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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