WWW . THESKANNER . COM
M AY 23, 2012
P ORTLAND , O REGON
V OLUME XXXIV, N O . 21
25
CENTS
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C HALLENGING P EOPLE TO S HAPE A B ETTER F UTURE N OW
New report details
forfeitures to Oregon
law enforcement
By Helen Silvis
Of The Skanner News
O
regon’s law enforcement agencies
seized more than $1.8 million in
cash and goods during 2011 drug
busts, according to a report from the state’s
Asset Forfeiture Oversight Advisory Com-
mittee.
Among the assets seized were more than
30 cars and trucks, guns, computers, televi-
sions, a safe, a refrigerator, a snowmobile, a
lawn mower, grow materials and, of course,
drugs.
The forfeiture report mines data from Ore-
gon’s online reporting system, which started
up in July 2010. The 2011 data is the first
full year of reports from across the state.
“We only have a year and a half of data,
so it’s a bit early to really see overall
trends,” says David Fidanque, executive
director of the Oregon branch of the Ameri-
can Civil Liberties Union. He has served on
the forfeiture oversight committee since
1989.
He says that what we are seeing is a dra-
matic difference in how individual
jurisdictions are handling the costs – includ-
ing things like attorney fees and storage.
“Some jurisdictions were taking a very
large percentage off the top for costs, partic-
ularly for attorney fees. I think that’s an
issue the oversight committee needs to mon-
itor going forward,” he says.
Compared to the six months of data avail-
able from 2010, about 8 percent more funds
were distributed in 2011. However the costs
of seizing those forfeited assets jumped by
600 percent.
Oregon’s civil forfeitures grossed $1.2
million. And $170,453.37 of it went to attor-
ney fees.
Under Oregon law, in most cases, police
must be able to charge a crime before seiz-
ing assets. Some exceptions exist, for
example where there is a previous pattern of
crime. The proceeds are distributed accord-
VILLAGE
MARKET
The healthiest corner store in North Portland
is celebrating one year of affordable fresh
produce and food to go. The Village
Market, at 632 North Trenton St. in New
Columbia, is offering balloons, barbeque
and music on Memorial Day, Monday, May
28, during open hours from 7 a.m. to 9
p.m. “This is going to be a good old-
fashioned come as you are sort of thing,”
says manager Mychal Tetteh, at right. “It’s
a celebration for people to come out and
connect.” For more information call 503-
548-0374.
There’s a Hole in the Safety Net
Homeownership, foreclosure prevention dangling in city budget
Lisa Loving
Of the Skanner News
P
ortland housing advocates
are crossing their fingers
in hopes City Commis-
sioner Nick Fish, whose
portfolio includes the Portland
Housing Bureau, can fill a
$700,000 city budget gap that
would eliminate funding for
homeownership, foreclosure
prevention and other services to
low-income and communities of
color.
The proposed budget cuts
See DRUGS on page 3
INDEX
PHOTO BY LISA LOVING
Drugs,
Guns,
Cash
impact homebuyer services,
credit clean-up programs and
foreclosure prevention services
offered by the African American
Alliance for Homeownership,
the Native American Youth and
Family Center, Hacienda Com-
munity
Development
Corporation, Portland Commu-
nity Reinvestment Initiatives
Inc., Proud Ground, and the
Portland Housing Center.
In a sense, these are programs
funded by the city that help mit-
igate
the
impacts
of
gentrification;
nevertheless
within the coming year’s budg-
et, the Office of Management
and Finance recommended they
be eliminated completely.
And as far as the budget
process is moving at this point –
they are.
“What we heard from Nick
Fish is that they’re really trying
to bridge that gap – they’re try-
ing to find the money,” said Jen
Matheson, a housing program
outreach specialist at the NAYA
Family Center.
“What’s unfortunate is that the
way the General Fund budget is
configured, that recommenda-
tion about not funding
homeownership got carried
through to the Mayor’s budget,”
she said.
“We’re in a holding pattern,
but we feel hopeful that Nick is
our champion and will find a
way to fund our programs.”
Fish said Tuesday morning
that he and his staff have had a
plan throughout the budget
process for filling in the holes
on homeownership and that he’s
confident that will happen.
See BUDGET on page 3
Humboldt Closure Ceremonies June 8
News ......2,3,6,7,11,12
The Skanner News seeks historic school photos from the 1960s
Opinion ..................4,5
Lisa Loving
Of The Skanner News
A & E ............8,9,13,14
Fashion...............10,12
Bids/Classifieds ........15
A
s the Portland Public Schools pre-
pares to close down Humboldt K-8,
The Skanner News is partnering
with the school’s community to create an
online “time capsule” to help keep that com-
munity in touch.
For former and current students, their
families, and staff, a special celebration is
planned at Humboldt on Friday, June 8.
Starting at 4:30, the school hosts an Open
House and Picture Gallery Walk.
The event allows local residents to walk
the halls one last time and admire artwork
done by the students over the past year.
There will also be a photographic display
of the 51-year-old school’s history, which is
already going up in the hallway display
boards – but a bigger show is planned for
the school gym.
At 5 p.m. principal Willie Poinsette leads
a celebration ceremony, recognizing impor-
tant teachers, staff, community members –
and, of course, kids – who have made Hum-
boldt school a beloved institution over the
decades. A special highlight will be a per-
See SCHOOL on page 3