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Cuts
‘No More Evictions!’
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which helps kids figure out potential career
interests, provides job readiness training,
targets academic skill-building, and pro-
vides 180 hours of paid work experience.”
Former Mayor Sam Adams, who champi-
oned the city’s youth program, issued a
statement, saying he won’t immediately
comment on his successor’s decisions, “at
least for the next couple months.”
But Adams did offer his take on the
city’s budget shortfall, which he says
is driven by three factors:
The Department of Justice finding
that Portland Police Bureau violated
the civil rights of citizens with men-
tal illness, and the $5.4 million annu-
al cost to remedy the problem.
Creation of the new Library Dis-
trict, which will reduce the city’s
-- Heather Ficht, WorkSystems property tax income by $10 million.
Cuts to the general fund of $8.6
says. “I wish he would reconsider because million necessary to cover future projected
this is a great program. I have seen how it maintenance and facilities expenses.
Heather Ficht, director of youth work-
changes the lives of young men and women.
It’s been successful and we are still going to force investment for WorkSystems, says the
cuts are happening during a time of
make it a priority.”
Smith is a strong supporter of the Summer unprecedented crisis. Pathways to work
Works internship program. Creating 25, have disappeared, especially for low-
county-funded youth internships was one of income and minority youth, she says.
“Only one in four kids has a job,” Ficht
Smith’s first acts as a commissioner in
2011. In 2012 she added 25 more county- says. “In communities of color it’s as low as
funded positions, and she hoped to add one in 10. So 90 percent of those kids aren’t
another 25 in 2013. But the bulk of last going to school and aren’t working in the
year’s positions, 96 of 315, were funded by summer. That is a huge crisis. We’ve never
had such a low labor participation rate —
the city, at a cost of $200,000.
Across Multnomah and Washington coun- since it’s been recorded in WWII.”
Summer Works’ students come from
ties, 17,000 youth are eligible for the pro-
struggling families — 87 percent were
gram.
Kary Chisholm, co-founder of the Demo- youth of color and 97 percent were low-
crat blog, Blue Oregon, says Hales is break- income. Students spent 180 hours getting
work experience and being paid minimum
ing his first campaign promise.
“Never mind that those programs keep wage. For some students the money meant a
young people off the streets, create a path- lot more than just bus fare and school
way to long-term employment, and set a clothes, Smith notes.
“The money she (an intern) earned over
bunch of kids on the right path. Never mind
the summer helped her parents pay rent, and
that it’s good policy,” Chisholm writes.
“What’s interesting to me is that Hales PGE bills,” Smith says of one of her interns.
specifically promised to protect - nay, “Her mother was unemployed. A lot of
expand - these programs should he become these kids need jobs over the summer
because they need to help their families.”
mayor.”
Once students are 16, their families do not
Chisholm goes on to quote from Hales
receive child tax credit. Nor do they qualify
campaign website:
“We need to increase job opportunities for the Earned Income Tax credit.
Other cities, such as Boston, Philadelphia
and workforce training to people living in
poverty. Nationally, cities that do not have and Los Angeles have invested heavily in
enough available jobs have the highest similar programs. In Los Angeles the
youth crime rates. Youths living in poverty Chamber of Commerce runs the youth
often choose to go down the wrong path employment program, which last year
because they see no other opportunities. I served 4,000 students.
About 60 employers fund those intern-
would like to expand Mayor Adam’s suc-
cessful Summer Youth Connect program, ships, said Marie Nieto, director of educa-
‘So 90 percent of those
kids aren’t going to school
and aren’t working in the
summer. That is a huge
crisis.’
PHOTO BY LISA LOVING
move forward is to right our ship and be on
a stable long-term course. And we’re not
now. We’re not on course.”
Multnomah County Commissioner Loret-
ta Smith says her phone has been ringing off
the hook with complaints since the cuts
were announced.
“I just think it’s unfortunate to balance the
budget on the backs of young people,” she
Home foreclosure victims, from left, Debbie Austin, Patricia and Darren
Williams, and a supporter picketed the Multnomah County Building along
with about 50 protesters calling on Sheriff Dan Staton to stop evicting
families disputing their evictions by banking corporations. Austin, a cancer
patient, cried as she told the protesters that armed officers forced her out
of the house wearing nothing but a t-shirt and underwear. After an all-night
sit-in, Staton and County Chair Jeff Cogen agreed in principal to a
moratorium on evictions, and the group We Are Oregon declared a
victory.
tion and workforce development for the Los
Angeles chamber.
“Employers are always more than happy
to participate,” she says. “We have estab-
lished relationships with a number of com-
panies including Kaiser Permanente and
Wells Fargo bank.”
Hartford, Conn., a city of under 125,000
people, but with a poverty rate of close to 33
percent, puts $1.5 million into its summer
youth employment program. Hartford
Mayor Pedro Segarra views the investment
as an essential part of the public safety
budget.
Fitch says it only makes sense that young
people with no money and no productive
activity, are at high risk of getting into trou-
ble.
“It’s a prevention strategy, if you do the
math,” she says. “You impact 1300 young
people’s summer experience. If they don’t
have opportunity to do something construc-
tive, then what are they going to do with
their time?
“I don’t think it’s a big leap to think that
there is going to be more (crime) … any-
thing from more tagging and graffiti to
worse things...”
“How much time is that going to take
from our public safety officers and distract
them from the important work they have,
and then processing these kids through the
system,” Ficht says. “Really is that the best
way?”
At the same time, 50,000 retiring workers
are expected to leave the workforce in the
next five years.
The program helped young people see
career opportunities and provided a valu-
able service to employers, Ficht says.
About 95 percent of Summer Works stu-
dents successfully completed their intern-
ships and 95 percent continued in school or
college.
“It’s really important that we are being
strategic in preparing the next generation
for participation in the workforce. Also it’s
a really good opportunity to increase diver-
sity in the workforce. “
Ficht says the Summer Works program
will continue, but without the City dollars,
she’ll be looking for more support from
other sources. Smith too says she’ll be issu-
ing a call to employers and others to con-
sider funding Summer Works internships.
Dan Ryan CEO of All Hands Raised,
which coordinates the 9th Grade Counts
program, said he understood the difficulty
of meeting budget, but is grateful that Hales
has committed to stay at the table.
Muhammad, a past winner of The Skan-
ner News Drum Major for Justice Award,
organized the first youth summit in 2007
after the fatal shooting of 14-year-old
DaVonte Lightfoot, a Benson High School
student and one of Muhammad’s former
students at Victory Middle School in North
Portland.
Past keynote speakers have included Pro-
fessor Griff of Public Enemy, Jasiri X, and
the late Rob Ingram, director of the Portland
Office of Youth Violence Prevention, and
also a past winner of The Skanner News
Drum Major for Justice Award.
The event is Saturday, Feb. 9 in the PSU
Smith Memorial Union third floor, 1825
SW Broadway. Registration starts at 11
a.m., with the youth talent show begins at
6:30 p.m. Register in advance at www.port-
landyouthSummit.org.
ebrations commemorating the park’s cen-
tennial this summer will be action-packed –
and free of charge.
“There’ll be a big shebang with kids
activities, rose garden historical presenta-
tions and a movie in the park, just to name
a very few elements,” he says. The Parks
Bureau is also planning a string of events
leading up to the June celebration.
Meanwhile, some 30 volunteers per plant-
ing day in February are sought, and people
are encouraged to being a shovel if you
have one. Lunch on those days is provided
from 11 a.m.-noon.
Sign up at penrosevolunteers@gmail.com
.The Friends Group has also raised cash for
a new sign, which will be unveiled June 7
from 10:30-noon.
“Be sure to wear outdoor work clothes to
keep you warm and dry, including sturdy
boots and gloves,” Ross says.
Make a contribution to the garden mulch
fund at www.portlandparksfoundation.org.
Summit
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wellness expert Erica Brannon, the work-
shop includes meditation, holistic health,
and natural body movements.
Other workshops address mental health,
societal stereotypes and resources for fami-
lies. A pizza feast and networking will be
held at the end of the workshops.
Garden
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ing the spot where each plant will be set in
the soil.
Volunteers are welcomed to the planting
days, which run from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. daily
on: Tuesday, Feb. 19; Wednesday, Feb. 20;
Thursday, Feb. 21; and Friday, Feb. 22 (if
needed).
Parks spokesman Mark Ross says the cel-
January 30, 2013 The Portland Skanner Page 3