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COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMISSION 1203 CITY HALL ATLANTA, GEORGIA Minutes of Commission Meeting, October, 27, 1967 Members present: Butler, Hallinan, Sells, Alexander, Baker, Ma x well Patterson, Stephens, Attridge, Lee, Ezz ard, Ryan, Pilcher, Paschall and Kaler. Mr. Irving K. Kaler, Chairman presided. He presented Mr ~ Reginald Carter, Community Relations Assistant, and Mr. Jim Lindskoog, SIMS Intern, to the Commission and commended them on the job they are doing. Mr. Kaler then introduced a delegation of Teacher Corps trainees from the University of Georgia under the leadership of Dr. Harry B. Williams. Archbishop Hallinan introduced his visitor, Father Joe Connoly, a member of the agency for Baltimore, Maryland, similar to the CRC. Mr. Bob Hughes, Atlanta representative for the Community Relations Service of the U.S. Department of Justice, gave a brief e x planation of his job. Mr. John Evans, chairman of the Kirkwood Chapter of the Georgia Council on H~man Relations, commended the Commission on its efforts to date, said the Commission is needed a nd hopes a s years go by, it will become more forceful. Mr. Edward Moody , Mechanicsville Civic League: "Concur wholeheartedly in pa r t with what has been said. CRC will probably get criticism from Aldermanic Bo a rd, but if they're going to condone evil bu t give you po wer to figh t it - ma ke s no sense . Discri minatory prac t ices basi s o f all p r oblems. I f you're (CRC) going to be the org a ni z a t ion to b r in g p r oblems to, we a re going to e x pec t you t o do something abou t i t ." Mr . Ale xa nder said h e agreed, that when CRC started out, "Said not going t o be a popularity contest, must be t r ouhl e -shooting. At every meeting t here might be con t roversy , should have somebody from the staff or f rom the Commiss ion the r e t o s ee what h a ppen s ." He moved th a t a ny t i me t he r e is con t rov e rsy or cont r ov ersy expec te d , some member o f sta ff o r Co mmission b e t here to obs erve . Dis cus s i on o f th is: Mr. At t r i dge st r essed --- " No t pa r ticipate , obs erv e", Mrs. Pa t t e rs o n s ai d she was as ke d not to com e t o Vine City ; Mr. Bu t le r s aid he "wouldn 't wan t t o go ou t a n d ar bitra r i l y re p re s e n t" t h e Ra bbi Ro thsch ild r efe rre d t o the " Ad Ho c Comm i ttee t hat Co mmission. alre ady exi s ts". Mr . Kal e r asked th a t t he mo t io n be d efe rr e d u n t i l a later meeting when job d e s criptions f or t he s t aff would be co ns idered, in light of th e first y ear' s exp e rien c e. He s a i d staff participation should not be rigid, matter o f judg emen t ; no disparity between points of view ex~ :-e ssed . Mr. Alexa nd er agreed to table the moti on . Archbishop Hallinan expressed need for clarificatio n of role of staff and Commission and his concern for the Commission to act preventively in the interest of Justice. �Page 2 Minutes 10-27-67 \ Mr. Kaler introduced Mr. Tom Oxnard, editor of the Weekly Star, and praised his courageous fight against the "flight of citizenry". Mr. Oxnard said he had been asked ~o ~erve on a temporary sub-committee to try to get education abou~ neighborhood stabilization through the mass media~ would like to say ~hey have the support of the Commission and not "just Tpm Oxnard and Jim Costen .sti~king our · necks out". Mr. Kaler aiked that the question be delayed until next month. Mrs. Paschall explained that at the monthly informal meetings of persons working in the field of housing, _it had been agreed that a great need is for education of the total community about the problems of neighborhood stabilization and Mr. Oxnard had agreed to serve as chairman of a · temporary committee to suggest plans for that. Mrs. Xerona Clay~on gave a brief explanation of SWAP for the benefit of the Teachers Corps group. Mr. Maxwell reported on progress in the establishment of advisory committees with persons from the business community, "~,ve 30 who have agreed to serve, tr~ing to arrange a meeting with the Mayor; plan to form 3 committees - housing, education ; and employment. There would be at least 1 member of the Commiss ion on each committee". Mr. M·o ody reported that in the Model Neighborhood area, houses are being torn down and before the feder~l pr~grams get funded, the land ~ill be bare. "What can the Commission: do t6 help"? Mr. Ez z ard confi rme d these reports. The Reverend Clyde Williams, Chairman of the Grass Roots Council, made remarks as follows: "He came to the meeting out of real concern, to get the Commission to look at some of the problems: 1. Whole ma t t er of police-communi ty rel a tion s, not saying police br uta l i ty but rel a t i ons hip be tween pol i c e and th e citi zens. 2. Housi ng - pla c e s both fire traps and he alth haz ards, even though some property t ied up in injuncti ons, could t hey be app r oach e d f rom fire a nd heal th s tandpoints? .3. What are the contracto rs do i ng bu siness with t he city? Need to know t he companies so can determine if t here 'is discri mination." Sena tor Sells sai d , " The c ont r a c to r s do i ng business wi t h the c i ty are a matter of public rec ord . " , 'Mr •.. ~y an t said, "Thi s i s a f unction of the City Attorney, Commission not e nforci ng or i nvestigation body ." Rev. Williams said, "If it is a matter of concern to the Commission, then Commission should be concerned". Mr. Alexander said lots of things on the books not being implemented. This group (Grass Roots Council) is entitled to the list and if they hav e complaints which are not satisied by appealing to the City Attorney, then they should come to the Commission. �Page 3 Minutes 10-27-67 Rabbi Rothschild asked whose . concern it is to implement the ordinance. Mr. Pilcher said no means for implementation, it is anticipated that the aggrieved person will bring charges; only thing contractor required to do is to sign affidavit. Mr. Wyant said not the business of this body to check. Rabbi Rothschild said it is the business of the Commission to resolve problems before they become problems. Mr. Attridge said we don't want to assume discrimination. Rev. Williams said, We've had a history of discrimination". Rabbi Rothschild moved that a resolution be sent to the Aldermen commending them for passing the ordinance but urging provision for it's implementation. Passed Mr. Kaler urged Rev. Williams to come back to the Commission if he had trouble with the City Attorney. Rev. Williams commended the Commission as a good sounding board and said, We need the Commission, the Commission needs us". Mr. Kaler asked what he meant about police-community relations. Rev. Williams said, "Jhere is a breakdown in communication between citizens and police". , Mr. Attridge referred to the program of the Atlanta Bar Association. Rev. Williams said he was familiar with that and has attended their meetings. Mr.- Alexander asked that the Executive Director check on situation regarding civil defense employment. Mr. Kaler said that is being explored. Mr. Ezzard said he wanted to report an ~ncident in which a courteous police officer, at the Greyhound Bus Station, averted trouble. He called attention to the fact that about a year ago a meeting was called by the Chairman of the Grass Roots Council~ Mr. Benny T. Smith, and the idea of this Commission was formed. Grass Roots organization .should be given report of year's activity. Mr. Kaler said the November meeting will be an anniversary meeting and the Grass Roots Council will be recognized. Mr. Ezzard raised a question about the Wre n's Nest, but was asked to to withdraw it in the absence of Miss Helen Bullard, Chairman of that committee, until Miss Bullard's report. Mr. Kaler reported several requests for public meeting on the school issues. He said that in the absence of Rev. Samuel Williams, who had peen so active in those matters, would delay discussion, but that he wanted it "clearly understood that the policy position of the Chamber of Commerce is the position of the Chamber of Commerce, that the position of the Commission will be delineated after a meeting about schools". �Page 4 Minutes 10-27-67 Mr. Kaler announced appointments to three year terms to the Commission those who had been appointed last November for l year terms, namely, Mrs. Sara Baker, Miss Helen Bullard, Mr. R. J. Butler, Mr. Robert Dobbs, Mr. C. G. Ezzard and Mr. Joseph A. Wyant. DIRECTOR'S REPORT: 1. Meeting was held with Legislators on Dc~ober 11; November meeting of the Commission will be changed to November 17th due to Thanksgiving. 2. The OED Multi-purpose Training Center ai Atlanta University, headed by Dr. Tilman Cothran, has contacted the Commission office with a p~oposal that a graduate sociology stude nt be placed in our office as an intern l a t e r ' this year. Approved. 3. Mrs. Minnie Thomas has resigned to accept a secretarial positicn at Morris Brown College. The Director was authorized to write her a letter of thanks on behalf of the Commission. The Personnel Department is helping with personnel changes. 4. The new Info r ma tion Des k in the lobby of City Ha ll is unde r Mr. Monroe, the Superintendent. The Commission has provided information and will continue to work cooperatively with this. · 5. Mr. J a mes Parham of EDA and General Sutherland, City Personnel Di r ec t or , ha ve e xp r essed willingnes s to meet with th e Commission a nd plans a re being a rra nged with th e m. 6. The Commission was asked last summer by the Mayor's office to assist 2 f a milies trying to find space in trailer parks, o fami ly of a ve t e r a n and the other o f a s ervice ma n. Both f amilie s are Ne gro ; neither has been a bl e to fi nd s pace ; both f e el th e y are be ing dis c rimina ted a gains t on th e grounds o f ra c e . Th e Commmssion staff has visite d a ll trailer park ma nagers assoc i a t i on , s uggeste d nee d f o r an ad di tio nal park, whic h would be built " i nteg ra ted" . (1) 7. In the a rea o f housing/we have continu ed the monthly meetings o f person s working wi th housin g . Mrs. Mary Ste ph e ns , Commission member who works with ho using at Pitts bu rg h EDA Center, sai d s he ha d f oun d the meetings most helpful; ( 2 ) Conti nued calls for emergency ho using beyond limited facilities o f Salvatio n Army; ( 3 ) Continued problems o f evi c tio ns from private pr ope r ty code e nf o r c emen t i n Model Neighbo rhood area has resulte d in demolis hing homes, still uncertainty over plans, difficult to get loans to re ha bi l itate homes. B. Schools - Total increase in enrollment in hig h schools in October School Board report - 186; 377 decrease in total e nrollme nt at Archer, Price, West Fulton, Turner; Protests have been made agains t portabl es being built at these schools, some demonstrations against efforts to build them at Turner. �Page S Minutes 10-27-67 9. Vine City - Mr. Carter went to "riots" at request of Mr. Alexander Chairman of the Team for that area. (Written report attached}. 10. Employment meeting, October 26th, had very good response. Persons working in programs of employment were invited, about 100 attended morning session and 50 in afternoon. Director requested report from Mr. R. J. Butler, who presided at the meeting. Mr. Butler reported that those attending included the EDA Administrator the Atlanta Director of the Georgia State Employment, the President of Clark College, Staff members from EEOA Regional office. He said he felt the meeting was helpful, that the interest was so great the meeting continued until 5, instead of adjourning at 4. Mrs. Paschall said a detailed report of the meeting will be sent to Commission members and that the findings of the meeting will be used in making recommendations about a Commission program in employment. Office Space - Mr. R. Earl Landers, Administ~ative Assistant to the Mayor, has said space is available in the old City Auditorium, at no expense to the Commission. Some remodeling would be done, and it would provide ample quarters for the proposed program for next year. It is suggested that the Youth Council and the Commission might share the space to advantage of both. Mrs. Paschall recommended that this be done. Mr. Kaler said he was to see the Mayor and would talk with him · ~ain about space in the City Hall before any final decision. Meeting adjourned at 4:30 P.M. �