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December 26, 1967 Mr. Robert B . Flanagan Executive Secretary Atlanta Branch, NAACP 859 - 1 /2 Hunter Street, N. W. Atlanta, Georgia Dear Mr. Flanagan: I want to thank you for your letter of December 8th which I have delayed answering during the Christmas holidays. I thank that many of the sugge tions that you plan to make to the NAACP are good suggestions, and I would be intere ted in knowing what results can be obtained. Assuring you of my cooperation, I am Sincerely, Ivan Allen, Jr. lAJr: m . �DR . ALBERT M . DAVIS MRS . EUNICE COOPER DR . C . MILES SMITH PRESIDENT SECRETARY TREASURER ATLANTA BRANCH NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADV ANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE 859 - 1/ 2 HUNTER STREET, N . W . SUITE 105 ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30314 524-8054 Mayor Ivan Allen, Jr. Office of The Mayor City Hall Atlanta, Georgia 30303 Dear Mayor Allen: I sincerely believe your hands are tied on this one, but, I feel I had letter bring it back into focus and. especially since you have expressed much concern with the Vine City problem and, what could arise during the summer months. Last night, I was invited into this area, specifically two apartments and what I witnessed literally brought tears to my eyes, unpainted filth;y walls, poor lighting, and gemral deterioration in evidence throughout these dwelling units. This is no doubt true in all of Vine City. Incidently, the rent for one room and bath is $49.50 a month. I could rationalize and say that the people living in this dastardly situation should assume the landlord's responsibility, repair, and paint their homes .. - after all, "cleanliness is mxt to Godliness, but Mayor Allen, these people are highly religious because on these filthy walls I saw crosses and pictures of Jesus Christ. One lady informed me that she would paint her walls but the landlord refused t provide the paint. I know and I hope that you are aware of where the problem lies in Vine City and other slum areas throughout this country; and that is with the building inspectors and landlords. When the people greeted me at their doors and through conversation with them, I got the feeling that they were wondering just what did I really want- "I wdn't one of them•--I had on nice clothasn--r talked different than them•--~Everybody has discussed us, but we haventt seen any changese• The Model Cities program is a start in the right direction, for it is designed to make living conditions better for the underpriviledged and to upgrade there status as well as their attitudes. However, we still have a long way to go and as far as Vine City is concerned, we should have been there yesterday. In the above paragraphs, I have reminded you of the problem and it is unfair to present a ~roblem without offering a solution, therefore, I &11 going to recommend to the President and the 11AACP Executive Board that they consider the f llowing plan for possible implementation: �-2- lo An emergency fund be established to be used to provide money to relocate these citizens to other living quarters outside of Vine City. That private charitall>le institutions and interested citizens be asked to contribute to this fund. 2. Conduct a survey of all private apartments and home-oimers requesting that as vacancies occur, earmark them for these people. · 3. Provide commercial transportation for furniture removal. 4. Provide money to each family involved t0 defray the cost of the higher rent i_n curred, for a period. of three monthso 5. Buy tents and rent trailers to house them temporarily until other permanent facilities can be obtained. 60 Buy good used furniture for those in need of it. 7. Find out, how many of these people can be temporarily housed on military installations. There are many more details that wi 11 have ta he worked out, however, the above is the basic plan. Wishing you and Mrs. Allen a very Merry Christmas and a Naw Year of Prosperity. I am Sincerely your friend, RBFscah �Novem.ber 17, 1967 Mr. Robert B. Flanagan . / Executive Secretary // Atlanta Branch, NAACP 859-1 /2 Hunter Street, N. W. Atlanta, Georgia Dear Mr. Flanagan: Mr. Sterrs Johnson has been in . nd out of contention for a number of year • In reply to veral telegram , I have offered to refer this matter to the City Job Opportunity Committee or the Community Relations Comm! ion, and have the matter completely inve tigated again. There is no reluctance on the part of the City to continu · to inve tigate such matters even though they re repetitiou • Sincerely, Ivan Allen, J-.r. JAJr:am be: General Woodward �• OR . ALBERT M . DAVIS MRS . EUNICE COOPER PRESIDENT SECRETARY DR . C . MILES SMITH TREASURER ATLANTA BRANCH NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE 859 - 1/2 HUNTER STREET, N . W . SUITE 105 ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30314 524- 8054 November 16, 1967 Mayor Ivan Allen, Jr. Office of the Mayor City Hall AtlcJnta, Georgia 30303 Dear Mayor Allen: For several years now Mr. sterrs Johnson an Ex-Air Force Veteran has been trying to continue to serve his country in a civilian capacity. In this connection, he has been given numerous reasons why he cannot serve as an i nstructor on the At l anta Metropolitan Area of Civil Defense Staff. After reviewing his records, it appears that he would be an asset to this defense organization. He has completed many courses of instruction in Disaster Control conducted by the Air Force as we ll as civilian institutions. I n addition, he has als o successfully comp leted the Di saster Control I nstructor Course conducted at Lowry Air Force Base , Colorado. Mr. Johnson informed me that he has discussed his plight with you personally and I hope you are looking into this matter. Si ncerely yours, \\ ~/ A-'T°~

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oAAJS) y;, ko~ r'£ B.'F lanagan, Exec. -~ cy. Atlanta Branch :NAACP RBF:cab �September 22, 1967 Mr. Robert Flanagan Exec utive Sec retary NAACP 859 - 1 /2 Hunter Street, N . E . Atlanta. Georgia D ar Mr. F nagan: Congr t\11 tions on your appointment s Exec utive Secretary of the Atlanta Branch of the NAACP. I am certain that you will render ble service to the future development of this national org niz tion. Undoubtedly. there many problems i growin cities that bould be settled across the conf renc ta e by repr •entative of civic o~g niz tio a furniahin citizen leaderabip. I ould like ve'l!J much to have the opportunity to meet you tan arly dat d incerely hope that you will call on me for any information that I y furnish. Si c rely, l IAJ'r:am Allen, Jr. �LIST OF OFFICERS OF THE NAA C P Dr. Al bert M . Davis , President 592 Waterford Road, N. W. 522-0791, Bu • 7 94- 7824, Res . R ev. Amo O. H olme , Vice Pre ident 7 06 Center Hill Ave., N. W. 525- 5582 Mrs. Reba T . Gre enwood, 2nd V. P . 1278 Fai r Street, SW 7 58 ... 4159 Mr. W. M . Shipp, 3rd V. P . 420 Tazor Street , N. W. 522- 6865 M r • Eunice Cooper, Secretary 248 Chicam uga Ave., S. W. 753-6859 Mr • Peg y Church, As t . Secretary 1030 Wa hington H ight Tel'race, N. W. 522-5175 Dr. C. Mile Smith, Treaa\lrer 239 We t Lake Ave., N. W. 794-1266, Bua . or 755-0227 �i I -L ) PRESS RELEASE Yarch .31, 1967 Dr. A. M. Davis, President Atlanta Branch of the .NAACP 522~0791 er 524-8054 We are presently faced with the need t o publicly express our problems t • the vast populus of Atlanta. We have tried previously to ir9n eut cur fi •• diffixulties with letters and ether approaches, but to no avail. We refer specifically to the urgent pressing problems relative t o public housing location and our efforts tc settle some of these problems with the r-"ayor, the Atlanta Housing Authority and the H111using Res ources _ Cemmlttee. Atlanta new has 9,394 public housing units (C ampletted and under c1nstruction). Of this number, the ge ographic l ocati on ls as follows: &J; ~? i~ Northwest - 4~902 (43,56%) Southwest - 3,681 (39.18%) Southeast ~ 1,621 (17, 26%) --~-- Northeast ... 9,394 100% This reveals that nearly 83 percent of all of the public housing is l~cated en the Westside of Atlant a while there are none in existence in the Northeast sectlcn, This example of racial segre gation ls indeed ~PP?_1iir_o~, This, of course, ls not as demoralizing (as bad as it is) as the new information we have received . There ls a new project under consideration in the Skipper Drive 1Harwell Rcad-B~nkhead Avenue area whi ch will further saturate the already saturated area. �\; -2- In addition to this, there are other project sites under consideration which will include the same geographic area. The NAACP has sponsored 2 Housing conferences trying very eagerly to aid in the disposition of numerous problems relative to the housing program. At the :first conference we invited the Mayor, Cecil Alexander of the Housing Resources Committee and representatives from the Atlanta Housing Authority as well as members of the Federal Housing Administration . as called. The FHA representatives responded Ma lcolm Jones, representing the Housing Resources Committee c ame a nd helped where he could but wa s unable to re a lly answer for the Mayor or the Housing Authority. Our s e cond conference repe a ted our attempt to get answers to our que stions a s well as interpre t the attitude s a nd thinking of the Negro population. Aga i n, we were unsuccessful in getting "in- per son" representation . We, in a "las t res or t at t empt" , wr ote the Mayor a l e t ter (Sent copies to Housing Authori ty a nd othe r ass oc i a t ed a gencies ) i nf orm,;. ing him of our p ositi on and ma de a despera te plea f or a c onference with him so we could better interpret these attitudes. We wrote the letter on March 21st and as of this da te, March 31st, we have not been provided the courtesy of a reply. The Negro citi zens are impatient to this "slow - to- respond" action and when turbulence transpires every one wonders why. �I 1 i L -3- Atlanta cannot continue perpetuating the existence of ghettos. Congestion prevents revitalization. The housing market must be fully open; with an ample supply of low-cost housing available throughout the city. Millions of Americans have been trapped in the "seamless web" of past and present discrimination. We all must recognize, Mayor and all other officials, that the ghetto system itself is the root evil which inevitabl ~ denies I basic freedom and results in physical, social and psychclogiaal damage to the entire society. Dispersing is essential if eradica- tion of the ghetto is to be a reality. The "racial strife" of last summer has been attributed to the influence of Stokely Carmichael. If any disturbances occur as a result of disproportionate location of these public housing units then we'll have to attribute this to the impurvi~u s attitude o~ Mayor Allen. The NAACP will probably be branded as "irresponsible"now just as all other Groups are "branded" when they dramatize the serious proble ms prevaili ng in our community. ,' ' We can accept the b r anding ,., JI'\' , if n eed b e for we fee l our obl i gation is to t he r-feg or pe ople . Our purpos e a nd aim s t a t es : 1) To improve th e p olitical, educ a tional, s oci a l and economic sta tu s of mi nority groups . 2) To eliminate racial prejudic e and 3) To keep the public awar e of the adverse effects of racial discriminati on. �-4- We must and will insist that the Federal government assume its responsibility in insuring that the local housing authority and all urban renewal agencies stop using public funds to entrench snd extend segregation. Rev. Amos O. Holmes As a result of our concern over these serious problems, we are requesting Mr. Weaver, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, to withhold all funds to public housing and Urbnn Renewal Programs until all discrimanatory practices are eliminated and a balanced dispersion of public housing units are accomplished. Further, we are requesting the Secretary to withhold funds of the Model Cities Program until Atlanta officially adopts an "open occupancy" ordinance. We consider city-wide planning important in the dissolution of many problems in housing, school sites and the prevention of "sophisticated ghettos.: Adequate planning must include citizens participation by law, and voter approval of any proposed plans . Therefore, we are demanding ordinances which will structure the kind of planning that will -meet the approval of the majority of citizens in this city. �I I A TLA NTA L IFE l N S URAN G E C O M P A N Y POS T O F F ICE B O X 697 A TLANTA, GE O RGIA 30301 SPECIAL DELIVERY April 4, 1967 JE S SE H ILL, J R. ACT UARY Honorable Ivan Allen, Jr., Mayor City of Atlanta City Hall Atlanta, Georgia Dear Mayor Allen: This letter is written as directed by a s pecial conference today of Summit co-chairmen. The Satuxday morning issue of the Atlanta Constitution, Apri l l , 1967 carries the at tached article by Alex Coffin. Included in the article ar e r eferences to an appa r ent interview with you , list i ng t he home addres s of Dr. A. M. Davis and rema rks att ri buted to you a s follows: Davis live s at 592 Wa terf or d Drive NW, which connects wi t h Skipper Drive. "Th a t might inf luence his position," the mayor said . Mayo r All en consider th e ref ere nce an int oler abl e personal "dig" or "s l ur " a ga i nst a dedicated and unselfish leader i n our communi t y a nd a n i nsult to th e Negro community. Dr . Da vis is the pre s ident of t he At lanta Bra nch NAACP . Th e actions and pronouncements made by Dr . Davi s regarding discriminatory housi ng in Atlanta were de ve loped over a month ago at all day conferences long ·before Dr. Davis had knowledge of th e prop osed Skipper Dri ve-Harwel l Road area as a possibl e site. If you were quoted accurately and in the correct context, we feel that you have cast an unfai r aspersion against Dr. Davis and we take exception to this "bad taste " comment. We request that you apologize to Dr. Davis. Very , very few of the busy professionals in our community are willing to offer the service and leadership given by Dr. Davis. In addition the NAACP, our oldest strongest and most serviceable civil rights organization over the years, is one of the major sponsors and member of the Atlanta Summit Leadership Conference coalition . �Mayor Ivan Allen, Jr Atlanta, Georgia Page 2 April 4, 1967 The issue referred to is not where Dr. Davis lives, but the over saturation of the predominately Negro residential areas with public housing projects, which means continued over crowding of schools, thus forcing Negro children on double and triple sessions and built in school segregation in the future. The city of Atlanta must face up to providing housing for "human beings" and not housing for Negroes, and housing for whites as is the case now. The Summit Conference supports the Housing Program of the NAACP. We hope that our relations with you, the fine leadership you have given our city and the cooperation you have given our community will not be damaged at this time. We cannot over emphasize that Dr. Davis did not ict as an individual, he is the elected leader of la r gest paid membership civil rights or civic organization in Atlanta, and we insist that he is respected accordingly . He is acting with a mandate of citizens and leaders. Very truly yours, THE ATLANTA SUMMIT LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE Je e Hill, Jr., Co-Chairman Ald. Q. V. Williamson, Co-Chairman Rev. S. W. Williams, Co - Chai r man �April 3, 1967 Dr. Albert M . Davis President Atlanta Branch NAACP 859 - 1/2 Hunter Street, N. W., Atlanta, Georgia Dear Dr. Davis : 1 regret to note that the newspapers quote you as having said that you had not received my 1'etter of March 23rd which was inailed the ea.me day in reply to your letter of Ma rch 21st. I am enclo ing copy of the letter, and, ag in,, urge you to get all of the, facts. Again, I off r to see you whenever you wi h to see m • Sincerely, Ivan Allen , Jr. M yor lAJr:am Enclo ure �, zch 23. 1967 Dr. Alben • Pr i t Atl ta ranela NAACP 859•1 /2 H AtlaD vi• t, N. • • Ci •• Afr 1-,: �DR . A L BERT M . D A VI S PRESIDENT MRS. EU N ICE COO PER SECRETARY DR . C . MILES SM ITH TREASURER A TLANTA BRANCH NATIONA L ASSOCIATION F O R THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE 859 - 1/2 HUNTER STREET, N . W . S UITE 105 ATLANTA, GEO RGIA 3031 4 524-80 54 March 21, 1967 Mayor Ivan Allen City Hall Atlan t a, Georgi a 30303 Dear Mayor Allen: The NAACP, again, congratulates you on the vast housing prog r a m and tremendous urban pla nning you have proposed for the city of Atlan t a. These projects will enhance the sta tus of our g reat me tropolis . On the other hand, we cri t ici ze you on your fa i lure to, effectively, permit the citizens to participat e in the planning of these programs . As a result, some se ri ous mistakes have t r ansp ired which can create some un necess a r y t u r bule nce; one of whic h i s poten t ial ove r -crowdine s s. I t h as come t o ou r a tte n t ion tha t one of . t he sites now under c on sideration f or pr op osed con s t ruc t ion o f p ub l i c houses is i n t he Harwel l Road-Skippe r Dr i ve-Bank head ar e a. Mr . Alle n , we st r ongly oppose t his due t o t h e fac t t hat t he No r thwest-Sou thwe st area is al r eady saturated wi th p ublic h ousing a n d addit ional h ousing p r o jec ts will o nl y increase the den s ity and decrease t he mo rale a nd c o mf o r t of o ur people. Th e Atlan t a Hous ing Authori t y seems t o h a v e over looked pub lic hous i ng l oca t ion statistics and igno r ed the feelings and a ttit udes of Negroes who now l i ve and will live in a crowded e nvironment. Sta t is t ics reveal that of t he 940 4 p ub lic housing un i ts exi sting 82. 76% are in t h e NorthwestS outhwe s t area while none a re e x i s t e nt i n the No rth east area. Thi s imbalance i n i t s mo st obvi ous a n d d eplorab le f o r m. I t seems l ogi cal that s ome l o ca l remedies t o this prob lem s h o u ld be exercised rath er than augment this segregated con centra t i on. Mr. Al len, we recommend and insi st that the At l a nta Housing Au thority consider a more balanced d i spersi on of additional h ousing projects. Atlanta cannot and must not jeopardize its g ood reputa t i o n by establishing additional ghettos or perpetuating segregation in its housing patterns. In order to assure comfor t of our citizens and tran q uility o f our city and in the best in te re s t of y o u, t he Atlanta Housing Authority and our citizens, we urgently request an immediate audience with you in o r der �to Mayor Allen page 2 ••••••••• to share some ideas and opinions. We would, also , hope that you can encourage the presence of Mr. Alexander of the Housing Resources Committee as well as Mr. Stearne and Mr. Satterfie l d from the Housing Authority. There are some potential problems that can be alleviated before con struction takes place on the above mentioned site as well as other p r oposed sites of which we are aware, if you can arrange to see us withi n t h e next day or so . We are prepared to meet you at you r convenience. We realize you are busy bu t because this is so important we hope you share our urgency of the need to liste n and l earn wh at ou r people are thi nk ing so t his conf lic t can be promptly set t l ed • . (Dr.) A. M. Davis D:c cc: Alexander Stearne Satterfield Edward Baxter A. R. Hanson �IVAN. I • ~ •1• ~ The NAACP has just issued this release • • • particularly note the last page. The WSB boys were in and wanted your reaction. . . . I told them you wouldn't be in probably all afternoon . . I am sure they will be back. �~ u,< ~AN : ur- ~14!y- w~ ~ ~ R.~ >1\_ p~J ~ C ~~

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~ J KYJf' fk 41)t Wt- . KNtf' ) ~ f, ~ ~ ~-,.. 0JJ w~ ~-- ~ \ r- B~ /Ju,('~ ~r ~ .~ OB~ ~ ~~ ) p~ Jl/4Av I~. j,f ~ r---.......... vl. . �3 Negro L.eaders Asli Allen for an Apology The Atlanta Summit Leadership Conference (ASLC) has called for Mayor Ivan Allen Jr. to apologize for a "slur" against the president of the local National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Davis specifically mentioned The Rev. Sam Williams, Jesse a proposal for a housing unit in Hill Jr. and Aid. Q.' V. William- the Skipper Drive-Harw.ell Roadson, co-chairman of ASLC, w,ere Bankhead Drive area which he referring· to remarks by the said would further saturate the mayor about Dr. A. M. Davis, already saturated area." local NAACP leader. · Whep it was pointed out that Davis wrote the mayor for a Davis lives in that neighbormeeting on the public housing hood, the mayor said, "I wonsituation here and later issued der if that might influence his a statement that he had not position." It was that remark "receiv,ed the courtesy of a re- that drew the ire of the three ply." Davis went on to say that Negro leaders. he had asked the federal governAllen said that he had written ment to cut off funds for local housing and urban renewal pro- Davis and said he (Allen) would grams because of discrimina- be glad to talk with the NAACP leader, but suggested Davis tion. first familiarize himself with the current public housing situation. Allen said that the city is looking for possible low-income ~ousing sites all over the city, but that most of the vacant and available land is in the west and southeast. He encouraged the NAACP and other such organizations to find sites and develop them under such federal programs as "221-d(3)." As to the latest ASL charge, the mayor had no comment. ~ al cl la m II'\ ~ cl\ f1 a - 1 o ~ 2 i 1 '!I 7 �I I t t .I I /NAACP Here Asl{s I \ i- ' THE ATI,ANTA CONSTITUTION, Saturday, April 1, 1967 ., * Housing Fulld Halt f By ALEX COFFIN The local unit of the National Association for the Advancei ment of Colored People asked the federal government Friday i to cut off funds for Atlanta housing and urban renewal projects Iuntil · "discriminatory practices" are ceased. ., . . · .. 1 The_ NAACP also ~alled o ·;;T~at might inlthe city to a~opt an open oc- fluence his-position;" .the mayor said_. ·.· . .· . - - ao- • • - !cupancy" ordinance. th 1 T~e NA~CP charged ?.t. H Allen -said that the NAAOP by , racial _strife beca~se of dis- contacting HUD' "before becom1 prop_ ortJonat~ locatJ?n ,,of · th ese ing conversant with all loca: p~bhc housm~ ':'ruts erupts tions" being investigated might this sull]~er, It .WIii be _because "jeopardize additional low- inof the 1mperv1ous attitude of come units here. I hope they' (the NAACP) are not going to Mayor Ivan Allen Jr. The association said that ·it obstruct the city's 1efforts," he Iasked Allen for a conference on said. · ' '

March 21 and r.asn't had a

Allen admitted the public housreply. · ing began on a segregated basis / . Allen produced a carbon copy and that· no ·units are in the ' of a letter, dated March <23, in northeast area, but added that 1answer to the NAACP request, "major strides" are being made which was sent. by Dr. A. M. and that some 80 acres throughDavis , president of the local out the city ·are potential sites NAACP branch. . for low-income . housing. Allen's letter said he would be glad to meet with Davis, but ~;;;;;;;;;;;;;;~===-- - :suggested · the NAACP leader ' should first . get additional information on the local public housing plans. " The invitation still stands," Allen said Friday. · Davis said Friday afternoon he has not gotten the letter. The NAACP said that 83 per , cent of Atlanta's public housing is on the west side of the city and none is in the northeast. "This example of racial segregation is indeed appalling," the association said. Allen did not attend two NAACP-sponsored housing conferences, to which he was invited, the charges said.' • The NAACP asked Dr. Robert Weaver, secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban· Development, to cut off funds to Atlanta for public housing, urban renewal and the new Model Cities Program until policies ."to entrench and extend segregation" are ended. The · NAACP charged that a project under consideration ·in the Skipper'Drive-Harwell RoadBankhead Avenue NW are a would "further sa tuarte the alniady saturated area ." Davis lives at 592 Waterford Drive NW, which connects with 9 I ~Skip;;;~~\i;

· · _ ' I i :- !I JI • ,. �---~-- Honorable Ivan Allen, Jr., Mayor City of Atlanta City Hall Atlanta, Georgia - -- - ~ /4 , �ATLANTA LIFE IxseRANGE GoMPANY P O S T Of"nCE BO X 89 7 ATLANTA, GEORGIA :-1 0 :1 01 / �