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About The skanner. (Portland, Or.) 1975-2014 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 27, 2017)
December 27, 2017 The Skanner Page 5 PHOTO BY MELVIN HERNANDEZ A Look Back at 2017 Resistance Talks PHOTO BY CHRISTEN MCCURDY In March, Portland’s Resistance — an activist group that formed in November 2016 and led numerous large protests immediately after the election and again after the inauguration — partnered with art and activism group, Know Your City, to ignite a new program called Resistance Talks in an effort to make sense of a nation divided. Co-organizers Gregory McKelvey and Cameron Whitten invited speakers from a broad range of groups to talk about social justice topics including maintaining a local economy, addressing renters’ rights, divestment on a city level and using independent media as a conduit for local voices. On Feb. 9, Quanice Hayes, a 17-year-old African American in Portland, was shot and killed by Portland police officer Andrew Hearst, prompting activists to rally the following week. Officers had responded to a report of a nearby car prowl and then established a perimeter in the area to search for the robbery suspect. They discovered indications of a break-in at a house on the 8300 block of Northeast Hancock Street and sent dogs in to search the house. Sometime after, officers encountered Hayes outside. Hearst fired three times, and according to police, when officers attempted to render aid, they discovered the teenager was dead. In this Feb. 10 photo, Portland Police Bureau chief Mike Marshman, left, and Mayor Ted Wheeled talked to reporters at the press conference where Hayes’ name was released. In March a Multnomah County grand jury cleared Hearst of any wrongdoing. Hayes was one of two people killed by Portland police in 2017, and one of six people total who were shot by officers on duty this year. Terrell Kyreem Johnson, 24, was shot and killed May 10 at a southeast Portland transit station by Office Samson Ajir. A grand jury ruled that use of force was also justified. AP PHOTO/JULIE JACOBSON Quanice Hayes Killed by Portland Police Study: Portland’s African American Population Decreasing A study released in March by PSU’s College of Urban and Public Affairs found that Portland’s newest migrants are more diverse than the overall population, yet the Rose City continues to lose its African American population. PHOTO COURTESY OF MULTNOMAH CO. Before the recession, between 2005 and 2007, the annual flow of Black migrants was essentially zero. But after the recession, during 2012 and 2014, Portland lost a net of 800 African American residents. Researchers said the study did not detail the reasons, but made a link between the decreased population and the gentrification of North and Northeast Portland, as well as increases in rents throughout the metro area. Commissioner Smith Files Tort Claim Against County Multnomah County Commissioner Loretta Smith filed a tort claim notice against the county in April, calling for a cease and desist of Multnomah County’s investigation into complaints against Smith made by two of her former employees. The investigation related to claims Smith misused county resources, funds and staff for her personal campaign events, and used unprofessional conduct — including discriminatory behavior and harassment — towards her staff. The investigation report, which was released publicly in June, said many individual claims could not be substantiated but that there was evidence to support some of the allegations. Smith maintained the investigation was racially charged and politically motivated, saying in her tort claim and in comments to The Skanner that county chair Deborah Kafoury saw her as a potential rival in a future election. Tension between the two commissioners continued to simmer throughout the year, closing with an allegation that Kafoury addressed Smith with an expletive after abruptly gaveling out of a Dec. 21 commission meeting. (Video of the meeting closes with the gavel pounding and does not feature any profanity, though Kafoury released a statement later that day saying she had behaved in a way that was “unprofessional and unbecoming.”) The state fined Smith $250 in November after investigating a complaint that county staffers were made to work on campaign events. The state fined Smith again Dec. 21 in relation to complaints she is engaging in fundraising for a city council campaign. According to the county charter Smith cannot run for office in another jurisdiction without forfeiting her county commissioner post, and she has yet to formally file for candidacy, but she declared her intention to run for city council position three in a Sept. 12 press release. As the holiday season approaches, We’re taking time to reflect on the year And prepare for the challenges we face in 2018. We value our readers And thank you for your continued support and engagement. We look forward to serving you in the year to come. We hope this holiday offers you the opportunity to relax and enjoy time with your family and friends. The Skanner staff wishes you a Happy Holiday Season and a New Year filled with Peace and Prosperity!