Pauline Gantt
...Use vacant buiklintt
Dale Nichols
... Build shelters
Sherman Ford, Jr.
, 1 Barbara White
V- -“It’s a shame"
Opinion* On The Street*
What Should Be Done About The Homeless?
The plight of the homeless has
been in the news quite a bit lately, as
it has each winter in recent years.
When the weather is warm, it seems,
people forget the homeless, possibly
believing they can fend for them
selves when they don’t have to worry
about freezing to death.
What do Charlotteans think about
the problem, and what ideas do they
have to help the homeless in their
community? Post reporter Audrey
ledato approached pedestrians on
the Try on Street Mall with the
question, “What do you think ought
to be done about the probelm of the
homeless in the Chariotte-Mecklen
burg area?" Here is what they had
to say.
.. SHERMAN FORD, JR is living on
Morehead Street and has worked as
* Photographer Ford admitted that
being new to Charlotte, he doesn’t
know a lot about the problem here.
Nevertheless, he offered his opinion
“That’s a good question. I’m not
familiar with the programs being
offered here,” he began. He sug
gested educating the homeless for
jobs and helping them with pro
blems such as alcohol or drug abuse.
“Try to rehabilitate them and get
them in the work force. That would
be a start. We’d find out who wants
to work and who doesn’t, whether
they’re on the street by force or by
choice ” '
Calvin Truesdale
...Needs improvement
He asked, “Are there programs
available to put them up in shelters
where they couid do some kind of
work to earn their keep, such as
yard work or kitchen work? What
seems most important to me is
rehabilitating them. If they want to
work, they’ll find a way. If they want
to be out there, there’s nothing you
can do to change that. Some are used
to being in the street; it’s their
environment, where they want to
be.”
CAROLYN FORNEY of Elder
bank Drive is an underwriter for
Aetna Life and Casualty. “I think
Letters To The Editor
.
Is Bob Walton A Turn Coat?
Editor*, The Charlotte Poet:
I, like many other*, experienced
•hell shock upon hearing that Bob
Walton was “defecting” to
Republicanism. His TV announce
ment explaining his position found
me watching intently, expecting to
see horns or an additional head, arm
or leg.
This sensationalism, matched only
by Fountain Odum’S possible bid to
upset Gantt, is the prevailing topic of
conversation. Walton it, accordingly,
a turncoat, Judas, fool, an Uncle
Tom and otherwise. I must admit
that I contributed vocally and or by
silence.
Feeling the need to “sort” and put
my confused thoughts into perspec
tive, I’d like to share a while.
First, I needed to categorise Bob,
the politician, who is, according to
Webster, “a person active in politic*
chiefly for hi* own profit or that of hi*
own party. "In other words, all office
holders are politicians.
During Bob's political career, I
have been privileged to not only
observe but to also witness several of
his noble unselfish act* that benefit
ted his constituency. He has
represented, although at tiroes not in
a prescribed manner, well and has no
match in the championship of rights
for the poor and under represented of
this community.
Well then, why the outcry? One
would think that he had declared
himself Communist or some other un
popular connotation. He merely said
that he was “considering” joining the
> party that incidentally had a land
slide victory last November. He
believes that the move would put him
in a better position to continue his
i good works. Encouragement had
com# from two “high-rank”
Republicans. Being in the driver’s
seat, can we seriously believe they
t*ould tap a loser? Also can you even
begin to ini(ine how many
Democrat* voted Republican while
k*hng us to believe otherwise?
Although sooie regret his timing,
Wahon’s pronouncement indicates he
remains upfront. This leads me to
think that, ooe day, he just might be
a candidate for politician’s heaven,
statesmanship, defined as “one hav
ing good sense, emphasising sound
judgement, shrewdness, far
sightedness and skill in dealing with
public problems and managing na
tional politics. ”
As I found out, the other day, he
apparently still has the same number
of everything. I’m now content to
“wait and see.” Personally, I believe
there s a very good chance that the
jury has just now gone into session.
Daisy Spears Stroud
Telephone 392-4753
Enjoyed Great Privilege
Of Running For Congress
Dear Editor:
L«t yuar, I enjoyed dm great
privilege of running for Congress.
Even though I lost a close race, I
would not trade my experience in
graae roots politic* lor anything.
I still believe that h is important lor
all of as to participate in the political
process*
Tonight I Thursday I, all registered
Democrats who are worried about
their party and who believe in the
gifeae root* democratic process should
be at the once-a-year precinct
meetings. The meetings begin at 8:00
p.m. and usually take place at the
precinct polling place. Your meeting
will probably be held at the same
place you voted in November.
your party. Join with me tonight to
^'••ammna
HAVING A YARD SALE?
Invite the community through our
__Classified Ads. Coll 3760496.
Carolyn Forney
..."Put then to work”
U*®y should try to. give them some
drive. Look under bridges for these
people, put them to work. Build
housing for them and let them work
for the city instead of letting them
live on the streets.
PAULINE GANTT, a resident of
Harrill Street, is a student at Rut
ledge College. “I think some of the
vacant buddings could be fixed up"
so that the homeless would have a
place to stay, she recommended.
"Instead of tearing down buildings
to put up fancier ones, use them for
the homeless.”
DALE NICHOLS lives on Candy
Street. He said he does yard work at
Quail Forest. "They should build
some kind of shelter or building they
can go in to be off the streets," he
declared. “They shouldn't let them
stay out in the cold to get sick
without enough clothes." ;
BARBARA WHITE, another stu
dent, resides on Sugar Creek Road.
She attends American Business and
Fashion Institute. “We were talking
about this just last week," she
remarked. “Possibly some of the
empty space in downtown could be
turned over to non-profit groups like
the Salvation Army. It's a shame to
see them (the homeless) on park
benches. Maybe they could get
turned around" if they were pro
vided shelter. White concluded,
“There’s plenty of empty space."
CALVIN TRUESDALE said he
lives on Wilmore and works at First
Union. He commented that the
situation of the homeless needs to be
“improved.” He asserted that
“houses could get straightened up”
either by- the city or by private ;
groups.
my ^
• ' . *> ^z^
RALEIGH-North Carolina h»«
achieved the lowest food stamp
error rate in the southeastern United
States, and one of the lowest AFDC
error rates in the country, Depart
ment of Human Resources Secre
tary Phillip J. Kirk, Jr. announced
today.
The latest figures on North Caro
lina’s food stamp program show that
the state’s error rate amounted to
slightly over five percent for the
six-month period ending in Septem
ber, 1964 “We have been notified by
the federal government that our food
stamp error rate for this reporting
period is the lowest of the eight
southeastern states,’’ Kirk said.
The error rate for Aid To Families
With Dependent Children (AFDC)
amounted to 2.4 percent during the
April-September, 1984, reporting
period, among the lowest error rates
in the country.
Error rates for both AFDC and
food stamps are based on over
---——
payments and payments to Ineligi
ble recipients. The food stamps pro
gram is designed to provide a
balanced diet for low-income citi
zens who otherwise would not be
able to afford the cost of food. AFDC
provides monthly financial assis
tance to families in which children
have been denied the support of
either one or both parents.
I
__
JBfc Rolands Romain
is pleased to announce the opening of her new
office for the practice of:
Paries & Adolescent Medicine
Children from Birth to 18 Yean
vlo/ande ^Remain
■MPA.
Northwest Medical Center ^
1406 Beatties Ford Rd.
Office Hours By Appointment
335-0806 j
Share the spun.
Share the refreshment
Warning: The Surgeon General Has Determined
That Cigarene Smoking Is Dangerous to Your Health.