Voices from the Edge
About the program …
Community dialogue is important. At 8am every Thursday Voices from the Edge lends a KBOO microphone to informed guests you might not hear anywhere else. With an hour to invest, the call-in format engages listeners in meaningful conversations about crucial issues like racial disparity, government accountability, environmental justice and politics on local, state and national levels. Join lively discussions about concerns that are important to you and our community. Together we’ll make Oregon and our nation a better place for a larger number of those living here.
About the host …
Jo Ann Hardesty is Principal Partner at Consult Hardesty. She serves as a subject matter expert on a myriad of issues and is available as a speaker, facilitator and campaign planner. A long-time voice for Portland's under-represented communities and a leader in the struggle against racial and economic injustice, Jo Ann was three times elected to the Oregon legislature and for many years Executive Director of Oregon Action. She’s been called on by the City of Portland to help re-write the City Charter and organizes those on the downside of power to pursue their interests from the local to the federal level. She is particularly committed to leadership development and in holding those in power accountable.
Join the conversation …
Join the conversation every Thursday morning from 8-9 a.m. by calling 503-231-8187. Keep the conversation going after the program at our blog at kboo.fm/voicesfromtheedge.
Engineering: Steve Nassar
Homepage URL
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Voices from the Edge 08-11-11 Getting Portland back on track
Getting Portland back on track
Wednesday morning federal agents raided the office of the city's parking manager as part of a growing public corruption investigation. The city pursues a $52 million renovation of the Memorial Coliseum while access to affordable housing continues to shrink. Recent budget tracking shows massive investments downtown while residential streets in east Portland remain unpaved. How did we end up with these priorities and how do we get back on track as we approach another round of city elections next year?
This week on Voices from the Edge, we look at the crisis in city leadership and at what issues need to be part of the public discourse as candidates begin ramping up their city council campaigns. We'll also look at whether the current problems reflect a deeper problem in our city, requiring reform of municipal government infrastructure Join us in considering how to get Portland back on track.
Jo Ann Bowman is a former state legislator, former executive director of Oregon Action and past board president of Portland Community Media as well as a long-time leader in the struggle for racial and economic justice. Dave Mazza is a freelance journalist and former editor of The Portland Alliance who has covered and been involved in Portland's civil rights, environmental, labor and peace movements for over 20 years
Join Jo Ann and Dave every Thursday as they bring you guests and conversations on the issues that are important to you. Support Voices from the Edge by becoming a member of KBOO today (just click the "tip jar" on our website to find out how).
Co-Hosts: Jo Ann Bowman and Dave Mazza
Producers: Dave Mazza and Jo Ann Bowman
Program Engineer: Steve Nassar
Audio Editor: Alicia Olson
- Artist: Dave Mazza
- Title: Voices from the Edge 08-11-11
- Album: KBOO Community Radio
- Genre: Public Affairs
- Year: 2011
- Length: 57:10 minutes (52.35 MB)
- Format: MP3 Mono 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)
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Voices from the Edge 08-04-11 Turning up the volume for the DOJ
Turning up the volume for the DOJ
The U.S. Department of Justice has announced that their plan for investigating policies and practices of the Portland Police Bureau to determine whether individual's civil rights are being violated allocates only six hours to meeting with the community. Such a narrow window has raised concerns with community leaders who have been pressing for the investigation and fears within the community that the investigation is yet another paper chase.
This week on Voices from the Edge, Jo Ann and Dave continue the conversation about the DOJ investigation, the importance of substantive community feedback and what the DOJ can do to allay community fears. The co-hosts are encouraging listeners with personal stories that would be relevant to the DOJ investigation to call in and share those stories. We will be providing the DOJ with a podcast of the program to make sure they hear your story as well (If you are calling with a personal story, please let our engineer know so he may place you at the head of the queue). We also encourage listeners with comments or concerns to contact the DOJ directly at 1-877-218-5228 or online at community.portland@usdoj.gov.
Jo Ann Bowman is a former state legislator, former executive director of Oregon Action and past board president of Portland Community Media as well as a long-time leader in the struggle for racial and economic justice. Dave Mazza is a freelance journalist and former editor of The Portland Alliance who has covered and been involved in Portland's civil rights, environmental, labor and peace movements for over 20 years
Join Jo Ann and Dave every Thursday as they bring you guests and conversations on the issues that are important to you. Support Voices from the Edge by becoming a member of KBOO today (just click the "tip jar" on our website to find out how).
Co-Hosts: Jo Ann Bowman and Dave Mazza
Producers: Dave Mazza and Jo Ann Bowman
Program Engineer: Steve Nassar
Audio Editor: Alicia Olson
- Artist: Jo Ann Bowman, Dave Mazza
- Title: Voices from the Edge 08-04-11 Turning up the volume for the DOJ
- Album: KBOO Community Radio
- Genre: Public Affairs
- Year: 2011
- Length: 54:09 minutes (49.59 MB)
- Format: MP3 Mono 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)
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Voices from the Edge 07-28-11 US DOJ investigation into police practices and policies
How seriously will the Feds look at police practices?
The U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division is beginning an investigation into the policies and practices of the Portland Police Bureau to determine whether officers routinely use excessive force to violate Portlanders' civil rights. Community leaders who have been calling for such an investigation were finally joined in their request by Mayor Sam Adams and Commissioner Dan Saltzman following the January 2010 police killing of Aaron Campbell. While the DOJ determined no federal law had been violated in the Campbell case, the agency did feel a review of bureau policies and practices are needed. This investigation will take place while the DOJ is also investigating whether the state mental health system is violating the rights of institutionalized Oregonians.
This week on Voices from the Edge, Jo Ann and Dave look at the scope and structure of the DOJ investigation. How broadly will federal investigators cast their net? How aggressively will they go into affected communities to obtain testimony from Portlanders and will these efforts seek to overcome the reluctance of many residents to speak out publicly against the police?
Jo Ann Bowman is a former state legislator, former executive director of Oregon Action and past board president of Portland Community Media as well as a long-time leader in the struggle for racial and economic justice. Dave Mazza is a freelance journalist and former editor of The Portland Alliance who has covered and been involved in Portland's civil rights, environmental, labor and peace movements for over 20 years
Join Jo Ann and Dave every Thursday as they bring you guests and conversations on the issues that are important to you. Support Voices from the Edge by becoming a member of KBOO today (just click the "tip jar" on our website to find out how).
Co-Hosts: Jo Ann Bowman and Dave Mazza
Producers: Dave Mazza and Jo Ann Bowman
Program Engineer: Steve Nassar
Audio Editor: Alicia Olson
- Artist: Jo Ann Bowman, Dave Mazza
- Title: Voices from the Edge 07-28-11 US DOJ investigation into police practices and policies
- Album: KBOO Community Radio
- Genre: Public Affairs
- Year: 2011
- Length: 53:21 minutes (48.86 MB)
- Format: MP3 Mono 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)
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Voices from the Edge 07-21-11 Columbia River Crossing
This week on Voices from the Edge, host Jo Ann Boman asks, "Can Oregon afford the Columbia River Crossing?"
Jo Ann Bowman is a former state legislator, former executive director of Oregon Action and past board president of Portland Community Media as well as a long-time leader in the struggle for racial and economic justice. Dave Mazza is a freelance journalist and former editor of The Portland Alliance who has covered and been involved in Portland's civil rights, environmental, labor and peace movements for over 20 years
Join Jo Ann and Dave every Thursday as they bring you guests and conversations on the issues that are important to you. Support Voices from the Edge by becoming a member of KBOO today (just click the "tip jar" on our website to find out how).
Co-Hosts: Jo Ann Bowman and Dave Mazza
Producers: Dave Mazza and Jo Ann Bowman
Program Engineer: Steve Nassar
Audio Editor: Alicia Olson
- Title: VFE 07-21-11
- Genre: Other
- Year: 2011
- Length: 54:11 minutes (49.6 MB)
- Format: MP3 Mono 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)
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Voices from the Edge 07-14-11 Walking with the homeless
Walking with the homeless
Oregon's homeless struggle every day for food and shelter. They also struggle with the wounds of child abuse, sexual assault and domestic violence. Oregon Housing and Community Services' one night homeless count last year, identified 1,684 homeless Oregonians, out of a total count of 19,208, as victims of domestic violence. Tracking such trauma among the homeless is difficult at best and often not tracked at all in cases involving homeless adults who were abused as children. Worse still, homeless victims are often unable to find support or even recognition of their trauma.
This week on Voices from the Edge, Dave talks with Compassionate Gathering founder Virginia Jones about her efforts to create support for the homeless in this struggle. Israel Bayer, editor of Street Roots, will also join the conversation. Jones' and Bayer's organizations are sponsoring a July 18 "Walk with the Homeless" as part of Compassionate Gathering's ongoing "walks across Oregon" to stop abuse and heal wounds.
Jo Ann Bowman is a former state legislator, former executive director of Oregon Action and past board president of Portland Community Media as well as a long-time leader in the struggle for racial and economic justice. Dave Mazza is a freelance journalist and former editor of The Portland Alliance who has covered and been involved in Portland's civil rights, environmental, labor and peace movements for over 20 years
Join Jo Ann and Dave every Thursday as they bring you guests and conversations on the issues that are important to you. Support Voices from the Edge by becoming a member of KBOO today (just click the "tip jar" on our website to find out how).
Co-Hosts: Jo Ann Bowman and Dave Mazza
Producers: Dave Mazza and Jo Ann Bowman
Program Engineer: Steve Nassar
Audio Editor: Alicia Olson
- Title: VFE 07-14-11
- Genre: Other
- Year: 2011
- Length: 55:47 minutes (51.08 MB)
- Format: MP3 Mono 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)
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Winners and losers in 2011 Oregon legislative session
Host Jo Ann Bowman conducts a review of the recent 2011 Oregon legislative session. Tax payers are funding more for prisons, and less for just about everything else -- we can thank Kevin Mannix and the passage of his measure 57 for mandatory sentences. Also thank legislators who "passed the buck" on this issue. Minority and ethnic groups lost out when House Republicans voted against a cultural competency bill.
- Title: Winners and losers in 2011 Oregon legislative session
- Producer: Jo Ann Bowman
- Length: 55:57 minutes (25.61 MB)
- Format: MP3 Mono 44kHz 64Kbps (CBR)
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Voices from the Edge 06-30-11 Don't call them "Post-Racial"
Don't call them "Post-Racial"
Those born after 1980 - the "Millennial Generation" - are the largest, most racially and ethnically diverse generation in our nation's history. They've been labeled "post-racial" by the media - a description that has only become more entrenched since the election of the nation's first black president. But what role do they see race playing in their lives?
This week, Jo Ann and Dave talk with Dominique Apollon of the Applied Research Center and author of "Don't Call Them Racial," a new report by the center that examines how those under 30 see race affecting their lives and explores the diversity of views held by this generation on the extent and significance of race in our society and its institutions.
Jo Ann Bowman is a former state legislator, former executive director of Oregon Action and past board president of Portland Community Media as well as a long-time leader in the struggle for racial and economic justice. Dave Mazza is a freelance journalist and former editor of The Portland Alliance who has covered and been involved in Portland's civil rights, environmental, labor and peace movements for over 20 years
Join Jo Ann and Dave every Thursday as they bring you guests and conversations on the issues that are important to you. Support Voices from the Edge by becoming a member of KBOO today (just click the "tip jar" on our website to find out how).
Co-Hosts: Jo Ann Bowman and Dave Mazza
Producers: Dave Mazza and Jo Ann Bowman
Program Engineer: Steve Nassar
Audio Editor: Alicia Olson
- Title: Voices from the Edge 06-30-11
- Genre: Other
- Year: 2011
- Length: 55:46 minutes (51.06 MB)
- Format: MP3 Mono 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)
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Voices from the Edge on 06-23-11 Understanding hunger in Oregon
Each month, nearly a quarter million Oregonians ate meals from emergency food boxes provided by the Oregon Food Bank network. Last year, the network moved a record 72 million pounds of food to hungry people. Who are these Oregonians? Are their numbers growing? Are the resources available to meet this growing need?
This week on Voices from the Edge, Jo Ann and Dave speak with Rachel Bristol, CEO of the Oregon Food Bank about understanding hunger in Oregon and how we reduce the number of Oregonians going to bed hungry each night. Laura Golina de Lovato, Oregon Food Bank's development director, will also join the conversation to talk about the upcoming Waterfront Blues Festival, the Oregon Food Bank's largest annual fundraiser (And don't forget that KBOO will be broadcasting the festival live July 1-4).
Jo Ann Bowman is a former state legislator, former executive director of Oregon Action and past board president of Portland Community Media as well as a long-time leader in the struggle for racial and economic justice. Dave Mazza is a freelance journalist and former editor of The Portland Alliance who has covered and been involved in Portland's civil rights, environmental, labor and peace movements for over 20 years
Join Jo Ann and Dave every Thursday as they bring you guests and conversations on the issues that are important to you. Support Voices from the Edge by becoming a member of KBOO today (just click the "tip jar" on our website to find out how).
Co-Hosts: Jo Ann Bowman and Dave Mazza
Producers: Dave Mazza and Jo Ann Bowman
Program Engineer: Steve Nassar
Audio Editor: Alicia Olson
- Artist: Jo Ann Bowman, Dave Mazza
- Title: Voices from the Edge on 06-23-11
- Track: 06-23-11
- Genre: Public Affairs
- Year: 2011
- Length: 55:07 minutes (50.46 MB)
- Format: MP3 Mono 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)
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Voices From Edge 06-16-11 RANTS Edition!
This week's "Rant" edition topics included Commissioner Fish's response to the housing audit, the attempt by the legislature to make it easier to conceal campaign contributions and money spent on the Columbia River Crossing and more. Listeners joined the conversation with their rants.
Jo Ann Bowman is a former state legislator, former executive director of Oregon Action and past board president Portland Community Media as well as a long-time leader in the struggle for racial and economic justice. Dave Mazza is a freelance journalist and former editor of The Portland Alliance who has covered and been involved in Portland's civil rights, environmental, labor and peace movements for over 20 years
Join Jo Ann and Dave every Thursday as they bring you guests and conversations on the issues that are important to you. Support Voices from the Edge by becoming a member of KBOO today (just click the "tip jar" on our website to find out how).
KBOO Community Radio
Portland 90.7 fm Hood River 91.9 fm Corvallis 100.7 fm
Livestream kboo.fm
Studio call-in 503-231-8187
Co-Hosts: Jo Ann Bowman and Dave Mazza
Producers: Dave Mazza and Jo Ann Bowman
Program Engineer: Steve Nassar
Audio Editor: Alicia Olson
*NOTE - the original air check for this week's show failed, so this edition's audio is from the back-up archival server, which is much lower quality audio. Our apologies.
- Title: VFE 06-16-11
- Genre: Other
- Year: 2011
- Length: 54:49 minutes (50.19 MB)
- Format: MP3 Mono 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)
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Voices from the Edge on 06-09-11 Oregon's Foreclosure Crisis
Foreclosure filings are soaring and lawmakers are balking. Voices from the Edge hosts JoAnne & Dave talk with Economic Fairness Oregon's Angela Martin about what needs to happen to protect Oregonians from the foreclosure tsunami.
Jo Ann Bowman is a former state legislator, former executive director of Oregon Action and past board president Portland Community Media as well as a long-time leader in the struggle for racial and economic justice. Dave Mazza is a freelance journalist and former editor of The Portland Alliance who has covered and been involved in Portland's civil rights, environmental, labor and peace movements for over 20 years
Join Jo Ann and Dave every Thursday as they bring you guests and conversations on the issues that are important to you. Support Voices from the Edge by becoming a member of KBOO today (just click the "tip jar" on our website to find out how).
KBOO Community Radio
Portland 90.7 fm Hood River 91.9 fm Corvallis 100.7 fm
Livestream kboo.fm
Studio call-in 503-231-8187
Co-Hosts: Jo Ann Bowman and Dave Mazza
Producers: Dave Mazza and Jo Ann Bowman
Program Engineer: Steve Nassar
Audio Editor: Alicia Olson
- Artist: Jo Ann Bowman, Dave Mazza
- Title: Voices from the Edge on 06-09-11 Oregon's Foreclosure Crisis
- Album: KBOO Community Radio
- Genre: Public Affairs
- Year: 2011
- Length: 54:47 minutes (50.16 MB)
- Format: MP3 Mono 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)
- Login or register to post comments
- Download audio file
Comments
show of 12/8
I appreciate your show more than I can say...however I have some criticism. Your comments about 911 show that you have trusted the mainstream media and have not had the courage to look into documented facts since the event. I am not going to talk here about the mountain of evidence to the contrary, but as a source of so called "independent media" I am disappointed in your rote line of naivete'. Please try the documentary of architects and engineers as a starting place.
.
VRTE-Greg Palast
From a friend in Vancouver Canada, thanks for all your good work joann and Dave.
I enjoyed the interview you had with Greg and spent time searching for more of his investigative journalism.
I am now retired and have had direct experience with pipeline inspection, specifically what is called "pipeline integrity".
Greg spoke of pipeline "pigs" that are inserted inside of a 'live' pipeline (product flowing inside) to detect discontinuities which may include cracks and/or corrosion etc. The "pig" is not sensitive enough to determine the discontinuity. The pig records information along its path and if it detects a discontinuity it records the position or location of the possible defect.
The areas in which the pig has detected a discontinuity is dug up and inspection crews report on the specfics of what they discover.
That information is communicated to the inspection company's client and it is the client to determine whether or not the discontinuity requires attention, such as replacement of a section of the pipeline.
The pig may indeed by programmed to distinguish between what the pipeline company determines are non-relevant discontinuities.
When I was working on existing pipeline inspections the client's engineers would have sections of a pipe that had some external corrosion (that we had quantified in terms of depth of the corrosion and remaining pipe wall thickness) removed and delivered to their lab where they conducted "burst tests". These tests are actually hydrostatic tests which produce high pressures in the pipe until the pipe bursts. From this information a pipeline company determines whether or not a discontinuity is relevant or not.
I would imagine that if the pig that Greg Palast was talking about in Alaska was indeed programmed to exclude discontinuities that pipeline engineers had determined through testing were non-relevant. As Greg pointed out, this practice does appear to be suspicious and probably he has a case in terms of how the pig's program can be tampered with.
Almost all of the pipeline leaks lately are due to pipelines that were fabricated and buried 30-50 years ago when knowledge of coatings, metals and soil science (cathodic anodic interactions) were not fully understood.
I am not sure if governing bodies have required pipeline companies to conduct their pig inspections on a more frequent basis. I do know that one can send a pig down a line and 6 months later a spill can occur. This may be due to rapid corrosion caused by a multiple of causes. Once coating fails on the external surface of a buried pipeline, moisture, soil chemicals and inherent electrical currents can accellerate corrosion causing a failure even in areas of the pipe that had no relevant discontinuities.
In Canada, and I believe in the US, our governments have slashed the direct public oversight component of regulation relying on "corporate responsibility". Most public oversight consists of reviewing corporate paperwork. The review usually does not consist of a full reading of that paperwork. If the public is to be assured of pipeline safety it must ask for more inspections and more government inspectors who oversee some of the "digs" to determine severity of pipeline discontinuities.
Again, thanks for your hard work!
Phil
Which Party To Blame
Joann & Dave,
Normal
0
I enjoy your show, but you said this morning that it was the Republicans that got us into this mess. Both of you are too intelligent to give the Democratic party a pass on their equal responsibility in destroying our economy, in perpetuating a decade of war and the associated war crimes, torture, and erosion of the civil liberties of this nation. Both the Democrats and Republicans have fleeced, degraded, and tried their best to destroy the working class for the profit of their corporate benefactors. After all, wasn't it Clinton who signed the bill repealing Glass Steagall. Wasn't it under Clinton that Brooksley Born, his own Commodity Futures Trading Commission chair, was stripped of her power and credibility when she rightly warned of the pending doom associated with derivatives? Wasn't it Clinton that signed the bill allowing further consolidation of our media. In my opinion, one of your callers today struck on our only deliverance. We need to create a strong party of and for the people to compete with these two dominant parties, both of which are only working for the corporate elites. I would like to see a labor party - a party that is dedicated to enhancing the lives of anyone receiving a W-2. I would like to see liberal people of influence, like Michael Moore, Arianna Huffington, Bill Maher, Bill Moyers, Amy Goodman, Chris Hedges, Robert Scheer, and the like to join forces and implement this desperately needed option for working people. A strong workers' party is the only viable solution for this country. Until such time, I will vote for any party other than the dominant two, or I'll vote for an independent or I will write in Bernie Sanders, or either of you. But I will not reward the criminal class that has, and continues to destroy working class America with impunity.
Foreclosure Mills
I just wanted to post a link to an article about the foreclosure mills that make money off of the forsclosure mess. http://motherjones.com/politics/2010/07/david-stern-djsp-foreclosure-fannie-freddie?page=1
taxing "gross" income?
can you clarify?
don't the measures increase rates on taxable income, not gross income, as the first caller mentioned?
Still waiting for my apology from Joann
Dear Ms. Bowman,
I did not hear an apology for you making a blatant distortion of my comment. I do not appreciate being lied about and especially by a campaign which you obviously are supporting which hypocritically poses as the moral arbitrator of the Universe regarding truth telling.
Again, let me clarify:
First off, I did not say, as was falsely stated by you and your guest, that politicians have a right to lie. I stated that everyone has a right to lie about their love life. That is a vastly different point and I bitterly resent being lied about on this.
This distortion (lie) by your guest and you is sadly emblematic of the hyperbolic nature of this entire pesudo-moralistic campaign.
I will receive your apology before I ever again associate with you or this program.
Sinverely,
Will Ware
It
Lying about lying on the Edge
I don't know how to get an email to the disc jockey.
Will again and please correct your slander of me and misstatement of my comment.
First off, I did not say, as was falsely stated by JoAnn and your caller, that politicians have a right to lie. I stated that everyone has a right to lie about their love life. That is a vastly different point and I bitterly resent being lied about on this.
This distortion (lie) by your guest and JoAnn is emblematic of the hyperbolic nature of this entire pesudo-moralistic campaign.
It is a fact that Republicans involved in this are using this as an organizing tool. It is a fact that this campaign is making common-cause with anti-progressive forces.
It is this campaign that is the divisive force in our community.
This signature campaign is the darling of the right wing. This campaign is the best thing that has happened to the Multnomah Co. Republican Party since Theodore Roosevelt.
If this is about negative campaigning- WHY IS THIS SUCH A THOROUGLY NEGATIVE CAMPGAIGN. IT REDUCES POLITICAL DIALOG TO THE LEVEL OF A GRAMMER SCHOOL PLAYGROUND.
Cops and Race
Very interesting program today (8/6/09). Here's a germane link to an article by Kevin Alexander Gray in The Progressive "Citizens have the right to talk back to the police":
http://www.progressive.org/mpgray080409.html
In my view, a well trained cop could have and should have defused the situation far short of arrest.
Too frequently, cops escalate situations, especially when dealing with people of color.
As Mr. Alexander sums up in the final sentence of his article: "We should never have to fear when we stand up for our rights." And that goes for people of all hues.
Citizens have the right to talk back ...
I agree, Peter. This article is germane: One outcome of Professor Gate’s arrest should be an understanding that “What lends legitimacy (to our legal system) is our belief that the police are dutiful servants of the people — not their arbitrary oppressors.”
The Declaration of Independence promptly asserts “… Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the consent of the governed.”
'Know Your Rights' training is imperative, as a 'check and balance' against unwarranted interference with the intent of the U.S. Constitution. An informed citizenry is a Public Good. Vigilance against abuse of power is actually a civic responsibility.
I know first-hand a tendency by Portland police to escalate situations that might be otherwise resolved. I have only an inkling of the mental pressures involved in policing, and but a dim suspicion as to the social handicaps that come with wielding weapons, spending so much time in the milieu of antisocial behavior, of having a community grant your uniformed subgroup status as The Enforcers. I would suspect such pressure, status and lethal equipment make it difficult to appreciate a role of Servant of the People.
Do you know what the common ground may be?
Law enforcement.
How can we change our dialogue so that a person of color, being thrown up against chain link fence – sometimes even without a pretext of wrongdoing – has standing when there is no probable cause that a crime is being committed?
By advocating that police actions adhere to Constitutional provisions for freedom from unwarranted search, to be secure in their possessions; would not this citizen also be involved in law enforcement?
One really ironic point I failed to make on the program is that, from the time of Chief Kroeker onward, it has likely been in the consciousness of Portland Police Bureau command that racial profiling actually inhibits criminal detection and prosecution. Simply the perception of police misconduct reduces the quality of public cooperation. One of the results of racial bias is that it is more difficult to secure leads and eventual witness testimony from a disenfranchised, victimized population of law-abiding citizens.
I suggest there will be a real reduction in crime (due to citizen cooperation) when and if policing is seen to be done lawfully. If it were a shared perception that people who oppose the immoral, unethical and illegal practice of racial profiling had merit as Constitutional law enforcers, I would think this a positive dynamic … and not just for people of color, but other negatively affected groups like the mentally ill, for whom self-advocacy is a supreme challenge.
Let us fuse training and dialogue. You mention the ‘well-trained cop.’ Perhaps ‘Know Your Rights’ training (and Oregon Action training includes de-escalation strategies) might dovetail with Portland Police Bureau training. What would be achieved if police training alerted officers that a segment of the population - fatigued by unconstitutional behavior - will be advocating for just and equitable treatment?
If that segment of the population included Police Commissioner Saltzman, Human Rights Commissioner Fritz, City Auditor Griffin-Valade and Mayor Adams, I think the Police union would find impetus to engage in negotiations for a means to weed out officers refusing to enforce the Constitution, state law, or bureau regulations.
To take up your point about police as public servants, the Auditor’s Independent Police Review Board is poised to actually adopt that frame of reference. Currently specializing in facts and figures, there is a component of their reporting primed and ready for public pressure to make this a prime frame of reference for assessing the Police Bureau’s functionality.
Perhaps better left for another blog, I just want you to know that civilian oversight of armed government activity is imperative as the nation pursues a War on Terror. If the City of Portland were to weigh in on fundamental human rights during the nation’s general expansion of police powers, it stands likely to do a Public Good that cannot now be calculated.
Environment: global warming
On this morning's (June 18) program Joann mentioned a man (I think she said "young" and "minority" )who is becomming active in environmental matters, I would like to talk with him about joining the planning and implementation of an event that is scheduled to take place on October 24th.
I am a member ot the Peace and Social Concerns Committee of the Multnomah Monthly Meeting of Friends (Quakers), and the organizer of a sub-group called "Global Coolers". We meet monthly and have taken the responsibility of informing the Meeting about global warming and involving them in efforts to lessen our individual and collective destructive impact on the planet.We have also hosted a couple of community events over the past several years.
Yesterday I learned that Bill McKibben, who is a leading activist in the environmental protection movement, is organizing a world-wide demonstration to take place on October 24: it is described on 350.org.
I want to make sure that Portland participates in this event.
I have not talked yet to other environmental activists about involvement (there may already be plans afoot) but I will do so in the next couple of days. In any case I will welcome all participants in the planning and execution of the event. My telephone number is 503-292-1817.
Thank you for your attention.
Peace, Jim
Measure 53
I was disturbed to hear this morning information that leads me to think I did not check out the ballot measures carefully enough. As an intelligent conservative, I find it both important and difficult to listen to KBOO and other left-of-center sources regularly, and the comments this morning made it clear that I should invest more energy into that effort.
On the other hand, I was a bit amused (and relieved of my nascent guilt) when I heard you adamantly insist that Measure 53 passed by a 76-24 margin because a day-old paper said so. It is possible that the Oregonian was that far off the mark - if so, I would assume that it was an early edition which showed very preliminary results. I went to three sources this morning of which two gave vote tallies. KATU.com indicates that as of 8am today the vote on 53 was YES 475,838 and NO 473,912 which is a margin of less than 2000 votes out of nearly 1 million. Rounded to the nearest percent, the vote is 50-50. KOIN.com had very similar (probably identical) numbers.
So I figure that if you let your personal opinions cloud such simple and easily ascertained facts, if you are so closed-minded that you will not double-check this when it is disputed, I need not concern myself with your judgment on the more complex issue of Measure 53 itself.
- Gordon
Very Disappointed Today
I’m a newer fan to KBOO. I listen every morning now and Voices From the Edge (VFE) is definitely one of my favorite morning program. I’m usually quite a fan but today I was really disappointed by Joann and the President of NAACP. A man called up and asked “Why aren’t all black men supporting Obama?” He was trying to be controversial and disruptive. He tossed a lure of disconcert to the radio hosts and what did they do . . . they bit. Joann dominated the conversation, provided a flippant/emotional/short rebuttal and pushed the guy off the air. Worse yet, the President of the NAACP said NOTHING! What on earth is a leader of the NAACP supposed to do but say something in these situations? That was the caller that VFE/NAACP should pray for, wish for, hell invite. HE WAS THE PERSON YOU ARE TRYING TO REACH AND YOU PUSHED HIM AWAY INSTEAD OF INVITING THE CONVERSATION AND PROMOTING GROWTH. We don’t make progress if those who disagree don’t discuss and debate. VFE too often discusses topics with people that share the same liberal view and all you are doing is reinforcing existing beliefs. It’s pointless if you want to effect change. You missed a tremendous opportunity today to change this guy and affect all those who share the same beliefs. He actually made a few valid points—Why wouldn’t black men support Obama? It would do wonders for equality. What has Obama ever done?—but with limited scope. You had a chance to discuss, inform, and enlighten those who wondered the same things. You said nothing constructive and you let ignorance prevail. Joann you should be more prepared the next time. The President of the NAACP should be mad as hell at herself. “Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.” “Let no man pull you low enough to hate him.” -MLKjr
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