In the wake of former Governor Kitzhaber’s demise, there is an all-out effort to cozy up to the new governor, Kate Brown. This should not be surprising, but what is most revealing in the entire process is the notion of political loyalty. With Democratic friends like those who turned on Governor Kitzhaber, who needs Republican enemies. It was quite astounding to watch this mass abandonment. Continue reading Cozying Up to the New Governor
Category Archives: How we see it
Is Portland’s Black Male Achievement Project for real?
What does the advent of the new Black Male Achievement (BMA) project and the 1995 Million Man March have in common?
As an organizer of the Portland contingent that traveled to the March in Washington, DC back in October 1995, I was struck by a reference to the pride of black men made by Mayor Hales in his recent state of the city address. Continue reading Is Portland’s Black Male Achievement Project for real?
Can Black people connect the O-DOT’s?
How do these recent events impact black people: Mayor Charlie Hale’s 2015 priorities; the recent firing of Catherine Mater, the chair of Department of Transportation Commission; Carol Smith’s Portland Public Schools reorganization plan, and the Governor’s vision for the new Workforce Innovation and Opportunities Act? They all have huge implications for black people, both specifically and as they interrelate to each other. Continue reading Can Black people connect the O-DOT’s?
Good Choice Mayor Hales
Maybe it is too early to tell but perhaps one of Charlie Hale’s best decisions as mayor is appointing Larry O’Dea as police chief. In spite of an avalanche of criticism, it appears the Mayor made a good decision. This chief seems to be most comfortable in his own skin. Continue reading Good Choice Mayor Hales
Right or Left…we have to do something different!
Here we are at the start of another year – Happy New Year! Now is the time for black people to do something different in politics. Here in Oregon we have to recognize that much of our misery has happened under the leadership of so called “progressive” Democrats.
Some say it would have been worse under Republicans, and they might be right. However, we will never know because we have been so captured by and in lockstep with the Democrats for a number of years. Continue reading Right or Left…we have to do something different!
Black people are not welcome at PDX
The Port of Portland’s, Portland International Airport has been recognized as America’s best airport. It’s posted all over their website. The question is, the best airport for whom and for what? Continue reading Black people are not welcome at PDX
Why Can’t Blacks Get To the Table?
It seems like we have watched this cycle go on forever, election after election, year after year, generation after generation: Black people are not at the table when it counts. Not being at that table during budget processes is devastating. “ODOT to Oregon lawmakers: Find $5.1 billion for bridges and roads, or watch economy collapse, Portland Public Schools’ $16.8 million windfall could lead to immediate relief in crowded schools, Portland could have a windfall of more than $15 million in new money to spend during the next few fiscal years”. Here are just a few examples of the headlines giving a glimpse of the dollars to be spent without recognizable black emphasis or input. Continue reading Why Can’t Blacks Get To the Table?
What Transparency?
To the average citizen most agency transparency efforts are clear as mud.
While federal, state, county and city agencies profess to have robust public transparency policies, it is a very difficult process to navigate. The key is getting discernable information that is useful. It is almost a full time job to extract information that makes sense. Unless you are a numbers geek or have unlimited time and resources, this is a discouraging proposition. And we think the agencies want it that way. Continue reading What Transparency?