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About The skanner. (Portland, Or.) 1975-2014 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 1, 2014)
News Washington Soloists Perform at PSu continued from page 1 Intelligence Company founder George Friedman; former World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz; former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson; Barack Obama-advisors Robert Gibbs and Jim Messina; Texas Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee and New York Rep. Yvette Clarke; as well as Obama elections strategist Robert Plouffe. The conference’s keynote speech was by Azerbaijan Pres- ident Ilham Aliyev, who boasted that his nation currently has “100 years” of gas reserves. Speakers debated the mer- its of pipelines over rail systems, the relative profitability of tracked gas versus liquid natural gas, and above all, the PHOTO COURTESY PSU Complaints about the trip paint it as a ‘junket’ without legislative value as a trade mission need for the United States to become a major fuel exporter with fuel transportation lines connecting American ports to Asian and European markets. Full disclosure: The Skanner News’ Lisa Loving also trav- eled to Azerbaijan with Roach and the delegation. Complaints to The Washington State Legislative Ethics Board about the trip, hosted by the community referred to by its members as Hizmet, paint it as a “junket” without legislative value as a trade mission. The board already this month threw out Roach’s objection to the state characterizing the Hizmet community as “poten- tially linked to radical policies,” comments Roach described in her complaint as “bigoted, hateful, derogatory and inflammatory.” Another ethics complaint by Dahlquist against Roach remains, charging that the incumbent should not have accepted a place on the energy conference trip because it was not cleared by legislative staff — also citing the Hizmet community as “potentially tied to radical policies.” Meanwhile in the state of Oregon, as with many others from coast to coast, the Turquoise Council since 2012 has held legislative gatherings noteworthy for their balance of Portland State university’s College of the Arts will raise money for music scholarships and give aspiring young musicians a chance to see performances by the nation’s top black and Latino classical soloists at an Oct. 11 benefit concert featuring the first Northwest stop on a national tour of the Sphinx Virtuosi, featuring alumni of the internationally renowned Sphinx Competition for Young Black and Latino String Players. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. at Lincoln Performance Hall, 1620 SW Park Ave. Tickets are $5 for youths and free for Portland State students and staff, $20 general admission, $50 patron (priority seating and post-concert reception); available at the Portland State Box Office, 503-725-3307. Republican and Democratic lawmakers in attendance, as well as cultural and business exchange trips embracing both parties. Seattle Hizmet community organizer Abdullah Akturk says the Turkish government-appointed former honorary consul — who made that original “radical policies” charge to a news reporter last year but was subsequently removed from his post by the Turkish government for criticizing its brutal crackdown on pro-democracy protesters — has caused some problems for the community. But Akturk had nothing bad to say about the former con- sul. “We see each other around, we’ll probably get together sometime,” Akturk says. “We accept him as he is; that is life.” Not so the Washington State legislature, where the Ethics committee just threw out a complaint by Roach protesting the way Akturk’s group has been portrayed in a series of legislative travel briefings and in charges against her. “These are the nicest people you’ve ever met, there is no concrete accusation against them,” she says. “We learned about the gas and oil pipelines in Canada and how our state can potentially benefit — how is that ‘radical policies’?” Read the rest of this story online at www.theskanner.com Candidates continued from page 1 contract job. Jason Renaud of the Mental Health Association of Portland, for exam- ple, refused to join the selection advisory committee arguing that the city needs to try again. Still just one person on the selection advi- sory committee, mental health advocate and Portland State University adjunct professor Beckie Child, said none of the three candi- dates meets the requirements of the job. By concensus the selection advisory group ruled out Rosenbaum, largely because he and his team would remain in Chicago. The team said they would send a representative to meetings in Portland but Rosenbaum himself would make no more than occasional visits. “The elephant in the room is there is no elephant in the room,” said Aimee Samara of the city’s Human Rights Commission. “They are not going to be here. They are going to be in Chicago.” Michael Alexander of the Urban League of Portland said Rosenbaum didn’t know the city and hadn’t done his research. “He made a data error in his presentation when he said there are only a few Latinos in Portland,” Alexander said. Five people expressed a preference for Ward, who while he did not show up with a team, won people over with his frankness, calm demeanor and ability to speak about issues directly. Ward was praised for doing his homework and understanding the settle- ment agreement and the issues. “I was struck by his candor,” said Carl Goodman. “I sat on the profiling committee when we were discussing the disparity in Child said. “He hasn’t identified his team and no one person can do this job.” Ward’s suggestion during the presentation that he could work with volunteers only added to Child’s doubts. “This is real work,” she said. “It requires a paid staff not volunteers.” Campbell’s team was viewed as strong on data crunching and diversity but criticized for not doing its homework on the settle- ment and failing to answer the questions. “It was more a marketing presentation Just 12 applications were received for the $240,000 a year contract job stops and he was the only one who said there’s a problem. For me his honesty and sincerity and his passion for the job: I don’t think you can buy that passion.” Ward was the only candidate to come alone without a team, however, which raised concerns for some. “I’m concerned that he came in his own,” than a capacity and skills presentation,” said Alexander. “It was missed opportunity.” Patricia Ten Eyck of NAMI Multnomah found the Campbell group’s presentation disorganized. And like others she felt the team was insensitive when talking about people with mental health issues. “It was painful to listen to because he just Since 2002, Farrington worked as a Port- land State University Women’s Studies professor, teaching courses about gender but also many about writing, literature and personal health and wellness. In 2005 Farrington formed her own non- profit organization, All About Community, through which she offered an array of serv- ices and support to area groups and individuals. Farrington led free health class- es for women and spoke to religious communities of many denominations. In February of this year she offered an ongoing lecture series on the theme of “Liv- ing the Dream of Beloved Community.” A dedicated artist, Farrington published a spoken word CD, “Affirmations with Roslyn,” currently available online. She also published several writings, including “Anna Holy Woman: Saying Yes to Divine Love.” Because she loved karaoke so much, Far- got so lost and confused,” she said. “Not once did he talk about utilizing or reaching out to the community. It was almost dismis- sive.” Bob Joondeph said the team demonstrat- ed, “an us versus them attitude when it came to the mental health community.” The selection advisory group sent its rec- ommendations to the mayor. Hales however, is not obliged to follow their advice. The presentations to the Selection Adviso- ry Board will be available soon on the mayor’s website. The public is invited to comment online at the mayor’s website: www.portlandore- gon.gov/mayor/ or by e-mailing mayorcharliehales@portlandoregon.gov or calling his office at 503-823-4120. The page will include links to the applica- tions and a link to video of the interviews, which aired live on Channel 30. Read the rest of this story online at www.theskanner.com Farrington continued from page 1 hooks class, I learned from her more than I can say.” The first African American director to the Oregon Commission for Women, appointed by Gov. John Kitzhaber, Farrington served from 2000-2005. Over the years she pitched in to help lead grassroots projects and non- profits from the Western States Center to the feminist theater company Broadarts’ Summer Peace Arts Theatre Camp at King Elementary School. rington’s friends are holding a celebration in her memory at Chopsticks III: How Can Be Lounge, Saturday, Oct. 4, starting at 8:30 p.m., 535 NE Columbia Blvd. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the PSU Foundation for Roslyn Farring- ton Scholarship Fund at www.foundation.ped.edu. Read the rest of this story online at www.theskanner.com October 1, 2014 The Portland and Seattle Skanner Page 3
