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ilH jJortlanb Gfthsemer
March 31. 2010
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betters to the (Scditor
Thankful Dad
I just came back from Washington, D.C., where I attended the 11th
annual national healthy start spring conference where we discussed the
infant mortality rate in the United States and how important Healthy Start
programs are around the nation.
It was perfect timing with the health reform climate down there. We
walked to the capitol and spoke with our state representatives. We went
to our two senators, Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, and our house
representative Earl Blumenauer.
We spoke to them about our program and how it has served the
community for the last 16 years and how Multnomah County has seen
a decline in infant deaths from about 16 percent to 10 percent. We asked
for Merkley’s support, since he didn’t sign last time around, and the
continued support from Wyden and Blumenauer.
I am not a county employee, or a big political guy. I’m just a young
parent o f a beautiful premature daughter who has benefited greatly from
our local Healthy Start program and 1 had to march to Capitol Hill and
let them know.
I want my community to know that there is help out there, very good
programs to help you through your pregnancy and beyond. You can
contact me for more information.
Ricky Booker
papabooker(agm ail. com
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Saltzman Disappoints
Thursday, March 18,1 attended the City Council’s
This has lead me to wonder w hether Saltzman
hearing on increasing oversight o f Portland’s Police
has no idea or ideas about how to im prove our
Department in the wake o f another tragedy; the deadly
police departm ent; or is he too sim ply afraid to take
shooting o f Mr. Aaron Campbell.
on the entrenched status quo that lingers like a
Increased oversight o f the Portland’s police
thousand m idnights down in a Cyprus swam p over
departm ent is long overdue and will require strong
our city?
leadership in order to be enacted. That is why we
After the first tragedy under his watch, Saltzman
are so disappointed that the com m issioner in charge
went silent after the department threatened to publish
o f the Police Bureau, Dan Saltzm an, sat silently
the results o f a no-confidence vote in his leadership.
throughout the entire hearing.
Now w e’re treated to more o f the same. Could it be a
Saltzman’s colleagues as well as the community will
coincidence that the commissioner just paid a pollster
be looking to him to rebuild the shattered trust be
$13,000 to find how which way the wind is blowing
tween the department and the citizens o f this city. In
before he speaks?
this case, silence isn’t golden. In the 15 months he has
As a civil rights advocate I would like to give
overseen this bureau all we have heard from Commis
Saltzman the benefit o f the doubt, but the community’s
sioner Saltzman are muted responses, pledges to buy
patience has worn out: Commissioner Dan Saltzman
equipment to get to the dead bodies faster and assur
has to go.
ances that federal investigators will find no civil rights
'"Skipper ” Osborne, founder o f Truth and Justice
violations.
fo r A ll andform er president ofthe Portland NAA CP
Hansen will be missed
Fred Hansen’s exit from TriMet (Front page, March
24 issue) is more than a footnote for minority contrac
tors. In an era when it is difficult to identify leaders who
are willing and capable o f taking on the difficult
problems and issues o f society and government, Fred
Hansen is a shining star.
The glaring disparities between m inority con
tractors and businesses and their nonm inority coun
terparts is a vexing and politically explosive issue
that most governm ent leaders are unw illing to se
riously touch. Not only does it speak to H ansen’s
raw courage to confront these disparities, but it
also affirm s his intelligence and vision to recognize
that all m em bers o f our com m unity deserve to be
true stakeholders in our Oregon economy.
H ansen’s legacy in this area was not one o f lip
service, but one o f action, accountability and re
sults. He epitom ized the notion that we can all win
and be the better for it. Most leaders when con
fronted with this problem either look for legalized
justification for doing nothing or invent ways to
placate m eaningful action and remain politically
safe.
The extraordinary work o f Fred Hansen in delivering
the most progressive metropolitan transportation sys
tem in the country will be missed. But for minority
contractors his absence means they have lost an
invaluable advocate and supporter the likes o f which
we will probably never see again.
James L. Posey, form er president o f the National
Alliance o f Minority Contractors and president o f
the Coalition o f Black Men
MMMMW
I just read every page o f your
latest issue and found it quite satis
factory------ with one giant excep
tion; the food page recipe (Banana
Outrageous
Recipe
TRAVEL GLOBAL
STAY LOCAL
__
THIS SPRING BREAK
Pastor & Elect Lady
Bishop H. L. & Earlean P. Hodge
Pastor/Teacher/Revivalist
iti Offi/oii
J ta rd i 22-<Jpril 2
crepes with brown sugar rum sauce).
This recipe was outrageously
unhealthy as almost anyone should
know in this day and age when all
persons in a position to make posi
tive contributions are helping their
brothers beat problems o f being
overweight!
Please select recipes that make a
positive contribution to users.
Larry Beaulaurier
L egal N otices
Worship Service: Sundays—8:00 A.M.
Seminars: Bible Themes—Wednesdays—6:00 P.M.
“God The Father”; “God The Son”; and “God The Holy Spirit”
Bishop Hodge and Congregation invite you to
join us at our appointment with Jesus.
Need to publish a court document
or notice? Need an affidavit of
p u b lica tio n
q u ic k ly
and
efficiently? Please fax or e-mail
your notice for a free price quote!
We Reach, Teach, & Preach in Jesus’ name!!!
Location: 4800 NE 30th Ave.
Portland, OR. 97211
To inquire about our Church please call:
(503) 863-6545 or email: hodgehspks@msn com
www. n wvoiceforchnst com
April 3, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Candy egg hunts, games
and pettabte bunnies!
fflrc (Oregonian
..
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