Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 5, 2014)
February 5, 2014 The Portland observer Black History Month Page 19 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. Great Divide of Income Inequality The growing gap between rich and poor by M arc H. M orial “Income inequal ity” has become the political buzzword of 2014. P re sid e n t Obama has made it a central theme of his second term. Both progres sive Democrats and conservative Republicans in Congress are mak ing it a focus of this year’s mid-term elections, and leading voices for human rights have called on gov ernment and business leaders to take immediate action to close the income gap for the sake of long-term economic and social stability. Even last week, as the world’s elite - leaders from government, business and non-government or ganization sectors - gathered in Davos, Switzerland for the World ‘Économie Forum’s annual meeting, the issue of inequality was atop the agenda. The forum ’s Global Risks 2014 report recently revealed that the “chronic gap between the incomes of the richest and poorest citizens is seen as the risk that is most likely to cause serious damage globally in the coming decade.” Another voice was added to the chorus last week when the British- based anti-poverty organization, Oxfam International, released a re port in advance of the Davos gath ering, revealing that the richest 85 people in the world control as much wealth as the bottom half of the global population - about 3.5 billion people. C om m enting on the report; Oxfam’s Executive Director Winnie Byanyima said, "It is staggering that in the 21 st century, half of the world's population own no more than a tiny elite whose numbers could all sit comfortably in a single train car riage. Widening inequality is creat ing a vicious circle where wealth and power are increasingly concen trated in the hands of a few, leaving the rest of us to fight over crumbs from the top table.” According to the same report, in the U.S., where the gap between rich and poor has grown at a faster rate than any other developed country, the richest one percent of Ameri cans have received 95 percent of the wealth created since 2009 - after the economic crisis - while the bottom 90 percent of Americans have be cent visit to Detroit, where unem In a message to the Davos at come poorer. ployment has been above 15 per tendees, Pope Francis said that “the While we are pleased that both cent for more than a year, said that growth of equality demands some sides of the political ping-pong table it would be a “disservice” to the thing more than economic growth, in the United States are now focus jobless to extend their unemploy even though it presupposes it... It ing on the domestic crisis and impli ment benefits beyond the current also calls for decisions, mechanisms cations of this global problem, there limit. Further, Sen. Paul Ryan, R- and processes directed to a better are disturbing signs that the issue Wis., another potential presidential distribution of wealth, the creation may fall prey to the same kind of candidate, has been traveling the of sources of employment and an ideological posturing that has sty country declaring how the govern integral promotion of the poor which mied recent efforts to create jobs, ment safety net - programs like Social goes beyond a simple welfare men reduce unemployment, raise the Security, Medicare and Head Start - tality. minimum wage and help the long has “failed miserably.” I am convinced that from such an term unemployed. In contrast, President Obama has openness to the transcendent a new In fact, as re p o rte d by warned that “The combined trends political and business mentality can CNNMoney, almost two-thirds of of increased inequality and decreas take shape, one capable of guiding the delegates surveyed during a ing mobility pose a fundamental all economic and financial activity debate in Davos on Friday said that threat to the American dream, our within the horizon of an ethical ap the widening gap, or what I call The way of life and what we stand for proach which is truly humane.” Great Divide, “between rich and poor around the globe.” He has called for The need is clear. The Urban is having a corrosive effect on U.S. an increase in the minimum wage - League has raised this issue con politics.” a move the National Urban League stantly over the last several years - For example, Sen. Marco Rubio, has been pushing since 2006 - and and people are finally listening. We R-Fla., sees the problem not as one an extension of unemployment ben must not let the seriousness and of income inequality but of “oppor efits as first steps in addressing the urgency of this problem get caught tunity inequality” and continues to problem. On Jan. 9, he announced in the crossfire of ideological war resist efforts to raise the minimum the creation o f five “Prom ise fare. Americans need policy solu wage. To be clear, opportunity in Zones,” in San Antonio, Philadel tions developed in partnership with equality is alive and thriving in phia, Los Angeles, Southeastern corporate, government and non America; but any attempts to sepa Kentucky and the Choctaw Nation profit leaders - now. Awareness is rate it from income inequality are of Oklahoma that will receive tar good...action is better. divertive and lacking recognition of geted government tax incentives to Marc H. Morial is president and the correlation between the two. create jobs and reduce unemploy chief executive officer o f the Na Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., during a re ment. tional Urban League. Too Often ‘Development’ Means ‘Displacement’ End gentrification to advance economic equity by D edrick M uhammad , A udrey T errell and R achel G ilmer As President Obama noted in his State of the Union address, eco nomic inequality has reached an epic height in our nation, shutting the doors of opportunity for mil lions of Americans. In urban cen ters we see this growing inequality through gentrification. Too often the “development” of urban centers means the displace ment of low and moderate-income long-time residents and new hous ing and amenities for the rich. A first step in ending the growing eco nomic inequality, which is deeply tied to ongoing racial inequality, is to stop this displacement. T he c o rro siv e e ffe c t o f gentrification can be found through out the nation, even in the liberal and so -c alled w h itest city o f America, Portland, Ore., known in ternationally as a leader in urban design with many boasting of its bike-friendly streets, accessible 20- minute neighborhoods and quaint local business culture. Unbeknownst to many, however, Portland is also a case study in gentrification, a glaring reminder that urban economic disparities will per to be one of the fastest gentrifying sist as long as the structural in zip codes in America. This decision equalities of our economy remain. was announced only weeks after Other cities riding the cusp of the the city committed to including a latest development trends have ex new network of black leaders, the perienced the same results. In Wash Portland African American Leader ington D.C., Chicago, Los Angeles ship Forum, in any major develop and Ne w York, inner city neighbor ment decisions that would impact hoods that were once majority black the black community, and months have been inundated with plans for after inviting Portland’s NAACP redevelopment. The upward redis chapter to a key PDC advisory group tribution of wealth through public- - only to later deny their applica private partnerships, have rewarded tion. real estaté speculators, exporting In a recent open letter, the leader long time black residents and bring ship forum called into question the ing in higher income predominately cronyistic city policies that con white residents tinuously funded the rich at the To halt this practice a growing expense of the poor, and then de community-led.movement calls for manding that any further develop an end to displacement by promot ment in the area support the stabili ing policies that dismantle systemic zation o f its historic black residents. barriers to economic opportunity A statement released by the Port and prosperity. land NAACP strongly encouraged Last November, the Portland’s a stop to the development. D evelopm ent C om m ission a n As more and more Americans nounced plans to provide a 2.4 mil find themselves barred from eco lion dollar subsidy to develop a nomic opportunity, ideas once con long time vacant property with bil sidered extreme are becoming main lion-dollar California developer stream. Nationally, there are signs Majestic Realty. The property is in that this movement is accumulating the heart of the city’s historically political power. In Seattle, the black community; which happens NAACP is fighting for a $15 mini mum wage and collaborating with newly elected City Council Woman Kshama Sawant in an effort to re shape their economy. In New York, Mayor Bill de Blasio successfully ran a “tale-of-two-cities” electoral, declaring economic and social in equality his highest priority. Nationally there is much to be done that can address the record level of American economic inequal ity. It is a fight which must occur city by city. Growing economic inequal ity will only cease with an end to gentrification. There must be restor ative policies that address past wrongdoings, and forward thinking policies that will make our urban centers as places of opportunity for all racial and income groups. Dedrick Muhammad is senior director o f the NAACP National Economic Department; Audrey Terrell is president o f the Portland branch o f the NAACP; and Rachel Gilmer is a member of the Portland African American Leadership Fo rum. better to the (Scditer •> Squandering Opportunity I can ’ t remember a time in which the black community is in better position to take advantage of eco nomic opportunity in northeast Portland. But elements of the black community cannot continue to be foolish in squandering this oppor tunity by alienating the very forces who are now poised and commit ted to righting past wrongs. Current Portland Development Commission and city officials bear little responsibly for past deeds and now have a clear trend of work- ing on behalf of the black commu nity. With community oversight, why not give them a chance to demonstrate a serious effort to re invest resources back into the black community and forge future part nerships for progress?” James Posey, chair o f Coali tion o f Black Men Economic De velopment committee and mem ber o f the National Alliance o f Minority Contractors
