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

http://facebook.com/voicesfromtheedge

Hosted by

Jo Ann Hardesty

Episode Archive

Voices from the Edge on 03/22/12

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Voices from the Edge
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Thu, 03/22/2012 - 8:00am - 9:00am
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What role should religion play in our politics?

What role should religion play in our politics?

Judging by the statements made by presidential candidates and the media pundits providing minute-by-minute analysis of their comments, Americans want more religion in their politics. But a new poll by Pew Research indicates that a growing number of Americans are concerned about the degree to which politicians and the media have inserted religion into political discourse.

Voices from the Edge on 03/15/12

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Voices from the Edge
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Thu, 03/15/2012 - 8:00am - 9:00am
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Sizing up Oregon's 2012 legislative session

Sizing up Oregon's 2012 annual legislative session

Last week, Oregon lawmakers adjourned the state's first-ever annual session. Among the legislation passed by gavel's fall were bills to create a health insurance exchange, reorganize and expand state early childhood programs, increase the number of tax-friendly enterprise zones, protect homeowners facing foreclosure, and establishing new marine reserves off the coast. Lawmakers also revised the 2011-13 state budget to reflect an estimated $340 million revenue shortfall.

Voices from the Edge on 03/08/12

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Voices from the Edge
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Thu, 03/08/2012 - 8:00am - 9:00am
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Young Women and Reproductive Rights

Host Jo Ann Hardesty speaks with Deborah Westlight, a young volunteer at Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette, about her views on issues related to young women and reproductive rights.

http://www.plannedparenthood.org/ppcw/

Deborah was recently profiled by Youth Empowered Action Camp, a leadership summer camp for 12-17 year olds who want to make a difference in the world. http://www.yeacamp.org

Voices from the Edge on 03/01/12

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Voices from the Edge
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Thu, 03/01/2012 - 8:00am - 9:00am
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Oregon lawmakers don't make grade on racial equity

Oregon lawmakers don't make the grade on racial equity

Communities of color are the fastest growing communities in Oregon, more than doubling in size - 21.5 percent of the total population - in the last two decades. But racial disparity continues to run deep despite this change. Many communities of color experience poverty rates two to three times higher than white Oregonians. Although the futue of Oregon's prosperity depends on fair opportunities and economic stabilty for all Oregonians, state lawmakers continue to fall short in dealing with these racial and economic gaps.

Voices from the Edge on 02/23/12

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Voices from the Edge
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Thu, 02/23/2012 - 8:00am - 9:00am
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Gwen Trice and a Forgotten African American Community

Gwen Trice and a Forgotten African American Community

You won't find African American loggers or Oregon's only segregated school in the public murals or other memorials to our state's history. It took a black woman from La Grande who was interested in her father's early years in Oregon to bring to light the story of Maxville, a company town near Wallowa in eastern Oregon where 50-60 African Americans lived and worked in the timber industry.

Voices from the Edge on 02/16/12

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Voices from the Edge
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Thu, 02/16/2012 - 8:00am - 9:00am
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Exploring fear and loathing on the Populist Right with Arthur Goldwag

Exploring fear and loathing on the Populist Right with Arthur Goldwag

Its no surprise that the confluence of the internet and the 24-hour news cycle has enabled extreme groups once relegated to the fringe of American politics to enjoy unprecedented influence on political discourse. The paranoia and scapegoating of today's Tea Party, however, reflect a disturbing pattern in our history that fueled hysteria about the Illuminati of the 1790s, anti-New Deal forces of the 1930s, and McCarthyism of the 1950s. What is new about the "new hate" is its ability to project itself and the willingness of politicians to exploit it for their own purposes.

Voices from the Edge on 02/09/12

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Voices from the Edge
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Thu, 02/09/2012 - 8:00am - 9:00am
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Mitt's billion-dollar sugar daddy, BP petroleum pirates and other harrowing updates from Greg Palast

Mitt's billion-dollar sugar daddy, BP petroleum pirates and other harrowing updates from Greg Palast

As the presidential primaries kick into high gear, campaign contributions from big oil, high finance and other corporate high rollers who want four more years of the status quo are gushing. Hedge fund billionaire Paul Singer is at the top of the list of corporate sugar daddies who are pouring $1 million or more into Restore Our Future pro-Romney Super PAC. With growing pressure from the 99 percent, these elites of the 1 percent are working overtime to protect their turf.

Voices from the Edge on 02/02/12

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Voices from the Edge
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Thu, 02/02/2012 - 8:00am - 9:00am
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The case against austerity: A conversation with David Cay Johnston

The case against austerity: A conversation with David Cay Johnston

At last month's World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, austerity was repeated like a mantra by bankers, economists and politicians. The idea that governments, like families, must cut back when income declines is so entrenched in the public discourse that few in public office or the media are willing to challenge it. Yet the austerity mantra ignores the basic economic principle that "spending equals income and income equals spending." Cutting spending means income will fall, yet in this election year, our leaders continue to push for firing teachers, firefighters, government clerks and others without heeding the consequences on our economy.

Voices from the Edge on 01/26/12

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Voices from the Edge
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Thu, 01/26/2012 - 8:00am - 9:00am
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Life in and after a cult: a conversation with a former member of The Move

 

Voices from the Edge on 01/19/12

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Voices from the Edge
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Thu, 01/19/2012 - 8:00am - 9:00am
Short Description: 
Stories: From Survivors of the Sex Trade

 

Audio

Voices from the Edge 03-24-11 Oregon Legislature

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Voices from the Edge
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Thu, 03/24/2011

This week, Jo Ann and Dave give us updates on what's happening in the Oregon Legislature. 

Jo Ann Bowman is a former state legislator, former executive director of Oregon Action, and a long-time leader in the struggle for racial and economic justice. Dave Mazzais a freelance journalist and former editor of The Portland Alliance who has covered and been involved in Portland's civil rights, peace, labor and environmental movements for 20 years.
 
Join Jo Ann and Dave every Thursday as they bring you guests and discussion of issues important to you. Support programming like Voices from the Edge by becoming a member of KBOO today.

Program Engineer: Steve Nassar
Audio Editor: Alicia Olson

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Voices from the Edge 03-17-11 A new look at Oregon's Measure 11 and its impacts

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Voices from the Edge
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Thu, 03/17/2011

Kevin Mannix promised voters in 1994 that his Ballot Measure 11 establishing minimum mandatory sentences would create certainty in Oregon's criminal justice system. While the measure tripled the state's prison population over 20 years, a new report by the state Criminal Justice Commission finds that Measure 11 not only failed to deliver certainty, it has cost the state billions of dollars while it shifting sentencing power from the hands of judges to those of district attorneys - a shift many see as dangerous.

This week, Jo Ann and Dave spoke with retired Oregon judge Darryl Larson, chairman of the Criminal Justice Commission about the report's findings as well as the significance of its release as Governor Kitzhaber and the legislature begins looking at mandatory sentencing rules in light of budget constraints.

Jo Ann Bowman is a former state legislator, former executive director of Oregon Action, and a long-time leader in the struggle for racial and economic justice. Dave Mazzais a freelance journalist and former editor of The Portland Alliance who has covered and been involved in Portland's civil rights, peace, labor and environmental movements for 20 years.
 
Join Jo Ann and Dave every Thursday as they bring you guests and discussion of issues important to you. Support programming like Voices from the Edge by becoming a member of KBOO today.

Program Engineer: Steve Nassar
Audio Editor: Alicia Olson

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Voices from the Edge 03-10-11 Wray Harris

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Voices from the Edge
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Thu, 03/10/2011

This week on Voices from the Edge, Jo Ann and Dave talked with Wray Harris, president of Iraq Veterans Against the War (Oregon) about who is paying the real cost of America's wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.  

Iraq Veterans Against the War National Office


Jo Ann Bowman is a former state legislator, former executive director of Oregon Action, and 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, peace, labor and environmental movements for 20 years.
 
Join Jo Ann and Dave every Thursday as they bring you guests and discussion of issues important to you. Support programming like Voices from the Edge by becoming a member of KBOO today.

Program Engineer: Steve Nassar
Audio Editor: Alicia Olson

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Voices from the Edge 03-03-11 True Crime: Fact and Fiction about Oregon's Crime Rate

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Voices from the Edge
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Thu, 03/03/2011

True Crime: Fact and Fiction about Oregon's Crime Rate

Turn on the local news and most likely the lead story will be about crime. Its the rare elected official who won't suggest crime is overwhelming our public safety resources. Its little wonder that the majority of Oregonians are convinced that their state is victim to a rising tide of crime - a conviction, it turns out, with no basis in fact. Oregon's violent crime rate is at a 40-year low and the property crime rate is at its lowest since 1966.

This week on Voices from the Edge,  host Dave Mazza looked at the findings of Criminal Justice Policy Research Institute in their new study about Oregonian's perceptions about crime. Who are the 52 percent of Oregonians who believe crime is on the rise? What factors are playing a part in their beliefs? What are the impacts on all Oregonians?

Jo Ann Bowman is a former state legislator, former executive director of Oregon Action, and 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, peace, labor and environmental movements for 20 years.
 
Join Jo Ann and Dave every Thursday as they bring you guests and discussion of issues important to you. Support programming like Voices from the Edge by becoming a member of KBOO today.

Program Engineer: Steve Nassar
Audio Editor: Alicia Olson

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Voices from the Edge 02-24-11 Wisconsin Protests

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Voices from the Edge
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Thu, 02/24/2011

Dave Mazza hosted this week's Voices from the Edge about the ongoing 2011 Wisconsin Protests.  Open lines with KBOO Listeners.

The conversation doesn't end when the program does. You can join in additional discussion of the week's issue on our blog at kboo.fm/voicesfromtheedge  (click on the "blog" tab). You'll find additional information, important links, comments from other listeners and commentary from Jo Ann and Dave. Have a question for our guests, but can't call in during the program? Post your questions on line so we can make them a part of the Voices discussion.



Hosts:  Jo Ann Bowman, Dave Mazza
Program Engineer: Steve Nassar
Audio Editor: Alicia Olson

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Voices from the Edge 02-17-11

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Voices from the Edge
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Thu, 02/17/2011

Jo Ann and Dave talked about the Metro Council seat, the federal public media funding, Joint Terrorism Task Force, and other current Portland Topics.   Open Lines with KBOO listeners.

The conversation doesn't end when the program does. You can join in additional discussion of the week's issue on our blog at kboo.fm/voicesfromtheedge  (click on the "blog" tab). You'll find additional information, important links, comments from other listeners and commentary from Jo Ann and Dave. Have a question for our guests, but can't call in during the program? Post your questions on line so we can make them a part of the Voices discussion.



Hosts:  Jo Ann Bowman, Dave Mazza
Program Engineer: Steve Nassar
Audio Editor: Alicia Olson
 

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Voices from the Edge 02-10-11 Rethinking Psychiatry

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Voices from the Edge
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Thu, 02/10/2011

Rethinking psychiatry: a conversation with Robert Whitaker about a more compassionate mental health system

Our treatment of those in emotional distress manifests itself everyday. Too many Oregonians struggling with mental health issues can be found heavily medicated and warehoused. Or, they are turned out onto the streets to become the victims of crime or institutional violence as in the case of James Chasse. This is an issue that goes beyond public policy reform. It is one that calls for a fundamental reexamination of the "broken brain" model of psychiatry upon which those policies are based.

Jo Ann and Dave talk with Robert Whitaker, author of "Anatomy of an Epidemic: Magic Bullets, Psychiatric Drugs, and the Astonishing Rise of Mental Illness in America" - a book being referred to as the "Silent Spring" of psychiatry. Whitaker will offer his insights into how we can create a more humane, caring and healing mental health care system.

Also this week: Jason Kafoury and how civil law can help advance police accountability

Jason Kafoury of the law firm of Kafoury and McDougal will talk about Elgin v. City of Portland, a case stemming from police beating and tasering a PCC student who had fallen asleep in a local restaurant that went to trial last week. He, Jo Ann and Dave discuss the role civil litigation plays in helping create police accountability.

Voices from the Edge wants to thank all our listeners who contributed during last week's membership drive. Your support is what makes this program possible.

Jo Ann Bowman is a former state legislator, former executive director of Oregon Action, and 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, peace, labor and environmental movements for 20 years.
 
Join Jo Ann and Dave every Thursday as they bring you guests and discussion of issues important to you. Support programming like Voices from the Edge by becoming a member of KBOO today.

Program Engineer: Steve Nassar
Audio Editor: Alicia Olson

Your rating: None Average: 4 (1 vote)

Voices from the Edge 02-03-2011

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Voices from the Edge
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Thu, 02/03/2011

Jo Ann and Dave look at the $5 million labor contract the city just signed with the police union. Is it historic, as Mayor Adams claims, or a hollow victory for police accountability?

Join the conversation at 8 am on KBOO 90.7 FM or online at kboo.fm

  • Title: VFE 02-03-11
  • Genre: Other
  • Year: 2011
  • Length: 37:46 minutes (34.58 MB)
  • Format: MP3 Mono 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)
Your rating: None Average: 5 (1 vote)

Voices from the Edge 01/27/11 Journalist Reese Erlich

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Voices from the Edge
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Thu, 01/27/2011

Veteran journalist Reese Erlich discussed his experience by actually talking (imagine!) to some of the people vilified by our government as terrorists.  His new book is Conversations with Terrorists: Middle East Leaders on Politics, Violence and Empire.

Ten years after George Bush launched his War on Terror, what most Americans know about our "enemies" in this war is what the Pentagon and State Department has told them. Veteran journalist Reese Erlich thought it worth actually talking to people we've vilified as terrorists - people like Hamas leader Khaled Meshal or Hezbollah's Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Fadlallah - to learn their actions and motives. The result is Conversations with Terrorists: Middle East Leaders on Politics, Violence and Empire, a collection of personal stories and first-hand interviews that provides what Daniel Ellsberg calls "a must read for anyone who wants to understand the phony War on Terror."

Jo Ann and Dave spoke with Erlich about his latest analysis of American involvement in this troubled region and what needs to be done to change a policy of U.S. intervention that fuels terrorism rather than ends it. Erlich is also the author of Dateline Havana, The Iran Agenda and Target Iraq, as well as producer of the radio documentary, The Struggle for Iran.

Thursday's special program was part of the kickoff of KBOO's winter membership drive. Please support Voices from the Edge by becoming a KBOO member or renewing if already a member. Your contributions make it possible for us to bring you on air and online programs like today's interview with Reese Erlich. Become a member or renew your membership by calling 503-231-8032 or online by clicking the tip jar at kboo.fm.

Jo Ann Bowman is a former state legislator, former executive director of Oregon Action, and 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, peace, labor and environmental movements for 20 years.
 
Join Jo Ann and Dave every Thursday as they bring you guests and discussion of issues important to you. Support programming like Voices from the Edge by becoming a member of KBOO today.

Program Engineer: Steve Nassar
Audio Editor: Alicia Olson

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Voices from the Edge on 01-20-11 Guest Jim Middaugh from Metro

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Voices from the Edge
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Thu, 01/20/2011

Metro has launched Opt In, an "online participation tool" to get people involved in their community. Jo Ann and Dave talk with Metro's Jim Middaugh about Opt In and other strategies for more public involvement in local decision-making. 
About the hosts…

Jo Ann Bowman is a former Oregon state legislator, current executive director of Oregon Action and chair of Portland Community Media. Jo Ann is a long-time voice for Portland's under-represented communities and a leader in the struggle against racial and economic injustice.

 

Dave Mazza is a journalist and community activist. The former editor of The Portland Alliance newspaper has reported on and been involved in Portland's civil rights, peace, labor and environmental movements for 20 years. For more about Dave, visit www.davemazza.com. 

 

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

Audio Editing: Alicia Olson

 

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Comments

Please give 12 minutes of your life to this link

Submitted by Scotmandu on Sat, 12/10/2011 - 1:35pm.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQglhA4FK8I

show of 12/8

Submitted by Scotmandu on Sat, 12/10/2011 - 9:51am.

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

Submitted by pwlg on Thu, 10/13/2011 - 9:40am.

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

Submitted by dukeofearle on Thu, 10/28/2010 - 9:18am.

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

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 08/05/2010 - 9:29am.

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?

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 01/07/2010 - 9:33am.

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

Submitted by wILL (not verified) on Thu, 09/03/2009 - 9:08am.

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

Submitted by Will (not verified) on Thu, 09/03/2009 - 8:40am.

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

Submitted by Peter Hamer (not verified) on Thu, 08/06/2009 - 4:27pm.

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 ...

Submitted by Dave Hardesty (not verified) on Thu, 08/13/2009 - 2:19pm.

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

Submitted by James Metcalfe (not verified) on Thu, 06/18/2009 - 10:10am.

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

Submitted by Gordon (not verified) on Thu, 05/22/2008 - 1:40pm.

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

Submitted by kyork on Thu, 02/21/2008 - 7:10pm.

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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