Newspapers / The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, … / Oct. 20, 1977, edition 1 / Page 7
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Harris Says: Park And Recreation Commission Is Ineffective By Jacquie Levister Post Staff Writer “The Park and Recreation Commission is ineffective, in sensitive and archaic, if I had the authority I would abolish it,” commented Republican mayoral candidate Ken Har ris. In an interview with the Post Tuesday, Harris, a one term council-member who did not seek elction to a second term for business reasons, discussed his stance on scat tered site housing, usage of the Talent Bank, Charlotte Area Fund funding, the Black Political Caucus’ endorse ments, the implication he is a ninth hour candidate and the ramifications of being a Re publican mayor in a state governed by Democrats. While discussing his dissa tisfaction with the Park and Recreation Commission, can didate Harris pointed out that Jim Whittington is chairman of the committee working on the resolve of the commission (to recommend inculsion of the Park and Recreation as a department under city gov ernment or its continuation as an independent body). “It is interesting to note that the committee chairman has not called a single meeting,” Har ris continued. As a means of clarfying his no vote for scattered site housing Harris conceded that if he had to vote again on the proposal it again would be negative. He adamantly poin ted out “I introduced Section 8 housing to the council but not the way the city is running it. There are four parts to Section 8 housing and the city is only using one, scattered site." “I favor rent subsidized housing because it does NOT contain the stigma of public housing,” Harris futher ex plained. "It is incumbent on society to give each child every opportunity to raise their self esteem. It is a matter of economics and not raoe. It’s simply not good to coihe to a neighborhood where yotj'll not wanted in mass. _ Rent subsidy would allow for open living,” he concluded. Considering white flight, an occurance that took place in Hidden Valley and Clanton Park, Harris commented that "times are changing. You must realize that took place in the 60’s and attitudes have since changed.” However, when reminded of the plight of Eastbrook Woods he commen ted that he was unaware of any problems. According to Harris the Ta lent Bank will not accomplish widespread participation. “The need is for a leadership school for people interested ir I Ken Harris ...Mayoral candidate serving on boards and com missions,” he offered. Reluct antly he suggested that the names of those registered for the new Talent Bank should be signed up to attend schools specializing in their area of interest once that can be begun. The only committment Har ris was willing to make for vacancies that may appear in the interium was to be sure a diverse group of people from all areas be represented. In relationship to the Char lotte Area Fund’s need for support, Harris again was non-committal while wonder ing aloud if it does indeed offer services that the city cannot. However he did state that while he had not made a decision about the Area Fund he felf the conflicts that have developed are due to burea cratic jealousies between the two bodies. Affpr rpifprutino thp ctutp ment “the Black Political Caucus as a body has only endorsement powers,” he ad ded that he feels is a part of the Caucus’s bylaws that only Democratic candidates he en dorsed. Present was an obvious con trasting view of the Black Ministers Coalition. "The Black Ministers Coalition is made up of hard working people who are influential and concerned about issues rather than partisan politics,” Harris offered. date,” Harris stated “I consi dered running for Mayor in the spring and talked to a group of bi-partisan leaders who seemed disinterested. As a result of that meeting I felt there was no need to create a campaign. Then in the sum mer I decided to file for the District 5 seat on the council to remain active. However, that same group of disinterested people began calling Tuesday beforefilHn^deadlin^jand encouraged me to run. Having considered it already I called the Chairman of the Republi can party and informed him of my decision.” A firm believer in delegat ing responsiblity, Harris ac credits his ability to make such delegations for his being able to offer his services to the City of Charlotte now as its Mayor. "On April 1, 1975 I gained full responsibility for the business (New England Life Insurance Agency) and did not have time to serve on council. Since that time I have hired four staff managers. It is this kind of leadership I will take to the office of mayor,” he volunteered. Putting to rest the idea that a Republican mayor of Char lotte would be ineffective. Harris refered to the fact that we have had a Republican congressman from our area for 25 years concluding, “If anyone thinks Jim Whitting ton can get more funds than me they don’t understand his ties with Jimmy Green are in direct conflict with that of the governor.” Check the ads in the Char lotte Post each week for the best bargains in town. » m ■ ■ EXPIRES OCT. 29,1977 B ■ THE PRESIDENTIAL f§ B PAINT^SERVICE I jg ORIGINALLY *1*9^5 * I B •****» Sand most dap* «f »*ehes • Flash ■ : ■ preparation by hand Jandinp • Fu* coal of MAACO ■ B Pfhwr Soaior • Pat* Fmanor In Acrylic Enamel • ■ I m Oven Baked • WE DO BODY WORK ■ .11 FREE BOOT ESTIMATES • Dents-rest-body work lag §1 apart ly done For about the pree Khars charge to ||| B spot part two major panels MAACO can repaint your K || entire automobile PKteewii* dealers only B Ad Muet Be Praeartad At fine Of Etttmeta B B 3125 Monroe Rd. B i I_ 333-1515 1 SHOP HOURS MH^^B B Mon thru Frt 8a»6pm PILOT GOSPEL SINGERS First row left to right Janice Geter, Deborah Ivey. Sharon Redfearn. Second row - Mrs. Louise Managrum, Mrs. Ozzie L. Blount, Mrs. Elizabeth Monteith and Mrs Addie L Foster Back row Fred Henderson. MERCHANTS WHO ADVERTISE IN THE POST ARE TELLING YOU THEY ^^PPRECIATEYOU^USINESS_^^^^ Over 60 Years Of Age 750,000Citizens Live Alone Special To The Fos»t KALE1GH - She is 75 years old and lives alone Her children have moved away and she has no family to turn to. She doesn't drive a car Inflation has eroded her small social security check During this past severely cold winter, she had an even rou gher time making ends meet because of additional fuel bills. She is eligible for Food Stamps but does not partici pate. vn_tU ..._ 750,000 citizens over 60 years of age. Many of them face the same problems as this lady. Economically, the stale's older adults do not fare as well as those of many other states Almost one-third (33 percent) of North Carolina's elderly have incomes below the pov erty level compared to a na tional average of only 18 7 percent The pinch of inflation, the energy crisis and non-existent or inadequate retirement pen sions. force a large percen tage of our elderly citizens to live in dire poverty circum stances. One-third have chronic heal th problems, with over half of these being directly related to nun 11IUII. Yet, very few of the state's elderly participate in the Food Stamp program which is de signed to help people with low incomes purchase adequate food to meet their nutritional requirements Only approxi mately 6 percent of the state s elderly who are considered eligible participate in the pro gram. why nor Misunderstanding of eligibility requirements, transportation and pride are considered to be the major reasons according to those who work with the Food Stamp program in county so cial services departments a cross the state. A statewide effort is being started this month to make sure that senior citizens un derstand the Food Stamp pro gram and how it can help with their nutritional needs Nathan Yelton. Assistant Secretary for Aging for the North Carolina Department of Human Resources, and Ro bert Ward, director of the Division of Social Services of the Department, are spear heading the statewide effort Letters have gone out to all 100 county social services de partments. staff members working with projects for the aging, local councils on aging and Title VII nutrition site project directors urging a co operative effort in helping to make senior citizens more aware of the Food Stamp program This effort also calls for making the program more accessible to the elderly by providing adequate certifica tion and issuance locations throughout the counties and transportation where needed One of the main thrusts will be to have local Food Stamp eligibility workers visit Title VII communal dining sites to explain the program and take applications. There are 238 such sites across the state w here a hot meal is provided each day for senior citizens Recreation (xmimimion ( )ffer Two ClauMi Charlotte Park and Recrea tion Commission announces two classes to begin at the Tuckaseegee Recreation Cen ter. 4820 Tuckaseegee Road. A belly-dancing class will begin October 24 and will run for six weeks The $50,000 you’ll spendoncars: _ Howto manage it. From 1929 to 1977, an “average American” 65 years old could have spent some S50.000 buying all the cars y< >u see here. And probably borrowed a lot of money for them, since two out of three people buy “on time." Chances are, you’ll bel> >rrowing a lot of money, too. That’s why the pe< >ple wh< > make loans at NCNB will help out any way they am. For example, leasing may make more sense for you than buying. Maybe a longer-term loan will fit your budget better than a regular term auto loan. > < • i «• i iviayoe y< hi re sjx*nuing u x > n iue 11 to get your old car ready for trade in. (Ask for information on this.) All told, there’s a lot to consider before you buy. So come see us. We Gin talk over your financial situation and give you an estimate of the money we’ll lend you. We’ll give you a fast, direct an swer; not a runaround. If you like, we can check your credit in ad I vance. so that we need just a few ! details when y<hi decide <>n a car. Well workout the payment plan I that works best for you. (If you like, even aut< unatic payments fn >m your NCNB Checking Account.) In short, we make things easier I for you. WTiich is probably why we I lend money to more people than I any other bank in North Carolina. * What’s more, we want to be your only bank. And, we ffgure, the more help we Gin give you on a loan, the I more likely you are to come to us with your checking, savings and other accounts, too. So come see us and see how a bank operates when it wants to be your only bank. J CMS
The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Oct. 20, 1977, edition 1
7
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