On-The-Street Interview
Whafs Going To Happen To Model Cities?
BERTHA PEMBERTON of
707V2 Fairview Street —
“They’re not doing any good,
but I don’t want it to end
before they build some houses
that are fit to live in. I don’t
need new streets, I need a
decent house. I’d like to get
to build me a house, or rent
me a good one before this
Model Cities program ends.”
ROBERT ROSS of 843 Wil
low Place — “I’d sure like to
see Model Cities build this
place up some before I perish.
Down here (in the vicinity of
Ross’ business on Loflin Street
in the Southside) they’ve been
taking away all the people, so
I don’t have any customers.
Model Cities has been doing
a fine job over in the east
side, but over here, they’ve
been doing nothing. Still, it
takes time. . . .”
JAMES LEAK of 316 Brent
wood Street — “Model Cities
is doing some good so far.
But I’d like to see people get
a decent place to stay. I’d sup
port them if I thought it was
going to end.”
All inferviews and
pictures made in
Model Neighborhood.
RAY ARMSTRONG of 303
Cedar Street — “I want Model
Cities to start building up
this town so it’ll start looking
like a tovm. They sure enough
started on the wrong side of
town, if you ask me. Model
Cities is a nice thing to have,
in my opinion, but they need
to build some houses.”
EDDIE WILLIAMS of 412-
A Meredith Street — “I’d like
to see them improve these
homes, and have more play
areas for kids. If Model Cities
was in trouble. I’d try to help
support them.”
Planning For Fourth Year
Undertaken By Task Forces
Chairman Hughes:
Model Cities Helps
^^Clear the Air^
(Continued from page 1)
make the best contribution. . . .
“I like the Model Cities organiza
tional set up very much. It gives peo
ple a chance to clear the air, if nothing
else, and find out what’s going on at
the grass roots level.
“But there are very complicated
mechanics in solving the kinds of
problems we’re dealing with here.
Depending on a person’s background,
he may not have any idea what is
even involved before a solution’s
found,” he went on.
THEORY OF CP
‘The theoretical idea of citizen par
ticipation is magnificant,” says Hughes,
who doesn’t discount the value in
having virtually everyone who shows
an interest in a problem area sit on
a task force. “Even if one can’t con
tribute because he isn’t knowledge
able, the mere fact that he’s sitting
there shows he’s interested in becom
ing knowledgeable .
“If a person can just gain an un
derstanding about the difficulties faced
in dealing with these things, that’s
good, too. By listening, he leams, and
that’s good.
“We couldn’t expect many citizens
to be knowledgeable. We’re all learn
ing together.”
Hughes called Model Cities “a mag
nificent avenue for tapping federal
tax dollars,” but attributes the lack
of wide-spread citizen support of it
to frustration and a feeling that “my-
participation-doesn’t-matter.”
While he feels that his own par
ticular group has shown only mod
erate strength in the past, Lloyd
Hughes is sticking with it. His com
munity involvement dates back 40
years, he says, so he’s not giving up
now — in spite of the odds.
I^ooking to the Fourth Action Year,
which should begin August 1, task
forces have stepped up their activities
to prepare and approve the projects
which will be included in the Fourth
Year Action Plan.
All projects funded by the Model
City Commission must first be en
dorsed by a task force, made up
citizens from all over the community.
Many of the members of the six plan
ning task forces are Model Neighbor
hood residents, while others are from
other sections of the city, representing
a variety of interests and backgrounds.
After projects are brought before
the task force, Model Cities staff per
sons work with the members in re
searching the projects and possible
funding sources. The task force itself
must approve the final draft of the
proposal before it goes to the Execu
tive Committee of the Commission.
After a project passes the Executive
Committee, it is brought before the
Commission as a body for approval.
Only then can it be sent to City
Council, who must adopt it as part
Letters to the
editor, story ideas,
and comments are
welcomed by What's
Happening! It's your
newspaper; use it!
Contact Emily Hedrick,
885-9081,
of the Model Cities package to be
sent on to the Department of Hous
ing and Urban Development, Model
Cities’ parent agency.
The Model City Commission is aim
ing for an early April submission of
the Fourth Year Plan to City Council.
While few new projects are ex
pected to be funded, many of the
ongoing projects from previous Action
Years are expected to be retained.
Activities for the Model Cities Mo
bile Information Unit, located at the
comer of S. Elm and Vail Streets,
have been stepped up with the prom
ise of various agencies to bring pre
sentations about their projects on a
regular basis.
Aljuana Curry of the Citizen Par
ticipation staff is coordinating the
Mobile Unit’s program. Milton Stal
lings is CP director.
During the week of February 5-9,
Marion Bass will be present each
afternoon to give information about
the Consolidated Health Project. This
Model Cities project, of which Ms.
Bass is director, includes the Demon-
station Health Clinic on Elizabeth
Street.
Ms. Bass will also be available for
any questions about her project which
Model Neighborhood residents might
have.
The following week, February 12-
16, the Youth Services Bureau will be
featured in the trailer. Director Ed
gar Timberlake will be on hand ev
ery afternoon to lead discussion ses
sions about YSB for interested Model
Neighborhood young people.
JFhat is
Model Cities doing?
Find out for
yourself!
Ask a Model
City
Commissioner.
Ms. Curry is arranging for staff
persons from different projects to be
on hand in the trailer each week.
Information about all Model Cities ac
tivities is also available at all times
from the CP staff.
The unit is open daily from 9 a.m.
until 6 p.m.
WHATS HAPPENING is published
bimonthly by the Model City Com
mission of High Point, North Carolina,
William S. Bencini, Mayor; Dr. Otis
£. Tillman, Commission Chairman;
Don J. Forney, Past Director; Wayne
S. Pray, Executive Director; Cecil A.
Brown, Infonnation and Evaluation
Specialist. Oifices of the agency are
located at 609 S. Main St, High Point,
N. C. 27260. Telephone 885-9081.
The preparation of this magazine
and its free distribution were financially
aided and made possible through a
federal grant from the United States
Department of Housing and Urban
Development under Title I of the
Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan
Act of 1966.
Editor Emily Hedrick
Health Clinic and Youth Services
Featured Next 2 Weeks In Trailer