Page 14 'rin IJortlanb QDhseruer 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. « tôgSBMBwSi» Í. x> 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.