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About The skanner. (Portland, Or.) 1975-2014 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 9, 2017)
AUGUST 9, 2017 Portland and Seattle Volume XXXIX, No. 45 25 CENTS News ...............................3,9-12 A & E .................................... 6-8 Opinion ...................................2 Albina Jazz Festival ........7 Calendars ........................... 4-5 Bids/Classifieds ....................11 CHALLENGING PEOPLE TO SHAPE A BETTER FUTURE NOW PHOTOS COURTESY OF LEGACY HEALTH UMOJA FEST George J. Brown, M.D., Legacy Health president and CEO, at the project’s press conference, Aug. 1, 2017. By Melanie Sevcenko Of The Skanner News A fter close to 50 years of gentri- fying historically Black neigh- borhoods, the city of Portland has recently announced a new development with the intent to heal Portland’s relationship with its African American community. Beginning in the 1960s, the Portland Development Commission bought and razed properties it considered “blight- See LEGACY on page 3 Ardaja Callandret, and the other cast members of the 2017 teen summer musical “The Wiz” perform a dance number from the show during the annual Umoja Fest parade Aug. 5. The parade is part of the annual Umoja Fest African Heritage Festival & Parade. This year’s event was bigger than ever and featured three stages showcasing music, dance and fashion, the annual heal the Hood Basketball Tournament, a youth football jamboree, family fun village and a vendor market place. “The Wiz” will be performed at the Moore Theatre Aug. 24 through Aug. 27. The tickets are available through Ticketmaster. Jo Ann Hardesty to Run for Council in 2018 Former legislator, current NAACP president challenges Dan Saltzman By Christen McCurdy Of The Skanner News AP PHOTO/DARRON CUMMINGS, FILE J In this July 8 file photo, Maine Secretary of State Matt Dunlap speaks during a voter registration meeting at the National Association of Secretaries of State conference in Indianapolis. A voter fraud commission established by President Donald Trump could make it easier for hackers to get voter registration information. World News Briefs page 12 New Hope for Lifers Sentenced as a Children page 9 o Ann Hardesty is run- ning for Portland City Council. Hardesty, a former state legislator and the current president of the NAACP Portland Branch, launched a campaign site last week and announced her candidacy to local me- dia Friday afternoon. She’s running for position 3, currently occupied by Dan Saltzman. The announcement wasn’t a surprise — she has hinted at a council run since October 2016 — but the way she announced it was. According to stories pub- lished in Willamette Week and the Portland Tribune Friday, Hardesty visited Saltzman’s office and asked him to retire and endorse her candidacy. “I think he was a bit shocked by the question. His first question was, why him?” Hardesty told The Skanner Monday. There are two seats open in 2018 — positions 2 and 3 — and positions aren’t geograph- ically restricted, so candi- dates can run for any po- sition on the commission. “My response was, [it’s] because he’s been there for a very, very, very long time and it seemed appropriate to have new leadership there.” Saltzman announced his intent to seek re-election in December. He has served on the city commission since 1999, making him the most senior of its five members. “As I announced a couple of months ago, I am run- ning for re-election, and I’ve been incredibly grat- ified by the support I am receiving from the com- munity. I look forward to the campaign,” he said in a written statement to The Skanner. If Hardesty is elected, she would be the first woman of color ever to serve on the council. Portland has had just two commission- ers of color — both Black See HARDESTY on page 3 Black Male Achievement Looks for Mentors Public event, Aug. 12 at Unthank Park, includes panels, entertainment centered on role models By Melanie Sevcenko Of The Skanner News B lack Male Achievement Port- land is hosting a community event Saturday to gather input on how to attract mentors for young Black men and boys. Under Portland’s Office of Equity and Human Rights, BMA works to as- sist and hold accountable city leaders and community stakeholders in their efforts to boost outcomes for male Black youth. Its strength is in its numbers, with over 20 regional organizations rep- resented by Black men that form the BMA Portland umbrella. The group’s primary work focuses on breaking down barriers to education, employ- ment, family stability and criminal justice. To accomplish its mission, the or- See MENTORS on page 3 PHOTO COURTESY OF BMA PORTLAND Health services and affordable housing are slotted for the Emmanuel Hospital site PHOTO BY SUSAN FRIED Legacy, Partners Launch New Project Participants of Black Male Achievement Summer Youth Experience, 2016
