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About The skanner. (Portland, Or.) 1975-2014 | View Entire Issue (April 22, 2015)
News Breakfast City Club SEI New Columbia after their research showed it has the highest concentration of African and African American families in the entire state of Oregon; Umi adds that residents of the surrounding neighborhoods represent more different African nations than the rest of the state as well. “We just don’t believe that having mass police presence in these communities is doing anything better to for anybody,” Umi says. The effort is reminiscent of the Black Panther Party’s work around the nation during the 1960-70s to fill specific voids in local communities with food programs, medical clinics, and sickle cell anemia education and testing. ‘Once you complain about a problem you have a responsibility to get your life in order and address the problem’ The Panthers had been known for armed self defense, but in announcing their dedication to creating community resources in early 1968, the organization shifted to “self determination.” In fact the first free breakfast program started by Black Panthers in Oakland, California, became a national model that spread to dozens of local communities, including Port- land. The federal government later took the idea and started a school-based breakfast program that still operates in some areas. The A-APRP Oregon Chapter is built around a core group of about two dozen activist-scholars who meet every other week to talk about historical and social research they share – including some 70 pages of reading twice monthly. “Thought without action is blind,” Umi says. “Once you complain about a problem you have a responsibility to get your life in order and address the problem.” Members supported Northeast Portland Gulf War veteran Alicia Jackson, whose home was foreclosed after a long standoff with Water Bureau officials over predatory lending charges in her contested home mortgage. PHOTO COURTESY SEI continued from page 1 The City Club of Portland and Self Enhancement, Inc., sponsor a forum for parents on important learning milestones, the wide variety of resources available to meet students’ needs and how to best access them. The event is free and open to the public, Thursday, April 30 from 6:15 to 7:30 p.m. at SEI, 3920 N Kerby Ave. Refreshments and light snacks will be served and audience participation is encouraged. Speakers include Nancy Golden, Oregon’s Chief Education Officer, Sam Breyer Centennial School Superintendent, Don Grotting, David Douglas Superintendent and Carole Smith, Portland Public School Superintendent. A panel moderated by Rob Manning of OPB will include Gerald Deloney SEI Director of Program Advancement; Zalika Gardner, Principal KairosPDX Charter School; Daniel Ramirez, Math/Science Teacher, Roosevelt High School; Carmen Caballero Rubio, Executive Director, Latino Network; La’Shawanta (“Taye”) Spears, Asst. Principal David Douglas Fir Ridge H. S.; Roberto Suarez, PPC Outreach & Orientation Coordinator. For more info go to www.pdxcityclub.org/events, or email info@pdxcityclub.org. The group, which has met for a year and a half, has also held an annual July 4 event at Peninsula Park called “the Fourth of the Lie.” Umi says what sets A-APRP apart from most other groups are the agreements participants must make to participate. “You agree to participate in a work study process that’s designed to give you a sense of what’s happening all around the world — and read 70 pages every week,” he says. “You have to agree to challenge yourself to be a better person.” If that doesn’t sound like you, there are other ways to help. “People can support by bringing their children to partici- pate, and by spreading the word,” Umi says. “If people are licensed therapists – these are the types of services we want to start making available to people; when people have these problems we want to be able to say, you can go here for help,” he says. “If people have access to those types of resources that would be great.” Parents interested in learning more and registering chil- dren, should check www.aaprporegon.org or call 360-980-1409. Victims continued from page 1 “Fifteen minutes in the hallway was a lot easier than everything that came after, the pain of betrayal, the fear of a second attack by someone on his behalf,” she said. Walters said this fear defined her life. Vic- tims’ rights advocates helped her get control again by suing Kuhnhausen in a civil case to prevent him from using the money to hire another hit man. She found peace only when he was convicted and incarcerated. Once her ex-husband’s parole began to near, Walters needed the help of her advo- cates again. She had many questions about his release, and she felt like she wasn’t get- ting any answers. Only when she contacted the Oregon Crime Victim’s Law Center did she feel like she was being heard. While she was glad to have a parole plan that brought in her needs, Walters expressed frustration to the council about the confus- ing and disjointed process that still needs improvement. Underhill said there are many bills in the HB 3476: Prohibits disclosure of commu- nications between persons seeking services related to domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking and their advocates. HB 2317: Extends statute of limitations Only when she contacted the Oregon Crime Victim’s Law Center did she feel like she was being heard Oregon legislature that would strengthen and protect victims’ rights. A number of the bills pertain to protecting parties who have experienced domestic violence or sexual assault. These decrees include: of certain sex crimes from six to 12 years after commission of crime or, if victim was under 18 years of age, anytime before vic- tim becomes 30 years of age. SB 525: Prohibits possession of firearm or ammunition by a person who is subject to a restraining order or who has been convict- ed of domestic violence crimes. Underhill also mentioned legislation that would make it easier to receive testimony from people who are either victims of sex crimes, child witnesses or special witnesses who are unable to testify in person. HB 3040: Provides that certain hearsay statements related to specific sex crimes are admissible in evidence even if the victim is available as witness. SB 822-1: This bill authorizes word-for- word recordings of grand jury proceedings. An amendment to the bill has been made so that child witnesses or special witnesses can have recorded statements entered into the record instead of testifying in person. Contractor Charged with Bribing Parking Manager By Steven Dubois, Associated Press PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A Florida sup- plier has been indicted on charges he bribed Portland’s former parking manager to win contracts for the city’s smart meter pro- gram. George R. Levey, 58, of Tarpon Springs, Florida, was charged with honest services wire fraud, said Billy Williams, acting U.S. attorney for Oregon. The criminal informa- tion from 2014, unsealed Thursday, alleges he bribed Ellis McCoy from 2002 through 2011 with vacation trips and $56,675 in phony consulting fees to a firm McCoy established to collect payments. Moreover, Levey allegedly promised to pay McCoy $137,100 when his city employment ended — $100 for each smart parking meter installed by Levey’s compa- time public money is spent,” Williams said in a statement. “The bribing of public offi- cials involved in contracting corrupts the The citizens of every city in Oregon are entitled to honesty and transparency ny in Portland, Hood River and three cities in Washington state. Levey also allegedly bribed McCoy to speak favorably about Levey’s company to other cities interested in buying smart park- ing meters. “The citizens of every city in Oregon are entitled to honesty and transparency every contracting process, harms honest contrac- tors and citizens, and diminishes public trust in local government.” Levey, who remains out of custody, was an executive with Schlumberger Industries before becoming owner and president of Cale Parking Systems. He is to make his first appearance in federal court in Portland on April 29. His lawyer told The Oregonian he had no comment. McCoy pleaded guilty more than two years ago to accepting bribes. He is sched- uled to be sentenced for May 27. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Uram said in court documents that McCoy advised Levey how to draft contract proposals to Portland, disclosed internal deliberations of the City Council and testified in favor of awarding contracts to Levey’s companies. McCoy persuaded the city in 2010 to increase a contract for the city’s smart meter program from about $4.4 million to more than $20 million, without competitive bids. April 22, 2015 The Portland and Seattle Skanner Page 3
