Buried in the cavernous depths of the Portland Building on SW 5th, the human rights commission is meeting to agree on its bylaws this afternoon:
Mayor-elect Sam Adams walked in at around 4:50, just as committee chair, Multnomah County Commissioner Jeff Cogen was asking members to take a quick vote on whether to remove the word “caring” from the following sentence in Article III, section 2, objective 3, on page 1 of 7 pages of bylaws:
“3.Advocate for policies, practices, and positions that are inclusive, caring, and just.”
There was concern about how to measure caring. There was also subsequent concern about how to measure justice. So Cogen proposed a vote over the removal of the word “caring.” Then another committee member chimed in: “We haven’t decided how we’re going to decide yet.“
Oh dear. The office of human relations, which supports the commission, is funded with $400,000 of council money, $219,000 of which is is one-time funding, so “it’s imperative that we convince council that this is worthwhile work,” says the office’s director, Maria-Lisa Johnson.
Adams seems to agree. He had encouraging words for the committee, saying its work is important to “me personally and to city council as a whole.” But he also encouraged the group, as it begins its work, to “establish a baseline,” because it is “important to measure our progress.” Adams also said his number one priority in the recession is going to be helping local businesses.
This is also international Human Rights Week, and to commemorate the occasion, the office of human relations has established panels on domestic violence, GLBTQ equity, immigration, scapegoating, and human trafficking across Portland. I’ve posted the agenda for the week after the jump if you’re interested. But one issue is noticeably absent…
“What a missed opportunity to raise up the issue of Racial Profiling,” says Jo Ann Bowman, executive director of Oregon Action, who last week expressed frustration about what she described as the transition of the work on racial profiling by police to the ‘warm and fuzzy’ confines of this committee. “I would think since Racial Profiling is the only Issue the Human Relations Commission has on their agenda at the moment, its absence from this week of activity speaks volumes.”
The committee is scheduled to start planning its agenda at 5:45pm, 15 minutes before the meeting is scheduled to be over. This is the second two-hour meeting of the 14-member (today) committee. The first was last month.
UPDATE, 5:50pm:
The commission is also concerned about a section in article VII of the proposed bylaws (these were looked over by the city attorney’s office, apparently), that appears to limit the freedom with which commission members may interact with the press:
“The Commission’s Executive Committee shall ensure that the views of the Commission as a whole are presented clearly and uniformly,” it says. “The Chair of the Commission shall be the authorized representative to speak to the media on behalf of the Commission. Chairs of Committees may speak to the media on behalf of their Committees with the express consent of the Chair of the Commission.”
Getting permission from the chair of the human rights commission to talk about human rights? People have raised concerns about the value of dissent in the democratic process, and the subsection will be re-worked. The bylaws were ultimately approved subject to the re-wording. There’ll be a discussion of the racial profiling work next meeting.
Human Rights Week agenda.
Wednesday, Dec 3, 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm: Domestic Violence Panel sponsored by Portland’s Office of Human Relations. City Hall, 1221 SW 4th Ave. 2nd floor, Lovejoy Rm.
Thursday, Dec 4, 9:30 am: Multnomah County Board of Commissioners Proclamation to celebrate U.N. Human Rights Day and announce that 2009 will be celebrated in Multnomah County as the U.N. International Year of Human Rights Learning. Multnomah Building, 501 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, Board Room.
Thursday, Dec 4, 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm: GLBTQ Equity Panel. Sponsored by Portland’s Office of Human Relations. City Hall, 1221 SW 4th Ave, 2nd floor, Lovejoy Rm.
Friday, Dec 5, 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm: Immigration Panel. Sponsored by Portland’s Office of Human Relations. City Hall, 1221 SW 4th Ave, 2nd floor, Lovejoy Rm.
Sunday, December 7, 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm: Former Gov Victor Atiyeh, Portland Mayor Tom Potter, and other dignitaries will speak at the annual United Nations Human Rights Day celebration. Sponsored by the United Nations Association – Oregon Division, and several community nonprofits. First United Methodist Church, 1838 SW Jefferson St – Collins Hall.
Monday, Dec 8, 11:30 am to 1:30 pm: Film: Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making Us Sick? Sponsored by Multnomah County Health Department’s Health Equity Initiative. Portland Building, 1120 SW 5th Ave – Main Auditorium.
Monday, Dec 8, 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm: Scapegoating Panel sponsored by Portland’s Office of Human Relations. City Hall, 1221 SW 4th Ave, 2nd floor – Rose Rm.
Wednesday Dec 10, 9:30 am: City of Portland Mayor Tom Potter will issue a proclamation in celebration of International Human Rights Day. City Hall Council Chambers, 1221 SW 4th Ave.
Wednesday, Dec 10, 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm: Good Sista-Bad Sista Poetry Duo. Sponsored by Portland Office of Emergency Management and the Portland Office of Sustainable Development. Portland Building, 1120 SW 5th Ave, Main Auditorium.
Wednesday, Dec 10, 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm: Human Trafficking Panel. Sponsored by Portland’s Office of Human Relations. City Hall, 1221 SW 4th Ave, 2nd floor – Lovejoy Rm.
ROTF, whatta buncha slackers.
Rerun all my postings about the racial profiling committee’s “work.”
Meanwhile, the city goes broke, businesses flee and layoff and bridges crumble.
As your personal finances drain into city hall voters – be sure to thank your leaders for all of their ‘caring.’
A laugh riot.
Thank goodness Portland has its own Human Rights commission. I can’t wait to see how the City of Portland improves human rights around the world. Because we’re just that damn important. And step one towards turning this globe around is a lengthy discussion of bylaws! I feel my rights being protected already.
This is like the Council’s highly effective vote against the Iraq War: instant results. It’s a valuable use of local government to try to steer global affairs.
Our Council are a bunch of doers! Unfortunately their doing it to us. What would these clowns not spend money on? Get ready for Major League Soccer….