Page 18 Çortlanb (Obstruer M ay 25. 2011 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 C H G $45.00 A sm all distance/travel charge m ay be applied C A R PE T CLEAN IN G 2 Cleaning Areas or more $30.00 Each Area Pre-Spray Traffic Areas (Includes: ! sm all H allw ay) 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. $25.00Minimum Area/Oriental Rugs ( Wool): $40.00Minimum H eavily Soiled Area: Additional $10.00 each area (Requiring Extensive Pre-Spaying) U PH O LSTE R Y C LE A N IN G Sofa: $69.00 Loveseat: $49.00 Sectional: $ 1 0 9 -$ 1 3 9 Chair or Recliner: $25 - $49 Throw Pillows (With O ther Services): $5.00 % A D D IT IO N A L S E R V IC E S • Area & Oriental Rug Cleaning • Auto/Boat/RV Cleaning • Deodorizing & Pet _ Odor Treatment • Spot & Stain Removal Service • Scotchguard Protection • M inor Water Damage Services SEE CURRENT FLYER FOR ADDITIONAL PRICES & SERVICES Call for Appointment (503) 281-3949 Powerful Weapon in the War on Unemployment Job training, education for urban youth by M arc H. M orial U.S. Sen. Kirsten G illib ra n d o f N ew York this month en listed in the war on ur ban u n em p lo y m en t with the introduction of the Urban Jobs Act. Gillibrand’s Urban Jobs Act is the Senate version o f House bill, H.R. 683, which was introduced earlier this year by U.S. Rep. Edolphus Towns o f New York. Both bills would provide fed eral grant funding to the Na tional Urban League and other non-profit groups to offer job training, education and other sup port services for urban youth. The legislation will especially target those who have dropped out of high school or who have had some involvement with the criminal justice system. T he L a b o r D e p a rtm e n t’s April jobs report confirms the urgent need for this legislation. While overall unemployment is back up to 9 percent, African American unem ployment has now risen to 16.1 percent. Even more disturbing, Afri can American youth unemploy ment has now climbed to 41.6 percent, the highest rate of any group in the nation. In many urban commu nities, roughly one-third of minority youth are unem tion, Senator Gillibrand said, “Supporting education and train ing for our youth is a smart in vestment that will pay dividends over the long term.” We agree. W e know that youth em ploym ent not only helps put food on the table of struggling fam ilies, a jo b can literally turn a young perso n ’s life around and provide the skills, w ork ethic and experi ence necessary to grow into < Supporting education and training fo r our youth is a smart investment that will pay dividends over the long term, — U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York * ployed. For several years now, the National Urban League has been leading the call for targeted action to address the urban jobs crisis. Our 12-point Jobs Rebuild America plan lays out specific strategies to achieve that goal. But W ashington has been largely silent, until now. Upon introducing the legisla placem ent, m entoring, intern ships and on-the-job training as well as G ED preparation, reading and math rem ediation, edu catio n al en rich m en t and p o s t- s e c o n d a r y e d u c a tio n . Support services include child care, health and nutrition re ferral and transportation and housing assistance. The Urban Jobs Act will pro vide desperately needed re sources to give young people who need it an all-important sec ond chance. It will reduce the disproportionate incarceration of minority youth and prepare eli gible young adults for entry into the world of work. W hile the Senate bill has just been introduced, we need to build more momentum in the House. We are urging citizens to urge your U.S. representatives in Con gress to join the current co-spon sors of H.R. 683. Empower yourself, empower your community, and join us in the “W ar on Unemployment” ! productive adulthood. The Urban Jobs Act would create an Urban Jobs Program and allocate $23 million in grants to national non-profit organiza tions to provide a com prehen sive set of services designed to Marc H. Morial is presi prepare youth, ages 18-24, for dent and chief executive of the job market. ficer of the National Urban These services include jo b League. U II j C