June 21, 2017
The
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INSIDE
Week in Review
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This page
Sponsored by:
Unwavering Support for Smith
Leaders say
county chair
led biased
investigation
O PINION
M ETRO
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by M ichael l eighton
p ortland o bServer e ditor
An esteemed group of African
American leaders issued a rebuke
to Multnomah County Chair
Deborah Kafoury Tuesday saying
the findings of wrongdoing in a
county-led human resources in-
vestigation against County Com-
missioner Loretta Smith were un-
substantiated and instead were a
political and racist attack against
Smith, the only black member of
the county commission.
A letter addressed to Kafoury
by the group “reaffirms the com-
munity’s unwavering commit-
ment to Commissioner Smith and
highlights the county’s flawed in-
vestigation.”
Smith has been fighting alle-
gations of inappropriate behavior
by two former employees since
the beginning of the year, de-
nying that she made demeaning
statements and was harsher in the
treatment of the female and wom-
en of color staffers who worked
for her.
Her supporters were strongly
critical of Kafoury’s role in the
Deborah Kafoury
Loretta Smith
investigation and said Smith was
not afforded due process.
“This unseemly process sur-
rounding unsubstantiated charges
and allegations about Commis-
sioner Smith have been the worst
sort of political and racist attack,
thinly veiled as a human resourc-
es investigation, indeed a modern
day political lynching. We are
not going to stand by while one
of our best and brightest is ma-
ligned,” said the rebuke.
“Our community has fought
long and hard for African Amer-
icans, elected or not, to receive
equal treatment under the law
and we are outraged that did not
occur under your leadership,” the
leaders added. “We will contin-
ue to be vocal in our enduring
support of this woman who has
dedicated her entire professional
life to public service, to the bet-
terment of our youth, and to all of
Multnomah County.”
The letter was signed by for-
mer Sen. Avel Gordly, Albina
Head Start Executive Director
Ron Herndon, Self Enhancement,
Inc. President Tony Hopson, Afri-
can American Alliance Co-Chairs
Lolenzo Poe and Joyce Harris;
and Albina Ministerial Alliance
Chair and Co-chair Dr. Rev. Le-
Roy Haynes Jr. and Dr. Rev. T.
Allen Bethel.
Kafoury could not be reached
for comment, but defended the
investigation earlier.
Portand Jazz Icon Dies after Illness
Arts &
ENTERTAINMENT
C LASSIFIEDS
C ALENDAR
F OOD
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Hall of Fame inductee, was best
known for directing the Ameri-
can Music Program, a nonprofit
education center which instructed
students in the 7th through 12th
grades in jazz technique. He also
led an after-school music program
at northeast Portland’s Martin Lu-
ther King Jr. Elementary School.
The musician won his first
Grammy while collaborating
with his most famous mentee, Es-
peranza Spalding, in 2013.
Memory was indicted in Feb-
ruary on allegations of misde-
meanor sexual abuse. Of his four
alleged victims, two were under
the age of 18. The cases did not
proceed to trial prior to Memo-
ry’s death, and will remain unre-
solved.
No cause of death has been re-
leased, though Memory had been
Thara Memory
struggling with failing health for
Grammy Award-winning Port- urday evening, according to his several years. He was known to be
suffering from kidney problems
land jazz icon Thara John Mem- attorney.
ory died at the age of 68 on Sat-
Memory, an Oregon Music and diabetes.