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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1970? THE CAROLINA TIMER-
Ex-Mayor Urges
Southside Plan
Raleigh Mayor Seby B.
Jones and the city council
were urged Monday by former
Mayor Travis H. Tomlinson
to decide soon on an urban
renewal plan for Southside and
to conduct a vigorous cam
paign for approval of the bond
issues to pay for the city's
share of the cost of it.
In a two-page letter ad
dressed to the mayor and
members of the council,
Tomlinson said: "The time
'or decision-making is at hand.
I wish to encourage you to
be positive, firm and ac
tive."
Tomlinson wrote that since
he has been out of office
(January 1969) he has purpose
ly avoided becoming involved
in city affairs. "But today,"
he stated, "I find myself with
a desire to express myself.
"I don't wish to tell you
how to do your job, but I
do wisSi to encourage you to
come to a point of decision
on Southside as soon as possi
ble, so all of Raleigh may
be able to follow your
leadership.
Promotion Asked
"I hope the council, the
Raleigh Redevelopment Com
mission, and the Raleigh
Housing Authority will take
all the information and ex
perience that is available and
come up with a positive plan
that all of you can support
and that you will actively pro
mote. The voting public needs
this now more than ever."
Since voters here defeated
bond issues last November for
the city's share of the cost
of renewing 118.5 acres of the
predominately black slum
area south of the central
business district, the council
has held three public hearings
Americans Take Close
Look At Themselves
Every 10 years Americans
take a good look at themselves
to reinforce the platform of
facts on which to base plans
for the future course of the
Nation.
The occasion is the census
of population and housing con
ducted once each decade as
required by the Constitution.
The 19th in a series stretch
ing back without interruption
to 1790 will be taken on April
1.
Responsible for the census
is the Bureau of the Census,
U.S. Department of Commerce.
The count will be conducted
from 395 temporary Bureau
District Offices throughout
United States, each of which
will cover an area containing
approximately 500,000 persons.
District offices began opening
an January 19, with the entire
rroup scheduled to be in oper
ation by Februry 9.
The census tells us what we
are as a Nation and is a nee
essary stocktaking. History has
shown us to be a practical peo
ple, busy in the pursuit of our
.concerns, and we need a care
ful look at ourselves at regular
intervals. The census will throw
light on all the changes that have
taken place in recent years.
For the average American,
the census will be a simple
exercise. The Government asks
that he devote a few minutes
to answer questions about him
self and his housing. The ques
tions will be on printed forms
that will be sent by mail to each
household.
For 80 percent of the house
holds there will be about 23
questions that require perhaps
15 minutes to answer. Fifteen
minutes every 10 years is not
I a heavy burden. For the other
20 percent of the households,
questions that will require about
45 minutes.
It is impossible to overstate
the importance of taking these
few minutes to put the facts on
record. Crucial decisions af
fecting every person in the Na
tion depend upon the accuracy
and completeness of the census.
To begin with, political power
hinges on the census count. To
hinges on the census count:
Official population figures are
used to determine the fair ap
portionment of seats in the
Congress as well as in State
and local legislative bodies.
Further, Federal funds are dis
tributed locally on the basis of
census populr n figures.
Don't Deduct Grocery Money
Sorry, fellows, the grocery money you hand over to
the wile each week can't be deducted from your Income
taxes as a gift, even If she doesn't spend it for meat
and potatoes.
The U.S. Tax Court conceded In a ruling that this
was an ingenious idea the brainchild of a Maryland
tax consultant and used by at least three taxpayers on
their income tax reports.
But Judge Samuel B. Sterrett ruled It illegal. "While
one can certainly sympathize with the philosophy that
is apparent in the claiming of such as deduction for gifts
to a spouse, unfortunately, the claim must be denied,"
he said.
"Gifts to spouses are commendable but nondeductible,"
said the Judge.
on plans for the project.
A referendum on
in bonds for the city's slim
of the cost of i project is
set for March 17. Mayor Jones
said Monday the council will
meet sometime this week in
a closed session to discuss
a Southside plan. "A date for
the meeting hasn't been set
yet," he said.
In reference to the hearings,
Tomlinson wrote, "You have
done a good job listening and
considering the desires of all
who have taken the time to
express themselves. The time
for listening has been well
spent, but it has left many
voters confused. The time for
decision making is at hand."
He continued, "Many have
been heard, but most have
not been heard. You represent
those too. Various segments
of our society are confident
they, and only they, have the
right answer, but their
answers differ, and in being
different, conflict. Everyone is
expressing views, the meek,
the mild, the vociferous, the
press and all of us, but the
decision is yours."
The former mayor said,
"For years we have talked
about and worked for the
needed redevelopment of this
area. It has to be don*
there is no other way.
"Raleigh cannot afford to
lose over $5 million (the
federal share of the cost of
the project) that is so
desperately needed to improve
the lives of so many people.
Arguments and disagreements
cannot replace firm decision
and positive action,"
Tomlinson wrote.
"As you know, there is not
much time for a good cam
paign, but now is the time
to get started," he added.
non. government leaders re
sponsible for the stewardship
of our many enterprises.
President Nixon has said of
the census: "Even as our popu
lation has grown in size over
the decades, so the functions
of the regular census also have
expanded. Today, we are inter
ested not only in an accurate
counting of heads but also in
a better description of our so
cial condition. We know that
unless a people can ade
quately informed about their
present, they cannot make in
telligent judgments about their
future."
For the individual, the census
is seciet. No individual need
fear that he is exposing him.
self to public view. The answers
he gives about himself and his
housing are held in strictest
confidence. Census employees
are forbidden by law from dis
closing any fact about a person
and would be subject the heavy
fine or imprisonment for a
violation of the law. In pro
cessing, facts about individuals
are added in various ways re
sulting in statistical totals that
depict the state of the Nation.
Change has even affected the
mode of taking the 1970 census.
This year, the 65 million U.S.
households can be their own
census takers. Each household
will receive a census question,
naire by mail on or about March
28 and will be asked to fill it
out as of April 1 according to
enclosed instructions. The
number of questions asked will
be on the average the fewest
of any census in the past cen
tury.
In most of the large metro
politan areas, people will be
asked to mail completed ques
tionnaires back to their census
district offices in a brown post
paid envelope provided for the
purpose. The envelope and form
with all questions answered
should be mailed on April 1.
These people need not see a
census taker unless they return
the form incomplete, neglect to
return it at all, or ask for as
sistance.
In the remainder of the Nation
people will be asked to fill out
the form on April 1 and hold it
until it is picked up by a census
taker.
About 185,000 temporary
workers will be hired by the
Bureau to take the census.
5B