|
In the
Navy On Saturday, the ship became the U.S.S. Decatur, according to the Navy the first of its vessels ever commissioned here. Aside from that first, there are a couple of other unusual things about the ship that show that this is not your father's Navy. First, it's green. The Decatur is one of the navy's first ships to recycle nearly all of the 3.06 pounds of solid waste each sailor produces daily. "We used to just throw it all over the stern," says Petty Officer Bill Huffman, who recalls seagulls and sharks enjoying the waterborne banquets offered by other ships. Equipped with shredders and compactors for metal, glass and plastic, the Decatur turns those materials into pucks the size of large pizzas. A giant disposal unit grinds biodegradable garbage such as food and paper, mixes it with sea water and pumps it into the ocean. The ship is also co-ed. The Decatur is one of the first ships to contain an equal number of berths for men and women. Women have served on combat ships just since 1995; the Decatur's crew of approximately 300 includes 40 females, four of whom are officers. Fraternization is strictly prohibited, although one female officer, Lt j.g. Kathleen Sandoz says, "this is basically a high school." Still, rules are rules. Among those posted near the ship's cafeteria:
"Women can wear only one set of earrings: gold for officers and chiefs;
silver for enlisted personnel. Cosmetics shall be in good taste so they
blend with skin tone and enhance the texture." No word on cosmetics
or earrings for men. Last week Gov. John Kitzhaber made headlines when he announced his opposition to Ballot Measure 64, a proposed ban on clearcuts that he said was too extreme and divisive. We asked the governor his stance on the other November measures. It turns out that Kitzhaber, who vetoed a record number of bills last session, is giving the thumbs down to all but two of the 11 ballot measures. With the possible exception of his opposition to measures 58 (which would give adoptees equal access to their birth certificates) and 66 (which would steer lottery money to parks), there are no real surprises. Here's how Kitzhaber will vote in November. MEASURE 57: Stops 1997 legislation that would recriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana. No MEASURE 58: Gives adopted people age 21 and over who were born in Oregon access to their original birth certificates without consent from either birth parent. No (Kitzhaber aide Bob Applegate says he's not sure why his boss opposes the measure but he may fear it will make women less willing to give up their children for adoption.) MEASURE 59: Prohibits the state from helping groups collect political donations through union paycheck deductions. No MEASURE 60: Requires that all statewide elections are conducted by mail balloting only. Yes MEASURE 61: Sets minimum sentences for certain crimes and increases sentences for repeat offenders. No MEASURE 62: Strengthens contribution-disclosure regulations for ballot measures and protects public employee unions from using paycheck deductions as a legal means of fund-raising. No MEASURE 63: Requires two-thirds of voters to vote yes on future measures that would mandate a two-thirds voter turnout to pass tax and bond measures. Yes MEASURE 64: Stops clear-cutting and restricts the use of chemical pesticides and herbicides in logging. No MEASURE 65: Allows citizens to challenge rules created by state agencies by petitioning legislators. No MEASURE 66: Sets aside 15 percent of all lottery revenues for parks and wildlife habitat protection. No (The governor says ongoing expenses, such as parks maintenance, should come from the general fund, not the lottery.) MEASURE 67: Allows people with certain illnesses to cultivate
and possess small amounts of marijuana if their doctors FOLLOW-UP Torres, 21, and two other organizers for Oregon's farmworkers union claim that last month Juan Diego Sanchez, a field boss for Kraemer Farms in Mount Angel, nearly ran them over with a truck as they stood on the side of a road near a field with a bullhorn, spreading the word about farmworker rights. Kraemer Farms is a member of the Norpac farmers cooperative that is the subject of a PCUN-led boycott ("Berry Blues," WW, July 1, 1998). "He just came right at us with his truck," Torres told WW. "We had to jump out of the way. If not, we would have gotten hit." Torres says that after he and his companions hit the ditch, Sanchez stopped the truck, jumped out and started yelling obscenities in Spanish at the organizers, telling them they had no right to be there. The organizers called the Marion County sheriff, and later that day Sanchez was cited with charges of harassment and menacing. Marion County prosecutors closed the case last week without taking any further action against Sanchez. WW was unable to reach Sanchez. Officials for Kraemer farms would not comment on the incident. This is not the first time Sanchez has had a run-in with PCUN. In 1993 and 1996, similar complaints were made against him. Witnesses told police he intimidated and verbally abused PCUN employees and volunteers who attempted to speak with farmworkers. As in the most recent case, however, the charges didn't stick. Marion County District Attorney Dale Penn says he's not familiar with the specifics of the cases involving Sanchez but says the charges probably weren't deemed prosecutable. "No one is saying this conduct is correct or right," Penn says. "The question is will it be prosecutable in the civil justice system." Leone José Bicchieri of PCUN wants to know what it will take to get prosecutors involved. "I'm sending organizers out into the field," he says. "What should I tell them? Next time stand in front of the truck so he can break your leg, then maybe they'll do something?" --Patty Wentz
originally published September 2, 1998 |
