Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

- April 29,1971, THE NEWS-REVIEW PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY 930 Gwinnett Street - Augusta, Georgia MALLORY MILLENDER Editor and Publisher Mailing Address: Box 953 Augusta, Ga. Phone 722-4555 Application to mail at Second Class postage rates is pending at Augusta, Ga. 30901 SUBSCRIPTION RATES Payable in Advance One Year in Richmond $2.50 tax incl. One Y ear elsewhere $3.00 tax incl. ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT Classified Advertising Deadline 12 noon On Tuesday Display Advertising Deadline 12 noon On Tuesday OFFICE HOURS 1- 6 P.M. Monday thru Friday 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 $4 mil lion of local productivity. Paine college has been an effec tive part of educational assets here since 4882. It now has nearly 800 students, and the prospect of play ing an ever-more-important role in education. We believe the community will - do well to help it fulfill that role. ®1 ( /tjRF aA" A • a Ullsk of a c< C»n M bc w,ll< ' « 30*4- Sinvt. 33 skorl- comjs./ 0$ 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.