Opinion
Veterans Deaths Demand Prosecutions
“Challenging People to Shape
a Better Future Now”
B ERNIE F OSTER
Founder/Publisher
B OBBIE D ORE F OSTER
Executive Editor
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Advertising Manager
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News Editor
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Multimedia Editor
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Bernie Foster, Publisher
Of The Skanner News
EDITORIAL
Between 2009-2011 at least
24 veterans died while they
were on a waiting list for med-
ical
treatment.
That’s
according to a report from the
Veterans Administration.
But the truth is the cover up
has run so deep, that we may
never know exactly how
many veterans have died
while waiting for medical
care. And how many more
veterans will die because the
VA medical care system
failed to catch their illness in
time? Speedy treatment is
essential to save lives.
In mid-July about 35,000
veterans had waited at least
90 days for a first appoint-
ment. That’s down from
57,000 in May, showing offi-
cials have finally begun to
deal with the waitlist. Howev-
er, a recent VA audit shows
that tens of thousands of
newly returning veterans will
wait more than 90 days for
care unless changes are
made.
Congress has now passed
The Skanner News
a bill that will give the VA
more resources. Yet veterans
hospitals have needed more
officials even received bonus
payments for good service,
when in reality, they harming
the veterans they are dedicat-
ed to serve.
Now Congress needs to
move quickly to fill the vacant
leadership appointments that
have been held up for as long
as two and three years. Play-
ing politics with these
appointments is unaccept-
The cover up has run so deep, that
we may never know exactly how
many veterans have died
staff for years. If former VA
Secretary Eric Shinseki —
and American citizens—had
been given the truth earlier,
the problem would have been
addressed. Deaths could
have been avoided.
But a parade of senior offi-
cials has lied and covered up
the true extent of the prob-
lems. Some lied for their own
personal financial benefit.
Others
deleted
medical
records, meaning the truth
may be lost forever. Some
able.
The
Veterans
Administration needs its full
roster of staff to do its job
properly.
The FBI is investigating mis-
conduct in the VA and says a
full criminal case will be
opened if warranted. We can’t
see any way a criminal prose-
cution
would
not
be
warranted. The fact that vet-
erans died because of the
actions —and the inaction —
of VA officials demands
stronger penalties. Yes, four
people have been fired, but
surely somebody, or several
somebodies, should go to jail.
VA Secretary Robert A.
McDonald must ensure the
culture of cover up in the Vet-
erans Administration can
never return. And the Justice
Department should find out
whose lies led to the deaths
and prosecute them. Those
responsible should be held
accountable and spend time
in prison.
What do you think?
Post your comment on articles in The Skanner News
at www.theskanner.com
Small-Time Pot Arrests Have Big Impact
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By Allison Dumas
O
ur current approach to
dealing with marijuana in
Oregon is failing us.
Nowhere is it more apparent than
in our communities of color.
African-Americans are more
than twice as likely as whites to be
arrested for marijuana possession
in this state. It’s not because one
race uses marijuana more than the
other. It’s because of special
scrutiny from police engaged in
the war on drugs.
Growing up in a bi-racial family,
I’ve seen both worlds firsthand.
My mother, a white middle-aged
woman, was never stopped or
searched by the police. My father
and brother, both African-Ameri-
can men, were stopped regularly.
The excuses were always the
same. “It looks like your taillight
is out,” or “We got a complaint
from the neighbors that there was
a suspicious person in the neigh-
borhood.”
One time my brother was
stopped and searched, as he had
been many times throughout his
life. Unfortunately he had a tiny
L EWIS &
C LARK
C OLLEGE
G RADUATE
Allison
Dumas
amount of marijuana on him, no
more dangerous than a six-pack of
beer. He was charged with basic
possession. Yet, he spent three
months in jail for a misdemeanor
charge that was supposed to be a
ticket. The run-in cost him his
apply for a job, or a loan, or try to
secure housing. It pops up on
every background check.
Although black and white Ore-
gonians use marijuana at the
same rate, in some communities
in Oregon, blacks are arrested for
marijuana possession at more
than three times the rate of
whites. If you can believe it, the
rate nationwide is even worse,
3.73 times. These arrests, for
something which should not be
considered a crime, are doing
irreparable damage to the econom-
ic future of a generation of young
black people.
African-Americans are more than
twice as likely as whites to be arrested
for marijuana possession in this state
career. After dedicating himself
for years writing government con-
tracts, he lost his job.
My brother’s story is like too
many others. A conviction for pos-
sessing a small amount of
marijuana follows you when you
Arrests for possessing a small
amount of marijuana feed into a
larger rift between communities of
color and the police. Regulating
pot to sell in reputable establish-
ments, making it available to
otherwise law-abiding citizens,
and removing the stigma of these
arrests can go a long way in heal-
ing that mistrust.
That’s why I am working to win
a new approach to marijuana. In
fewer than 100 days, Oregonians
will have the opportunity to vote
yes on Measure 91 to tax, regulate
and legalize marijuana.
A victory would be more than
simply winning sensible drug poli-
cies. It will deal a big blow to the
illegal drug trade and violent drug
cartels, and the tax money raised
will go in part to schools. It will
raise money to care for those suf-
fering from dependency of more
harmful drugs.
When the War On Drugs began
more than 40 years ago, only 12
percent of Americans supported
regulating, taxing and legalizing
marijuana. Now poll after poll
shows growing support for this
common-sense treatment.
This is an overdue conversation,
and it is important that we are
heard now. It is time for a new
approach, Oregon.
Allison Dumas, 22 years old, is
a recent graduate from Lewis &
Clark College.
Letters to the Editor
Requested Correction:
July 23, 2014 Edition of The
Skanner, Article: “North
Portland Couple Celebrated
at OHS”
This was a great article recognizing
the pioneering achievement of Hurtis
and Dorothy Hadley who opened and
operated the very first black owned
Page 2 The Portland and Seattle Skanner August 13, 2014
bakery in Oregon in 1977. Our bak-
ers & Grain Millers Union Local 114
was proud to attend the celebration at
the Oregon Historical Society.
Regarding our Bakers & Grain
Millers Union Local 114, the article
has only one mention of the Union
Hurtis belonged to and served and
which stated “...he was denied entry
to the bakers union because of his
race...”
Our Requested Correction:
Hurtis Hadley Sr. was a member of
our Bakers & Grain Millers Union
Local 114 for over 25 years having
initiated with us in 1965. The only
period of time Mr. Hadley Sr. was not
a Union member was during the time
he and Dorothy owned and operated
The Milwaukie Pastry Kitchen. Mr.
Hadley Sr. was Union throughout his
career with Safeway, Albertson’s, and
Oroweat. Mr. Hadley Sr. served many
years on our Union Executive Board
and as Union Trustee. We remain very
grateful for Mr. Hadley’s service to
our members and the art of baking
that he was able to pass on to new
generations of bakers.
Our Bakers Union Local 114 did
not deny Mr. Hadley Sr. membership
in the late 1950’s. The Employer
placed black workers in the Cook’s
Union without the workers’ knowl-
edge. Mr. Hadley Sr. was, as were the
other black workers, not aware until
many years later that the Employer
had done this.
Terry W. Lansing
Secretary Treasurer
BCTGM Local 114, Portland