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- April 29,1971,
THE NEWS-REVIEW
PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY
930 Gwinnett Street - Augusta, Georgia
MALLORY MILLENDER Editor and Publisher
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Part 5
URBAN
LEAGUE
REPORT
As a community service the News-Review will print the entire
text of the report and recommendations of the National Urban
League concerning the causes of the events of May 11,1970.
It should be made perfectly clear that the text of this
report has not been edited or otherwise altered in anyway. Since
the report is too lengthy to be printed in one issue, we will print
it in a weekly series. We urge you to read it and carefully consider
the information found therein so that we may begin to work
seriously toward meaningful progress in race relations and human
dignity.
The urban renewal process was begun in Augusta in September,
1962, with the Medical College of Georgia project. Since that
time, three projects have been funded through assistance from the
Federal Government. According to the Department of Housing
and Urban Development’s URBAN RENEWAL DIRECTORY
(December 31, 1968) and recent newspaper articles, (*1) the
capital grants involved to date on three projects total $6,054,179.
An additional (an allegedly inadequate) $1,799,000 has been
allocated for the Southeast General Neighborhood Area which is
96 percent black.
Statistics received from the Regional Office of the Department
of Housing and Urban Development indicate that urban renewal
activities in Augusta have resulted in the acquisition of 982
structures on 887 parcels totaling 272.2 acres. Action required
the relocation of 746 families, 116 individuals, and 58 businesses
«- according ,’o San? Agee of *he Department of Housing apd Urban
Development. An 862-acre tract has been identified for study in
the Southeast General Neighborhood application, though
; funding constraints will probably reduce this acreage
considerably.
The jhree-man Urban Renewal Commission is appointed by the
City Council. All members of the Commission are white. Four
out of the six members of the urban renewal staff are white. One
• black man is in charge of maintenance and another black staffer is
working in the General Neighborhood area.
(*1) See “Augusta Chronicle,” October, 1970
A Minority Housing Sub-Committee of the Citizens Advisory
; Committee on Urban Renewal is currently composed of nine
* members -- five of whom work for real estate firms. At least two
others are involved professionally with insurance companies
» which have real estate interests in the General Neighborhood area.
3 (See Page 63)
- The urban renewal process, as practiced in Augusta, does not
, offer much meaningful opportunity for citizen’s involvement in
the decision-making process. Technical requirements, when
♦ scrutinized, appear to carry out the “letter but little of the
I “intent” of federal regulation. Additional problems exist in the
’ form of racial slurs within the Department of Urban Renewal and
an atmosphere of hostility toward the Urban League investigator
• was voiced by at least one official on several occations.
t Additional problems exist in the fact that the Department of
Urban Renewal is alleged to exercise practices and policies unfair
t s o residents in affected areas. Reported anti-racial practices by
The NEWS-REVIEW congratulates the CHRONICLE for its April 26 editorial
supporting the United Negro College Fund Drive. We are reprinting this editorial.
A good investment
One of the soundest investments
any community can make is the
money it puts into institutions of
higher learning to provide for youth
the best possible career prepara
tion. The opportunity for such an
investment is offered in the coming
weeks.
Today marks the beginning of
the United Negro College Fund
campaign in Augusta —a campaign
which will extend through May. It is
particularly significant to Augus
tans because of the presence in our
midst of Paine College, one of the
beneficiaries of this annual fund
drive. Paine also will conduct its
own capital funds campaign later in
the year, but the immediate goal is
the UNCF effort.
Sharing in the concerted cam
paign are 36 private colleges, with
predominantly Negro enrollment,
all in the South except for one in
Ohio.
Last year, Paine received $150,-
000 from this source, although local
contributions totaled less than $lO,-
Page 2
000. This year, the goal for local
participation has been set at $12,-
000.
We believe this $12,000 will be a
splendid investment, not just be
cause a local college gets far more
from participation than the local
community contributes, but be
cause of the role Paine plays in
providing human resources to our
city and area. About 80 per cent of
its graduates, for example, go into
the teaching field —a significant
factor in education in the Southeast.
Right here in Augusta, mc.re
than 500 alumni are part of the
community’s productive manpower.
With a median income of some SB,-
000, they account for about $4 mil
lion of local productivity.
Paine college has been an effec
tive part of educational assets here
since 4882. It now has nearly 800
students, and the prospect of play
ing an ever-more-important role in
education.
We believe the community will
- do well to help it fulfill that role.
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Views On Consolidation
by R.L. Oliver
All of the Socio-Economic
problems facing
Augusta-Richmond County,
the city county consolidation
(unification) is the most
pressing.
So with the May 25th
referendum rapidly
approaching the
NEWS-REVIEW decided it’s
about time to ask those whom
it will affect; the citizenry of
the city and county, what Jieir
views are regarding the issue
\ ' •( - -- V
< ’ **•
'w y W
Exerzene Dotson
“I am against it because it
will take away black voting
power, they will reapportion it
and fix it like they want to
with nothing in it for us.
Consolidation will also affect
our tax status. If they combine
the city and county police
forces, and they have already
given the city policemen a
raise, who do you think will
have to pay for the raises of a
combined police force. The
taxpayers and the
homeowners.”
r■ ' /
s
Rev. Arthur D. Sims
“Well my feelings have
already been stated several
times, but I will reinstate them.
I am against this form of
consolidation, I am not against
consolidation persay, but
against this particular form for
Richmond County. There are
to many liabilities and not
enough assets. We cannot deni-S
this form of consolidation*
penhits a bureaucratic form of
government, we cannot further
deny this form of
consolidation permits bossism
at it’s greatest. I don’t want to
be racial about it, and I’m not
being racial about it, but I’ve
got to call a spade a spade. If
consolidation goes through the
black man has had it, and all
other minority groups. No! I
definitely would not support
it, by no means would I
support it.”
F
Nancy Anderson
It was in 1962, when I was
working with the League of
Women Voters booklet called
“Your Local Government”,
that the inadequacies of city
and county governments to
take care of the needs of
people first became clear to
me. Until then I had assumed
that when people got the
“run-around”, it was the fault
of the man in office.
Gradually, from 1962 on, I
have learned that often it is the
system of government itself
that keeps a well-meaning
person from doing the job he
should do for the people, or
that same system gives others
the chance to pass the buck.
Unified Government will put
the responsibility squarely
where it belongs in two ways:
(1) our city and county
governments will be replaced
by one government and the
buck stops there; (2) the
commissioners who set the
ground rules, and the
Chairman-Mayor who is
responsible for the day-to-day
operations of the Unified
Government, must answer to
us, the people.
Government exists for the
people. I support Unified
Government because it helps
local government do the job. H
is supposed to be doing.
Black Educators Seek Better Deal
From Social Rehabilitation Service
At a recent conference sponsored by the Social and
Rehabilitation Service (SRS) of the Department of Health,
Education and Welfare at Albany, Georgia, Black educators
discussed among themselves their interests, experiences and needs
in education for SRS services and then presented to HEW
representatives their suggestions and requests concerning policies
and procedures of the Educational Grant Programs which are
conducted by SRS.
The mission of SRS as outlined by HEW is to enable America’s
vulnerable and handicapped people - those physically and
mentally disabled, the aging, children and youth, and
impoverished families - to move from dependency, alienation, and
deprivation toward independence, constructive contributions to
society, and realization of their individual potentials. The mission
of SRS has its foundation on legislation enacted by the
Congress.
SRS supports such programs as aging services, rehabilitation
services (general and blind), medical services, and mental
retardation.
Concerned about the needs of some 22 million Black people
for the human services provided under programs administered by
the department of HEW and seriously disturbed by the financial
crisis threatening Black colleges and universities as a result of
inflation, cutbacks in federal agency furies, and current proposals
for revenue sharing in federal agency funds and current proposals
fc£ revenue sharing *at state levels without restrictions. The
representatives of 109 Black institutions from 17 states and the
District of Columbia addressed themselves to these deliberations.
Hoping to bridge the communication gap between the SRS and
the Black institutions that are educating an estimated 75% of the
Black students in the United States but receiving what is believed
to be less than 1% of the federal funds provided to higher
education was a high priority of the conferee 1 ' SRS provides
funding for many educational programs.
The following are a few of the questions which were raised at
that conference. Believe it or not they, along with what is done
about them, will have an effect upon all Blacks and their families.
Because of the many inequities in the Right To Health and the
fullest of what it should be to ALL people, we speak ... Health
Care And Its Delivery. What about you???
QUESTIONS
What are SRP’s policies on the development of research in
Black colleges and universities? Working on them primarily in
Black colleges.
What funds are available for undergraduate “feeder” programs
where the B.S. or B.A. is not the first professional degree? None;
Check Office of Equal Opportunity.
What funds are available for commitment stipends to prepare
faculty for SRS sponsored educational programs?
Is it necessary to for an institution to be working toward
certification in a discipline in order to receive SRS funds? No.
What funds are available for studying the feasibility of
developing consortium programs in Black colleges and universities
in specific disciplines?
How can you find out why proposals are rejected?
Further information for specific SRS Programs may be
obtained by writing or calling those listed below:
SRS Program: Assistance Payments; (State Agency) State
Department of Family and Children Services, Mr. Phil Cawthon,
Director, State Office Building, Atlanta, Georgia 30334, (404)
522-8710.
SRS Program: Social Services (Title IV-B); Division of Children
and Youth, State Department of Family and Children Services,
Mr. Wellborn R. Ellis, Director, State Office Building, Atlanta,
Georgia 30334,(404) 522-8710.
SRS Program: Social Services (Title IV-A Services) Division of
Social Administration, State Department of Family and Children
Services, Mr. Robert Friel, Director, State Office Building,
Atlanta, Georgia 30344,(404) 522-8710.
SRS Program: Aging Services; Georgia Commission on Aging,
Mr. Harold Parker, Executive Director, 1372 Peachtree Street,
N.E., Suite 301, Atlanta, Georgia 30309, (404) 892-1243.
SRS Program: Rehabilitation Services (General and Blind);
Office of Rehabilitation Services, State Department of Education,
Mr. John S. Prickett, Jr., 170 State Office Building, Atlanta,
Georgia 30334, (404) 688-2390.
Georgia State Department of Public Health, John H. Venable,
M.D., Director, 47 Trinity Avenue, S.W., Atlanta, Georgia 30334,
(404) 688-4033.
SRS Program: Medical Services; Medical Assistance Branch,
Georgia State Department of Public Health, Dixon A. Lackey, Jr.,
M.D., 47 Trinity Avenue, S.W., Atlanta, Georgia 30334, (404)
688-4033.
SRS Program: M/R Program; Division of Mental Health,
Georgia State Department of Public Health, Addison M. Duval,
M.D., Director, 47 Trinity Avenue, S.W., Atlanta, Georgia 30334,
(404) 688-4033, Ext. 431.
SRS Program: M/R Construction; Division of Health Facilities
and Construction, Georgia Department of Public Health, Mr.
William E. Uzell, Program Director, 47 Trinity Avenue, S.w.,
Atlanta, Georgia 30334, (404) 688-4033, Ext. 201.
SRS Program: Juvenile Delinquency Services; Office of State
Plan and Community Affairs, Mr. Oliver Welch, Director, Trinity
and Washington Building, Atlanta, Georgia 30334, (404)
524-1;,21.
The
Y’s
Program
by Dr. I.E. Washington
Here in Augusta, at this time, we are in the midst of a capital
funds campaign of $ 1,696,000 for the purpose of building two
YMCA-YWCA facilities. One is to be located in the West Augusta
section of our community and the other will be constructed in
the Southside section of the city. These two facilities will include
outside playing fields such as football, baseball, volleyball, tennis,
etc. Each facility will provide a swimming pool, shuffleboard,
handball, courts, horse shoe, tetherball, badminton, social
program terrace, and so on. For many years now, the writer has
heard people express their displeasure over the lack of good
recreational facilities for our community. For many years, the
writer has heard people talk disparagingly about the inadequacy
of the 9th Street YMCA and the Phyllis Wheatly Branch Os the
YWCA; but like the weather many talk and nobody does
anything.
The writer has also heard people talk about “they” don’t give
us a YMCA building and “why don’t they” give us a new and
improved structure for a YWCA program? The “they” to whom
all of these people refer in the final analysis means you and me.
The present capital funds effort has been carefully planned to
give all of us the opportunity to help do the very thing that all of
us have been talking about for so many years. These carefully laid
plans are now being developed. We, the little people, have a
chance to be a part of this great history-making event.
Our community, like many others in the country, is being
invaded by sex crimes, drug addiction, alcoholism, and other such
undesirable attractions.
Our young people, like all other young people, just want a place
to go where they can express themselves through their favorite
games, sport or some other such activity under the leadership of
well trained workers who have been professionally prepared to
direct these kinds of activities. Here is our chance; the challenge is
ours-let us not allow it to pass. Although any contribution will be
appreciated, each person should give according to his real ability
to give. When we walk into the finished product, when we ride
out to behold the new structure now being planned, we want to
be able to say,“l contributed toward the construction of that
facility”.
Each one of us is being asked to give a minimum of something
like $ 1.00 per week for a period of three years. This constitutes
an amount of $156.00 given over the three year period toward a
capital funds effort of $1,696,000.
Now is the time to put up or shut up.
• "Workers
In The
Vineyard”
by Rev. Arthur D. Sims
Those of us who are knowledgeable of the contents of biblical
scripture must at one time or another read the passage relative to
a man’s hiring of a number of people to work in his vineyard. The
story develops and creates a turmoilic and a didactic lesson. There
are two groups of workers who were hired on that day. The first
group agreed to work for a penny a day. And so they did. Later
on during that same day, the employer Sam saw other men who
were in need of work, and he also hired them for a penny a day.
When the final working hour had arrived, and the workers were
paid, the first group of workers became angry because the second
group of workers were given the same amount of money that
they had received and the first group’s rejection was contingent
upon the fact that the second group of workers had worked less
number of hours.
Economically speaking, certainly we can sympathize and
empathize with the first group of workers for we must realize
that they had worked longer hours, and, in twentieth century
reflecting, they deserved more money than the second group.
May I add, that most labor unions would certainly endorse the
first group’s disposition.
On the other hand, the Bible tells us that the second group of
people were hired not in terms of the employer’s need for their
labor, but they were employed based on an act of mercy. In other
words, the employer saw that they were in need, and he was
moved and touched by their conditions. He felt the urgency of
transcending the economical ladder and permitting love and
mercy to have their day.
How well does this parable set forth God’s judgment of man.
God gives to us in terms of our needs and not in terms of our
wants. Certainly, God does take in consideration our wants,
because we are spoiled children God tolerates it. God’s
yardstick is not like man’s yardstick. Man judges his neighbor and
fellow brother in a horizontal fashion. By this I mean to imply
that man looks at one another from a limited prespective; man
looks at one another from an economical perspective. Man’s
yardstick goes across while God’s yardstick goes up. God’s
yardstick does not have an ending, and God teaches us to let love
and mercy go beyond or transcend the law. God teaches mercy.
God is mercy. God is good.
If we could learn this lesson from this parable, then the words
of Amos would find a resting place in our hearts and souls: “Let
justice roll down like waters from a mighty stream.” Let all of us
look forward to that day.
Abrams Seeks
Re-Election
by R.L. Oliver
Second ward city
councilman Grady Abrams has
made it clear to this reporter
that he will seek re-election
this fall.
The former insurance
executive did not say what his
platform will be at this time
because his plans have not been
formerly announced.
Explosion Hurts
Two At Holiday Inn
Two men were injured in an
explosion of an air compressor
at the Gordon Highway
Holiday Inn last week.
Injured were Clifton Holden
and Claire E. Moune. Holden
underwent two-hour surgery.
He was hurt about the hands,
abdomen, and legs, and is
reported in satisfactory
condition. Mr. Moune received
minor injuries; he was treated
then released, according to
University Hospital authorities.