Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current, June 30, 2010, Page 14, Image 14

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    Page 14
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Opinion articles do not necessarily represent the views o f the
Portland Observer. We welcome reader essays, photos and
story ideas. Submit to news@portlandobserver.com.
New Prices
Effective
May 1,2010
Martin
Cleaning
Service
Carpet & Upholstery
Cleaning
Residential &
Commercial Services
Minimum Service CHG
$45.00
A small distance/travel charge
may be applied
CARPET CLEANING
2 Cleaning Areas or
more $30.00 Each Area
Pre-Spray Traffic Areas
(Includes: I sm all H allway)
1 Cleaning Area (only)
$40.00
Includes Pre-Spray' Traffic Area
(Hallway' Extra)
Stairs (12-16 stairs - With
O ther Services): $25.00
Area/Oriental Rugs:
$25.00 Minimum
Area/Oriental Rugs (Wool):
$40.00 Minimum
Advocating for a Safe Summer
We need
everyone’s help
by
M ayor S am A dams
On Tuesday, June
2 2 ,1 stood with Police
Chief Mike Reese and
North Precinct Com­
mander Jim Ferraris at
the N orth P recin ct to ensure
Portlanders that the Police Bureau
is responding, increasing engage­
ment and outreach, and calling for
support and help from residents
across the city.
As you may know, a night earlier
a tragic shooting in the New Colum­
bia neighborhood took place, tak­
ing the life o f a 17-year old boy.
The shooting was the fourth
shooting in just a few days. Two of
those shootings were fatal; two of
those shootings took place in the
New Columbia neighborhood.
Law enforcement data we have
shows an increase in gang activity
in the Portland area. When we com­
bine summertime weather with high
levels o f unemployment and youth
unemployment, we have the ingre­
dients for a rise in gang activity.
The Portland Police Bureau’s
Gang Enforcement Team is very
aware o f and intensively working to
aid the situation. Chief Reese and
Commander Ferraris discussed the
details o f this increased presence
and change in hot-spot crime pre­
vention. Those details included;
increased police presence in New
Columbia and other key locations
around the city, drawing from divi­
sions and precincts from around
the city; locating the Portland Po­
lice Mobile Unit in New Columbia;
and, increasing engagement and out­
reach efforts by patrol officers on
(Requiring Extensive Pre-Spraying)
UPHOLSTERY
CLEANING
Sofa: $69.00
Loveseat: $49.00
Sectional: $ 109 - $ 139
Chair or Recliner:
$25 - $49
Throw Pillows (With
Other Services): $5.00
%
ADDITIONAL
SERVICES
• Area & Oriental Rug
Cleaning
• Auto/Boat/RV Cleaning
• Deodorizing & Pet '-x
Odor Treatment
• Spot & Stain
Removal Service
• Scotchguard Protection
• Minor Water Damage
Services
SEE CURRENT FLYER
FOR ADDITIONAL
PRICES & SERVICES
Call for Appointment
(503) 281-3949
Crimestoppers Tip Line.
There are too many guns in the
wrong hands in our city. If you see
a gun in the wrong hands,'call 9-1-
1 .Every tip can make the difference
in solving a case and preventing
another incident. The phone num­
ber is 503-823-HELP. The website is
crimestoppersoforegon.com.
2. Volunteer in your community.
For example, the Regence Boys and
Girls Club in New Columbia needs
When we combine summertime weather
with high levels o f unemployment and youth
unemployment, we have the ingredients for
a rise in gang activity.
the street.
But to bring peace back to every
neighborhood in Portland, this
needs to be a community-wide ef­
fort with the police as partners.
We need the vigilant eyes and
ears o f every Portlander. To have as
safe a summer as possible, I urge
everyone in the community to be­
come part o f the solution. There are
four straightforward ways to get
involved:
1. Two o f the four most recent
shootings had no witnesses— no
one who contacted us with informa­
tion. If you witness a crime, call the
Heavily Soiled Area:
Additional $10.00 each area
June 30, 2010
volunteers and donations. Call them.
Their number is: 503-853-8678.
Portland Parks and Recreation
needs volunteers. Even in a tough
budget situation, Commissioner Fish
and I worked to expand and provide
free activities for youth during the
summer— and we will provide more
than ever this summer. Call 503-823-
4tXX).
3. Family members o f kids in the
community, take advantage o f the
summer recreation opportunities. The
City o f Portland has invested in sum­
mer activities through Portland Parks
and Recreation. The Portland Police
Bureau has their summer recreation
offerings. Al, these are free or very
low-cost opportunities to keep kids
safe, having fun and out o f trouble.
4. Contact the Office o f Neigh­
borhood Involvement (503) 823-
4000 about getting involved in or
starting a Neighborhood Watch
program in your community.
Crim e prevention specialists
consider neighborhood watch pro­
grams to be one o f the cornerstones
o f preventing crime. The Police
Bureau and ONI will help you set up
foot patrols and other efforts to help
your neighborhood keep an eye on
the streets and show gang members
that you’re out and invested in the
safety o f your community. 72 per­
cent o f Portland neighborhoods
have a public safety or neighbor­
hood watch committee where you
can get involved.
I want to thank David Pickett
from the New Columbia neighbor­
hood for his activism and commu­
nity involvement. Talk to him to get
more information.
Again, the shootings and abso­
lutely tragic deaths are deeply dis­
tressing and troubling. The Police
Bureau needs your help in curbing
these acts o f violence.
Please get involved today.
Sam A dams is the Mayor o f Port­
land.
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Another White Actress as Cleopatra
Hollywood
misses the mark
by
S hirf . a L. C arroll
Just when we thought there
weren't enough leading roles for
black women in Hollywood, they
create one and give it to a white
woman.
Film producer Scott Rudin has
purchased the film rights to upcom­
ing biography Queen o f the Nile,
Cleopatra: A Life, and has confirmed
that the movie is being developed
for and with Angelina Jolie. Jolie, a
Hollywood A-lister, will do her best
in bringing the story o f the famed
Egyptian queen to life, and it ap­
pears no one doubts she can do it...
including Pulitzer prize-winning
author Stacy Schiff, who penned
the biography, "Cleopatra: A Life,"
a book that won't be on shelves until
the fall.
Schiff already heavily endorses
Jolie, stating, "I think she'd be per­
fect for it and I can see a possible
Oscar in her future. Physically, she's
got the perfect look."
Gasp, the nerve! "She's got the
perfect look?" Honestly, I don't care
how full Angelina Jolie's lips are,
how many African children she
adopts, or how bronzed her skin will
become for the film, I firmly believe
this role should have gone to a black
woman.
I mean, isn't it enough that 47
years ago, dame Elizabeth Taylor
was cast to portray Cleopatra in one
of the most expensive films ever
made? That Elizabeth Taylor was
actually the third white woman to be
tapped for the Cleopatra role — fol­
lowing Vivien Leigh and Claudette
Colbert --just makes this all the more
comical.
Were Vanessa Williams, Halle
Berry and Thandie Newton unavail­
able for auditions that day? Why
does Hollywood think it's even
slightly plausible to cast white
women in roles that would be more
sensible to cast a black actress for?
Especially when that role is an Afri­
can queen.
It happened just two years ago,
in 2007's thriller Stuck, directed by
Stuart Gordon, based on the true
story ofaC hante Mallard. The story
tells a tale o f a woman who hits a
Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra
homeless man with her car and re­
sults with him trapped in her car's
windshield. Instead o f getting the
man help, Mallard (played by ac­
tress Mena Suvari) opts to let him
die slowly in her garage.
The interesting thing is Mallard
is a black woman, and Suvari, who
was cast to play the role, is -- sur­
prise, surprise —-a white woman.
Adding insult to injury, instead o f
just casting a black woman to play
the role, the film gave Suvari a more
"ethnic look" for the role, by adding
stereotypical comrows to her hair.
Hollywood, are you serious?
Now, Jolie is set to play Cleopatra,
who isn't as technically perfect as
some would claim if you study the
Queen o f the Nile's distinguished
history. First and foremost, the role
should be given to a younger ac­
tress -- think Jumee Smollett - con­
sidering Cleopatra began her reign
as Queen o f Egypt at the tender age
o f 18 and ended her own life at the
age o f 39.
Secondly, while historically there
is no concrete confirmation that
Cleopatra was o f a darker complex­
ion, there is more evidence than not
that she was black, and not entirely
o f Macedonian Greek ancestry, as
Shakespeare, leagues o f painters
and now Hollywood would have us
believe. And, ultim ately, while
Cleopatra's heritage remains under
speculation, it remains that she was
in fact an African queen.
Jolie — not so perfect. What's
next? A biopic on Sojourner Truth
played by Betty White.
Shirea L. Carroll writes fo r
essence.com.