e fo llo w in g is a Portland Observer editorial:
Tom Potter is our choice tor Portland mayor.
We are impressed with Potter because he has
set a higher bar for integrity in politics and we I i ke
his record of standing up for social justice.
By limiting donations in his campaign to $25
in the Primary and $ 100 the General Election, he
has treed himself from the special interests that
dominate elective offices. It will give him great
freedom to make decisions solely based on the
public's interest as mayor.
Potter has taken courageous stands to sup
port minority rights.
Tw o years ago, he publicly opposed former c..
Police C hief Mark Kroeker after Kendra James.
“Äfe
Former \
Portland
Police
Chief Tom
Potter I
the unarmed African-American motorist, was
shot and killed by police during a traffic stop.
He condemned Kroeker’s leadership for m ak
ing Portland police more militaristic.
As Portland's chief of police from 1990 to
1993, he broke ground in his support for human
rights and community policing. He embraced
diversity by marching in the city’s gay pride
parade, a pioneering and historic act fora police
chief at the time.
Potter increased minority hiring by 50 per
cent during his tenure. As mayor, he promises
to hire an even more diverse workforce for the
entire city. His plans include establishing train
ing programs and internships for people o f
color.
Potter w ants to put the city behind efforts
I at increasing m inority hom e ow nership and
[ making housing more affordable. He knows
a better Portland m eans im proving the ec o
nom ic hopes o f single moms and heads o f
households and im proving education re
sources for young children.
P o tter's opponent. City C ouncilm an Jim
Francesconi too, has advocated for m inor
ity populations and the disadvantaged and
is to be com m ended for his public service.
But we feel there is som ething special about
P o tter's efforts that make him the better
choice for mayor.
Vote Kerry for a Fresh Start
Why it matters to
people o f color
On the road with Family.
It s y o u r w o rld and this is y o u r road! L o v in g
the w h o le experience between p o in t A and
p o in t B. Peace o f m ind has no boundaries when
y o u 're tra ve lin g w ith fam ily. A m erican F am ily
Insurance. O v e r three generations o f drivers
have placed th e ir trust in the auto coverage that
means m ore peace o f m in d on the road. Give
us a ca ll o r v is it us at w w w .am fam .e otn and
fin d out w h y n obody protects y o u r auto lik e
fa m ily. A m e rica n F a m ily Insurance.
Check your local telephone directory for
the agent nearest you
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AMERICAN FAMILY
IN S U R A N C E
All your protection under one root
and lower classes.
health care coverage.
John Kerry recognizes this re
Kerry has also pledged to re
treat of opportunity for African- verse the drastic cost increases and
Americans and is the only candi to tear down the new barriers to a
by P ali . K nauls S r .
date with a plan to do something college education that have arisen
After four years o f the Bush about it.
under Bush. Kerry would provide
presidency, members of the Afri
Kerry promises to restore the tuition tax credits of up to $4,000.
can-American community— and all Bush Administration cuts to the
That's particularly important for our
people o f color, must ask them Minority Enterprise Development
young people. In a time when Afri
selves. are we better off today ? As Fund, a program that has provided
can-American youth are increas
a small business ow ner and a par nearly $600 mi Ilion in loans to Afri
ingly priced out o f college, the end
ent. the answ er to me is a resound can-American owned small busi
result has been a dramatic increase
ing “NO.”
nesses. T here's more. Kerry also in the number o f our children who
Unemployment for Afri
wants to create a cabi end up behind bars. We must, as
can-Am ericans is 10.9 per
net level position spe John Kerry says, build a ladder for
cent nationw ide; nearly
c ific a lly d ev o ted to our young people to climb from
double that of white Ameri
h elp in g sm all b u si elementary school straight through
cans. Important programs
nesses; institute a jobs college if we are to provide them
to help small businesses
tax credit forsmall busi with the economic opportunities
have been slashed by Bush.
n esses and en d tax that can sustain our families and
Many o f us have lost our
breaks for overseas cor our communities.
health care coverage, and
porations.
These are concrete proposals,
the ones who haven't con
That's the kind of at- not sound bites that will dramati
tinue to struggle with the Paul Knauls Sr. tent'on economic devel
cally help African-Americans re
rising costs o f health care.
opment needs, not more gain some o f the economic footing
College tuition and fees have also tax breaks for the rich.
w e’ve lost underthe Bush adm inis
increased dramatically under this
Since Bush took office, I XO.(MX) tration. All w e've ever asked for is
administration.
Oregonians have lost their health the opportunity to make it on our
Jobs, particularly in Oregon, are coverage. Those of us fortunate
own. Under George Bush, w e've
fleeing our borders at a rapid pace. enough to still have health care
lost ground and far too many of our
Trade policies that allow corpora coverage have seen the costs sky
families are hanging on by their
tions to significantly increase prof rocket. Annual health care prem i fingernails.
its while outsourcing jobs over ums for Oregon families have in
After four years of Republican
seas means there are simply less creased almost $3,700 under Bush.
rule, we know it'sju st not working,
jobs here at home. More than al But premiums are just part o f the
and Bush has no plan to make it
most any other state, we here in cost increases; doctor co-pays and
work. It's time for change, time for
Oregon have felt the pain of reces prescription drug costs are also up.
a fresh start. Please join me in vot
sion brought on by the dramatic Bush has no plan to fix these prob
ing for John Kerry for President.
over-spending o f the Bush adm in lems— he w on' t even acknowledge
Paul Knauls Sr. is a long-time
istration. Tax cuts that benefit the that a problem exists. John Kerry
A frican-A m erican businessm an
wealthiest among us have clearly does, and he starts by making sure
and civil rights activist in north
cost a lot to th o seo fu s in the middle that all children in Oregon will have
and northeast Portland.