50jé
Rosa Parks Plaza Coming
Rt years
Investor also petitions to rename Sandy
Boulevard to honor civil rights pioneer
See story in Metro, back page
•'com..unity service
‘Citv of Roses'
Volume XXXVI. Number I
Established in 1970
vvww.portlandobserver.com
Committed to Cultural Diversity
Wednesday • lanuary 4. 2006
Project Homeless Connect
Miners Trapped
Potentially deadly carbon monox­
ide levels have disappointed res­
cuers at a mine in Tallmansville,
W. Va., where 13 miners have been
trapped for more than 30 hours since
an explosion two mi les into the mine
tunnel.
Lobbyist Pleads Guilty
H ig h -p o w ered lo b b y ist Jack
Abramoff pleaded guilty Tuesday
to conspiracy, fraud and tax eva­
sion charges, agreeing to cooper­
ate in a federal corruption probe
that involves powerful members of
Congress. See story, page A2.
Kerry Options Open
John Kerry says he’s keeping his
options open and won’t rule out
another bid for president. The Mas­
sachusetts Democrat, defeated by
Bush in 2004, insists it is far too
early to talk about the 2008 race, but
some analysts assume he has al­
ready positioning himself for an­
other shot at the White House.
Marion Barry Robbed
Former Washington, D.C. Mayor
Marion Barry was robbed at gun­
point Monday night. Barry says
some young men robbed him at his
Washington apartment after help­
ing him carry groceries into the
building. He gave them a couple of
dollars for the help and they left. A
short time later, the men knocked at
his door, came in, pressed a gun to
his head and took his wallet.
U.S. Airstrikes Launched
The U.S. military carried out a series
of airstrikes and raids against in­
surgents north of Baghdad, Iraq
and is investigating reports that
one of those airstrikes killed six
family members.
Groups
mobilize to
meet needs
Hundreds of volunteers and
community groups are combin­
ing forces to connect with home­
less residents and care for people
in need. On Tuesday, Jan. 17 at
Memorial Coliseum, represen­
tatives from over 40 companies
and social agencies will match
people in need of assistance to
various on-site services.
Project H om eless C onnect
was inspired by the way the
com m unity mobilized to w el­
com e and care for evacuees
from Hurricane Katrina, mobi­
lizing citizens to directly link
com passion and essential ser­
vices to people in dire straits.
Much needed medical, den­
tal, legal, addiction and housing
counseling services will be pro­
vided by professional volunteers
during the event. O ther services
like long distance phone calls
will be available thanks to the
donations o f a growing list of
corporate sponsors.
M a y o r T om P o tte r, C ity
C om m issioner Erik Stcn and
County C om m issioner Serena
Cruz Walsh are putting the full
force o f local governments be­
hind the effort.
“This event coincides with photo by M ark W ashington /T he P ortland O bserver
the one year mark of Portland Sara Loreno and Larry Meyers o f the Community Cycling Center on Northeast Alberta Street make
and M ultnom ah C o unty’s 10 bicycles a transportation option for the homeless or anyone in need of affordable transportation. The
center is volunteering its services to a new effort to end homelessness in Portland.
Year
P lan
to
E nd C h ro n ic
H o m e le ssn e ss,” said M ayor
Tom Potter.
“With the resources the city
invested last year in this effort
and the phenom enal work of
our local service agencies, we
have far surpassed our initial
goals of getting long-term home­
less people directly off the street
and in to supportive housing."
added Sten.
W alsh said solving the prob­
lem o f homelessness "is not only
the humane thing to do, but it
will reduce all o f our costs for
public safety, health care, and
social services in the long run.”
According to officials, there
are over 2,300 people on Port­
land streets any given night.
Project H om eless C onnect
taps into the energy and com­
mitment o f ordinary individuals
to help find creative solutions to
end homelessness. It is based
on the successful experience of
San Francisco, w here six o f
these events have been held in
the past year and homelessness
has been reduced as new hous­
ing resources have been identi­
fied.
At the beginning of the Project
Homeless Connect day, home­
less clients will be briefly inter­
viewed as to their current situa­
tion and immediate needs. Hands
On Portland is recruiting volun­
teers w ho are encouraged to
sign up through the w ebsite
portlandhom elessconnect.com .
The growing list of sponsors
continued
on page A 9
Annual King Tribute Keeps Dream Alive
Celebration sets
return to Jefferson
auditorium
Greater Portland will join hands to cel­
ebrate the life and work of Rev. Dr. Martin
Saints to Return Home
Luther King Jr. on Monday, Jan. 16, begin­
The new Orleans Saints will return ning with a noon National Bell Ringing
to Louisiana this year, that much Ceremony, National Anthems and Color
seem certain. Exactly when and Guards.
where they will play gets a little
World Arts Foundation, Inc. is proud to
fuzzier, but the owner says maybe produce its 21"' consecutive tribute to this
as early as September in the hurri­ great American. The program, widely cel­
cane-ravaged Superdome.
ebrated for its powerful display of diverse
local and regional talent, will return to the
Floods Hit California
Flooding and fast-moving waters newly dedicated stage at the Robert Grady
from recent storms are causing
flooding problems in both northern
and southern California. The Cali­
fornia Highway Patrol warned mo­
torists in Monterey County that
long delays were possible after
northbound lanes of Highway 101
were blocked Tuesday.
photo by
M ark W ashington ZT iie P orti . and O bserver
Linda Hornbuckle
Portland's annual tribute to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. returns to the Jefferson High School and a newly dedicated stage
at the Robert Grady Ford Auditorium on Monday, Jan. 16.
Ford Auditorium on the campus of Portland
Public School’s Jefferson High School Cen­
ter for the Performing Arts.
This program continues to be recognized
locally and nationally as one of the finest
community-based celebrations in the U.S.
Commemorating the life and legacy of Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr., “Keep Alive the
Dream” strives humbly to give voice to
common citizens and acknowledge the on­
going achievements "against all odds” for
civil rights and human dignity.
The new Robert Grady Ford Auditorium
stage provides a specially suited showcase
to feature this year's stars: Saxophonist
Dennis Springer who originated with
Portland's premier R&B group. Pleasure,
and has performed with the likes of Wtxxly
Shaw and Grover Washington Jr. His recent
albums “On The Path" and “Jazz Gumbo"
turn heads as well as hearts with the original
melodies and modem jazz technique that is
his uniquely. W orld tour artist Jeffery
Minnieweather and local legends Janice
Scroggins and Linda Hornbuckle will also
take the stage.
A Royal Priesthood from Seattle will re­
turn by popular demand with its powerful
pulse of gospel and “down home" rhythms.
The group has skyrocketed since their per­
formance at last year's “ Keep Alive The
Dream’’celebration.
With great Gospel music being the main
currency of the Portland celebration again
this year, organizers are delighted to wel­
come another historic mass choir perfor­
mance by “Inspirational Sounds and Uni­
versity of Oregon" from Eugene.
“ Keep Alive the Dream" reminds us, as
»
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. did soeloquently
and so powerfully, that “we are all bound
together in a single garment of destiny;
What affects one, affects us all;" and that
“Freedom is never free.”
Featured speaker Eddie Faye Gates, presi­
dent emeritus of the North Tulsa Historical
Society, the host of the Black Wall Street
Exhibit, will address the indomitable spirit of
the American people in the active pursuit of
justice and democracy.
continued
on page A 9
4