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About The skanner. (Portland, Or.) 1975-2014 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 16, 2015)
Page 2 The Skanner December 16, 2015 Challenging People to Shape a Better Future Now Bernie Foster Founder/Publisher Bobbie Dore Foster Executive Editor Jerry Foster Advertising Manager Christen McCurdy News Editor Patricia Irvin Graphic Designer Arashi Young Donovan M. Smith Reporters Monica J. Foster Seattle Office Coordinator Susan Fried Photographer 2015 MERIT AWARDS WINNER The Skanner has received 20 NNPA awards since 1998 The Skanner Newspaper, es- tablished in October 1975, is a weekly publication, published every Wednesday by IMM Publi- cations Inc. 415 N. Killingsworth St. P.O. Box 5455 Portland, OR 97228 Telephone (503) 285-5555 Fax: (503) 285-2900 info@theskanner.com www.TheSkanner.com The Skanner is a member of the National Newspaper Pub lishers Association and West Coast Black Pub lishers Association. All photos submitted become the property of The Skanner. We are not re spon sible for lost or damaged photos either solicited or unsolicited. ©2015 The Skanner. All rights re served. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission prohibited. Local News Pacific NW News World News Opinions Jobs, Bids Entertainment Community Calendar RSS feeds F oundation 30TH ANNUAL Martin Luther King, Jr. BREAKFAST January 18, 2016 Hilton Portland 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Purchase tickets & read more at: TheSkanner.com Opinion What Has Happened to Black Business Loans? D uring the 2000 Presi- dential Election, Pres- ident George W. Bush made a written pledge to the National Black Cham- ber of Commerce® (NBCC). He claimed that he would focus on the doors leading to in- creasing capital access for mi- nority businesses. To our as- tonishment, he delivered on that pledge while candidate Al Gore refused to make such a pledge. That pledge began eight years of positive growth in Small Business Adminis- tration (SBA) lending. The above activity soon be- gan to disappear for two rea- sons: The effects of the sub- prime mortgage crisis and the lethargic activity coming out of the Obama SBA. President Obama figured the quick fix would be more and more regulation. In 2010, he signed the Dodd-Frank Amendment, which piled “mountains” of paperwork and rules onto our banking institutions. The pushback was major banks began refus- ing to underwrite small loans, inclusive of the guaranteed SBA loans. When President Bush left office, the SBA was doing more than 8 percent in loans to Black businesses. To- day, under the Obama apathy and immense regulations, the SBA is doing less than 1.8 per- cent in lending to Black busi- nesses. Harry C. Alford NNPA Columnist According to the Valley Eco- nomic Development Center, “SBA loans to African Amer- icans declined 47 percent be- tween 2009 and 2013, even as overall SBA loan volume rose roughly 25 percent during the same period.” Doesn’t this paint the pic- ture? “ ly “seized” them as they ap- proach bankruptcy. Will they bounce back? That is doubtful as right now the Obama Administration is try- ing to liquidate the two firms. We are fighting against this effort. The above should be a hot topic during the presidential debates but so far there has been no traction. We are go- ing to bang the “drums” much harder for it to become a ma- jor political issue. There is one hidden blessing coming out of the Dodd-Frank Amendment. Under current banking law, commercial SBA loans to African Americans declined 47 percent between 2009 and 2013 The subprime mortgage cri- sis devastated the net worth of Black families. That net worth was based on equity in our homes. The homes have disappeared in many of our communities and with it went the equity, which made new entrepreneurs bankable. The biggest players in the mortgage business were Fan- nie Mae and Freddie Mac. These two government-spon- sored enterprises are now “owned” by the Obama Ad- ministration as he virtual- banks cannot record the de- mographics of their lending (except SBA loans). This is called Regulation B. Our im- plementers of the Civil Rights Act of 1965 thought this would help prohibit discrimination. If there is discrimination in lending what better way to de- tect it than tracking the num- bers and volume? We have been fighting for the expulsion of Regulation B for over twenty years. Thank God it is going away by way of the Dodd-Frank Amendment. It has been tak- ing years to happen but with- in the next three years, under a new Administration it is go- ing to happen. Hopefully, our Congressional Black Caucus will focus on this opportunity and police the activity. Two other things can help. First, lenders must target cer- tain markets such as Los An- geles, New York, Chicago and other markets that have large Black populations and more Black business opportunities. Second, we must recruit more EB-5 investors into our communities. A holder of an EB-5 visa can migrate to this nation with special status providing he or she invests at least $500,000 (soon to be $1 million) into an underserved community. Chinese, Saudis, Indians etc. are participating in this program in an expo- nential way. What a wonder- ful program to take advantage of. It is time for Black commu- nity developers and leaders to pick up the pace in EB-5 activ- ity for their neighborhoods. The National Black Cham- ber of Commerce is dedicat- ing 2016 to the emergence of more capital access for our business members. The plans will start unfolding early next year. Stay tuned. Mr. Alford is the co-founder, President/CEO of the National Black Chamber of Commerce®. Website: www.nationalbcc.org. Life Transforming Insight from the Real Results Expert D r. Clarice Fluitt is a powerful motivational speaker, internation- ally recognized Chris- tian leader and accomplished businesswoman. She is a suc- cessful entrepreneur with a long history in real estate de- velopment. As a life strategist and high- ly sought after personal ad- visor, Dr. Fluitt’s messages bring inspiration and inno- vation to every audience she encounters. Her insights and thought provoking delivery have solidified her position as a renowned motivational speaker and transformation- al voice - impacting countless lives daily. Dr. Clarice has been a global trainer for more than four de- cades. Her success is based on her ability to help individuals and organizations get real practical results. Her experi- ences as corporate and execu- tive coach, entrepreneur, and strategic consultant allow her to share her proven strategies for building customer value, creating revolutionary prod- ucts, inspiring innovation, and generating sustainable growth. Her book, Ridiculous Mir- acles, demonstrates and is an expression of Dr. Fluitt as a time-proven prophetess Willie Jolley NNPA Columnist portunity to overcome be- fore you can “come over.” • If you are not a solution to the pollution of poverty, you will become a partaker in it. • Wisdom is the ability to use knowledge skillfully. with laser like accuracy. Her life and book are remarkable chronicles of hilarious re- al-life stories, tragic trials, tests, and moving visitations of the Lord. Dr. Fluitt’s mantra is that a person with an experience is “ • Do not start a work without a Word from God. • Knowledge of a thing is not necessarily possession of it. • Instruct people from prin- ciples and foundations that are eternal. Dr. Fluitt’s mantra is that a person with an experience is more valu- able than a person with only an opinion more valuable than a person with only an opinion! She be- lieves “much of our wisdom and insight into transforma- tional living is learned in the shallows of life, activated in the deep places, and grown in the depths of living.” Dr. Clarice’s SiriusXM in- terview insights will inspire you to look behind every rock for your next opportunity! .She says: • You will always have an op- • Proximity is power. Sur- round yourself with cham- pions. Aspire to greater heights through the process of intentional connections. • Correction is not rejection. • Surround yourself with those who celebrate you and your life, • Focus determines your suc- cess. Help people uncover their passion and focus by giving them a guide. • Learn to listen intentional- ly and practice being fully engaged. • Think not only good thoughts but also God thoughts that will always give us new ways, ideas, and opportunities to create more avenues of revenue. • How you think about fail- ure can determine how high you will ascend as you climb the ladder of success. • With each promotion, advancement, and break- through comes your oppor- tunity to be the creator of your atmosphere that con- verts potential into reality. • We may see walls separat- ing us from our dreams and goals. They’re not walls at all. They’re God’s call that demands great leaps of faith on our part, for a successful journey through life. • Honor your commitment to yourself. Invest in yourself. Follow through with your dreams and visions. • Nothing happens until you act. Think ridiculous thoughts. Expect ridiculous results. Decide to live a ri- diculous life for Ridiculous Miracles EVERYDAY.
