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' AGENDA COMMUNITY RELATIONS C0£Jllv'.iISSION September 12, 1969 Meeting This is a special meeting cf the Commission · called to review the proposed 1970 Prbgram Plan. 1. Discussion of Section I - Legis lation 2 Discussion of Section II - Town Hall Meetings and Section III - Public Hearings 3 Discussion of Sections IV - XII 4 Other business . 0 �CITY OF .ATLANT.A C ITY HALL ATLANTA, G A. 30303 Tel. 522-4463 Area Code 404 IVAN ALLE N, JR., MAYOR R. EARL LANDERS, Administrative Assistant MRS. ANN M. MOSES, Executive Secret ary DAN E. SWEAT, JR. , Director of Governmental Liaison MEMORANDUM TO: Dan Sweat FROM: J. H . Robinson SUBJECT: Stat istical Report for May 26, 1969 to August)I , 19 6 9 DATE: S e pte mber 3 , 1969 Dan , you will find enclos e d, a c om plete sta tistical repor t on the City S e rvices Coordinator 1 s Program durin g this p e r i od. You will a l so see a complete b reak-down on each d e p artment as it r e late s to c omplaints re c e iv e d, and complaint s cor r e cte d. T he fig u re as it rel ates to other~ means t h e coo r d ination of service with othe r ag e ncies outside of t h e City Governme nt. W e wer e activ e ly invol ved a n d participate d in 227 n e i ghborhood m e e tings, t h i s wa s mad e possibl e du e to the addition al m an powe r we rec e ived from Urban Corp and H UD . J H R : bt Enclosur e �MAY 26, 1969 Department or Authority TO AUGUST 31, 1969 Received Corrected Atlanta Housing Authority 28 19 Sanitation 530 406 Police 306 Parks & Recreation 62 47 Housing Code Division 93 57 Traffic Engineering 97 73 Construction 99 69 6 6 Fulton County Health Department 43 28 Public Works 97 55 Others 106 87 1467 956 Planning TOTAL TOTAL MEETINGS ATTENDED 227 . ' 109 �August 8, 1969 MEMORANDUM To: Mayor Allen From : Dan Sweat Shbject : Analysis of Complauits on City Services I am attaching three pieces of information which you will find very interesting. One is the summary of complaints from Town Hall meetings and recommendations of the Community Relation Commission. The second is the monthly statistical report from Johnny Robinson on th work of his City Services Coordinators. The third is a summary of evaluations and recommendation of eight interns who are working with the City Services Coordinator in various parts of the City. As I indicated to you before when publicity was released on th ~ s complaint summary, I was surprised to find that the Parks Department came in for so much criticism. 1 did not feel thi wa the case with our City Services Coordinator. l have attempted to analyze the mo t frequ nt complaint in the CRC report nd the city servic s report. You will not the percent of total in ach of th m jor categori ~ . I am xtr mely impr s d with the total number of compl ints rec ived and corrected by th City Services Coordinator. This is a result, of cours , of the b efed~up staff utilizing th int rn . You will find the comments nd r commend tions of the intern v ry inter ting, nd 1 think it i ignificant that only one of the int rns consistently f el that ev rything i wrong. ve b en exc ptionally ple · d with th f ct that lthough the int rns pl ce great d 1 of xtra work on th department in g tting compl ints an wer d, ther hav be n very f w compl inta J;egi t r d with m from th d p rtm nt . I DS:Je At cbment ,, �Mr. William H . Boone, Jr . ·6. Do you believe the CRC can be the prime agent in getting the School Board to fully integrate the Atlanta public schools? The CRC can be a prime agent in pointing out any existing inequities within the School system, and offer recommendations to alleviate these inequities . 7. Can CRC do anything to speed integration of neighborhoods . . • ? The CRC can m ake certain that a ll complaints concerning discrimination i n housing are thoroughly investigated. The Commission c an also work with existing neighborhood fair housing groups in stimulating initiative. 8. At present, the CRC has no powers outside of holding hearings and investigation should the CRC be given additional powers? The CRC has not submitted any formal resolutions requesting additional powers, and ha been able to work quite effectively without them . If some hould be requested, this decision would have to be made by the Board of Alderm en. 9. A tlanta is very heterogeneous in it makeup. How do you · m ke the CRC member hip reflect the diverse segments. . . ? By 10. ppointing citizens representative 0£ all segment of Atlanta. What do you con ider when you select a CRC member. . . ? Citizens who have th qualifications to main in the very excellently l ane d commiseion, and who have the talent motivation to carry out the dutie of the Commie ion . 11. nd Why did the Finance Committ e give the CRC a sizable incre in its budget thi ye r . . . . ? e A the Commi ion d veloped it I' pon ibilities, additional financial needs emerged, nd the Finance Com.mitte nd the Board of Aldermen ap r ntly f lt dditio 1 fund were ju tified, nd, therefor , approv d them. lZ. A l te a 1961, it wae r ported that you did not favor n official human rel tion council • • • why did you c:ban your view ln 1966-? The n wer to Question No. 1 l•o n w ra thi que tion. -Z- �.. "COMMUNITY RELATIONS CO/-iJv\ lSSION MEMORIAL DRIVE ANNEX BLDG. 121 MEMORIAL DRIVE, S. W. ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303 ~22-4463 July 25, 1969 DR. SAMUEL W. WILLIAMS, CHAIRMAN VICE MAYOR SAM MASSELL, JR., • . EX-OFFICIO . COMMISSION MEMBERS. MR.T. M.ALEXANDER , SR . R . BYRON ATTRIDGE MRS. SARA BAKER MISS HELEN BULLARD MR . R. J. BUTLER MR . f,!: :-:E CH ~ ~A~ TH A~-~ REP. JAMES E . D EA N MR. ROBERT DO BBS REP.C.G . EZZARD . MR. L . L. ~ELLERSTEDT, J~. MR. CHARLES HART DR . ROB E RT E . L.EE · - - · - -·MRS. F. W. PATTERSON RABBI JACOB M . ROTHSCHILD · MR. PAUL SHIELDS MR . L. D . SIMON \ . - • ..MRS. MA RY STEPHENS DR. J. RANDOLPH TAYLOR -REV. J.·A. WILBORN TO: M~yor Allen and the 1?oard of Aldermen · - -irn. FROM: Community Relations Commission SUBJECT: Summary of Complaints from Town Hall Meetings and Recommendations of the Commission · The key role of the Community Relations Commission (CRC} in the Mayor I s Sumni.e r Program has been in holding Town I MR. WILLIAM McGEE, E X-O FFICIO Hall me e tings in the disadvc.nt age d ares of the City. The ATLANTA YOUTH CONGRESS ! Commission initi;:i.lly g oes in to h ea r the compla ints of MR. NAT WELCH EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR citizens and returns some t hir ty clays later and r e ports on actions taken by City Hall and other agencies. In many cases, CRC has been able to report corrective action taken -·oy City Depa rtments a nd other agencies {note Suppleme nt · ..!½". for _responses this week to complaints at Perry H01nes). Town Hall meetings have b ee n held since March in the following communiti~ s : Blair Village, Grant Park, Mechanicsville, Perry Homes, University Homes and EdgewoodKirkwood. ·- -- -· o _ . (;; This report tabulates the frequency of complaints registered _·_in the initial me e tings. The frequency of compla ints is not in itself conclusive evidenc e of the gravity of problems faced ·- ·by ·Atlan ta. 0 The purpose of this memorandum is to m ake recommenda tions on proble ms the Com.mi ssion h as been unab l e to r eso lve . ~<:?~ · ~~t~\:}J ~ \\ . .,, "'< ,\..~ ~ ~:;;.\/3 '\_,\ ·. '.V · ··1 ,~,·::-..., -~, ~ ·., ~ l\~ '\ i),J ' • ~'l \\,;~ t~ ~ ~~r>\\ ~\v.>~'\. ~~i~y\M ~\ b/ 11 (",,.., _ . tf:;"'$>- \<:)~ ~f·!..~s Far and away the most frequent complaint received was th e need for more and b e tter recreational facilities. T v,renty -six -complaints were received on this s ubj ect comp ared wit h • 111,... eac h o n po 1·ic e an d gar b age service. · T wenty- f our e1g complaints on re cr eation dea lt with the need for m o re s wim n1ing pools, more play lots for tots, and pr ogr ams for t ecnagers. Two complaints had t o do with lack of services by - t- o ~v\~ .-. �I?age 2 Summc1;,ry of Complaints Community Chest agencies in the disadvantaged areas. The Commission would like to recommend four areas for improving this situation: 1. The Parks Department capital improvern.ent budget of approximately $35 0, 000 is grossly inadequate. This . - sum can easily be expended to build one new park; but this $350,000 has to be spread over 65 parks. For example, a modern swimming pool costs approxim ~\ely ·· - · : --- ----- ·· · - --$220,-000; -·The City of Atlanta needs to give serious consideration to a multi-million dollar bond issue for . .. -. improvement and expansion of its Parks system. It should b~ pointed out that the Parks Department is operating 80 play lots of which 40 are staffed. These are constructed and maintained principally from Federal Poverty Funds. If these funds ar.e reduced, this would throw an immediate and substantial burden on this City. r - ·--i.---Emphasis ·should be _Placed on expanding and improving _ play lots for tots and neighborhood parks in such com ···-- _________·__ __!!1:u_njttes_ cts _J\1echanicsville, Surn.merhill, Fulton Village, Blue Heaven, Bowen Hom e s, Perry Homes and Grant _ __:· ____park: are_a . Parks need to be in walking distance of these citizens where possible; ghetto families have very poor transportation. Imp r oved transportation in disadvantaged areas will help broaden recreational opportunities. 3. Better utilization must be made of school playgrounds -- --~ -=-a nd facilities. ··· This re·quire s more co ope ration between ·. the Atlanta School Board and the Parks D epartment . .. _ ... With the costs of construction and real estate spiraling, . Atlanta has to make better use of school facilities for i-ecreaHon. 4. Th~ need is pressing for improved recreation in public · ··housing. The Atlanta Housing Authority c an build recre·-ational, buildings. The City should urge action here by · the Authority. The Board of Aldennen has offered to pay 50% of the costs of operating recr eat ional programs in public housing if the A uthority would do like wise. Under Federal law, AHA can not do so. Therefo re, the City must accept its responsibility here in as much as it has as surned responsibility in providing other services in public housing. 0 0 A major burden for improving recr eation in the City rests w ith the Pa rk s Department. Churche s have be e n remiss in developing re creational programs �Page 3 Summ~ry of Complaints - - and using their facilities for their neightborhoods. Community Chest agencies need to step up their programs in disadvantaged areas and to guard against serving just the middle class. The Atlanta Children 1 s and Youth Services Council has done an outstanding job in coordinating and promoting volunteer services and warrants continous support. Complaints abo.ut the Atlanta Police Department were eight in number ••.••.• seven dealing with the need for greater protection and quicker, response and - ----one -about segregation ·in the department. Four suggestions were made by citizens for improving police services: I. M·.:>re foot·.patrolmen in areas of high crime. 2. Quicker switchboard answering at headquarters. 3. . Complete desegration of the Police Department.

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Improved street lighting in areas of high crime. This has sharply reduced crime in some American cities. ll Atlanta is to cope with its nsmg crime rate, citize ns must share this responsibility with the Police Department. The Atlanta Police Department must be given a d_eguatc funds for operations, salaries, .training and res ear ch. Atlanta citizens have a strong responsibility t o report crimes and to serve as witnesses where needed. __ ______ G~:r:}Jage s e rvice also ranked second in _number of complaints. The Commission received six complaints on the quality and frequency of garbage collection and - - __:_-two complaints on garbage being strewn over premises. The Commission held a special meeting in June with the Director of the Public Works Department and the Director of the Sanita ry S ervic e to inform the m of these facts and to make recommenda tions. The Public Works Committee of th e Board of Aldermen . ·. needs to take furth er steps to mechanize garbage collection and to increase the pay-of ·sanitary wo1.·ker s -and ·to elevate· the - dignity- of·th·e · job. - Citi zens need to. show more appreciation for the men who p erfo rm this important public service. -A serious complaint h eard a t Town Hall meetings during the spring d ealt with . the f ailure of the City to remove junk c ars . The responsibility for removing junk ca.rs on private prope1·ty rests with the Sanitary D epartment and on streets with the Police D epartnient. In the last few weeks both d epartments have moved forward with aggressive pr9grams for coping with this nagging problem. Other complaints receive d by the Commis si on are list e d below in the frequency in which rec e ived: 7 complaints ..•· ..• on sewers and dr a, inage - -5 on flood e d streets and 2 on di r.ty sewers and smelly creeks. 5 compla ints •••••• lack of jobs for youth. �~ . . Page 4 Summary of Co1nplaints 5 complaints •• _. ... Comprehensive Health- -3 on services offered and 2 alleging discriminatory hiring practices. 5 complaints .•••• ~ Model Cities - -lack of knowledge of program, inadequate community representation, objections to ho1n~ purchase and repair programs, and community contractors not getting a chance to _bid. -· ·· __ _:__4 · complaints •••••• repair of and the need for better street lighting. 4 complaints •••••• need for new streets and the paving of existing streets. 3 complaints •••••• rats. 3 complaints .•.•.. City of Atlanta- -2 on the lack of coordination of City Departments and 1 on the lack of responsiveness _ to cou-1plaints of citizens. 3 complaints .....• Atlanta Housing Authority- -2 on the condition of housing and 1 on· high rents. 2 complaints.~ o ••• stra:,r dogs c: 2 complaints .•...• Urban Renewal--thc desire of citizens for information, and representation on urban renewal committees. 2 _complaints •.•.•• Economic Opportunity Atlanta The Co~~unity Relations Commission itself was not above criticism. One . complaint was registered on the lack of youth representation on the Commission and another on the inability of the Commission to respont to complaints. / / .· 0 •. �p • • 0 SUPPLEMENT i 11 A 11 I f The follow-up meeting in the Northwest Perry Homes area was held on July 22~ fThe CRC was able to report the following positive actions on complaints registered by the citizens: 1. Transportation--the CRC met with Mr. William Maynard, President of the Atlanta Transit Company, to encourage the extension of the Perry Boulevard Bus to Holiywood Road. This would enable the residents of Perry Homes to have bus transportation to the K-Mart and several large grocery stores in the Ba1:ld1ead Highway area_. The Atlanta Transit Company agreed to make this extension on a three month trial basis. New bus schedules were handed out to residents of Perry Homes at the CRC meeting~ - -z.--- Recreation: a, Through the efforts of the Atlanta Youth Council, the Butler Street Ylv1CA and Community Che st a recreation program for teenagers at Northwest Perry Homes has been · developed. / /' This program will provide recreation four . 0 nights a week during the remainder b. of the summer. Mr, Persells reported that the Atlanta Housing Authority will begin surveying for the construction o_f a ne w r e cre ation building w ithin the ne x t few w eeks . . .. 0 . �... Page 2 Supplement "A" 3. -- -- Consmner Services: a. CRC reported that Mr. Alterman, of Big Apple Food .Stores, has agreed to build a new supermarket in the area ·provi_ding a minimum of three suitable acres can be found. ______ ____M:1-°: .. Welch sur_veye~ the area with a large shopping ·center developer who promised a best effort to develop a shopping - Center ·fo-r the Perry Homes Area. b. Mr. Lindskoog met with Mr. Yates, of Yates & Milton _D rug Stores, to request that a pharmacist be placed in their . . --------·Drug Store in Perry· Homes. Mr. Lindskoog plans tc work further on this is sue -4. Atlanta Housing Authority: a. In response to the residents request, new railings will be plac e d on unprotected stairways. _ - -- - ·b. -- Mr. Persells reported that operations are now under way to eliminate the m aggots that have become a serious problem ·_ in one. section of the housing project. _· · s. · Proctor Creek--citizens were pleased with the report that .• the Cit_y is p·resen~ly doing extensive work to e liminate the / . / odor of Pr octo r Creek. 0

. .. �Community Relations Commission Pe.i:cent of Total 87 26 8 8 7 Total Complaints Parks Police Sanitation Sewers, etc. Employment Health Model Cities 5 5 5 30% 9% 9% 8% 6% 6% 6% Cities Services Percent of Total (July) ~:< Total Complaints Parks Police Sanitation Sewers, etc. Employment Health Model Cities 708 32 133 267 59 5% 19% 38% 8% No Figures Available 19 No Figures Available

Other

Prominent Complaints Housing Code Traffic Engineering 36 40 3% �COPY KING & SPALDING HUGHES SPALDING, JR. ROBT. B . TROUTMAN CHARLES L, GOWEN JAMES M , SIBLEY CHARLES H , KIRBO JOHN IZARD POPE B . MCINTIRE KIRK M. MCALPIN HUGHES SPALDING WILLIAM K . MEADOW KENNETH L, HEWITT HARRY C. HOWARD R . BYRON ATTRIDGE TRUST COMP ANY OF GEORGIA BUILDING RICHARD A, DENNY, JR . ATLANTA, GEORGIA WILLIAM H . IZLAR , JR. BRADLEY HALE ROBERT W . HURST ROBERT L. STEED HENRY HALL WARE Ill ANTHA MULKEY CHARLES M . KIDD JOHN C . STATON, JR. FURMAN SMITH , JR. G. LEMUEL HEWES PHILIP F. ETHERIDGE R . WILLIAM ICE Ill CHARLES M. SHAFFER. JR. JOHN D. HOP K INS A , FELTON JENKINS , JR. 30303 404 525-0481 DANIEL J , O ' CONNOR . JR. HUGH PETE RS ON, JR. JOHN A. W A LLACE DAVID L . COKE R January l2t 1969 JACK H. WATSON, JR. HORACE H . SIBLEY W , DON A LD K NIGHT, JR , JAMES A, BRANCH Ill Th &onorabl Herbert Jenktns Chief of Polic• City of Atlant· Polic »epartment 17S l)ec tui: Str~et.# s. g. A-t: l artta I f.tet>rgla Dear Chi f ifenld.ns, I aa Chair of the Law of tbe CoAmtUn.ity Relatiomt c ore nt Subc i'tt: ·e ion. and this ubc:ommittee n ask 1:0 study tb f ibllity of the establishment of a Citize ' Revi8" lo d of th Polic Department for the city of Atl.aata. 'l'be requut for t 11everal oit:izen • grouJ'IS in 11$ c ,s tudy h com from ni.ty. w lrt. to 41 cu•• t:be at wi tb all grou . who re c ponsible for police protection and police'< unity ,:elations. e felt it would be th · at approach to initi t our atudy by· det nd.llibi your f · lings and ug9estiona in tbia regard. It vould be gooc!l if you could l t u know a couvenioat tl • when t b aubconuaitt might come by· you offtc for bri f conf enc. Byron Att:ridg Chairman~ Law zu:ty BAajiu ,c ci Nr. llat cc, ar. nan ecr Hellber•, ii.fore 1.•tJ.om �January 16~ 1969 M ills· Lane Ed Smith Bi lly Sterne Joe Birnie Gordon Jone-a D e ar Friends : Through the, Community Relations Com mission. the City .is seeking ways to i m prove the conditions and opportunities of our less fortunate citizens . definite plan is being develop.ed which ill need your advic~ and assi tance in the area Qf private -e nte rpri e opportuni ties for Negro busine men. I would appr-eciate your meeting with m.e briefly on Thur day m orning , February 6th at 10 :00 a . m . in order that I may have th benefit of your idea about this pl'oject. Sincerely, Ivan All n , Jr. IAJr :am be: Nat Welch Dan Sweat �• January 16, 1969 MEMORANDUM TO Nat Welch, Community Relations Commission FROM Ivan Allen, Jr. Attached i a copy of the lett r I have written to the five bank presidents requesting them to me with the idea of discussing th ir ability to make financial loans to Negro businessmen. Prior to this meeting, I would like to have a memorandum from you as to how you think they may a sist, a summary of what ha - already been done in thi area ; and an outline of the meeting you plan to have on February 20th. I would hope you would be available to it in on the me ting on F bruary 6th. Attachm nt �202/223-1212 DAVID A PTER & ASSOCIATES 1145 19th Street, N .W . Washington, D.C. 20036 13 January ;l969 Ivan Allen. Jr., Mayor City of Atl anta City Hall Atlanta~ Georgia D 30303 ar Ivan: I was delighted tog t your re ponse to our proposal addressed to white racial attitudes . llefore reporting again to the Ford Foundation, I'm waiting to hear from a couple of loc 1 coalitions, after which I expect to be .able to ke my recommendations for pilot cities. If all goes well, I should have something more specific to revi w with Nat Welch e rly next month. Like 11 your admirers, I was disappointed, though h rdly surprised, by your decision to rotir. ~lixabeth a.nd I were pl as d to se the Washington Post's comment. Thanks to her own bedside clipping servic, here's anoth r copy of the ditorial for your scrapbook. B st regards, GCalvin Kytle CK/ fvg cc: Mr. Dan Swat Mr. Nat Welch Mr. Jorry Horton Encl/ t sh Post clip (1/11/6 ) Dal'id Apter, President / C ali-in Kytle, E'xecutive Vice President/Theodore 0. Cron, Vice President �WHO The Atlanta Community Relations Commission is sponsoring WHAT a series of Workshops in Human Relations for City employees. WHEN The first session is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon , May 28 1:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. The Commission is requesting each City department to send one receptionist to the initial workshop WHERE Committee Room 2 in City Hall. WHY As a part of their 1969 program the Community Relations Commission is initiating a series of workshops in human relations for City employees. These workshops have two major objectives: (1) to provide ways in which personnel working for the City can better relate to minority group citizens with whom they come in contact; and (2) to assist Citj \ personnel in gaining a better understanding of the major proB.lems confronting citizens in the disadvantaged communities of Atlanta. The CRC believes that the actions and attitudes of any City employee who comes in contact with the public can have a considerable impact on the relationship between the City Government and a given community. This is especially true in dealing with the problems of Atlanta's Negro citizens . Mayor Allen and his administration have made tremendous strides in breaking down the barriers of racial prejudice. It seems only logical that community relations can continue to be improved between the City Government and the citizens if the Mayor's farsighted and compassionate attitude in human relations is reflected in the actions and attitudes of all city personnel. It is the hope of the CRC that these workshops in human relations will act as a catalyst in bringing this about. �OMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMISSION ESTABLISHED BY THE MAYOR AND THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN, NOVEMBER, 1966 J!OJ CITY HALL, ATLANTA GEORGIA JOJOJ TELEPHONE 5U-H6J EXT. ~33 DR. SAMUEL W. WILLIAMS, 0,a/rl1Uln THE HONORABLE SAM MASSE LL. JR., ex-Officio Ptes/dent, Board of Aldermen COMMISSION MEMBERS MR. T. M. ALEXANDER, SR. MR. R. BYRON ATTRIDGE MRS. SARA BAKER MJSS HELEN BULLARD MR. R. J. BUTLER REP. JAMES E. DEAN MR. ROBERT DOBBS REP: C. G. EZZARD MR. L. L. GELLERSTEDT, JR. MR. CHARLES HART DR. ROBERT E. LEE MRS. F. W. PATTERSON RABBI JACOB M. ROTHSCHILD MR. M. O.RYAN MR. JACK SELLS MR. PAUL SHIELDS MR. L. D. SIMON MRS. MARY STEPHENS DR. J. RANDOLPH TAYLOR MR. NAT WELCH Executive Direcfor TO: The Business Advisory Committee FROM: Nat Welch SUBJECT: DATE:

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Committee Meeting April 28, 1969 April 9, 1969 The Business Advisory Committee of the Community Relations Commission will meet from 3:30-5:00 p. m., Monday, April 28 in the Aldermanic Chambers of City Hall. Here is the agenda: 1. A report and an evaluation ·of the II Workshop on Black Business Opportunity" sponsored by the Commission at Atlanta _University, -February 20. 2. John Cox , Director of the Atlanta Youth Council, will outline several proje·cts your company can undertake this summer to get disadvantaged kids off the streets and constructively involved. 3. CRC Project Director Chuck Williams, who is working with twenty-five l arge Atlanta companies on stepping up employment of minority persons, will give a brief report. The Cornmittee wants to hea1· about any successful ideas your company has developed to increase minority employment. 4. Andy Hub er of the N ational Allianc e of Businessme n will bri efly outline their program which will emphasize employment of black females. Please feel free to bring along one or two other of your company's executives who might have interests in the above areas. �HUGHES SPALDING WILLIAM K . MEADOW HUGHES SPALDING, JR. CHARLES H . KIRBO POPE B, M C.I NTI RE KENNETH L. HE W ITT HARR Y C . HO W ARD R . B Y RON ATTRIDGE ROBERT W. HUR S T . HENRY HAI_L WARE Ill ANTHA MUl-KEY CHARl-ES M . KI DD EDWARD J. HAWIE ROBT. B . TROUTMAN CHARLES L. GOWEN JAMES M . SIBLEY JOHN ! ZARO K I RK M . Mt;AL_PIN RIC HARO A . DENN Y , JR . Wll-LIAM H . IZLAR,JR. B R ADl-EY HALE R O BERT L.ST E ED DANIEL J. O ' CONNOR, JR . HUGH PETERSON , JR . F U RMAN SMITH, JR . JOHN D • HOPKINS A . FEl-T O N JENKINS.JR . JA C K H . W ATSON . JR . R. WILLIAM IOE Ill HORACE H . SIBLEY M , S HAf"FER , JR . W. DO NALD KNI G H T, JR . .JOSE P H & SPALDING TRUST COMPANY OF GEORGIA BUILDING ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303 404 525 - 0481 JOHN A . WALLACE JOHN C.STATON , JR , DAV ID L. COKER C HARLE S KING G . LEMUEL HEWES March 3, 196 9 GEORG E G RAH A M TRA S K .JAM ES A , B R A NCH Ill R. G L AD DEN, JR. Honorable Ivan Allen , Jr . Mayor city of Atlanta City Ball Atlanta , Georgia 30303 Dear Mayor Allen: The February meeting of the community Relations commission was held this past Friday, February 28th, and a substantial portion of the meeting was taken up with discussion of the so-called "welfare payments freeze." There was a great amount of confusion as to just exactly what was involved in the "freeze." However , it appears that the federal government presently plans to restrict welfare grants to the states beginning July 1 , 1969, which would in turn cause some reduction in the payments to individual recipients. It was the strong consensus of the community Relations commission that any reduction in the individual welfare payments - particularly in the summer month of JUly - wouid increase unrest and the possibility for general trouble in the community. It is clear that the whole question of the "freeze• needs to be studied and clarified, and I have asked the staff of the commission to undertake such a study. I have also talked with Dan sweat this morning who is also studying the matter. �Honorable Ivan Al.len, Jr. March 3, 1969 Page TWO If the. problem exists as it now appears, the commission wil.l be available to assist you in any way in attacking the problem . Sincerely, Byron Attridge Vice-chairman community Relations commission BA:jmb cc: cc: cc: Reverend Sam Williams Mr. Nat Welch Mr. Dan Sweat �• ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL ~.eparhtre1t± of ]u~dicc ~nsl1insto11 July 23, 1969 Mr. Nat Welch Executive Director Community Relations Commission 1203 City Hall Atlanta, Ge9rgia 30303 Dear Mr. Welch: The President and the Attorney General have asked me to reply to your letters of May 8 and May 12, 1969, in which you express the concern of the Atlanta Community Relations Commission that the Civil Rights Division is in need of additional resources. Please excuse my delay in responding. l. Attorney General Mitchell has recognized the nead for additional resources within the Civil Rights Division and has sought an increased budget from the Congress. In his testimony before the House Subco:r.unittee on Appropriations, Attorney General Mitchell made the following statement with respect to the needs of the Civil Rights Division. I I In the important field of civil rights, our commitment is to enforce all the civil rights laws, on behalf of all our people in all sections .of the country. To fully carry out this responsibility in three priority areas-housing--education and emp loyrnent--places an op~rationa l burden upon the Civil Rights Division that vastly exceeds its capacity, even with the modest increase in staff that · has been requested above the revised 1969 levels. We seek for 1970, only 35 po~itions and $1,073,000 above that asked for in 1969. As you will recall, we asked for 55 positions and $447,500 by way of a supplemental request . primarily to implement Titles I, VIII and I X of the 1968 Civil Rights Act. We have not increased the r~quest of the prior Administration for Fiscal Year 1970 primarily because it was 0 ' I �our judgment that a larger increment of additional manpower over that sought in the 1969 supplemental could not be effectively / utilized by the Division as it is now constituted and operating. However, we can conceive of nothing more devastating to our concepts of . equal justice than to have sectional, or piecemeal enforcement of civil rights statutes imposed upon us because we have.failed to ask the Congress for the necessary resources. We cannot hope to reach, by our enforcement of these laws, all forms or shades of discrimination. But we are totally committed to removing on a priority basis the patent injustices in employment, housing and edudation that remain in one degree or another in all areas of the Nation. We shall in candor ask for all the manpower we believe can be effectively used to this end and we eainestly hope that you will provide it. We deeply appreciate the position tha t the Atlanta C~mmunity Relations Commission has taken and the . help which i~ has given in support of the budget for this Division arid we hope you realize that the additional support which we have received, at least in partr will enable us to bring about greater compliance of the civil rights laws . Best regards. Sincerely, r , I.. ~ ~- -·-c.." Jerris Leonard • Assistant Attorney General Civil Rights Division 0 / �CITY OF ATLANTA OFFiCE OF CITY COMPTROLLER ATLANTA 3, GEORGIA January 2, 1969 TO: Those Noted FROM: SUBJECT: CIP 1969 Update We have been instructed to give first priority to matching the CIP Master File against Fulton County's Real Property Master File. Fulton County is now reformatting their Real Property Master File and will have a reformatted file, updated through 1968, available for us by January 15, 1969. Parcel Code Number identification as used in our CIP file differs from that used by Fulton County on their Real Property Master File. The two identification methods are shown here: County PCN District Land Lot Square Unit XXX 9999 xxxx 999 City PCN 99X 999X 9999X 999X 9 = A digit only X = Either a digit or an alphabetic character This results in PCN identification as shown here: County PCN XXX9999XXXX999 City PCN 99X999X9999X999X As can be seen, not only are there differences in the characteristics of the various positions but the City PC N is a total of 16 characters whereas the County PCN is only 14 characters. The different PCN identification formats resulted from the Ci~y's having t o allow for Dekalb County I s numbering system when the CIP file was originally built . Dekalb County has since then changed to the PCN identification method used by Fulton County . PCN is the s equence i n which both t he City and County files are kep t . Since the PCN i denti f ier s are not c ompat ib ie in forma t , i t has been nece ss ary f or us t o transla te PCN fr om the County f ormat t o t he Cit y f ormat whe never we us ed data supp l ied by the County. Thi s translat i on pr oc e s s wou l d caus e the resultant file to be out of s equence and t hus requi r e a sort of the Mas t er File. The translation and sorting was done in order to preserve the ability to r un the series of CIP report programs which required for input, a PCN in the City's format .• �-2During the upcoming match of 1968 Fulton County tape s with the 19 67 CIP file, we will convert our PCN identifier on the CIP file to the County's format. This will render it impossible to continue to use existing CIP report programs without modifications and will alter the me thod of making updates to the master file. It is anticipated that the special Committee which has been appointed to study the data processing needs for planning information will define future reporting requirements. If it is necessary to run the CIP reports, they could he run with the 1967 CIP Master which will r emain unimpa'ired as a result of the conversion. Fulton County's file should be available for us to schedule processing the weekend of January 18 - 19. Distribution: Messrs: JG/bb George Berry Milton Converse Charles L. Davis Collier Gladin Frank Howard R. Earl Landers W. Roy Smith John Watson �-2During the upcoming match of 1968 Fulton County tape s with the 1967 CIP file, we will convert our PCN identifier on the CIP file to the County's format. This will render it impossible to continue to use existing CIP report programs without modifications and will alter the me thod of making updates to the master file. It is anticipated that the special Committee which has been appointed to study the data processing needs for planning informat.i on will define future reporting requirements. If it is necessary to run the CIP reports, they c.ould b.e run with the 1967 CIP Master which will remain unimpaired as a result of the conversion. Fulton County's file should be available for us to schedule processing the weekend of January 18 - 19. Distribution: Messrs: JG/bb George Berry Milton Converse Charles L. Davis Collier Gladin Frank Howard R. Ear l Landers W. Roy Smith John Watson �f' 1 .August 8, 1969 MEMORANDUM To: Mayor Allen From: Dan Sweat S!ibject: Analysis of Complaints on City Services I am attaching three pieces of information which you will find very interesting. One is the summary of complaints from Town Hall meetings and recommendations . of the Community Relations Commission. The second is tb.e monthly statistical report from Johnny Robinson on the work of his City Services Coordinators. The third is a swnmary of evaluations and recommendations of eight interns ·_,·tcr~!:1.; ·.·lit_~. th~ Cit~r Se r ...ricee C oorr1 i r? !l. t o:r i'1 1 r!l_~!0143.215.248.55 !""~-!'ts; of theCity. ·:~~=-~ .:.:::: As I indicated to you b e fore wh3n publicity was relear.ed on the QB_C' s complaint s ummary, I was surpris e d to find that the Parks Department came in for so much criticis m. I did not feel this was the case with our City Services Coordinator. I h '3.ve attempted to analyze the rnost frequent complaints in the CRC report a nd the city services report. You will note the percent of total in each of the maj or categ o ries . I am e x t rem e l y impre s se d with the total number of compla ints re ce ived and corr e cted by the City Service s Coordinator . This is a result, of c our se , of the beefed-up s t aff u t ilizing the interns. Y ou will find th e comments a nd r e commenda tions of the i n terns very intere s ting, and I thi nk it i s s i gnifica nt tha t only one of the inte rns consi s t e ntly feel s that e~.,erything i s wr o ng . I have been exceptionally pleased with the fa c t tha t a l though the i nter n s pla c e a grea t deal of e x tra work on the departments in gettin g complaints answere d, there have been very few complaint s regis t ered with me fr om the departments . DS:je .Attachment s �r-' " Community Relations Cc1mmission Pe~cent of Total Total Complaints Parks Police Sanitation Sewers, etc. Employment Health Model Cities 87 26 7 30% 9% 9% 8% 5 5 5 6% 6% 6% 8 8 Cities Services Percent of Ta tal (July)

Total

Complaints Parks Police Sanitation Sewers, etc. Employment Health Model Cities 708 32 5% 133 19% 267 59 38% 8% No Figures Available 19 3% No Figures Available

~ther Prominent Complaints

Housing Code Traffic Engineering 36 40 ' �' -. .,. . . •143.215.248.551;: ·co.V.MUNITY RELATIONS. CO/,lJ,\ISSION ___ MEMORIAL DRIVE ANNEX BLDG. _ - . 121 MEMORIAL DR:VE, S. W. ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303 G:-.~----=:-;;·_-i.;,ln,, -Ji 11 .' ' ~22-4463 ~~t~Jt{,::~;; Jf.: '--- - . July 25, 1969 DR. SAMUEL W. WILLIAMS. CHAIRMAN VICE MAYOR SAM MASSELL, JR . , . EX-OFFICIO .COMMISSION MEMBERS. TO: M~yor A.Hen and the 1?oard of Aldermen MR.T.M.ALEXANDER,SR . . · --i.lR. R. BYRON ATTRIDGE '-IRS. SA.RA EJAKER MISS HELEN BULLARD MR.R.J. BUTLER l~fL f.!:!':E: CHE:.'\!H A!.! REP. JAMES E. DEAN MR . ROBERT DO BBS REP.C.G. EZZARD . MR. L.L. ~ELLERSTEDT,J~. MR. CHARLES HART OR. ROBERT E. L.EE

,_!RS. F. V:. PATTERSON RABBI JACOB M. ROTHSCHILD · MR. PAUL SHIELDS '-IR. L. 0. SIP.10N i . •• J.IRS. MARY STEPHENS OR, J. RANDOLPH TAYLOR -REV. J.·A. WILBORN FROM: Community Relations Commission SUBJECT: Summary of Complaints from Town Hall Meetings and Re.commendations of the Commission · The key role of the Community Relations Commission (CRC) in the Mayor's Summer Progr am has been in holding Town I MR. WILLIAM McGEE. EX-OFFICIO Hall meetings in the disadvc. ntaged ares of the City. The ATLANTA YOUTH CONGRESS l C0rnmj s si0n hijtially goes in to hear the complaints of . MR. NAT WELCH EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR citizens and returns some thirty days later and reports on actions taken by City Hall and other agencies. In many cases, CRC has been able to report corrective action taken -·oy City Departments and other agen cies (note Supplement 1 . • .~!A". for _responses this week to complaints at Perry Hoines). Town Hall meetings have been held since lvlarch in the following communities : Blair Village, Grant Park, Mechanicsville, Perry Homes, University_ Hom es and EdgewoodKirkwood. ··--- -· ·- . This report tabulates the frequency of complaints registered _·_in the initial meetings. The frequ ency of compla ints is not in itself conclusive evidence of the gravity of problems faced ,1··· - ·by ·Atlanta. 0 The purpose of this memorandum is to make recommendations on problems th e Comrn ission has been unable to resolve . �Pag:e 2 Summ~.ry of Complaints Community Chest agencies in the disadvantaged areas. The Commission would like to recommend four areas for improving this situation: 1. The Parks Department capital improvern.ent budget of approximately $350,000 is grossly inadequate. This . - sum can easily be expended to build one new park; but this $350,000 has to be spread over 65 parks. For example, a modern swimming pool costs approximately ····.- ·-- -~--- ----------$220;·000. · - The City of Atlanta needs to give serious consideration to a multi-million dollar bond issue for . ... -.improvement and expansion of its Parks system. It should b~ pointed out that the Parks Department is operating 80 play lots of which 40 are staffed. These , are constructed and maintained principally from Federal Poverty Funds. If these funds ar.e redli.ced, this would t~row an immediate and substantial burden on this City. ·"-···--z.--Emphasis ·should be ·_placed on expanding and improving play lots for tots and neighborhood parks in such com__________ ·· munities as _11echanicsville, Sun1merhill, Fulton Village, •· · Blue Heaven, Bowen Homes, Perry Homes and Grant _ _ ____ p _a rk area. Parks need to b e in walking dista nce of these citizens where possible; ghetto families have very poor transportation. Improved transportation in disadvantaged areas will help broaden recreationa l opportunities. 3. Better uti lization must b e made of school -pla yg rounds · - ·-...::...:.-=-and facilities. ··· ·This re·quire s more coo pc ration between ·. the Atlanta School Board and the Parks Departm e nt. ___ ... With the costs of construction and r eal estate spiraling, . Atlanta h a s to make better use of school f ac ilities for recreadon. · 4. The need is pressing for improved recreation in public - · -· hou sing. The Atlanta Hou s ing Aut hority c a n build recre.--ational, buildings. Th e City should urg e action he re by the Authority. The Board of Alde rmen h as offere d to • pay 50% of the co s ts of op e r a ting recr eat iona l pro grams in public housing if the A uthority wo uld do likewise. Und er Federal l aw , AHA can not do so. Therefore; the City must a cc ept its responsibility here in as much as it has assumed re s ponsibility in providing other s ervices in public housing. 0 A major burden for improving recreation in the City rest s with the Parks Department. Churches have been ren1iss in d eve loping recreatio nal programs �.. ~ Page 3 Summc:ry of Complaints . and using their facilities for their neightborhoocls. Community Chest agencies need to step up their programs in disadvantag ed areas and to guard against serving just the middle class. The Atlanta Children 1 s and Youth Services Council has done an outstanding job in coordinating and promoting volunteer services and warrants continous support. Complaints abo-ut the Atlanta Police Department were eight in number •••..•• seven dealing with the need for greater protection and quicker response and - ---one-about segregation ·:n the department. Four suggestions were made by citizens for improving police services: I. More foot·.patrolmcn in areas of high crime. z. Quicker switchboard answering at headquarters. 3. Complete desegration of the Police Department. - . ----4. Improved stre·et lighting in areas of high crime. This has sharply reduced crime in some American cities. "Jf Atlanta is to cope with its nsmg crim e rate, citizens must share this responsibility with the Police Department. The Atlanta Police Department · must be given a deguate funds for ope rations, - salaries, training and res ear ch. Atlanta citi zens have a strong responsibility to report crimes and to serve as witnesses where needed. _________ _G~i:?age service also ranke d second in number of complaints. The Commission received six complaints on the quality and frequency of garbage collection and -- -- ---.- two complaints on garbage being s tre wn over premises. The Commission held a special meeting in June with the Director of the Public Works D epartment and the Director of the Sanitary S ervic e to info rm t hem of these facts and to make recomme ndations. The Public Works Committee of the Board of Aldermen nee~s to take furth e r steps to mecha ni ze garbage collection and to incre ase the pay-of ·sanitary workers ·and to elevate· the-dignity-o·f ·thc· job. ·· Citi ze ns need to . show more appreciation for the men who perform this important public service. -A serious compla int h eard at Town Hall meetings during the spring d ealt with ·the failure of the City to remove junk cars. The responsibility for removing junk cars on private property rests with the Sanitary Department and on streets with the Police Department . In the last few weeks both d epa rtments have moved· forward \vith aggressive pr9grams for coping with this nagging problem. Other complaints received by the Commission are list e d below in the frequency - in which received: 7 complaints .• ; .•. on sewers and dra i nage- -5 on flooded streets and - 2 on dirty sewers and smelly creeks. 5 compla ints •••••• la.ck of jobs for youth . ... �I. ": w • Page 4 Summary of Co1nplaints 5 COffi:plaints •• _. ••• Comprehensive Health- -3 on services offered- and 2 alleging discriminatory hiring practices. 5 complaints ••••• ~ Model Cities- -lack of knowledge of program, inadequate community repres e ntation, objections to horn~ purchase and r e pair program,s, and community contractors not getting a chance to bid. -· __ __ _:__ 4 . complaints •••••• repair of and the need for better street lighting. 4 complaints •••••• need for new streets and the paving of existing streets. 3 complaints •••••• rats. 3 c01nplaints ••.•.• City of Atlanta- -2 on the lack of coordination of City Departments and 1 on the lack of responsivei:iess - to complaints of citizens. 3 complaints .•••.• Atlanta Housing Authority- -2 on the condition of housing and 1 on high rents. 2 complaints •••.•. stray dogs. 2 complaints .••.• ~ Urban Renewal--the desire of citizens for information, and representation on _u rban renewal committees. 2 _complaints •.•••. Economic Opportunity Atlanta The Co~~unity Rela tions Commission itself was not above criticism. One . complaint was registered on the lack of youth r e pre s entation on the Commission and another on the inability of the Commission to re spont to complaints. ' ~- .. • �p • • " • .. SUPPLEMENT "A" I i ,· The follow-up meeting in the Northwest Perry Homes area was held on July 22~ )-The CRC was able to report the followi~g pos,itive actions on complaints registered by the citizens: 1. Transportation--the CRC met with M;. William Maynard, President of the Atlanta Transit Company, to encourage the extension of the Perry Boulevard Bus to Holiywood Road. 'This would ena ble the r e sidents of Perry Homes to have bus transportation to the K-Mart and several large grocery stores in the Ba1:Jd1ea d Highwa y area_. The Atlanta Trans it Company agreed to make this e x t e nsion on a three month tria l basis. New bus sche dules w er e h a nde d out to resid e n t s of P e rry Home s a t the C R C m eeting ~ - ---z~-- Recreation: a. Through the e ffo r t s of the Atla nta Youth Council, the Butler Stree t YMCA and Communit y Chest a re creation progra m for t e enag e rs a t Northwe st Perry Home s has b een T h i s p rogram w ill p r o v i de re creation four d e v e lope d. / / . • nights a week during t he remainder of the s ummer. b. Mr. Perse ll s reporte d that the A tlanta Housing Authority will b e gin surveying for the construction o_f a . new recreation building within the next few weeks . .. . • .. .. �·- ~-., .Page 2 Sllpplement "A" 3. Consumer Services: .. a. CRC reported that Mr. Alterman, of Big Apple Food .Stores, has agreed to build a new supermarket in the area ·provi_ding a minimum of three suitable acres c~n be found. .. ..... . - Mr. Welch surveye~ the area wit h a large shopping center --- · .. -- · ·- - ·· developer who promised a b e st effort to develop a shopping -center ·for the Perry Homes Area. Mr. Lindskoog met with M r . Yates·, of Yates & Milton b. ! • . _Drug Stores, to request that a pharmacist be p~aced in their . ·····- ··-Drug St ore :hi Perry· Homes·. Mr. Lindskoog pla ns tc work furt h e r on this i s sue .4·. Atlanta Housing Authority: a. In respons e to the re s ide nts r e quest, new r a ili n gs w ill b e pla c e d on unp rot e cte d s t a irway s . _ ---- ·b.--· Mr. Persells reported that ope rations are now under way to e l imi nat e the m aggots t h a t have b e come a seriou s problem in o ne. se ction of the h ou sing proj e ct. _· · 5. Procto r Cre ek- -c ~ti zen s w e re please d with the r e po r t t h at tlie C it_y i s p·res e nt_ly d oing e x tensive w o rk to e li1n i nat e t he • / . • / . odor of Pro ctor C reek • • . . 1 �Community Relations Commission Percent of Total Total Complaints Parks Police Sanitation Sewers, etc. Employment Health Model Cities 87 26 8 8 7 5 5 5 30% 9% 9% 8% 6% 6% 6% Cities Services Percent of Total (July) ::, Total Complaints Parks Police Sanitation Sewers, etc. Employment Health Model Cities 708 32 133 267 59 5% 19% 38% 8% No Figures Available 19 No Figures Available

Other

Prominent Complaints Housing Code Traffic Engineering 36 40 3% �~- -~- -- .. ·CITY HALL ATLANTA. GA. 30303 · Tel. 522-4463 Area Code 404 Au·g ust 6, 1969 IVAN ALLEN, JR., MAYOR R. EARL LANDERS, Administrative Assistant MRS. ANN M. MOSES, Executive Secretary DAN E. SWEAT, JR., Director of Governmental Liaison MEMORANDUM TO: Mr. Dan E. Sweat, Jr. Deputy Chief Administrative Officer FROM: Johnny H. Robinson Community Development Coordinator SUBJECT: Monthly Report (Statistical} Dan, . you will find enclosed a breakdown on the amount of complaints received from July 1, 1969 - August 1, 1969. The overall received are as following: Total Received 708 Total Corrected 405 Total Meeting Attended 105 We were also involve d in a survey for the Planning De partment in Plunke ttown. JHR/mc .. �'ro: . ., Johnny H. Robinson FROM: //J.zi/4; SUBJECT Jo.ii .l 1/

·11)~ //}(~/

> 191.: 9 COMPLAINTS Received Atlant a Housing Authority Sanitation Police Parks Housing Code Divisfon Traffic Engineering Construction Planning Fulton County Health Department _._ OTHER Corrected l Cl l.:S /,5 I I 2 I /] ___________ --t --======== 41 TOTAL }4- lvfEETIN GS Number E .O.A. Staff CNAC A r e a B lock CRC M ISC . i 2 7 TOTAL COMM E N TS - O B S ERV AT IO N S ,, -

., -- �'. . ..· TO; · . Johnny H. Robinson FROM: /7/. I ?o/ c-,.; -<: - ,{. l , . l.. I 'C:: , t (.. _~_c.· _ ' ._ : _ J _ __ ---· SUBJECT COMPLAINTS Received Atlanta Housing Authority Sanitation Police Parks Housing Code Division Traffic Engineering Construction Planning Fulton County Health Department OTHtR Corrected l'l II II I ,Y . I. C

JlJi TOTAL l-VC C. Oi~A ,(-'0 •I ._5n i1. Ff! ,I ' : n u,11~')(:v E . 0 . A. Staff CNAC Arca Block CRC lviISC. Jv1EETIN GS /'~01.:::~-/1/1-=? C PD V - -1, ., . - · - I I(,., ,, ,,&,c_ _ I I P l , ,,. ~- , --- - ' '"' ' ' , "-"- V - ' / • t Nun,ber N~·ml>:?i/ , 2 lj- _J_._1____,_TO T AL I~ COM MEN TS - O B S ERV A TIO NS

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I - .· I ,,lf:_'.J,}/2..- ",- I '7 . 12 k r{:s .,,,,...-_-,.,. r . · - c...-,,'--._/V.,t_ �I. ... " . VI\ LC, _, Johnny~- Robinson TO: FROM: -~ SUBJECT Y /9(9 /, 7 COMPLAINTS Received ,t?~ Atlanta Housing Authority Sanitation Police Parks Housing Code Division Traffic Engineering Construction Planning Fulton County Health Department OTHER /G .2- t.L ¥- /4 ' t /() L <)? 7 • ' ? 6 -- tl{,/-'tkS ,<_, ~

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,23

- - -

7?-,8 ic Corrected gi I~ I TOTAL f{;t:$ Oil//L----£ ol2 · 7J:.),_7~1J oF L-:-/Jvc. C7 i'-J . . ~ _, . .r \ J A ___,, _, , . A./V'/A.J(//,' Jr"(_;,- )JCL.-1/VS'[ .- t_' ) A,· :- ,'7,;. :/ . ~ _,,..,;1· - _, / /);t,- I I Number E.O.A. Sta ff CNAC Arca Block CR C MISC. 7 rZ ,:L (c/7 y 1/4 .l'.~ Sr,,.Jrr- /t~1--L--r11v'Gs . V1sT. tJ vL:T .:5pc·,--e.. TOTAL / :/4-~"L-7 /,-'./(;.S COMM E N T S - O BSERV ATIO NS l 1'" 1[L . . . r;)I •" - · I/NC-:- t'{.1/7// l ~5-<. / (: ,. y / } l l •c' -<'XS' [ )CPI::.~) --;;;;,.,-s d '1( '/ V7,,Y @ /_-- u(N·"/! SF/~< & --/.},-1/) ;N f. . . (},./0(!. 2 oc_:;;v,r dvv7/(h'. , ~ / 4-?,.;,,,:, / /?.r /J~·~;:ST&v&.:. ~//{) / ,,~_ I} I . ,.-- 77, .. /;)N O t'{ c\R& rf'i-'/}!,{'7S" 7c) . , ?t!--7/7/~,< ' <:: /?/V/ - {!,,:/..~-,,p /2/' /t,1/) / ::-? :/.,( 71> ,l) ci -S-(~ . ~ ? . , ·,- --;- / ~.-z - 8y v d~.,,c c:1-- ,ci-i>1c-('Jd,< w,c': / t!:e'.7S; l l '-7iJ> OF /2-pt.1<. 0:,.,t7 /- -{' 4 -<:t--cz c c,,--~7:"/VP//1-'z:r Uo/-_!r ' f'c!N/7/Ycl/::' - s. 1. /i/~ 11.--P,< T/1/ /l . ,, U 1~- 1

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l/fl(~ 11 JS: TC 7;Ji,K "( 1 / /-/,// ·c'c .- /7'S'Kc.- /,)/-t"-/..._"' [ '. ~V fi-~, /N-w,;:-r- ;V~ r / /.1 "1c"1/'0 1/{ ':- ~1J t1-"r1.,,o 7 ci;.J~:~ /? c '/t:5/V' /:::/'r,, r f / \,: ,·. ,u - J~ -~.,,_-J/

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(__.,,, . .,._, ,-;.'(-/.. ' ~~c ) , /;l_ S r,4,c£ /S° (';'c\~ /l [.l).::,r.,1,n,1.·/ J~ / ?/ ~L-~ G/:(::·/// / /t!_--/._j) _ -->~ �. . .... . Johnny H. Robinson TO: · FROM:

µ;:.11-1/1 SUBJECT - v ~S& l?C to 7 - -:::;:;;__y ?4 /9& 9 -- - I COMPLAINTS Re_c ;eived Corrected r:27 d'I 19 •II J:Z /l'> Atlanta Housing Authority Sanitati on Police Parks Housing Code Division Traffi c Engineering Constr uction Planning Fulton County Health D e partme~t OTHER_ _ _ _ _ _ _-'----,--- ' 17 ?/ TOTAL Numb e r I C N AC Ar ea, Block ... I CRC MISC. C1ry 2., f //l.l1... T O TAL COMM EN TS - O BS ERV A TIO N S • £.c·Vc:·-/1,'l/l:'.'.'.'.<? 7~ <, T/-11-- /z,,1.~4 ( ' / 1/VT tJ/:' C ar//)/ /f?//v'/- ~ .Lt1<'. Y~y /J €t-'l'/) IJL:/lL ,;·C? S/1Hf/-- 7?/'P;re,--;: //..!-- »u- /2?A."7,::::-:-9 /<; d<lZ Tl/c·ZI-- ·T(J _Cf:!!.yJ,<;;1L/1//:<: __. ,)(' l'.·r'/) 7

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- - -------------

• Johnny H . Robinson TO:

FROM: ·, ·- July l, 1969 SUBJECT July Jl, 1969 ·to ·- COMPLAINTS . Received Corrected 6 lt 24 Atlanta Housing Authority Sanitation Police Parks Housing Code Division Traffic Engineering Construction Planning Fulton County Health Department OTHER. 51 39 IG ti: 11 10 11 9 29 ..., I l& 0 0 s 7 9

'----- ~ ~ t""!"'1 T -. - 101 172 TOTAL .,._ r 6 ,..... ,.... 1v1 .t',J'..: .!. .!.l'! v .::i Number E . 0. A. Staff 5 CNAC Arca Block CRC lviIS C. 2 11 l 6 TOTAL _COMMENTS 25 O BSERVATIO NS Co:>~:ents are on n e xt s b e et. - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - . �·---- A SUMMARY OF THE EVALUATIONS AND R];:COMMENDA TIONS OF: Mr. Bement (East Central} · Mr. Bruce (West Central) Mr. Christenberry (Pittsburg) Mr. Isaac ( Central City) Mr. Menez (~dgewood} Mrs. Snider ( City Hall) Miss Sowell (Nash-Washington - Extension) Miss Woodward (West End} AUGUST 1, 1969 .. �-·-- EVALUATIONS OF CITY SERVICES , In evaluating City Services not all interns mentioned all City Services. divided opinion on many departments. There was However, the general consensus was that the City Services were not responding well enough to complaints by area residents. The Atlanta Hous i ng Authority, according to Miss Sowell, does not respond at all. . . . . However; the Housing Coqe Department was commended by Mr. Christenberry and Miss Sowell. This was not the case with Mr. Menez, who feels the depart~ent is "not only inadequate, but also poorly administered 11 • Mr. Isaac reported that the Police Department is· doing w e ll in Central City, but ' Mr. Christenb e rry-, Mr . M e n ez , and Miss Sowe ll r e porte d v e ry poor response. Mr. Christenberry ,.vas told that the Police D e partme nt d i d not know to return route sheets: however, that is not b e lie v e d. In most areas they hav e show n poor r e sponse on pick-up of junk c a rs~ Only Mr. Isaac m e ntione d Public W orks. He noted only o n e t hird response. The R e creation D e partm e nt w as comme nted on by Miss Woodw ard and Mr. M e nez. Mr. M e n ez stated tha t the R e cr eati on D e partme nt was not o n l y h a mp e r e d by lack of e quipment, but it s uns y s t ematic s y stem a ll ows for i:11consis t e n c y . M i s s Woo d ward was more explicit, sta ting that r e creation . 11 app e ars to suffe r not in quan ity but in q u ality" . Sinc e t h i s is A tlanta ' s t hi rd y ear of expand e d s ummer recreation , s h e fee l s that " one woul d expect t o find acti vities with carr y over valu es " . Further, A tlant a is loosing its bes t opportunit y t o commu nic a t e with y outh in these areas. She reports that youth do es not participate in other programs, such as Model Cities, E.O.A., etc. .. �-2- The Sanitation Department came in for quite a bit of comment. Miss Sowell, Miss Woodward, and Mr. Isaac had reasonably good experiences with this department. Mostly their request had been answered promptly. Miss Sowell ·stated that the quick response on the trash barrels gives tangible evidence of the City's concern. Thus this service of the Sanitation Department is invaluable. Miss Woodward states tha"t° ther·e· is such· high c·onfiden'.~e in the department and in Mr_- Hulsey in · West End that citizens there usually call Mr. Hulsey directly with their complaints. Not all opinions of the Sanitation Department are good. Mr. Christenberry reports poor pick-up of junk cars by this department, especially if the car has not been , tagged by the City Service Coordinator. capacity is totally inadequate". Mr. Menez feels the departments "output Thus the Sanitary Department seems to respond well on complaints concerning litter barrels and/ or trash removal and poorly on removal of junk cars. The "Sidewalks Department" was commended by Mr. Isaac who stated that he has received one-hundred percent response. Miss Sowell reports Street 1v1aintenance as being prompt in replying. However, she feels they should have inf or med this office that no additional paving could be d one. The Traffic Engineering Department did not please Miss Sowell, Mrs. Snider, or Mr. Menez. Miss Sowell felt they should have notified the Community Development Coordinator I s Office that no traffic signals were available for this year . . Mrs . �--- -3- Snider noted that many times the Traffic Engineering Department replied with "will check this next week" or "maybe next year". harm than good. are done 1 1 • Mr. Menez criticized 11 She felt this type of reply did more the bureaucratic procedure in which things Mr. Isaac reported answers to all five route sheets sent to Traffic Engineering. Thus of the four comments on this department, only Mr. Isaac was satisfied. RECOMM ENDATIONS There were several types of recommendations which appeared often in the intern evaluations . · These were concerned mainly with the City Services Coordinator, junk cars, and the establishment of a central telephone nurn.ber or office. Although many recommendati ons were quite siinilar each wa s prese11ted fr-om a different vi ewpoint . The recommendations concerning the City S ervices Coordinators centered around the number of coordinators and their duties. Miss Sowell, Mr. Isaac, and Mr. Beme nt recomme nd that there be one City Service Coordinator per target area. Others, such as Christenberry, Mrs. Snider, and Miss Woodward felt that more City Servic e Coordina tors should be hired 1 1 • Mr. Christenberry sugges ted that since the City Servic e Coo rdinator·s do public relations work a nyway, the 11 e x p ensive , blue-ribbon bed e cked Community Relations Commission 11 could be abolished and the commission 1 s mone y be used for 1nor e City Service Coordinators. Miss Woodward, Mr. Bement, Miss So\vell, and Mr.· Christenberry a lso discussed possible changes in the coordinator 1 s duties. making them the adminis tr ators of 11 Miss Woodward recommended Littlc City Halls 1 1 and increasing the scope of �- -4- their duties to include early slum detection, consumer services complaints, public relations, and general information distribution. ..All of this involves rcmoving · the coordinators from the E.O.A. Centers. Mr. Christenberry feels the City Service Coordinators be viewed as "inovative chaps with an overview of the whole system whose job is to better integrate existing services and develop ne~ services as they see .fit". They shoi:ild ha~e the po\ver to "recom:rr.end revisions in and additions to the city codes in their respective areas 11 • Mr. Bement saw the coordinator: s job as that of a "city-man in the ghetto; touching, listening, stimulating, teaching, reporting 1 1 • Miss Sowell believes the City Service Coordinators could perform a broader coordinating function between the various groups on his ( or her) area. Those "\vere not the only recommendations pertaining to City Service Coordinators. Mr. Christenberry wants all City Service Coordinators (both present coordinators and all future ones) to sp e nd time with experienced coordinators, learning methods of "handling 'routine' community problems". He also feels that all City Servic~ Coordinators should have a personal kno w led g e of th e operation of all city departments . Mr. Isaac recomm e nded that th e coordin a tors be publicized in the community. · Miss Sow ell sug gested that r e gular "houp5 of att e ndance" in their offices be k e pt by th e coordinators , and that route she e ts from the City Servic_e Coordinators should r e c e ive d p r iority action (perhaps special funds could be allocated fo r this). Thu s th e s e i n t e:n re comme ndations conc er nin g the City Service Coo r din a t o r s r e late ... �-5- . · to their role, their number, their training, etc. There is disatisfaction not with the ideal of a City Service Coordinator, but with the reality. A large number of recom1nendations concerned centralization. the entire system be tied to one telephone number, such as 511. Mr. Bement suggested He also suggested · :a cent;al. City Services intake and Routing Office containing one or two complaint desks from each department. This wou~d expand the Community Development Office's coordinating function by enabling d e partments to work together on problems not "apropos" to any one department. Mrs. Snider also felt a central information service for field personne l was needed , Under her plan, the Community Develop- ment Office could become a central coordinating a gency for target area groups · who might need supplies or other help and thos e church e s like to help such groups . i busine sses , etc . , who n1ight A centrali ze d publici z ed t e lephone number was also recommended by :tvlr. Isaac. Miss Woodward sug g ested a central complaint depart- ment similar to that of Mr . B e men t, but not included as a part of the C,ommunity Development Office. In the complaint departm e nt the re w ould be a central real-tune informat ion bank and " exceptions" cr ews to inv e sti gat e all typ e s of complaints . Cen tralization as seen by the int e rns, w ould e x pand the function of· the Community Developm e nt Offic e a nd aid in its operation. · Junk car s w e re the obje ct of man y of Mr. Chr i s t enb erry 's a n d Mr. Menez 's recommendati on s . Both fe lt that only one d e p arhncnt of the Cit y . s hould h ave responsibility for removal o f junk ca r s , rather t h an b o th Sanitary and P o lice. Menez suggested that this singl e agenc y be the Sanitary Department. Both felt that manpow er in Sanitary should be increa s ed; Christenberry suggesting that these . �-6be used to make "periodic sweeps through all infected areas to remove junk cars". An additional suggestion made by Mr. Christenberry was to assign personnel from the Community Development Office to work with Rex I-Ioneycutt of Sanitary in the development of a profitable system for handling junke d cars. In other words, these intern recommendations were concerned with increasing the efficiency of junk car removal. Although the above are the major typ e s of g roupings of intern r e comme ndations, there were many more. - Mrs. Snider and Miss Woodw ard sugg este d "little City Halls". Miss Woodward also sug g es t e d a soci al res e arch and planning staff w h i ch would . b e gin slum pr evention s tudie s, a n e w tra i n ing orientation prog ram for s ummer recr e ation employ Be s, plain engli sh tr ans l a tion s of city o:r d inances, new ordinanc e s conc e r n ing c o ns u me r s e r vice v i ola tion s ; inv e sti gation o f b r ib er y c ompl a i n ts, regulation of absent e e land lord s , a nd use of vol e nte e rs for summer r e creation programs. publicit y. Mrs. Snide r a nd Miss Woodw ard had r e comm endations p ertainin g to Mi ss W oodwa r d fee ls t h e W a r on· P ov erty s h o uld b e publicized to afflu ent Atlanta; Mrs. Snide r sugge ste d tha t City H a ll publici ze itself through dir e ct e ffec t ive a ction. Mi ss Sowell and Mrs. Snider fe lt thathigh l evel pressure (i.e. , M a yo r Allen ) shoul d be used agains t t hose depar t1nents whic h were unresponsive to the C ommunity Dev e l opment Offi c e. S eve ral s u gges t i on s we r e made w ith regar d to p ersonn e l . Mr. I saac believes the intern program shoul d be conti nued part -time all year. Miss Woodward sugg e sted the pay of policeme n and recreation c1nploye es be incr ease d. She also suggested strengthening th e lines between the E. 0. A. Manpower Prograrn .. �- -7and the City Personnel Office. Miss Sowell recommended that the Atlanta , Beautification Corps workers could be used to clean streets and vacant lots in answer to complaints. Mr. Christenberry also suggested increasing the number of housing inspectors. Other 1 s suggestions included improving the Summer Program Book by printing it in color code, having each department use the same are~ definition providing space for up-dating t~e book, :t"evising th~ route sheet filing system by using file cards (Mrs. Snider}; charging land owners for cleaning their property, giving recog nition to the Housing Code Department for its fine ~ performance, making a concentrated effort in one area in the hope that changes in crime, property values, etc. (Mr. Christe nberry). �.' September 29, 1969 Dr. David B . Lyon Suite 132- B 490 Peacht~ee Street, N. E . Atlanta, Georgia 30308 Dear Dr . Lyon: Thank you for your letter of S ptember ZZnd expre ing interest in b ing of service in the field of r c relation •. I arn referriJlg your letter to our Community Relations Com.mis ion, nd l m sure r. N t lch will b in touch itb you shortly. Sincerely you:r , Ivan Allea, Jr. M yor IAJr:l:rd CC: Community R e l tions Commi ion ~ �From : Community Re lations C omm i ss i on / . - -· 12 1 Me m or i a l D r ive , SW --...___ Atlanta , G eo r gia 3030 3 Fo r R e l ease , Thursda y, S e ptember 25, ll:00 A. M. BEN HILL LEADERS DEPLORE VANDALISM / A grou~. ·of Ben Hill church, school, business arid community leaders released a statement today e x pressing their II shock and si{ame" at an act of vandalis1n d·irected against a Negro family recently who moved on an all white street in this southwest · Atlanta community • . The McMicha e l family purchased a home on Kimberly Road and moved into it in lite August . Vandal~ hit once breaking windows and hit again some three days later. The McMichael 1 s elected to move and their money was refunded by the real estate agent who sold the property. The statement by the group of Ben Hill leaders continl.!ed: · 11 We know the spirit. · of thi~ community. We believe that the good people ·of Ben Hill and surroim.ding c01nmunities want their moral support placed behir~d the movement for fairness in housing and equality in education. We encourage that every effort be made by the Atlanta Police Department to apprehend the offender so that justice will prevail and respect for the law be strengthened in event that a similar situation should face us again. We believe that man, his person: and his personality, is sacred and that property rights 1nust be respected and tl:at unless we can come· to this point of view, none of us are safe. 11 from that community. This statement represented _the first collective effort of censure The group met at the Ben Hill Methodist Church with the / 0 Atlanta Community Relations Commission acti?g as the convener . . Among those participating in the meeting were: Rev. L. Clyde Allen, Bill 0 Atchison, Ernest R. Bennett, Rev. W. C. Bowen, Kenneth R. Drane, Milton S. Earnest, John G e r en, Re v . William G e ren, Mrs. Thelma Heath, Ja1nes R, Lemon, Walker McKnight, Charles L. Moates, Dr, Harmon D. Moore, H. Jack Smith , Charles Stin? _o n, Jr., Ra_y Terry, Jr. ·, Cecil M. Thornton, Lyndon Wade, Thomas G .. Ward, Nat Welch, R~v. Paul F. Wohlgemuthand Cy Young. O? �For Release: Thursday PM, January 2, 1968 From: Community Relations Commission 1203 City Hall, Atlanta, Georgia 30303 BENNY T. SMITH NAMED FIELD REPRESENTATIVE FOR COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMISSION Benny T. Smith, widely known community leader, has been named field representative for the Atlanta Community Relations Commission and will assume his new duties immediately. It was announced today by Nat Welch, executive director for the Commis siono As field representative, Smith will head up CRC's .expanded Town Hall Meeting Program for 1969 and will act as a communications link between the Neighborhoods and the Commission. "We have expanded the scope of this position and are delighted to have secured the services of such an able and experienced leader as Benny T. Smith," stated Welch. Smith was raised in Vine City and educ a t ed at Booker T. Washington High School, Morris Brown Coll ege and the Blayton School of Accounting. · With funds h e won on the national TV show, "Strike It Rich, 11 in the mid fifties, S~ith op ened and operated a dry cleaning firm in Vine City . He �Page 2 Press Release January 2, 1968 Benny T. Smith later was the proprietoi· of a neighborhood grocery store in the Poole Creek Community. Smith was subsequently employed by the U.S. Postal Data Center and the Georgia Department of Labor where he played a key role in the J obmobile Program in cooperation with the National Alliance of Businessmen. Smith was a prime mover in the organization of the Community R e lations Commission some two and a half years ago. He helped organize the Price and the the Pittsburgh EOA centers and the Model Cities Program. He is a former vice president of the All Citizens R e gistration Committee, former president of the Metropolitan Atlanta Grassroots Council, president of the Southeast Community Council, board member of the Metropolitan Atlanta Summit Leadership Cong~e ss , and form e r vice pr esid ent of the Fourth Ward Improvement Council. He served as chairman of the transportation committee for the Poor People's Campaign to Washington. CRC I s new fie ld represent ative has r ece ived awards for community servi ce and leadership from the Peoplestown Civic League, the Atlanta brancb of the NAACP, the Exc e l sior Knight Civic and Socia l Club, the Southeast Community Council and the V e t e rans I Administration Hospital. Mr. Smith is a member of the Wheat Stre e t Baptist Church and Princ e H a ll M as ons . He resid es a t 2 09 Arc h crest D r ive . �FORM 1667 OFFICE LETTER TRUST COMPANY OF GEORGIA TO A. H. Sterne FROM C. Linden Longino, Jr.

SUBJECT: Bank Loans to Minority Businesses I have a collection of many news articles and other reports, as well as my own thoughts, on the general subject of business formation and development in urban "underprivilegedghetto-black-minority" areas. Connnon threads bind all of these together: 1. A city cannot endure with a central core of business and individual poverty. 2. Strengthening the underprivileged toward solving the overall number members comprise 12% of the U. S. business, according to government 3. This uplifting can be done by direct government "intervention" or by the more fortunate members of the "privileged" business community; the latter being a better way for innumerable reasons, but a combined effort being workable and not necessarily undesirable. 4. Many government programs exist and ~ any private organizations have been formed to cope with these problems, but there is much duplication of effort and a general lack of intercommunication and coordination. 5. Banks can play a key role because of the general scarcity of money available to the ghetto businessman f or s t arting or upgrading his business. (Only 150 of this country's 14,000 connnercial banks engage in specific loan programs of this nature.) 6. A bank can follow three basic paths: A) B) C) 7. business connnunity would go a long way one problem of the city. (Minority group population but they own only 3% of U. s. figures.) Establish its own high r i s k loan pl an (C&S has done this). Parti cip ate wi t h t he SBA in " Proj ect Own", a liberali zed lo an guar antee program. This plan is endorsed by the ABA. (Trust Company , First National, National Bank o f Georg ia and maybe Fulton National Bank do this.) Banks within a city can organi ze a "pool" of funds and talent , off e r ing lo ans a s well as management assist ance. (This h a s been informa l ly d iscussed , but no such move i s under way in At l a n ta. Banks in s ome other c i t i e s h ave tak e n s u ch action . ) Conculsion: Each bank must make its own decision as to the ex tent of its involvement, i f any, in this area of community service . A f ormal "pool" o f b anks is no t neces sar y if e ach b ank will as s ume its r espon s i bilities and t ake an active ro l e in this area o f lend ing. A central " clearing house" would make the job easier for a ll interested parties, pub l ic and private. Independent services of banks, attorneys, accountants, consu l tants and various national, state, and local government bodies cou l d be efficiently channeled toward the connnon ob j ective . We h ave s uggested t h at the Atl anta Chamber of Connnerce mi ght assume the role of coord i nator if such a "clearing h ouse" is established . CLL,JR:cb~~ ~ 1- 15-69 H'tf �During the past ten years Atlanta has experienced an economic growth rate that is rivaled by few American cities. To a large extent this was only possible because of an enlightened business and banking community ••••• the community that you gentlemen represent. During this same ten year period Atlanta has also experienced a social development that is rivaled by few American cities. We can feel fortunate in that this has usually taken place in a peaceful and orderly fashion. This was only possible because of an enlightened black and white community that has grown with Atlanta. We now live in a city where the population is almost 50% black:-,-11/' o/e,. The continued economic growth of our city will depend greatly on the means by which the heretofore untapped resources of o u r ~~ ~ citizens can be utilized. The Community Relations Commission has recently initiated a proj e ct of vital importance to all of us. lopment of~ It conc e rns the further deve - entrepreneurship in Atlanta. The Commission, in deve loping this p;,oject;,, h ~ _as s,a-sP5:msors tpe Atlanta Business a;:e. Ate~ e~ 9 ~~c_) - League s Project Outreach / the Atlanta Urban League, the N ationa l 1 Alliance of Businessmen , the Small Busin.ess Administration, the Atlanta Chapter of the NAACP and the Atlanta Univers ity School o f MJlh Busine_ss. 1/z- ,<4 , ~ I r- A tlanta needs a public committme nt fxom you, · s banking fraternity, 143.215.248.55 13:10, 29 December 2017 (EST);Ut--~ / that you will , to an ever increasing extent , .g..ant-4!9gh-'l'--i-sk ea~s- to ~~ a..-t. ~~ ~~/ ,...,...-~±1:ent-black· busineSS~n {"t-'I,,.,__~ ~ ~fa-:di~Z A/ /V~ ~- _ ~€-<L-- .u_ ~ ~~ ~ /1/~t- / ~ ,,. - . �FORM 700-7 ~67-4 0 M ' ·~/ Trust Company of Georgia POST OFFICE DRAWER 4418 Atlanta, Georgia 30302 February 6, 1969 . ' Mr . Nat Welch Executive Direc t or Community Re l ations Coumis s i on 1203 City Hall Atlanta , Georgia 30303 Dear Mr . Welch : Trust Company of Georgia will be de l ighted to take part in the February 20 "Workshop on Black Business Opportunities , " sponsored by the Community Relations Commission. Attached is the form which names C. Linden Longino , Second Vi ce President, as our representative. Mr . Longino will participate i n the Banker Round Table and ill be awaiting your instruc tions as to when the roup com.prising the Round Table will meet . You also asked if we would provide a table during t h session running from 2: 30 to 5:00 p. m. and Mr . Longi no will also be in ch rge of our arrangem nts in providing such an inform tion booth . He may use one or more of our people to ssist him. Attach d lso is our check payable to the Commission for $30~00 for registration . will be a good one , assw.ning I believe th t the progr you obt in the participation de ired by those who re rea lly intere ted in going into busines for themselves . The progr has been well thought-out, and I see nothing in it that would be contr ry to our own vi w of how to att ck the problem . It was a pl sur to it in for Mr. Stern, and he of cour eh s been apprised of what went on nd supports fully our p rticip tion, as outlined bove . Att c nts Copy to Mr. Presiden t - Banking Iv n Allen, Jr. �~ t UL /ll/l;[tJ£ 4~/f/ L . COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMISSION 1S . "WORKSHOP ON BLACK BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES" New building, of Atlanta University School of Business, February 20. i . 8:30-9:00 Registration 9:00-9 :15 Purpose of Conference - Mr~ Byron _Attridge, Vice Chairman of Community Relations Commission 9: 15-10: OO·. Keynote Speaker - Mr. Frank Carter, President, Atlanta Chamber of Commerce 10:00-10:15 Break 10:15-11:15 "Do's and Don't's in Launching new Businesses" Five successful Atlanta Black Enterpreneurs 11:15-12:00 S,F>ecialized Panel Discussions: 1. Service Stations 2 . .Fast Food Outlets 3. -Construction Contracting 4. Auto Dealership~ 5. Ice Cream Outlets 6. Franchised Dry Cleaning 7. 8. Specialty Auto Services tires, mufflers, etc. Other Franchise Businesses 12:00-1:00 Box Lunches 1:00-1:45 Banker Round Table - Opportunities envisioned, how your banker can help, what he looks for in loan applicant, etc. (Atlanta bankers, accountant, and SBA official} 1:45-2:30 Ongoing Programs for T e chnical Aid 1. 2. 3. Small Business Administration National Busines s League "Project Outrea ch;' Regional Economic D eve loprnent and Bu s iness Service Center, . Atlanta Univers ity 2:30-5:00 "Fifty Great Business Opportunities" Individual confe rence·s between franchisors and franchisees 7:00 - 10: 00 Banque t at Paschal I s Motor Hote l Awards to the five out s t anding Atlanta Black Entr e preneu rs for 1969 · Address: Berkeley ·G. Burrell, President, N a tiona l Business League, Washington, D. C. �Pure Oil Division O -- E lJninn O i l r.nm!')8 ny of l.8l ifo rni ci Chattaho ochee Station, P.O. Box 17027 Atlanta, Georg ia 30321 Telephone (404) 799-141 4 !1n1Ttlo~r~ l! LHJU . ~tJU February 5, 1969 Mr. Nat Welch Executive Director Connnunity Relations Commission 1203 City Hall Atlanta, Ge~rgia Dear Mr. Welch: We would like to congratulate the Community Relations Connnission on its forthcoming "Work Shop on Black Job Opportunities" to be held February 20, 1969, at Atlanta University. The Atlanta Division, Union Oil Company of California, will be an active participant in this Work Shop. We know from experience what able businessmen some Negroe s can be . One of our very best dealers in Georgia is a Negro. Your goal of involving more minority people as owner/managers of business is a positive one. The Atlanta Division, Union Oil Company of California , extends its str ong cooperation. Cordia lly, ATLANTA DIVISION UNION OIL COMPANY OF CALIFORNIA '/f:(J? oil~ K. P. Dutton Manager , Divisional Sa les KPD:eg �AMERICAN DA!RY QUEEN CORPORATION Southeastern Division/ 751 DeKalb Industrial Way, P.O. Box 1037, Decatur, Georgia 30033 / Telephone (404) 634-5151 • I Febru?-_ry 5, 1969 Mr. Nat Welch Community Relations Commiss ion 120 3 City Hall Atlanta, Georgia 30303 Dear Mr. Welch: Thank you for your invitation to attend your Workshop on Black Business Opportunities to be held on February 20 at the Atlanta University School of Business. We expect to have our Franchise Sales Director, Mr. Leo Wells, in attendance. We in D a iry Queen feel that this is certainly a progr es sive program that you are sponsoring, and we are looking forward to finding capa ble store owners through this meeting. It is indeed a pleasure to know that our city is concerned with the growth and development of all its citizens and its businesses. Look forwar d to working with you and your group. Sincerely yours, QL~ R. E. (Red} Roberts Op erations M anager r _@ , C!:j~~h<f_k~J!,~ J . C. Cruikshank Co-Chairma n of the Bo a rd . RER/mjc �I Cannolene Zove 1)•' ':)"ll i ~ 1 nn:" o· il"ll i \./~.0A~ Bl O ' • '\I • Negroes' Own Fault, Leader Says As C of C Launches Money Drive \ By·LAURENCE GWIN Atlanta Negro-owned manufacturer of hair products-the Cannolene Co.-will top the $1 million sales mark in 1969, according to predictions by com- · pany officials. Atlant1 Journal Bu:.in e:u Writer Robert 0 . Cannon, president Is there a "black money curtain" in Atlanta which deters of the firm, said the big sales Negroes from getting ass istance they need to enter the main- rise-more than 700 per cent over 1968- began when the firm stream o! capitalism? . . . and we also hope to get expanded into the national marOne of the leading Negro busi- successful Negroes to encourage : ket three years ago. ness executives in Atlanta says other Negroes." " "yes." Although not completely outWe are now able to take "But it's par,tly the fault of lined, the program will have two ~ull advantage_ of the g_reatly hases he sa'd "You h llnproved earnmg power m the , the black community," said T. P , . ave N k t ,, 'd M. Alexander Jr., wbo in addi- money on one side ·and candi- I egro m ar -e ,. sa1 Cannon, dates on the other- a nd these wh~se company_ manufactures tion to having financial ties in various Atlanta projects, is with have to be matched. Especially a !me of 13 different beauty when less than $5 ooo is in- products for the ethnic market the Courts and Co. brokerage volve~, . the percent;ges go out in the South and maj~r metro firm. the wmdow. You're backinrr the centers across the nat10n. 0 Alexander noted that although individual." · The firm has devised a way the fault does not lie with the THE LATTER PHASE will be for students at Carver Vocabanks totally, "it is a psychological fact that when a bl ack per- to provide counseling and inana- tional School to reap benefits son gets turned down on a loan gerial coaching for the appli- from one of its new lines by by a black bank - and because cants " so that they may learn having pupils manufacture disof the restricted caoital of these the ins and outs of the busi- tinctive burlap bags for its cologne and after-shave lotion. banks they most times have no ness." choice but ,to be more careful in Dickso·n, a_lt~~ugh not seeing a · Cannon also gave credit to higher r isk areas - these peo- sep~r_ate d1v1swn fo~'.n~lated, the F. W. Woolworth Co. for i pie would naturally feel they env1s~ons that banks will ~g- its "candid suggestions" for I wouldn' t have a· .chance to get gres~1v,ely } o after worth:':l11ie improvement of packaging and ! money from a white bank .. . a~plicants. He_ added that this m erchandisine1 generally. will ,not be c1 giveaway- but we _ _ _ __ "'_ _ _ _ _ __ .aind they don't try." are going to genuinely try and r Another problem he coman at mosphere whereby ber , the local chapter of l mented on was that blacks seek- create the black community· can enter NAACP, the Atlanta Business '. ing financial aid " just do not the mainstream of capitalism." League , the Atlanta University · have the records and r eports In conn ection wi~h this, the School of Busi ness, the Urban 1 filed on them, and the instituCommunity Relations Commis- League and the Small Business 1 tions don't have enough inforsion has announced pla ns fo r a Administration. i rnation to be able to m ake the workshop to be held Feb. 20 at · "The primary goal of the i decisions ." Atlanta University's School of workshop is to . involve Atlanta Negroes \vho are interested in OFTEN when a Negro applies Business. for financial assistance, the The Workshop on Black Busi- becoming- owner-managers of . banks will ask him to fill out a ness Opportunities will be co- business in Atlanta ," CRC exfinancial sta tement, Alexander spomor1:;d by the-Atlanta cham- ecutive director ·at Welch said. said. "And he thinks this was , Tuesday, February 4, 1969 1 just a nice way the bank had to

turn him down," he said. " More

Atlanta Chamber of Comoften tha n not he doesn't know m erce President Frank Carter how to make out a financial has appointed Eugene Boyd a statement . . . and this is where vice presiden t of Coca-Cola Co., it's dropped." Inc., and Her bert J. Dickson He cited a precedent for sucexecutive vice president of th~ cess in John J efferson, who C & S Bank, to 1head up a proa fter being tu rned dow n numergr am "for concentrated effort ous times. fi!la liy recieved asin the field of black entreprensistance f:·om Citizen; & Sou theurship." ern National BaM and construcDickson said that " this will tion is now under way for a 78not be a cure-all- but it will proroom downtown m otel to be vide a small tool that we hope owned and operated by blacks. can do some good. Atlanta is currently trying to " Our efforts wH! encourage change the cliaiate s urrounding Negroes to build for U1ernselves the "black money curtain." I I �MAIL TO: Nat Welch, Executive Director Community Relations Commission 1203 City Hall Atlanta, Georgia 30303 Please count our fi:i;m in as a participant in the Atlanta Commuhity Relations Commission's "Wo~kshop on Black Business Opportunities" to be held at Atlanta University on Februa:y 20. FIRM NAME: ADDRESS: REPRESENTED BY: {l)

{2)

FRANCHISED OFFERED: There will be a briefing session for frarn;:hisors at City Hall, Meeting Room 2, 3:30-5:00 P. M., February 19. Registration for commercial companies is $30. 00. This includes one banquet ticket- -additional tickets can be purchased on February 20. PLEASE ENCLOSE CHECK WITH THIS REGISTRATION FORM. �T HE VOI CE - January 26, 1969- Page 2 Black Business Workshop, February 20 Atlanta's Community Relations Commission announced today plans for it's "Workshop on Black Business Opportunities" to be held February 20 in the new building of Atlanta University's School of Business. The workshop will be cosponsored by the Atlanta Business League, the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, the Atlanta University School of Business, the National Alliance of Businessmen, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the Small BusinessAdministration and the Urban League. '~he primary goal of the workshop is to involve Atlanta Negroes who are interested in becoming ownermanagers of businesses in Atlanta. We hope that this combined community effort will offer a quantum jump to Atlanta black business entrepreneurs and strengthen on going efforts of the Atlanta Business League's Project Outreach, the Small Business Administration, and Atlanta University's Business Economic Development and Business Service Center stated CRC'S executive director Nat Welch. The planning committee has identified nine likely break-thru areas for black busine ss opportunities •. fast food franchises , auto deale r ships , service station, building c ontracting, ice c r eam outlets, fr anchised dry cle aning stores, coin operated l aundries, drug stores, and specialty auto stores selling such items as tires and mufflers. If you are interested in becoming an owner/ manager of any type of business and want to participate in this workshop, tall Benny T. Smith, field representative, Community Relations Commission, Room 1203, City Hall, ·phone .number 522-4463 e xtension 433, who is in charge of community participation for this important affair. "The workshop will have a heavy emphasis on franchised operations because these are geared to family involvement. Good franchises offerprovenmanagement assistance and formulas for suc cessful operation, stated Nat Welch, Some three dozen national franchise operations are being invited to have top management representation. The afternoon session will feature "Fifty Great Business Opportunities and will provide a two and a half hour period for the franchisor and the franchisee to have individual discussions with the hopes that new businesses will be bir thed as a result of this workshop, e xpla ined CRC ' s e xecutive di rector. The morning se ssion will have a panel disc ussion on "Do.' s and Don ' ts in Launching New Bus iness Ventures " by five seccessful Atlanta black entrepreneurs and individual panel discussions in the nine areas of business break-thrus being emphasized at the workshop. The afternoon session will have two additional panels. One will be · on "On Going Programs ofTechnicalAid" in which presentations will be made by the Small Business Administration, Project Outreach, and Atlanta University's Business Economic Development and Business Service Center. The other will be a banker round table with Atlanta bankers discussing opportunities envisioned, how bankers can help and what bankers look for in a loan applicant. . , The banquet session, to be held at Paschal's Motor Hotel, will climax with an address by a nationallyknown black business leader. The planning committee for the workshop includes: Frank O'Neal of the Atlanta Business League; Dean Harding Young oftheAtlanta University School of Business; Lyndon Wade of the Atlanta Urban League; Curtise Driskell of the Atlanta Chamber of commerce; Henry Reid of NAB, Lonnie King of the NAACP; John P . Latimer of SBA and Nat Welch and Chuck Williams of CRC. THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTIO N, Thursday, J a n. 23, 1969 CRC Plans Worl{shop For Blacl{s T h e Commu nity Relations Commiss ion announced plans Wedn esday fo r its bl ack entrepreneurship works hop to be held Feb. 20 at Atl anta Un iversity's School of Busi ness . The Works hop on Black Business Oppo rtun it ies will be cospons·ored by the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce . the local chapter of the Nationa l Assoc iation for the Advancement of Colored People, the Atlanta Business League, the Atlanta University School of Business, the Urban League and the Small Business Administra tion. BASIC GOAL "The primary goal of the workshop is to invol ve Atlanta Negroes who are interested in beco ming owner-managers of businesses in Atlanta " sai d CRC executive direct~r Nat Welch. The workshop will feature nine " like ly brea kthro ugh areas fo r bla ck business opportunities "-fast-food fran chises , auto dea-l erships, ser vice stations, building contracting. ice cream outl ets, franc hised dry clea ning sto res , co in-operated laundries, drug stores and specially auto stores. THREE DOZEN OPERATIONS About three dozen national franc hise operations a re bei ng invited to have to p management represe ntat ion. The a rternoo n session will feature "Fifty Great Businf'ss Opportunities ," Welch said. 'i'ec hnica l aid programs and a ro 1ncl-tab le discussion by Atl anta bank ers al so will occur in th e aru, rnoo n. Th e morn ing sf'ss ion will ha ve a p:rnel di sc uss ion on ··Do ·s and Don"t' s in Launchi ng New Business Ventures ·' by five successful Atla nta bl ack entre preneurs plus ind ividual pan el disc uss ions in the nin e breakt hrough areas A dinner sess ion at Paschal 's Motor Hotel will end the workshop with a speech by a yet -tobe-announced nat10n all y-kn ,)w_n blac k business lea der . In add 1tion five black entrepre neur, for 1967 will be given spec: :,11 recognition by the CRC. 1 1 �PROGRAM "WORKSHOP ON BLACK BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES New building of Atlanta University School of Business, February 20. 9:00-9:15 Purpose of Conference - Dr. Sam Williams 9:15-10:00 Keynote Speaker - Frank Carter, Presi.dent, Atlanta Chamber of Commerce 10: 00-10:15 Break 10:15-11:15 Do 's and Don't' s in Launching new Bu sines se s" Five successful Atlanta Black Enterpreneurs 11:15-12:00 Specialized Panel Discussions: 1.1 1. Service Stations 2. F as t F ood Outl e t s 5. Ice Cream Outlets 6. F ranchi s ed D r y C l eaning 3 . C onstruction C ontracting 7 ...,. Specialty A uto Services tires, mufflers, etc. 4. Auto Dealerships 12: 00 - 1: 00 Box Lunches 1:00-1:45 Banker Round Table - Opportunities envisioned , how your banker can help, what he looks for in loan applicant, etc. (Atlanta bankers, accountant, and SBA official) 1:45-2:30 Ongoing Programs for Technical Aid SBA Project Outreach Atlanta University School of Business 2: 30-5:00 "Fifty Great Business Opportunities" Individual conferences b etween franchisors and franchis~es 7:00-10:00 Banquet at Paschal 's Awards to the five outstanding Atlanta Black Entrepreneurs for 1969 Address: Berkeley G~ Burrell. President, National Business League, Washington, D . C. �"WORKSHOP ON BLACK BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES" Sponsored by the Community Relations Commission in cooperation with: Atlanta Business League - :'Project Outreach" Atlanta University School of Business Atlanta Urban League National Alliance of Businessmen National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Atlanta Chapter Small Business Administration (The Atlanta Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee has this under consideration.) TIME: PLACE: GOALS: February 20, 1969 New building of the Atlanta University School of Business for morning and afternoon sessions. Paschal 1 s for banquet session. (1) ((2) ((3) FOCUS: To involve Atlanta Negroes who are interested in becoming owner/ managers of businesses in Atlanta To involve Atlanta University Center students who are desirous of becoming owner/managers of businesses To secure the active interest and support of the Atlanta banking fraternity in aiding competent black business men with technical advice and loans. Plans are to spotlight several business fields which are likely break through areas for black businessmen with emphasis on franchised operations. Fast Food Franchises s. Ice Cream Outlets 1. Auto Dealerships 6. Franchised Dry Cleaning 2. Specialty Auto Serv ices Service Stations 7. 3. tires. mufflers, etc. 4. Contracting �January 10, 1969 BUSINESS ADVISORY COMMITTEE . COMMUNITY .RELA TIONs· COMMISSION Ex Officio from the Commission D:::. Sam Williams (Chairman of CRC) Pastor, F r iends hip B aptist Church Robert Botts, Manager of PersOILTJ.el & Pul;)lic Relation s W estern _Electric Company T.M. _Alex ander,. Sr. Real Estate & Insurance Eugene Boyd, Vice President 'I'he Coca Cola Company, Inc. L . L . Gelle rstecit, Jr., President Bee r s Con struction C o-rnpany Al Brax ton , ·Partner in charge of Small Busine·s s Division Arthur Anderson&: Company M. O. Ryan : General Manager -Marriott M otor· Hotel Char l es Ada m s S e nior Vice President The Coca - Cola Company , Inc. M iles A lexander Kilpa t rick, Cody, Rog e rs , McCla tche y & _R egenst e in (A ttor ney s ) T . M . ·Alexand e r, Jr. C ourt s &: Company Harve y A nd e rs on, C oordinator · Car ee r Coun se li n g & Pla c e m e nt C e n ter A tlanta University C e nter Ben Bar n es ~ Senior Vic e Pre sid ent F i rst Na t i onal Bank J . B. Behl, Vi c e P r eside nt Ec on om y A uto Divisi on Oklahoma T ire & Su p p ly Com pa ny Russell A. Blanchard, Jr. , Vice Presid e nt ·Peoples - American Bank E. William Bohn, Director of Per sonne l Cox B roadcasting Corporation Arthur E. Bronner, Vic e President Bronner Bros. Wholesale & Re tail Beauty Supply Company E. R. B r ooks, Vic e Pr eside n t Industrial Relations · Scripto, Inc. Paul E. X . Brown A tlant a Coca-Cola B ottlin g Compa n y T. T. Brown, Zone Manager Chevrolet Division Gene r a l Motor s Corporation J ame s W. Couch, Owner D e l uxe C leaners Paul A . Clifford, Pe rsonn e l Direc t o::: · A lte r man F oods , I nc. P. D. D a vis, Jr., Di re cto r A tlanta School o f B u s ine ss, I nc. C u r tis Dri s k e ll Atla n t a Cha mbe r of Com merc e J ames E. G reen, J r ., Vice Preside n t C iti zens &: Sout h ern N ati onal Bank �-2- James ~- Green, Jr. , Vice President Citizens & Southern National Bank Claude H. Grizzard, Jr., President Atlanta Junior Chamber of Commerce S. C. Gordon Gordon's Body Shop Alan Gould, p...-e sident A. R. Abrams Fixtures Leon Hames, Vice President-Personnel Life Insurance Company of Georgia Geneva Haugabrooks, Owner Haugabrooks Funeral Home J: . M. Moore, Jr. Ford Division District Sales Manager Ford Motor Company Richard G. Murphy General Manager for Retail Stores, Atlanta Sears Roebuck & Company Leslie R. Nicholas General Personnel Manager Georgia Operations Southern Bell T & T Company Frank O 'Neal Project Outreach James Paschal Paschal Motor Hotel Dr. Vivian Henderson, President Clark College Ira Jackson, Owner Jackson's Service Station John Perry Latimer, Regional Director Small Business Administration Arthur P . Laws Pinkerton and Laws Bob Lewis, Vice President Cannolene Company C. Linden Longino, Jr . Second Vice President Trust Company of Georgia E r skine Love , Jr., Pres i dent Printpack, Inc. R. L . McLeod, Vice Preside nt Ja c k son-Atlantic , Inc . H. L. Megar, Vice P r eside n t Fulton National Bank Clarence Mitchell, Owner Dot's B .a rbecue Henry L. Reid National Alliance of Businessmen Herman Russell H. J. Russell & Company Charles Sandusky, Regional Manager Chrysler - Plymouth Division Chrysler Corporation H. M. Skelton Assistant City Sales Manager Standard Oil Company Richard Sterne, Senior Vice President National Bank of Georgia R . 0. Sutton, Vice President Citizens Trust Company R . H. Sweeney, Vice President for Industrial Relations Colonial Stores, Inc . W . R . Tolimson Sal es Su perviso r Gulf Oil Compa n y , U SA �-3Lyndon Wade Urban League of Atlanta Lottie Watkins Lottie H. Watkins Enterprises John Weitnauer, Vice President-Personnel Rich's Department Store P. H . Werner Director of Public Relations, Southeast F. W. Woolworth and Company James A. York Assistant Vice President Employee Services Delta Airlines Dean Harding Young School of Business Atlanta University �During the past ten years Atlanta has e x perienced an economic growth rate that is rivaled by few American cities. To a large extent this was only possible because of an enlightened business and banking community ••••• the community that you gentle,rnen represent. During ·this same ten year period Atlanta has also experienced a social development" that is rivaled by few American cities. We can feel fortunate in that this ~as usually taken place in a peaceful and orderly fashion. This was only possible because of an enlightened black and white community that has grown with Atlanta. We now live in a city where the population is almost 50% bla-€--k-# 0 ~ -C A " The continued economi c growth of our city will depend greatly on , the means by which the heretofore untappe d resources of our bla-e-10-"<2..,c, £...c' citizens can be utilized. The Community Relations Commission has recently initiated a project of vital importance to all of us. It concerns the furthe r deve-

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lopment of ~ k entrepreneurship in Atlanta. The Commission, in developing this p 7oject , h <:J __ a~ ~-sponsors Uie Atlanta Busine ss ffe Af!;,~ . .,~."lfk '7 ~ e&--:--:--e,,~ -'--~- L J League's Project Outreach;{ the Atlanta Urban League, the Natio n al Alliance of Busine ssmen, the Small Business Admini stration, the A tlanta Cha pte r of the NAA CP and the A t l anta Univ ersity Sch ool of Busine ss . /J / _,t;:.· ,(.,,~ [ -L~ .f..',f.~<-"'/' JI I "-L-/_ ,(.,,. ,4 ...f d. ..1-- / . (- - _I I, (Z--1Ll.- 74 .., I I ' Atlant a needs a p ublic · comm ittment fr om y ou , -i ts b anking fraternity , ~~ 6--~&1_- J2-xll-t__ c:i-(/ that you will, to an ever inc rea s ing e x tent, g.ra n t - hlgh- risk--loa£ s to ~~ ~ ~~-nA <---;"ti d--~ -c om_petent·b1ack busmessm-e~ • . ,.,/ ("143.215.248.55 i? ~ ~ IM--:tJ~,,_.J... /Y~ - ez.Ld"L / ~ .e--<1-. ~ ,,t? _ _ .U . ~ , } YU,,--/__. / . e'(,-'C:.-,,--- ~-de --;,· - . �DRAFT Dear Through out the Nation there is a strong trend toward getting more Negroes involved in business as owner-managers. Relatively speaking Atlanta has always been a good business city for the Negro. We hope to make it a better one. The Community Relations Commission is sponsoring a "Workshop on Black Business Opportunities at the School of Business of Atlanta University on February 20. Also lending support are the Atlanta Business League, the Urban League, the National Alliance of Businessmen, the Chamber of Commerce, the Small Business Administration, and the NAACP. You and the chief executive office :i:sof other Atlanta banks are invited to meet with me in my office on Friday, February 7 at --- how the Atlanta banking ·fraternity can support this effort. I will be grateful for your participation. Sincerely, We will discuss �THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF ATLANTA POST OFF"ICE BOX 4140 ATLANTA, GEORGIA EDWARD D. SMITH 30302 January 17, 1969 PRES I DENT The Honorable Ivan Allen, Jr. Mayor of Atlanta City Hall Atlanta, Georgia 30303 Dear Ivan: In response to your letter of the 16th, I shall be pleased to meet with you at 10:00 a.rn., February 6. Best regards, Edw&._ EDS:fhp Smith �The National &nk ofVeorgia J OS E P H EAR LE B I RN I E , PRESIDENT MA IN OFFI CE• PEACHTREE ST. AT FI V E POINTS • ATL ANTA, GA, 22 January 1969 Mayor Ivan Allen, Jr. City of Atlanta Atlanta, Georgia Dear Ivan: In reply to your letter of the 16th, I will be glad to meet with you on Thursday morning, February 6th, at 10:00 a.m. concerning the Community Relations Commission . Sincerely, JoseAle Birnie �J a nuary 16, 1969 .,, -~~flm ills / .Ed Smith ~ Ch Th fYLJ.Jl I r De r Friends : Through the Comrn\lllity R l tiona Commi th City i ki • y to and opportunitiee of our 1 ion* rove the ~ondidon1 s fortunate citiz-en • ing develqped wbi<:h ill n ed ad a i ta ce in the are of pri.v te d finite plan i your dvice nterpri e opportunities for ro aiu &Im n. 1 o ld prec .. te yo rm etin ith me briefly on Thur day mo.min • February 6th t 10:00 • m . in ord r , t I m y ve th b eftt of your ide • bout thi proj ct. Sincerely. lAJr:am be: N t Welch Dan Sw t �January 16 , 1969 MEMORANDUM TO FROM Nat Welch, Community Relations Commission

Ivan Alle-n , Jr . Attached i a copy of the lett r I have written to the five bank president$ requesting them to me 1.1ith the idea of diacu ing th ir bility tom ke fin ncial loans to N gro busines men. Prior to this meeting. l would like to have a memorandum from you s to how you think they m y as i t, a summary of what ha already been done iri thi area; nd an outline of the meetin you pl n to have on February 20th. 1 would hope you would be a F b:ruary 6th. 011 Attachment ilable to it in on the- m eting �• I February 13 , 1969 Mr. Hobart Franks Vice President and Director of Sales Atlanta Newspapers , Inc. 10 Forsyth Street, N. W. Atlanta, Georgia Dear Hobie: Again I want to thank you for such a. wonderful compliment after the Pillsbury luncheon. Sometime luck is with u . We had been trying iDr we ks to get in touch with th Br nch Manage,: of Bu,:ger King in connection with the Workshop on Bl ck Bu iness Opportuniti eheduled for February 20th. A a re ult of our luncheon conversation, Jim McLamore (and hi br nch m nager} came to City Hall on Wednesday nd sp nt well ov r n hour with Nat Welch of the Community Rel tions Commiesion, going over pl ne for the work hop nd specific of how Burg r King could mov head of other franchi e companie . I think it will be most rew rding. I am enclosing a copy of the Work hop program for your information. I m ur th papers will cover it, but if you - re int rest d in ttending it, I will tf th t you will have apeci l invi tion. Mo t sine rely, Mr • Ann M. Moa �February 21, 1969 .. Mr. Terrance Hanold President The Pills bury Company Minneapolis,. Minnesota Dear Mr. Hanold: 1 hope you and your associates have had an opportunity for a little relaxation after the rigorous schedule of the Bake - Off. I am till impressed that it is one of the grande t fetes of perfect o:tg nizing l have ever een. l was delighted that Jim MeLamor had n pportunity to pend couple of hours at City H 11 with N t Welch, our Community R lations Commi ion Director, nd go into d tail bout our pl n for th Bl ck Bu ines Work hop. It w h ld yesterday, and was n out tandi-ng succe s. Inf ct, we bad e cted thr e to four hundred to ttend, and d to move th e-onf i-ence into the m in auditorium of Atl nta Univer ity to ccommodate the crowd. l m encloeing copy of th progr m , some of the new coverage and the nnual l" port of the Community Re·l tlon Commieaion. I hop tbi will give you a littl more insight in what e r trying to do in Atlanta. lf you n ed additional information, or ve any pecific qu tion • Nat Welch will be delight d to be of a ttce. On tho othel' hand, if th i-cs ta · ny thing l m y do f oi- you. Lou G lfand, or Th Pillebury Com ny. I hope you will let me know. It waa uch a pl 1lJ" being ith you. Mo•t aincer ly, Mre. AnD M. Moaea cutlve S er ta Enc aur • �·' Mi~ GlzeatJialIL PUBLIC RELATIONS February 18, 1969 Hon. Ivan Allen, Jr. City Hall 68 Mitchell Street, Southwest Atlanta, Georgia Dear Mayor: I am grateful for your appointing me to the Community Relations Commission. It is my hope that the work I do as a member in some way will help to preserve and continue the advances in human relations made during your service to the City. Sincerely, Mike Che atham MC:lg 415 East Paces Ferry Road, N.E. • Suite 207 • Atlanta, Georgia 30305 • Telephone (404) 261 -8761 �, /Jc ti HUGHES SPALOING WILLIAM K . MEAOOW HUGHES SPALDING, JR. CHARLES H . KIRBO POPE B. M~INTIRE KENNETH L , HEWITT HARRY C , HOWARD R , BYRON ATTRIDGE ROBERT W . HURST ROBT. B . TROUTMAN CHARLES L . GOWEN .JAMES M. SIBLE Y JOHN IZARO KIRK M. M~ALPIN HENRY HALL WARE III RICHARD A . DENNY, JR. WILLIAM H , IZLAR,JR. BRADLEY HALE ROBERT L, STEED OANIEL J, O ' CONNOR , JR. ANTHA MULKEY CHARLES M. KIOO EDWARD .J. HAWIE DAVID L. COKER JOHN o . HOPKINS A. F"ELTON .JENKINS, JR. R . WILLIAM ICE Ill HUGH PETERSON , JR . JOHN A . WALLACE .JOHN C. STATON, JR. F"URMAN SMITH, .JR . G . LEMUEL HEWES JACK H . WATSON. JR . HORACE H . SIBLEY CHARLES M , SHAF"F'ER , .JR . G E ORG E GRAHAM TRASK W . DON A LD KNIGHT, JR. J A MES A. BRANCH Ill Elc<!__ KING & SPALDING TRUST COMPANY OF GEORGIA BUILDING ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303 404 525 - 0481 March 3, 1969 .JOSEPH A. GL A DDEN,JR. Honorable Ivan Allen, Jr. Mayor City of Atlanta city Hall Atlanta, Georgia 30303 Dear Mayor Allen: The February meeting of the community Relations commission was held this past Friday, February 28th, and a substantial portion of the meeting was taken up with discussion of the so-called welfare payments freeze. " There was a great amount of confusion as to just exactly what was involved in the "freeze." However, it appears that the federal government presently plans to restrict welfare grants to the states beginning July 1, 1969, which would in turn cause some reduction in the payments to individual recipients. It was the strong consensus of the community Relations commission that any reduction in the individual welfare payments - particularly in the summer month of July - would increase unrest and the possibility for general trouble in the community o It is clear that the whole question of the "freeze " needs to be studied and clarified , and I have asked the staff of the commission to undertake such a study . I have also talked with Dan sweat this morning who is also studying the matter. �Honorable Ivan Allen, Jr. March 3, 1969 Page TWO If the problem exists as it now appears, the Commission will be available to assist you in any way in attacking the problem. Sincerely, BA:jmb cc: cc: cc: Reverend Sam Williams Mr . Nat Welch Mr . Dan sweat �ESTAIJLISHED IJY THE /\!AYOR AND THE BOARD OF' ALDER MEN, NOVEU EER, 1966 HOS CITY HALL, ATLANTA GEORGIA 30303 TELEPHONE 5U-H63 EXT. DR. SAMUEL W. WILLIAMS, O rn imum THE HO NORABLE SAM MASSELL, JR., ex-Officio President. Board of Aldermen COMMISSION MEMBERS MR. T- M. ALEXANDER, SR . MR. R. BYRON ATTRIDGE MRS. SARA BAKER MISS HELEN BULLARD MR . It. J. BUTLER REP. JAMES E. DEAN MR. ROBERT DO BBS REP: C. G. EZZARD MR. L. L. GELLERSTEDT, JR. MR. CHARLES llART DR. ROBERT E. LEE MRS. I'. W. PATTERSON . RAB BI JACOB M. ROTHSCIJILD MR. M. 0 . RYAN TO: The Mayor and The Board of Aldermen FROM: Nat Welch SUBJECT: /4A}J. The 1969 Town Hall Meetings Prograrn n'IR. jn.CrC SELLS MR. PAUL SHIELDS MR. L. D. SI MON MRS. MARY STEPHENS DR. J. RMlDOLPH TAYLOR MR . NAT WELCH Executive Director DATE: March 18, 1969 The schedule for the first three Town Hall Meeting s sponsored by the Community Relations Cornmission is as follows: 1. Grant Park are, Jero1ne Jones Elementary School, 649 Home Avenue, Tuesday night, M _a rch 25, 8: 00 p. m. 2. Southe ast Atlanta, Blair Village Elementary School, 370 Blair Village Drive, Wednesday night, April 9 , 8:00 p. m. 3. Sirant Park area,· Jerome Jone s Elementary School, 649 Ho1ne Avenue, Tuesday night, April 22, 8: 00 p. m. (This is a return me~ting to report to the resident on actions taken on their problems}. You are warmly invited to attend any of the Commission 1 s Town Hall Meetings. You will rec e ive a rn.onthly schedule of these meetings and a reminder t e lephone call when a meeting will be· held in your Ward. The Commission is grateful for your interest and support. ,.s, �April 2 , 1969 Mr. William H . Boone, Jr . 3775 Gordon Road, Apt D -5 A tlanta , Georgia 30331 Dear Mr. Boone : "in reply to your questionnaire regarding the Community Relations Commission, I hope the fo1lowing information _will as~ist in your studies at Atlanta University: 1. What factors cau ed the city to create the CRC. . . . ? This was a decision made by the Board of Aldermen to provide a coordinatlng agency to work with various community problems. 2. What do you view as the job of the CRC. . . . . ? Attached is a. copy of the Ordinance e tablishing the Commi sion which outlines the duties and responsibilities. 3. Was th CRC ere ted primarily to work in black neighborhood . • ? It w ere t d prim rily to work in solving the pc,1tblem Atlanta' di adv ntag d citizen , both white and black. 4. of How can the CRC be t serve the people of Atlanta? By fulfilling it re pon ibilitie a outlined in the Ordinance, and by providing Atlan citizen with factual inform tion concerning r ci l is ue nd working to eliminat some of the xisting misconc ptions and myths. 5. Should it take an active role in changing raci l ttera . . . ? The CBC ta one of many organization working to d t on the basi · f race, ere d, color or tion 1 origin. betto �Mr . William H . Boone, Jr . 13. How do you feel the CRC is being accepted in the affluent white community? There seems to be an increasing interest and support of the CRC from the filffluent white community. Many people throughout Atlanta are finding the Commission to be a valuable agent in bringing about social change and equal opportunity for all citizens through peaceful and responsible means. Hopefully; this increasi ng interest will lead to the involvment of more Atlanta citizens in the efforts of the CRC. 14. What were your feelings toward Mrs . Paschall as director of the CRC? Based on the unanimous recommendation of the Commission member•, I appointed Mrs . P sch · 11 as its director, as I felt the Commission deserved my full support. Sinc e r e ly, I van All e n, Jr . �37'75 Gordon Rd. Apt. D-5 Atlanta~ Georgia 30331 February 19, 1969 The Honorable Ivan Allen, Jr. Mayor of Atl anta City Hall Atlanta~ Geor gia 30303 Sir : At present I am a graduate student attending Atlanta Univer sity. I run als o, engaged in a research project concerning the Atlanta Community Rel ations Commission. I understand a personal interview~with you, would not be poss ible, therefore I am submitting the enclosed questions. for your views in regards to the Community Rel ations Commission. Your views on the Commission would be of great aid to my study. I would appreciate your answering the questions at your earliest convenience . Thank you for your help in this matter. Yours truly~ encl . 1 William H. Boones Jr. �QUESTIONS FOR THE HONORABLE IVAN ALLEN,JR. MAYOR OF ATLANTA CONCERNING THE ATLANTA COMMUNI TY RELATIONS COMMISSION rJ.hat factors caused the city to create the CRC? How much influence did the riots in other cities or the 1964 Civil Rights Act have in convincing the city to establish the CRC ? 2 o What do you vi.ew as the job o.f the CRC' ? Is it just a sounding board ? 3. Was the CRC created pr imarily to work in the bl ack neighborhoods of the city ? 4 . How, in your view, can the CRC best serve the people of Atlanta? 5. Should the CRG take an active role i n changing the racial patterns of the city? 60 Do you believe the CRC can be the prime agent in getting the school board to, fully integrate the .Atl anta public schools? 7. Can the CRC do anything to speed integration of .Atlanta 1 s neighborhoods-which would relieve the back pressure of housing in black areas? 8 • .At present the CRG has no powers outside of hol ding hearings an d investigat ion should the CRC be given additional powers? 9. Atlanta is very heterogeneous in its makup . How do you make the CRC members hip reflect, as near as possible,, the diver se segments of the city? 10. What do you consider when you select a CRG member --what is your criteria beyond t he ordinance's adult resident clause? ll . In the .past t he CRC had t o s t r uggl e to get an increase in i t s bidget, in 1966 , only '30,000,, in 1967 35,ooo,. however this year the Finance Comrn:li.ttee gave t he CRC a sizable increase in its budget without dissenting voices--why? f~ 0 As late as 1961 i't has been reported that you did not favor an official human rel ations council( excl uding t he coordinating co:rnn,it tee you created which had no of f icial status ) why did you change your view in 1966? 13 . How do you feel the CRC' is being accept ed i n the affluent whi t e community ? G \fuat were your fee l ings toward Mrs. Paschal as director of the CRC 1 / �- - - - - - - - - - - - ,_JZ_~ -_,.,__ ~ ~ ~ -~ - -- . --c;r~ .{: /<_ ~ a~../4..-t'.'.~ . .-.- ,. _. c~ ~ ~ ~------0 - __d_ _ --- ---- - ~~ ~ ---4.~~::::::U - 2::::: _ ~- - ~ - = ' - - - = - = - ' - - - ----'-~ - "'-" ~ ~~ ~ ~ _ C.-.. _ ,...<.-1 _ - _f?-- ~~ ~ - - - ~~ ~ ~~ ~~ 6~~ ~ -~ ~ e, - - - ---

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�ESTABLISHED BY THE MAYOR AND TIIE BOARD OF ALDERMEN, NOVEMBER, 1968 JtOS CITY 1IALL, ATLANTA GEORGIA S030S TELEPHONE Stz-4~6S EXT. HS DR. SAMUEL W. WILLIAMS, 0,airman THE HONORABLE SAM MASS ELL, JR., ex-Officio P,-esident, Board of Aldermen COMMISSION MEMBERS MR. T. M. ALEXANDER. SR. MR. R. BYRON ATTRIDGE MRS. SARA BAKER MISS HELEN BULLARD MR. R. J. BUTLER REP. JAMES E. DEAN MR. ROBERT DOBBS REP: C. G.. EZZARD MR. L. L. GELLERSTEDT, JR. MR. CHARLES HART DR. ROBERT E. LEE MRS. F. W. PATTERSON RABBI JACOB M. ROTHSCHILD MR.M. 0.RYAN - · - MR.-JACK SELLS MR. PAUL SHIELDS MR. L. D. SIMON MRS. MARY STEPHENS DR. J. RANDOLPH TAYLOR TO: Mayor Allen, B~ar/ of Aldermen, and Members of the Press FROM: Nat Welch SUBJECT: \ ~\~t CRC 's Town Hall Meetings -- .DATE: April 29, 1969 MR. NAT WELCH · Executive Director You will find listed below the Town Hall meetings that the Atlanta Community Relations Commission will hold during the month of May. You are warmly invited to attend these meetings: Blair Village Elementary School 370 Blair Villa Drive Atlanta, Georgia Date: May 8, 1969 (Return Meeting) Pryor Street Elementary ~chool 883 Pryor Street, S. W. Atlanta, Georgia Date: May 13,_ 1969 (Initial Meeting) Time: Time: 8:00 p. m. 8:00 p. m. Sammye E. Coan Elementary School (Initial Meeting) 1550 Boulevard Drive, NE Atlanta, Georgia Date: May 20, 1969 Time: 8:00 p.m. CRC's regular monthly meeting will be Friday, May 23, at 2:00 p. m. ! Meeting Room #2, City Hall. NW:gdm �April 18, 1969 MEMORANDUM TO Nat Welch, Community Relations FROM Ivan Allen, Jr. I bad a complain that Mr. J mes Brown who lives in the Simpson Woode Apartments , telephone 799-6991, had attempted to rent a store in the Kirkwood rea and had been denied this right due to the fact that he is a Negro. Will you ee if you c n locate Mr . Brown and look into the complaint to see if it is valid and whether we c · n do anything bout it. �.' D Wants you to call 0 Is here to see you D D Returned your call D Came by to see you

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°fj=t'--T.m-e- jj-~3_u_a.m_. /p._m. FORM 25 •5 �~ ~~ /!&a) At; �May 6 , 1969 Mr . Ivan Allen, Ill Chairman, Nominating Commi ttee Community Council of the Atl anta Are a , Inc . 1000 Glenn Building Atlanta, Georgia Dea-r Ivan: As requested in your letter of May 5th, I am submitting the following three names for you to place in nomination to serve on the board of the Community Council: Nat Welch, Executive Director Community Relations C6mmis ion John Cox, Executive Director Atlanta Youth Council John H. Robinson Mayor ' Office Sincerely, Ivan Allen, Jr-. IAJr:am �C C A A ommunity ouncil of' the tlanta rea inc. EUGENE T . BRANCH , Chai r111a11 of !h tJ ffr,,o t] of T>ir,:1.-·tor.\ CECIL ALEXANDER. l' i<'t: Chairm,m J O HN !ZARO. l·'ice Chairmt2n M RS. THOMAS H. GIBSON. S,:crtttCJr.\· DONALD H. GAREIS, lrNrn,ra DUANE W. BECK. O NE THOUSAND GLENN BUILDING, 120 MARIETTA ST., N. W. E,e,·uti'<' Direcwr ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303 TELEPHONE 577-2250 May 5, 1969 Mayor Ivan Allen, Jr. Office of the Mayor City of Atlanta Atlanta, Georgia 30303 Dear Mayor Allen: The bylaws of the Community Council of the Atlanta Area, Inc., require the Nominating Committee to request from you the names of three as nominations to serve on the Board of the CCAA. From these three names, the Nominating Committee will choose one to serve as a Board member for the 1969-70 term. Each of the five counties in the Metropolitan Atlanta Area and the City of Atlanta are requested to submit these nominations for representation. I respectfully request that you provide us with the names of your nominations prior to May 15. Any questions that you have concerning the Community Council or the responsibility of its Board members may be directed to Mr. Duane W. Beck, Executive Director. Thank you for your cooperation. Sincerely, (l n,i...._~ CJ7// tU( U-1.. Ivan Allen, III, Chairman Nominating Committee P. s. Bill Howland was the City's representative last year. �• BOARD OF DIRECTORS A!L>ert M. Dov15 M D. Ray J Efird Jack P Etheridqc Rufus J Eva'15, M D f<olu I L f orunCJn lame f" Furn1 D•ir lrl H Gore, Lorry L (,ellu tedt, Jr Mr fhorno, H G,~ s<,n Cecil Alexonder Ivan Allen, '!11 l uther Alvc r n Ro'ph /' Bee Euqcnc r. Brnnch ~op 1, , llu , , Jr V , M D L. Callaway Brodey Currey Jr Cami ~11 Do he, H M Glr:,,t,,, Joh, (,odw1r1, M. D Eh It G 'dsrc,n V ,v 'ln Hcndersc n Mrs. lkl<·n Howord Will1cm ) Howlnr:~J Mrs Edmund W i-1uqf,c, Harry t:. Ingram Jo~C'Ph W Jone, Vv oltN M M,tch, II Ph,I Norm re ,\. 8 Podgdt M,s RhorLs L PC'rduc J ',Vll,am P1nkst n Jr ',V R Pruitt T 0. V:nson M. D "c, All,,on Will,am John C. W h ,n J 1h11 Izord ADVISORY BOARD J . G BradLu:·y n1c V Corn•'cha R Howe rd Dobbs Jr [d ,;in I Hotrf B01sfeuillet Jones M , 8 I an Jr. W ll·on W Mr:,ore, Jr, M Luc en f 01,vcr W . A . Parker c,, Richard H. R,,1 l) Jo~,- A. ' 11 c ey F'l,tP Tut•!• n C \/Va ,1 iw, Jr ~JC '(JL W 'vVovd1 uff W1 1, �,,,,. OMM UNXTY RE L ATJION S COMMJISSXON ESTABLISHED BY THE MAYOR AND THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN, NOVEMBER, 1900 1£03 CITY 1IALL, ATLANTA GEORGIA 30303 TELEPHONE 5tt-UD3 EXT. H3 DR. SAMUEL W. WILLIAMS, 01airma11 THE HONORABLE SAM MASSELL, JR., ex-Officio President, Board of Aldermen COMMISSION MEMBERS MR. T. M. ALEXANDER, SR. MR. R. BYRON ATTRIDGE MRS. SARA BAKER MISS HELEN BULLARD MR. R. J. BUTLER REP. JAMES E. DEAN MR. ROBERT DOBBS REP.' C. G. EZZARD MR. L. L. GELLERSTEDT, JR. MR. CHARLES HART DR. ROBERT E. LEE MRS. F. W.PATTERSON RABBI JACOB M. ROTHSCHILD MR. M. O. RYAN MR. JACK SELLS MR. PAUL SHIELDS MR. L. D. SIMON MRS. MARY STEPHENS DR. J. RANDOLPH TAYLOR MR. NAT WELCH Executive Director TO: The Mayor, Aldermen and the Press FROM: Nat Welch SUBJECT: DATE: fi/4{/ Town Hall Meeting Date Changed May 6, 1969 Due to a conflict, CRC I s Town Hall Meeting at the Pryor Street Elementary School is being re-scheduled from May 13 to Thursda y night, May 15 at 8: 00 p. m. - You and the public are warmly invited to attend. NW/lh

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~ -~Hr. I · q· ~ Fri~ ·· v;;;~ =[ j])tn /..,/ I 1L . ll Jl t·· 'J , '1,_..,, il · I d' rrH \~~ I BIRMINGHAM: Fair to partly clom~y VOL. .99- NO. 48 Re~. U. S. Po l. Off. ~ Alabama's 'Good IHlorning' Neiv.spaper I I I BIRMIN GHAM, M ON DAY, MAY 5, 1969 ALABAl\IA: Partly cloudy, warm 30 Pages In Two Secti'ons ,1 .

.,. ~.-...'_;,1ru Ll ~· ·1 '.!; I I 1 r;:'""'.~, ' ( ,,. I ',:"""I. '• I t. · .ED TOR'S NOTE: A Citi· would he forwarded to mayor, during a time or serious racial cy of city government to work zcns Task Force has callee! on city council or · department tension or other eme rge:1cy exclusively in areas of disMayo r Geo rge Scibcls .Jr. to heads . Birmingham's neigh- situation, the· c:en le r i's ready crimina tion a nd community u;;point a st ,w!ling comnuttcc hor cities of New Orleans .~nd to give out accurate inform a - r e];.1tio ns. _ rf six mcn:hcrs and a chair- Allanta have such a p rogram tion about what is rea lly Mayo r Ivan Alle n Jr. and oilier city officials met logcthma n to hold evcni1g 1 l('ctin~s a lready ln operation . This iS · happening. The Rumor Control Center ('r in planning s~ssions. A In ri ty hall 111 licar .Hobkms tl e first of two articles con11' B irmi l " 'iam citizens and to cerning the functions and sue· is a creature of the Atlanta majorily vote of th e aldermen n e l a ti o n s fo r adoptio n of an ordinance ,altl pu hl'e i1eari11 g~ on suh- cess of those groups in thOs e Community Commission, an organizal io n establishing a Comm unity cd s a Tt' dir g ia r;;c ;;roups. cities. that has been on. the job since . Relations Commission was fol, a lysis of p roblems hro:,;;ilt

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o the c,·cning city l:all mect- BY LILLIAN FOSCUE VANN , November, 1966 . A group of lowed by approval of the Dial 524-3261 in Atlanta and · ·"grass-roots" citizens from mayor. ,1~s and rqiorts on p 1JJI1c The first budget was $2j,QQ0. 1rarings :1:1d ·' in tlcpl h" you have call ed the Rumo r · Soulheasl All anla saw the .udies and rrt:t•m m·11cl,11..ons Control Center. In operalion need to have an official agen- This year with a staff of six, Rev. Sa muel W. Williams, pastor of Friendship Baptist and, with the late D r. Marlin Luther King, one of the foun ders of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. The Rev . Williams is also professor and cha irma n of the Depar1ment of Philosophy and Reli gion, l\'Ioreho use College. " We do r.o t ha ve too serious a generation gap in Atlanta," said the chairma n, "but the See ATL_\:'\:TA, Pa&e 2 0 ..:b Cl. •--=-" "'""" .,.-<• -<~ the budge t is $50,000 . The chai rman is ·black and seven others of the 20 com.mission members are· black. Vc1 rious segments of the community are represented on the commission, whose m embers a rc appointed by lhe mayor· and approved by the board of aldermen . The clergy, labor, business and U1e poor all have voices on the commission. Women too hold places on the commission. munity with a report of positive a ction an d whatever results ha ve come about as a A staff of six people is result of th e first meeting's headed by Executive Director complain ts an d suggestions. Nat Welch, former AlabamThe com mission makes an · ian . Offices are in Cit y Hall annua l report to the ma yor, where the com mission holds a but forwurds r ecommendapublic meeting once a month tions · to ci ty official s on at which citizens are invited whatever issues being i1p:estito speak. Town· Hall meetings ga ted by the commission. are held r eg ula rly throu ghou t . "We have · been able t,:i the city by the comm ission . m aintain a pretty good diaThirty days later the com- logue in Atlanta." said the m ission re turns to the· com- commission Chairman, the �THE VOICE - January 26, 1969- Page 2 ·alack Business Workshop, February 20 Atlanta's Community Relations Commission announced today plans for it's "Workshop on Black Business Opportunities" to be held February 20 in the new building of Atlanta University's School of Business . The workshop will be cosponsored by the Atlanta Business League, the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, the Atlanta University School of Business, the National Alliance of Businessmen, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the Small BusinessAdministration and the Urban League. '~he· primary goal of the workshop is to involve Atlanta Negr oes who are interested in becoming ownermanagers of businesses in Atlanta. We hope that this combined community effort will offer a quantum jump to Atlanta black business entreprene urs and str engthen on going efforts of the Atlanta Business League's Project Outreach, the Small Business Administration, and Atlanta University's Business Economic Development and Business Se r vice Center s tated CRC 'S executive dir ector Nat Welch. The planning committee has identified nine likel y br eak- thru ar eas fo r black business opportunities.,fas t food franchises , auto dealerships, service station, building contracting, ice c ream outlets, fr anchised d ry cleaning stores, coin operated laundries, drug stores, and specialty auto stores selling such items as tires and mufflers. If you are interested in becoming an owner/ manager of any type of business and want to participate in this workshop, call Benny T. Smith, field representative, Community Relations Commission, Room 1203, City Hall, ·phone . number 522-4463 extension 433, who is in charge of community participation for this important affair. '-i'he workshop will have a heavy emphasis on franchised operations because these are geared to family involvement. Good franchise s offer proven management assistance and formulas for succes sful operation' ' , s tated Nat Welch. Some three dozen national franchise operations are being invited to have top management representation, The afternoon session will feature " Fifty Gre at Business Opportuni ties and will pr ovide a two and a half hour period fo r the franchisor and the franchisee to have individual dis cussions with the hopes that new businesses will be bir thed as a result of this workshop, explained CRC's executive director. The morning ses sion will have a panel discussion on Do.'s and Don'ts in Launching New Bus iness Ventures" by five seccessful Atlanta black entrepreneurs and individual panel discussions in the nine areas of business break- thrus being emphasized at the workshop. The afternoon session will have two additional panels. One will be on "On Going Programs ofTechnicalAid" in which presentations will be made by the Small Business Administration, Project Outreach, and Atlanta Unive rsity's Business Economic Development and Business Service Center. The other will be a banker round table with Atlanta bankers discussing opportunities envisioned, how bankers can help and what banke r s look for in a loan applicant. The banquet session, to be held at Paschal's Motor Hater, ' will climax with an address by a nationallyknown black business leader. The planning committee for the workshop includes: Frank O'Neal of the Atlanta Business League ; Dean Harding Young oftheAtlanta University School of Business ; Lyndon Wade of the Atlanta Ur ban League ; Curtise Driskell of the Atlanta Chamber of commerce; Henry Reid of NAB, Lonnie King of the NAACP; John P . Latimer of S6A and Nat Welch and Chuck William s of CRC. THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, Thm·sday, Ja n. 23, 1969 CRC Plans Worl(shop For Blacl(s The works hop will feature nine " likely brea kthrough areas for black business opportunities" -fas t-food fra nchises , au to dealerships, service stations, building contracting, ice cream outlets, franchised dry cleaning s tores, coin-operated laundries, drug s tores and specia lly auto stores. THREE DOZEN OPERATIONS T h e Community Relations Commission announced plans Wednesday for its black entrepreneurship workshop to be held Feb. 20 at Atlanta University 's School of Business . The Workshop on Black Business Opportunities will be cospons·o red by the Atlanta Chamher of Commerce, the local chapter of the Nationa l Associalion for the Ad vancement of Colored P eople, the Atlanta Bus iness League, the Atlanta University School of Business, the Urba n League and the Small Business Adm inistration. BASIC GOAL " The prim ary goa l of the workshop is to involve Atlanta Negroes who are inte rested in becoming owner-m anagers of businesses in Atlanta ," sa id CRC executive director Nat Welch. About three dozen national fr anch ise oper ations are being invited to ha ve top management r eprese nta tion. The a fternoon session will feature '·Fifty Great Business Opportunities, " Welch said . ,,.edmical aid progra ms and a ro!111d-ta ble discussion by Atl anta bankers also will occur in the al"te• rnoon. The morning spssion will ha ve c1 panel di-cu sion on ··oo ·s and DonTs in Launching New Busine s Ventures ·• bv fi ve successful Atla nta black· en trepreneurs plus individua l pan el discuss ions in the ni ne breakthro ugh areas A d inner session at P aschal's Motor Hotel will end the workshop with a speech by a yet-tobe-a nnounced nationally-known black bus111ess leader. In add1tion . fi ve black entrepreneurs for 1967 will be given spec:c11 recognition by the CRC. �Agenda For Racial Harmony 10-Point Individual Plan Illustrates Ways to Help By NAT WELCH �This article was written at the request of the editorial staff of the Atlanta Journal and was published on its editorial page. The Community Relations Commission believes that this IO-point Plan is worthy of wide distribution in the Atlanta com munity and has made available this reprint for use by civic , church and service organizations . Dr. Samu el W. Williams, Chairman Community Relations Commission

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mAbout i the Forum Writer II I " tiv:~}:'cf!rC~f istheexe~~: ! lanta Community Re/a- ;i,;, tions Commission which @ is charged with the re- =t M sponsibility of fostering f: t! f~: fl, I: :.: \:::.,:::~:<1:dt:· 1 ~ THE JOURNAL F,ORUM ibt.Atlnnfn 1!aurnnl Saturday, May 17, 1969 �The foremost problem America faces at home is the urba n crisis . Regardless of where I make that statement in Atlan ta , few disagree with it. The urban crisis is rea.J. It is m ?re tha n deteriorating buildings and open spaces. It is a human condition. Atlanta is known as a proVISIT THE Hungry Club at gressive city. It has attained the Butler Street YMCA. This a favorable national reputais probably the mo?t stimu)attion because its people have ing luncheon club 1~ the city. been willing to change , espeSpeakers since the first of the cially in regard to race relayear have included Mayor tions. The city is now fa ced Ivan Allen, form er Gov. Carl with the challenge of improvSanders, Julian Bond, local ing on t hat r eputat ion or fallNAACP President L o n n i e ing a way from it. King, Dr. John Letson , Human relations must be SCLC's Andrew Young and improved between white peoDona ld Hollowell . ple and black people-not

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only on a group basis but as DRIVE THROUGH some of an individual. An individual the upper income Negr o r esiusually has a feeling of good d e n t i a I areas as Collier will toward his fe llow-man Heights and P eyton Forest in but has little knowledge of t he Cascade area. You will what helpful role he can persee that Atlanta has a subform to make it a visible stailltial nwnber of m iddle and reality. upper income Negroes w~o Here are 10 specific suggestake pride in home ownership tions : just as any other comparable group . BE INFORMED on what is

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happening in regard to local ENCOURAGE YOUR busiurban problems. ness or professio na\ organizaREAD THE Report of the tion tc, expand its Negro Natio nal Advisory Commism embershi p. The A t I a n t a sion on Civil Disorder s. We Chamber of Commerce took need to understand m ore t he initial step some ten about the problems. This is yea rs ago . This wa y lawyer s one of the most important get to . know la wyers a nd presidential Commission reteachers get to know teachers ports ever made. If you can't as persons and prejudice wade through the severalfa des. hundred page paper back ed!* tion, an excellent 30-page diLEARN TO pr onounce t he gest is available. word "Negro" correctly. The word is pronounced "kneeTAKE A tour of some of grow." This is d ifficult for a our economically depr essed white Southerner who has a reas and let the local resigrown up saying "Nigra." If dents tell what they are doing you can' t pronounce it r orto improve t heir lot. These rectly, just say black since tours are sponsored by Ecoboth are accept~ble. The term no mic Opportunity Atlanta fo r " colored person" is old hat. individuals and groups. ArProper titles are also very r angements ca n be mad~ by important. calling Mrs. Mary Lou MitchVISIT ANOTHER church. ell ,at 525-4262. Four members of the Commu-

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nity Relations Commi ssion are outsta nding ministers. They are the Rev. Sam Williams, pastor of the F r iend~ ship Baptist Church ; Rabbi Jacob Rothschild of the Temple · Dr. R. E . Lee, pastor of the ' Lutheran Church of the Redeemer · a nd Dr. J ohn Randolph 'T aylor, minister _of t he e n t r ,a 1 Presbyterian Church. Visitors ar e welcomed as in other Atlanta churches . ATTEND A . lecture or concert at the Atlanta University Cente r , E mo ry University, Georgia State or one of Atlanta 's severa l other institutions of higher learning. Become exposed to some new ideas a nd new people. The two most interesting lectures my wife a nd I hea rd last year were those of John K. Galbraith and Walter Heller at the Atlanta University Center. And when the Atlanta Symphony was doing a spec ial series at Spellman College, a friend remarked, " They m ight as well be play·i ng at Dahlonega as far a s most Atlanta ns are concerned." JOIN AN inter-racial disc ussion group . This sma ll m ovement was sta rted last year by Dr. a nd Mrs. Joseph A. Wilber. Four white couples a nd fo ur Negro couples meet once a month fo r a n evening of discussion . The host selects the subject which might be a community problem or a personal prejudice. One participa nt rem arked, " These are pretty fra nk discussions. After three or four sessions, you don't look on each other as white or black but as individua ls." There are now over 100 persons in Atlanta involved. After a year the group splits up into two or three groups. c THE PLACE to sta rt improving human r elations . is where you are- your neighborhood, your school, your church, your business and the organizations with which y~u are a ffili ated. If a person 1s trea ted with genuine dignity and respect, he will respond in kind. If trea tment is second class, this is what ca n be expected in return. A homemaker can start by paying domestic help the m inimum wage of $1.60 a nd seeing tha t the employe's qua r te rly social security fo r m is fil ed.

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WHAT ELSE can be done?

One institution that needs to be revived in Atlanta is the neighborhood orga nization or group. We have lost the " neighbor hood cohesiveness" tha t is so impor tant. White m iddle and upper income neighborhood groups tend to becom e defensive mechanisms to insulate t he · neighbor hood from the rest of the city. In so doing we tend to develop sterile neighborh o o d s. The neighborhood needs to relate to the city. The disadvantaged nei ghborhoods a re m aking substa ntial progress by strengthening their neighborhood groups through local leadership with t he help of EOA, Model Cities, and the Community Relations Commission.

THE GRANT Par k area is an encoura ging example. It was selected by CRC as the a rea in which to initiate their 1969 Town Hall meeting program . The usual procedure _i~, first , a m eeting with the c1t1ze ns to get their idea s on what their problems a re a nd , then a follo w-up meeting in . which City Hall officials re) port on actions taken in res ponse to the citi ze ns. The fir st meeting was on a cold Ma rch night with a rather slim crowd a t the Jerome Jones School in Gra nt P a rk . The public offi cials almost outnumbered the ci tize ns. The crowd tr ipled at the fo llow-up meEtin g held r ecentl y. A to tal of five alderm en two sta te represe ntative; , eight city depar tment officials and five members of CRC pa r ticipated in these two m eetings.

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THE CALIBER of leade rship shown by the Gra nt P a rk citizens impressed m e tremendous ly. Both white and black citizens and white a nd black elected offic ia ls showed dignity a nd respect for one another and an earnest desire to move on with solving the community problems at ha nd. Cecil Alexa nder, head of the Mayor's Housing Resources Committee, has stated, ":'- l· lanta no longer has the choice of beng a white or a black cily. The choice is either to be a bl ack city or a n mtegrated city. " These two Town Hall meetings pro duced stron g ev idcn_c e th at the citize ns . . . wh ite and bla ck . . . have made their choice. Grant Park is their , home and th ey ar e going to stay there_ and bt~ld a great commumty agam. Model Cities, assisted by CRC is m aking a valuable cont;ibution in helping deve lop this indigenous leadershi p. ,:, * * LET US hope that as other neighborho ods move into transition they will foll ow the exampl~ of the r esurgi ng leadership in Gra nt P ark. �Dr. Samuel W. Williams, Chairman Vice Mayor Sam Massell , Jr ., Ex-Officio COMMISSION MEMBERS Mr . T. M. Alexander, Sr. Mr. R. Byron Attridge Mrs. Sara Baker Miss He len Bullard Mr. R. J. Butler Mr . Mik e C he a tha m Rep. Jam e s E. De an Mr. Robe rt Dobbs Re p. C. G. E zzard Mr. L. L. Gellers tedt , Jr. Mr. Charles Hart Dr. Robe rt E. L ee Mrs. F. W. Patte rson Rabbi J acob M. Rothschild Mr. Paul Shie ld s Mr. L. D. Simon Mr s. Ma cy Ste phe ns Dr . J. Randolph Taylor Rev . J. A. Wilborn Mr. Willi a m McGee, Ex-Officio Atla nta Youth Congress Mr. Nat We lch Exec uti ve Director C ITY OF ATLANTA C OMMUNITY R E LATIONS C OMMIS SION ME MORI A L DRI VE ANNEX BLD G . 121 ME MORI A L DRI VE, S. W. 5 22 -44 63 �CITY OF ATLANTA DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE 501 CITY HALL ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303 J,uuan, 13, 1969 CHARLES L . DAVIS DIR EC TO R O F FI N AN C E EDGAR A . VAUGHN , JR . DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF FINANCE GEORGE J. BERRY DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF FINANCE Mr. Bat Vetch lxecutlve Director CGl!IIIUDit y lelatlcnw Commtui.oo 1203 City Rall Atl anta, Georgia 30303 Dur lats The City l• • aambff of the lnterDational City Manager•' Aaaociation; -4 u a reault of thta memb•rahtp, ve receive pclodic 111a11ag8illelll reporta. llloV1ng of your tntereat in rumor control, I 1111 •ncl.o alag a copy for your pereonal uae of our late,t report vhtcb 11 on thla auhjec·t mattft. lf.acei:ely, (J/a-.L,_ / £)._._____ Chul• ... Davl• Dlnctor of rtnace CUUdhf lnclo,ure cc a IIOOOl'able It.o n G. fanl• Nr. a. IUl J.ndera v · �Managementlnfonnation Service THE REPORT' AT AGLANCE Rumors are the sparks that ignite and many a r(ot. With modern advances in communications, th.e spreading of rumors during civil disorders is easier than ever before, and the high-tension atmosphere of riots makes citizens vulnerable to distortions of truth. In an effort to squelch rumors that feed on civil disturbances, several cities have set up rumor con:rol centers. Basically, such a center · consists of a well-publi- ta'n cized telephone service that citizens may call during times of racial tension to report incidents and to check out rumors. The Chicago Commission on Human Relations has established a "Rumor Central" that is being looked into by other cities as a model. A separate phone n~mber for rumor control, tactful personnel who have the confidence of those who phone the center, and effective "call-back" procedures are among 0 the keys for effective operation. Rumor control should be integrated with the city's total public information program for civil disorders. Good public relations in normal times is essential for avoiding a "credibility gap" in public announcements during crisis. It may be that the most effective way for city officials to fight destructive rumors is to spread contradictory "rumors" of peace, order, and quiet. �Rumor Control During Civil Disorders By Walter L. Webb Staff Member International City Managers' Association one way or another, to the hearer. (2) The details must be cloudy. Yet, beyond these basic "rumorfacts," it is surprising that so little is known about rumors, for they have profoundly affected man's history. Armies have clashed and governments have toppled on the basis of unfounded rumors. Nero, for example, did not really fiddle while Rome burned ; it was a rumor deliberately spread by his enemies. The United States certainly had no plans, in 1958, to restore the dictator Perez Jimenez to power in Venezuela, yet that rumor touched off the deadly "antiNixon" riots that disturbed hemispheric relationships for years. Because rumors have always spread like a dread disease through man' s organizations, one expert suspects that they fill some deep-felt need in human society, despite the fact that they can rip the fabric of that society in short order. 1 WHY RUMORS GROW "The entire Loop is in flames!" ... "Rap Brown is here!" ... "Everybody is looting at Milwaukee and Ashland." . .. "Stokely Carmichael has just landed by submarine from Lake Michigan." ... "Twenty thousand Negroes are marching on the Loop , the streets are deserted, and all the shoppers are locked inside the department stores! " These are just a few of the rumors that spread like wildfire across Chicago within a five-day period last April. If these savage rumors had gone unchecked, " they could have done the city far more damage than Mrs. O'Leary's cow," one observer has commented. Inevitably , rumors will multiply during periods of tension and anxiety. Civil unrest, for a variety of reasons, is shaking our social order. In such a situation, innumerable phantoms roam and haunt the city. That is why the shattering power of rumors is being closely examined, perhaps for the first time in history. Computers on the campus of Brandeis University are beginning to check all kinds of information about rumors - the time of day they pop up, the typical circumstances, etc. - in an effort to pin down their birth, life, and death . And public servants in several major cities - perhaps most notably Chicago - have developed techniques for quashing rumors as soon as they pose a threat to community stability. This report, based largely on the Chicago experience, is intended to aid local officials in their efforts to fight rumors, particularly in times of riot and civil disorder. The Psy,hology of Rumor 2 There are two requirements for a rumor to grow: (I) It must contain information that is important, in The one new factor in the field of rumors is their speed of transmission. Nowadays, of course, rumors spread more quickly than in the past, thanks to the telephone. But essentially they are the same as always - falsehoods masquerading as truths. " We live in a world of instant communications," says Dr. Dana L. Farnsworth, who for many years has observed the effects of mass tension on mental health. "Yet this simply means that unfounded rumors can spread as rapidly as the truth ." Dr. Farnsworth, who is chairman of the Council on Mental Health of the American Medical Association, points out that rumors inevitably breed more rumors in a deadly spiral . " Rumors blur the edges of truth, thus making people feel still more insecure. And because insecurity is the soil in which rumors grow, any rumor simply increases the likelihood of the emergence of still more rumors." Why do citizens play with fire by passing on rumors? One authority has suggested that rumors may be to society what daydreams are to individuals. As such, they could be wish fulfillment or fear fulfillment. Psychologists have long demonstrated that humans often see what they expect to see, what they wish to see, or what they fear to see . · 1 An effective technique for illustrating how rumors grow is to simulate a rumor. The process is quite simple. An observer of a given situation reports to a non-observer what he witnessed. The non-observer then passes on to another nonobserver what he was told, this non-observer in turn reports to another non-observer, etc. The "story" as it ends up is often humorously different from what the actual witness originally reported. The Anti-Defamation League ofB 'nai B'rith has prepared a rumor clinic based on the above "laboratory-rumor" prindple. The clinic features a film strip to illustrate the situations to be reported and passed on. Information about the clinic may be obtained from regional offices of the League. �"Uncertainty increases the vulnerability of the individual," states Dr. Farnsworth. "During a period of tension, the individual becomes highly suspicious. The more lurid the story, the more likely it is to be believed. Because of their very uncertainty , rumors are more likely to be believed than fact." Apparently , too, there is an inner compulsion that forces many citizens to pass on a rumor. "When a person hears a rumor," continues Dr. Farnsworth, "he then has ( or at least feels he has) unique information. This makes him an important person in his own eyes. He feels good toward himself, even though the rumor may be terrifying. But he can only continue this feeling of goodness, of importance, if he imparts his unique information to someone else." RUMORS DURING RIOTS No riot occurs without rumors to incite, accompany, and intensify the violence, noted the late Gordon Allport of Harvard, considered the foremost authority on the nature of rumor. The National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders ( the Kerner Commission) found irrefutable evidence that rumors not only caused the rapid spread of last summer's disorders, but in some cases actually touched off those disorders. Here is what its report says: "Rumors significantly aggravated tension and disorder in more than 65 percent of the disorders studied by the Commission. Sometimes, as in Tampa and New Haven, rumor served as the spark which turned an incident into a civil disorder. Elsewhere, notably Detroit and Newark, even when they were not precipitating or motivating factors, inflaming rumors made the job of police and community leaders far more difficult." The Tampa incident was a clear-cut case of a rumor causing society to devour itself. In the earliest stages of unrest , a deputy sheriff died. The wire services immediately sent out a news flash that rioters had killed the man. The rumor spread. Within 30 minutes reporters discovered the truth - that the deputy had died of a heart attack. By then it was too late ; the city was in turmoil. Another rumor , the following day , compounded the problem. Tampa police headquarters was informed by semihysterical rumor-listeners that 20 Negro men, bared to the waist and carrying clubs, had assembled. Actually, the men turned out to be construction workers simply doing their job. Yet the rumor had already done its damage. It took the National Guard and intense efforts on the part of community leaders, both Negro and white, to restore order. Patricia Q. Sheehan, the mayor of New Brunswick, New Jersey, confirms the deadly power of rumors. During the disorders last year, she observed, it seemed "almost as if there was a fever in the air." The press, radio , and TV reported that guerrilla bands were roaming the streets - an unfounded rumor that struck terror into white communities. "Rumors were corning 1in from all sides on July 17th," she reported to the Kerner Commission. "Negroes were calling to warn of possible disturbances; whites were calling; shop owners were calling. Most of the people were concerned about a possible bloodbath." The thought crossed her mind at that time that "we are talking ourselves into it." On the campus of Brandeis University, in Waltham, Massachusetts, the new Lemberg Center for the Study of Violence hopes eventually to feed computers with all sorts of information about riots rumors, times of day, temperature, triggering incidents, etc. - and find relationships that may help in predicting violence. Center officials note that rumors are obviously not the sole cause of riots. Their causes are many and deepseated. But once riots have begun, rumors can make them worse. The Center's preliminary findings, according to Miss Terry Knopf, research associate , indicate there is a pattern to them. First, there are general and vague predictions of impending trouble. "Whites," "Negroes," "Army," or "police" are said to be arming and preparing. These reports keep tension high. Next come specific rumors that prepare and trigger action. Rumor Control Operations Perhaps the nation's best-run rumor control operation last summer was set up by the Chicago Commission on Human Relations. With its dedicated band of rumor-quashers - professional social workers, clerks, typists , volunteers - the Commission operated with such success that its techniques are being copied by a good many cities around the country. The Commission's "Rumor Central" - as the operation was named - was singled out for commendation by the Kerner Commission.2 As reported by Raymond J. Siewert, supervisor of Rumor Central, the best method for quashing rumors is simple: "The bald truth , good or bad, is the only way to fight a rumor. " Yet the bald truth must be instantly available to the public - and it is here that 2 MIS has received information on rumor con trol centers in more than 25 cities. Since the Chicago Rumor Central incorporates principles widely used elsewhere, this rep ort focuses primarily on the Chicago experience. Other cities which MIS has learned have either set up, or intend to set up, ru mor control centers are: Phoenix, Ariz.; Hartford, Conn. ; Atlanta, Ga. ; Decatu r, III.; Wichita, Kan.; Louisville, Ky. ; Baltim ore and Salisbury , Md.; Boston and Springfield, Mass.; Detroit, F lin t, and Grand Rapids, 'Mich. ; Kansas City, Mo. ; Plainfield, N.J. ; Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse, N.Y.;Dayton, Toledo, and Youngstown, Ohio; Oklahoma City, Okla.; Erie and Philadelphia, Pa.; Houston, Tex.; Norfolk and Richmond, Va.; and Seattle, Wash. 3 �Rumor Central's techniques are being looked to as a guide. The Commission has published a full description of how Rumor Central operates. Since the description is reproduced in full as an appendix to this report, the following section presents only an overview of the operation, noting particularly the key factors to its success. .. MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SERVICE January 1969 - Vol. 1 No. L-1 Editor: Walter L. Webb "RUMOR CENTRAL" IN ACTION 4 Chicago's Rumor Central - which on a limited scale operates throughout the year - consists in times of crisis of a telephone hookup manned 24 hours a day, field workers who gather factual information with which to combat rumors, and others who try to spread the truth in danger areas. The Central phone number is widely advertised in the press and on TV, and citizens are urged to call and check the truth of any reports they have heard. The system met its first big test in the wake of the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. Rumor Central was besieged with calls. Two telephone lines quickly proved inadequate, and three others were added. Thousands of calls continued to swamp the lines, while delays ran to a matter of hours. Ten lines finally were opened and volunteers brou_ght in from seminaries throughout the city. For the three days of the riot, 15 people answered the calls, 24 hours a day. If the facts were not known, the caller's number was taken, the situation investigated, and the citizen was called back promptly. "It's really a simple technique," reports James E. Burns, director of the Human Relations Commission. "We answer questions, calm people, deny rumors, allay fears, and try to protect people by keeping them out of the danger zones. We have to have the trust of the. public, and we must have accurate information on what's going on." During the height of the April disturbances, Rumor Central in the Commission offices resembled a military situation room. At least five telephone lines were reserved for residents' queries. Other lines were kept open for periodic reports from Commission field workers who were circulating in troubled areas. A wall-sized map of the Chicago area, with a plastic overlay, was used to pinpoint trouble spots. Areas where sniping occurred were marked with a blue grease pencil, blocked-off streets were marked in black, burning sections in red, alternate bus lines around tense sections in yellow, and so on. One-third of the 27 professionals on the Commission staff are Negroes, many of whom were spending long hours in the riot areas talking to neighborhood leaders and trying to calm the situation. To make certain that the information is correct, Rumor Central has its own network of intelligence courses. When any kind of civil unrest breaks loo&e in Chicago, trained Commission staffers immediately Management Information Service reports are published monthly by the International City Managers' Association, 1140 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036. Secondclass postage permit pending. Copyright© 1969 by the International City Managers' Association. Views expressed are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy of ICMA. No part of this report may be reproduced without permission of the copyright owner. Subscription rates (including inquiryanswering and additional services) are based on population of subscribing jurisdiction and will be furnished on request. This report is intended primarily for subscribing jurisdictions above 25,000 population. Concurrent monthly reports, prepared primarily for jurisdictions below 25,000 population, are available from Management Information Service. race to tlie scene of the disturbance and promptly phone in on-the-spot reports. One man is dispatched to police headquarters to monitor all calls, another to the fire department. Still other staff members perform liaison work with the mayors' office , city agencies, and private organizations dealing with civil rights. One good intelligence tool, Commission staffers report, is simply a city phone directory cross-referenced by location. When a call comes in asking about trouble in a certain block and nothing is known about the situation, a Rumor Central staffer will call citizens at random in that block, identify himself, and calmly ask if there are any signs of a disturbance. New facts , as they come in, are immediately typed, copied by machine, and distributed within two or three minutes to all phone operators so they will have the latest situation reports at their fingertips. The Chicago experience points up several easily overlooked factors that many cities have found important in establishing a rumor cental. Among them: • A separate phone number for rumor control is desirable. This not only frees the police department from overly used phone lines but - perhaps more important - creates a "climate of trust" between the rumor-inquirer and the rumor control center. During civil disorders, citizens - particularly non-white - often suspect that information given over police department phones is purposely distorted to make the city government look good. �• Rumor central must be trusted by citizens to tell the truth. It is desirable, if possible , for non-whites to handle the rumor inquiries of other non-whites. Some cities report a greater climate of trust by having a non-governmental agency (such as the Urban League) man the rumor control center. • The center should operate round-the-clock. Imagine the hysteria that could be caused by a rumor that even the rumor control center had been knocked out! (i.e. , " I phoned, but they didn't answer.") • The "call-back " technique should be used. Not only is it important for the center to phone a caller when new information is available about his request. It is also helpful to ask callers to phone the center back when they have new information on a rumor they heard. RESPONDING TO RUMOR CALLS The ultimate success of a rumor control center depends on how rumor calls are handled. No amount of accurate information will despel fears if the contact between rumor central and the inquirer is unsatisfactory. Officials of the Chicago Rumor Central note that their personnel manned phones only two hours at a stretch, because " it is an exhausting experience to deal by telephone with hysterical or frightened persons." Recognizing the need for skilled response to rumor calls, the director of the rumor control center in Detroit, Michigan, issued special rumor-response instructions to his staff. The instructions distinguish the types of calls received and suggest general responses. The following briefly summarizes these guidelines: Rumor-Response Guidelines (Detroit) Crank Calls. These are defined as calls in which the caller is either abusive or wishes to offer suggestions for solving city problems. The staff should courteously hang up if a caller is abusive , obscene, or insulting. If callers want to offer suggestions, the staff should be courteous, refrain from debate, and terminate the conversation as soon as possible. Gossip . This would include information dealing with a person's personal life (e .g., "ls _ _ _ going with ____ ?") In response to such inquiries, the staff should state the function of the rumor control center (e.g., an attempt to clarify distorted information, par· ticularly concerning racial incidents, and to prevent the spread of rumors) and point out that personal information is not a part of this function. Requests for Irrelevant Information. Persons often call with rumors or questions not related to racial incidents. When pos3ible, give a courteous answer to the question and state the function of the rumor control center, emphasizing that this type of request is not included in the center's function. Rumors or Questions About Individuals, Organizations, or Agencies. Some callers will ask specific questions about other agencies· or organizations ( e.g. , Will the police strike?) These persons should be referred to the agency or group in question. Speculative Rumors. Persons sometimes call with vague rumors or questions about future racial incidents which cannot be investigated. Some of these callers may be fearful, some concerned, and some hostile. In any case, get as much information as the caller is willing to give and respond in a way similar to the following: "There are no facts to substantiate this statement as anything but a rumor. Riots are not inevitable, and no one is able to predict what will happen in the future . The city is prepared to handle any situation that occurs, and we believe that the public good cannot be served by repeating rumors such as these." Copies of the n;i.ayor's television speech are available for use in responding to these inquiries. If the caller does not accept this statement of the city's position, no further questioning, discussion, or explanation should be offered. The call should be terminated with the statement that the center has made a written report on the information and it will be turned over to field investigators. Ask that if the caller gets any additional information, he turn it over to rumor control for investigation. A person may call with information about a future event with specific facts that can be investigated. In such cases, the staff should get as much information as possible, including a copy of any literature being passed out if available, and explain that it will be given to the field staff for further investigation. If this information h as already been obtained , relate the facts to the caller, clarifying any distortions. These calls should be catalogued in a central information file (e.g., three x five-inch cards identifying the incident in detail, along with a report of subsequent investigation) available to every staff member for use in verifying rumors. If the caller wishes- to leave his name and phone number, the staff should offer to call back with info rmation uncovered. Rumors on Past and Present Issues and Events. A caller might ask a question or give information about an incident which has already happened or is happening at the time of the call. In these cases, obtain information and follow the same response procedure as with future-even t rumors noted above. Particularly, combat distortions with the facts available and, where necessary, state that the incident is still under investigation, the appropriate authorities have been notified and are acting in response to the distortions, and this is all the information we have at this time. 5 �In general, the staff should be particularly aware of the need to probe each call and try, if possible, to convert the caller from believing the rumor as fact to recognizing its source and questioning the reason for its being spread. Public Information During Disorders Rumor control is but a facet of the broader problem of managing public information during disorders. At a special meeting in mid-1968, sponsored by the National League of Cities, public information specialists compared notes on how they handled the information needs of the public and press during last summer's civil disturbances. Major points made at the meeting are summarized here as a guide for planning rumor control operations within the context of a total public information program for civil disorders.3 • Single information source: Many cities believe it important to have a single central headquarters for presenting information to the press and public. Most of these "press centrals" are located either in city hall (one city uses the council chamber) or in police headquarters. But several cities favor two information centers - one in the field for riot control information and another in city hall for major policy statements by the mayor and other officials. The two-center approach is definitely advised for best control of rumors. • Adequate staffing and equipment: City information specialists or trained police officers of high rank should man the press centers. Enough telephone lines and facilities for radio and television coverage also must be planned for. • Intergovernmental coordination: Plans must be made early to assure early coordinated release of information by local, state, and federal officials, preferably from one central point. • Background and comparative data: Several cities have fo und it useful, particularly in dealing with outof-town newsmen, to have background handouts prepared on what the city has already done to aUeviate some of the stated causes of riots. Comparative data regarding the number of arrests, crimes commited, and fire calls during " normal" periods also are helpful in giving perspective to incidents occurring during riots. • Advance conferences with news media: Most 6 3 Copies of Public Information and Civil Disorders, containing a meeting summary and texts of typical city emergency public information plans, may be obtained for $2.00 each from the National League of Cities, Department of Urban Studies, 16 12 K Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006. cities recommend holding conferences with news media representatives to get - if possible - agreement on how riots would be reported, particularly the handling of rumors. Some cities use a 30-minute voluntary system of withholding reports that a disturbance has occurred in the hopes that it can be controlled in that time. Many reported success with getting news media cooperation in first checking their information with press central officials before broadcasting or printing it. Most of the public relations officials agreed that trying to get a total press-radioTV embargo on disturbance news was impractical. • Press identification: Some cities have special color-coded badges and identification cards for newsmen which are issued at press headquarters. Outergarmept and vehicle emblems often are requested by newsmen to prevent their being picked up by police after curfew hours have begun. Planning is perhaps the biggest need in meeting the public information requirements during a civil disorder, the meeting concluded. In addition, many of the specialists stressed the need for city officials to recognize the public relations aspects of their operations in normal times if crisis announcements were to avoid a "credibility gap." Each of these recommendations can complement a rumor control center and alleviate its problems. Rumor Versus Rumor During the height of last summer's riots, one caller had a curious request for Chicago's Rumor Central: "What are the latest rumors?" Actually, it was not a completely foolish question, for rumors can be used effectively to counter riots. Rumors of peace, order, quiet, and racial cooperation might prove more than helpful. After the death of Martin Luther King, for example, Mayor John Lindsay of New York spread the rumor that New York City was quiet. By covering up actual violence on Friday night, many observers feel that the mayor probably stopped outbreaks of arson and looting on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Indeed, fighting rumor with rumor may weU be the most effective technique available to city officials for heading off civil disorders. The calm, restrained voice of top city officials over TV and radio as rumors of riots are forming is essential to maintaining citizen calm. Yet in the final analysis, it is the individual citizen who determines the life, growth , and death of a rumor. He can pass it on, he can embellish it - or he can question its validity. "In a potential panic situation," advises Dr. Farnsworth, "remain cool and collected." It is a difficult prescription to fulfill, but city officials must take all possible steps to fight the deadly conseque nces of citywide panic. �Appendix Recommended Procedure for Setting Up a Rumor Control Centra I* Basically, Rumor Central consist s of te n telephones connected on a sequential hunt system, personnel to man th e telephon es, a good system of communication with the police and fire departments and various other private and public age ncies with staff in the field, and two men to check out rumors and to receive incoming reports from th ese departments. T he operation ca n be expanded or decreased in size as the volume of calls merits. T here are five basic considerations in setting up a Ru mor Cen tral. Th ese are: 1. Publicizing the teleph one number 2. Phy sical eq uip me n t 3. Personnel 4 . Clearly defined procedures 5. Adequ ate system of com m un ica tion with the police and fire de partments and other sources of intelligence Publicity Once the d ec ision had been made to establish Rumor Central , the City News Bureau, a ce ntral news-gathering agency, was no tified. Information abou t the service went out on its lines to all member media. Th e press was give n the R umor Centr al number and was told that it was a nu m ber where citizens could rep ort inciden ts, chec k out rum ors, and obtain o the r informa t ion relevant to civil d isorder. We received excell ent cooperatio n fro m the news med ia. In add ition to using the informatio n as a public service ann o uncement , many inclu ded it as a news item . • This appendix is excerpted from Ru- mor Central, issued by the Chicago Comm ission on Huma n Relations. The recommended proced ure is that used by th e Commission's own Rumor Ce ntral. Physical Operation The operation should be centralized and include: Telephones. One phone numb er and from two to ten phones connec ted on a sequ ential hunt, so tha t if the first is bu sy, the call is relayed to the nex t line. Preferably , the connected phones should not be lines used by th e agency in the course of normal business. Two separate p hones tp be used ex clusively by research staff responsible for receiving police reports and checking rumors. Large Map. Stree t map o f the city, vi sible to all phones, covered by clear plastic, on whi ch verified in cidents can be recorded. Black board. Also clearly visible to ph ones, on which verfied quie t areas and the nature and progress of incidents may be record ed. Telephone Notebooks. Notebooks to be placed at each phone for telephone personnel to use as reso urce material in answe ring questions. Each should include a street map of the city to be used in routing callers arou nd disord ers and xe roxed copies of reports and newspaper clippings giving de tail s about curfew regulations, agencies distributing food , and o th er pertinent inform ation. Con tac t Note books. One for eac h staff research man which includ es all im portant ph one numbers to be used in chec king out info rm atio n. Forms. (1) Log for perso nnel t o tall y incoming calls an d rec o rd the co ntent o f im portant o nes. (2) Incide nt report form s for recording all verified police and fu e department informatio n, these to be compiled in a permanent log. (3) Rumor check-out form s for telephone personnel to give contact research staff requ esting that he check out a rumor. Personnel During th e peak of disord ers, Rumor Central was manned 24 hours a day . Pe rsonnel were assigned to day shifts, 8 a.m . to 6 p.m., or night shifts beginning at 6 :00 p.m . In the evening, staff remained on duty until the number of incoming calls began to dwindle. Then the Commission answering service took over, usually around 2: 00 a.m ., relaying to a staff person at home only the most important calls. The following personnel are recommended : Supervisor. Teleph o ne Personnel. One per phone, plus several ex tra to relieve th em. To sup pleme nt st aff, we enlisted the help of volunteers, primarily gradu ate stud ents. A volun teer should have a good kn owledge of the ph ysical geogr aphy of a city and th e location of major st ree ts, an understanding of the pro blem s that can occur during a disorder, and an authoritative, reassuring telephone manner. All telephone person nel, staff and volunteers, received an initial briefing o n the correc t way to answer the phones and subsequent briefings before each shift to fill them in on answers to current q uestions and details of on-going disturbances. Research Contac t Men. Several staff members clearly identified as such to the telepho ne perso nnel and permanently available 7 �to take incoming police and fire reports and check out rumors. Oerk. To record all disturbances and verify quiet areas on the blackboard, keep the map up to date, reproduce and circulate information, and keep a permanent log of police and fue reports. Field Staff. As available and necessary, to go to the scene of reported trouble and feed back information. During the height of the trouble, we stationed a man in the police department where he could listen to all incoming reports and relay up-to-the-minute information to us. In the future, we plan to have our own radio receiving equipment so that all incoming police reports will be received directly by our office. Typical Calls and Procedure for Handling Incident Calls. Many people call to report an incident or find out if a rumor they have heard is true. For example, "I can see smoke . and hear sirens from my apartment at _ _ Can you tell me what is happ ening?" If a fue in that vicinity is recorded on the blackboard, the person answering the phone simply gives the caller the facts. "Yes, th ere was a fue at ___ . It is under control and the police have dispersed the people who gathered." If there is no report on the board, th e 8 operator records the location and nature of th e rumor and relays it to the contact man to check out. The caller may wait for confumation, but most are satisfied wit11 an answer like, Thank your for reporting it; we are now checking it out." Once the information has been checked out, the facts are given to all telephone personnel. Information Calls. These include a wide range of questions concerning curfew, location of the National Guard, and agencies distributing food and clothing. Many of these questions can be anticipated and the answers explained prior to any shift and included in the phone notebooks. One frequent kind of information call is on travel within the city. "I have to work tonigh t and usually travel south on Western Avenue. Is that route safe? " The operator will refer to the big map and his street map, then either answer, "We have no report of trouble in that area. You shouldn't have any problems," or "There have been fues on that street and traffic is being rerouted. You might detour and take Darnen." Good Communications System A Rumor Central operation is valuable only to the extent that the information disseminated is correct. Consequently, good outside contacts and efficient means of relaying information to telephone personnel are essential. The potential outside contacts should be identified prior to the establishment of a Rumor Central and their phone numbers recorded so th at any staff member can check out rumors. These sources may include the police and fue departments, city youth agencies, . social centers, and other institutions that might be in the area of trouble or have access to dependable information. Contact must be made with these agencies in advance, letting them know they will be contacted and requesting that they report to Rumor Central if they have information. The research men should also establish a schedule for making routine checks with the police department to obtain relevant reports. Contact was made with the police department at least every 20 minutes. If fi eld staff are available, they can be dispatched to trouble areas to report regularly. Good communications within tlrn operation depend upon the clear definition of resp onsibility and communication procedures. The research contact men are perhaps the most vital part of the operation. All telephone personnel should know who is on duty to check out rumors and should submit written requests for information to these research men. After any report is checked out with the police department, the information should be recorded on the blackboard for all perso nnel so that duplication of checking is avoided. ( �