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About The skanner. (Portland, Or.) 1975-2014 | View Entire Issue (May 28, 2014)
WWW . THESKANNER . COM M AY 28, 2014 P ORTLAND AND S EATTLE V OLUME XXXVI, N O . 34 For The Skanner website scan this QR code Lisa Loving Of The Skanner News O ne of the most respected and admired artists in the Pacific North- west, musician and songwriter Janice Marie Scroggins died Tuesday in Portland. A master pianist of many disciplines, Scroggins wowed audiences with every- thing from Scott Joplin and Ray Charles to the Ten Grands tours and more. She was known for jazz, blues, gospel, funk, and popular music – but also performed and recorded folk and country tunes. “I come from a musical family, raised with Gospel, Classical, Movie Themes, Blues, etc.,” Scroggins wrote on the CD cover for Theresa Demarest’s recording, “Good Company.” “I’ve had the good for- tune of playing any type of music I want to with great artists.” A mentor and support to people of all racial and economic backgrounds, Scrog- gins could be heard in concert halls and retirement homes, jazz and blues stages as well as churches. Since the late 1970s when she moved to the Pacific Northwest, when- ever there was a musical tribute to be made or a benefit to be launched, she was there. There were hundreds of social media trib- utes to Scroggins online Wednesday morning, including many by jazz and blues musicians who posted images of her as their profile picture. “Janice’s spirit is embedded in my Soul,” guitarist Norman “Boogie Cat” Sylvester wrote. “Janice was and always will be a part of the energy in my music, because she gave my music and career an explosive boost for 30 years. Janice’s musical force and spiritu- al presence will be missed in the Portland Music Community.” Fellow pianist Tom Grant said, “Janice’s quiet depth...in her piano playing and in the conduct of her life...will forever be an inspi- ration to all of us who knew and worked See SCROGGINS on page 3 INDEX News ..............1,3,8-10 Opinion .....................2 Calendars ..............4,5 A & E ......................6,7 Bids/Classifieds ........11 Pacific NW DEFEND THE KIDS Marian Wright Edelman, founder of the Children’s Defense Fund, talked to The Skanner about the barriers facing low- income children – especially children of color. Edelman also wanted to hear about Portland’s efforts to support children and families. PHOTO BY HELEN SILVIS Pianist Janice Scroggins is mourned across the region CENTS The Skanner News presents our new regional edition, featuring more news and local information. C HALLENGING P EOPLE TO S HAPE A B ETTER F UTURE N OW Blues Master Passes 25 Marian Wright Edelman Visits Civil rights hero speaks on poverty, education, and child welfare By Helen Silvis Of The Skanner News T he civil rights hero is hopping mad about cuts to anti-poverty pro- grams Marion Wright Edelman sweeps through the lounge of the Heathman Hotel, in search of a quiet corner to talk. The public rooms are all booked so we settle for a nook in the lounge, and agree to ignore the piped music. History will call her a giant of the U.S. civil rights move- ment. In person, she’s more like your favorite auntie, pic- ture perfect in a cute, yellow felt jacket and oversize red glasses. Around her neck she wears a string of amber and yellow beads and a small framed photo of Sojourner Truth. The first Black woman to be appointed to the Mississippi State Bar, Edelman took the helm of the state’s NAACP Legal Defense and Education- al Fund in 1964. She strategized with Robert Kennedy and worked with Martin Luther King Jr. to build the poor people’s campaign that turned into the historic 1968 March on Washington. After King was murdered, Edelman founded the Chil- dren’s Defense Fund to research and lobby on behalf of poor and minority children. That was more than 40 years ago, but Edelman has never stopped fighting for poor chil- dren. And she’s lost none of her passion. “In Oregon one in four of your children is poor –the fig- ure is one in five nationally – but over half of your Black children are poor,” she laments. “It’s disgraceful.” Edelman is in Portland visit- ing family –son Jonah leads the Oregon-based nonprofit Stand for Children. Still, she’s carved out time to talk about why so many American chil- dren are failing almost before they get started in life. Poverty is Still Enemy Number One Child Poverty is still Ameri- ca’s toughest challenge, See WRIGHT on page 3 HOA part 2: Who Pays for Repairs? While homeowners pay assessments, past-due bills pile up Lisa Loving Of The Skanner News Part 2 of a 3 Part Series L egal filings in the Snoozy’s Hollow HOA lawsuit against Kraft tell a puz- zling story. Firstly, Kraft’s pro bono attorney from the Stoel, Rives law firm argued that the HOA was responsible for repairing the original leaky pipe when she moved there in 2010. The HOA’s attorney countered successfully that the repair only benefitted Kraft – and that is why she should have to pay it. However, the City of Portland in 2011 bailed out Snoozy’s HOA over an estimated $100,000 past-due water bill – a product of those same leaky pipes, which had sent untold-gallons of water into the dirt. Up until 2011, every single home was on the same water main, so if one home’s pipe was leaking, every homeowner shouldered the cost. It’s not completely clear why or for how long the water bill hadn’t been paid; the current management company did not come on board until 2006, and the non-pay- ments predate that. After negotiating with the HOA board, the See HOA on page 3
