Portland Weekend Fun Observer Cinco de Mayo Election to fill downtown Endorsements waterfront See story, page 8 See Opinion, page 11 ‘City of Roses’ www.portlandobserver.com Established in 1970 Volume XLVII • Number 18 Wednesday • May 2, 2018 Committed to Cultural Diversity Loretta Smith vows to make progress for underrepresented groups in her campaign Jo Ann Hardesty, a longtime activist and former State Representative is running for Portland City Council, wanting to direct more resources to aid homelessness for the Portland City Council on four issues: Increasing citizens’ access to local and housing, and calling for the city to do a better job of increasing economic government proceedings, housing and homelessness, green jobs, and police opportunities for people of color. accountability. Women,Historic people of color Midtermsurface as top candidates BY DANNY PETERSON reform, systemic inequity against people of ning for a sixth term soon after and will housing, and calls for the city to do a better THE PORTLAND OBSERVER color, a desire for improved mental health step down when his term ends in January. job of increasing economic opportunities As citizens cast their votes in the next services, affordable housing, and humane Hardesty, the former President of for people of color. two weeks on official ballots that have al- approaches to homelessness appear as the NAACP Portland chapter has been a long- “I’ve spent a lot of time protecting our ready hit mailboxes for the May 15 Prima- main drivers of interest for those seeking time local activist and former member of seniors and supporting our youth. And ry election, they will consider a diversity office this year. the Oregon House of Representatives. She also making sure that we direct funding to of candidates for what is shaping up to be Jo Ann Hardesty, who is running for Dan said she’s running for City Council on four homelessness and housing,” Smith told the a historic contest of city and county posi- Saltzman’s seat on Portland City Council, issues: Increasing citizens’ access to lo- Portland Observer. tions, particularly for women and people of said she became resolved to run when she cal government proceedings, housing and Although Smith’s campaign was fined color. attempted to testify on a police union con- homelessness, green jobs, and police ac- twice by the Oregon’s Secretary of State’s Following a trend nationwide, more tract negotiation in October 2016. Under countability. office for violating election laws, once for females and other politically underrepre- then Mayor Charlie Hales, she could not Another top candidate for that same seat asking county staff to work at a political sented groups are running for prominent enter City Hall due to it being barricaded is Multnomah County Commissioner Lo- event and another time for not updating fi- political seats in local, state, and national by riot police. Hardesty’s lawyer told her retta Smith, who boasts eight years of ex- nancial records, she and others have ques- elections this year. the barricades could have been dissolved if perience as the county’s second ever Afri- tioned whether the scrutiny was a distrac- All of the candidates in the Multnomah somebody on city council opposed it. can American commissioner. She also has tion from more important issues. County Commission, District Two race are “That was the day I knew we had the over 20 years of experience as an assistant A mayoral candidate from two years people of color and some of the top can- wrong people on Portland City Council,” under U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore. ago, for example, Jules Bailey, a white didates that are running for Portland City Hardesty told the Portland Observer. Smith vows to continue priorities man, announced his candidacy while still Council are women of color, a position of Last year, Hardesty had a meeting with to make progress for underrepresented serving as a county commissioner, just as power not ever held by that demographic Saltzman, and let him know she would be groups in Portland, the motivation she said Smith had, but received little scrutiny at in the city’s 167 year history. starting a campaign for his seat. The in- inspired her campaign. She wants to direct CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 Hot topic issues like police and justice cumbent announced he would not be run- more resources to aid homelessness and Page 2 May 2, 2018 VOTE > D. BORA HARRIS Cosby’s Spectacular Downfall MAY 15, 2018 MULTNOMAH COUNTY CHAIR Actor could face final years in prison (AP) — Bill Cosby was convicted Walk With Me; Thursday of drugging and molesting a woman, a spectacular late-life downfall Hold Hands With of a comedian who broke racial barriers in Hollywood on his way to TV superstardom Me in FAITH- HOPE as America’s Dad. Cosby, 80, could end up spending his fi- - COURAGE for nal years in prison after the jury in Norris- town, Pa. concluded he sexually violated SOLUTIONS Temple University employee Andrea Con- Bill Cosby arrives at the courthouse stand at his suburban Philadelphia home in prior to being found guilty of sexual 2004. He claimed the encounter was con- assault. (AP photo) sensual. jailed because he might flee. The judge de- Cosby listened to the verdict stoically, cided Cosby can remain free on bail while but moments later lashed out loudly at Dis- he awaits sentencing. uilding ublic rust trict Attorney Kevin Steele after the pros- B P T CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 ecutor asked that Cosby be immediately • OUR ELDERLY -- Renewed quality of life • OUR CHILDREN -- Protect their Environment, Education, Dreams • OUR HOMELESS -- “Livable” places to call home State University was approved by the col- • AFFORDABLE HOUSING -- In places where neighbors know your name The lege’s board of trustees last week. A larger Week increase of five percent had been scheduled Follow me on Facebook and Twitter! 503-936-8020 for a vote by the board on April 12, but was [email protected] – or- [email protected] in postponed after students threatened to strike. Review Korean Leaders Meet for Peace District Settles Harassment Suit North and South The Portland School Board voted last week Korean leaders to settle a racial harassment case leveled by met Friday to two black maintenance workers for $1.4 pursue negoti- million after attempts to overturn the award ations with the failed. The employees, Charles Morgan United States to and Jason Williams, will each get $400,000 officially end the as payment for an incident in which other Korean War and remove all nuclear weap- workers called them the n-word and a hung ons from the Korean Peninsula. The histor- a noose in their workplace. ic summit marked the first time a leader of North Korea entered the South and is the first Police Cars Doused with Paint step in a peace treaty the two leaders vow to Early Tuesday morning, 22 Portland Police negotiate to replace a 60-year-old truce. cars had paint dumped on them in a park- ing lot at the North Precinct on Northeast Shot Investigating Break In Emerson Street. Authorities hope soap and A man confronting someone trying to break water will clean the cars, the majority of into a shed early Monday morning behind which were assigned to youth services di- the El Burrio Loco restaurant on Northeast vision and not significantly damaged. 82nd Avenue was shot by the suspect who then fled, according to police. The victim Guilty of Child Pornography was taken to a Portland hospital in serious A former city employee who police say en- condition. ticed girls who were underage to send him nude pictures pleaded guilty last week to Sentenced for Killing Bicyclist child pornography charges. Thomas Zachary A 76-year-old man from Gresham who Rouse, 44, the former tennis program director police said challenged other motorists to a for Portland Parks and Recreation, is expected race and then drove his speeding vehicle to be sentenced to four years in prison. into a 21-year-old bicyclist, killing Robert Esparza, 21, was handed a two year prison PSU Tuition Increase term Monday. The driver, Alex Jacoby was A tuition spike of nearly 4 percent for full- travelling at 80 miles per hour just prior to time residential undergraduates of Portland the fatal crash, police said. Established 1970 ---------------------- USPS 959 680 ------------------ 4747 NE Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Portland, OR 97211 PUBLISHER: Mark Washington, Sr. The Portland Observer welcomes freelance submissions. Manuscripts and photographs should be clearly labeled and will be returned if accompanied by a self addressed envelope. All created design display ads become the sole property of the news- EDITOR: Michael Leighton paper and cannot be used in other publications or personal usage without the written consent of the general manager, unless EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Rakeem Washington the client has purchased the composition of such ad. © 2008 THE PORTLAND OBSERVER. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, RE- PRODUCTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART WITHOUT PERMISSION IS PROHIBITED. The Portland Observer--Oregon’s ADVERTISING MANAGER: Leonard Latin Oldest Multicultural Publication--is a member of the National Newspaper Association--Founded in 1885, and The National Office Manager/Classifieds:Lucinda Baldwin Advertising Representative Amalgamated Publishers, Inc, New York, NY, and The West Coast Black Publishers Association CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Paul Neufeldt CALL 503-288-0033 FAX 503-288-0015 REPORTER/WEB EDITOR: Danny Peterson [email protected] • [email protected] PUBLIC RELATIONS: Mark Washington Jr. [email protected] Postmaster: Send address changes to Portland Observer , OFFICE ASSISTANT/SALES: Shawntell Washington PO QR code PO Box 3137 , Portland, OR 97208 May 2, 2018 Page 3 This page INSIDE Sponsored by: The in Week Review page 2 Support for Housing, Police Mayor sets priorities with new budget Mayor Ted Wheeler announced his proposed general fund budget of $553 million Monday, which included increased monies for homeless services, affordable housing, police officers, and new small business support.