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32 Pages This Week -50 cents Thursday, March 1,1990 "The Twin City's Award- Winning Weekly' VOL. XVI, No. 27 NAACP urges board to commit to district plan? By TONYA V. SMITH Chronicle Staff Writer It's reasonable for the school board to opt to wait for the 1990 census results before designing a plan for election by district, said NAACP President Walter Marshall, howev er, members do not have to wait until then to decide whether they favor the strategy that would increase Afro American representation on the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education. The Winston-Salem Branch of the NAACP voted on Jan. 22 to ask the school board to devise a district plan for electing members. Mr. Marshall said the school board has no other choice but to follow the county's-tead-in adopting an election by district plan. The NAACP filed a lawsuit against the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners in 1986, charging that their at-large method of election violat ed the Voting Rights Act, the 14th and 15th amendments and diluted black voting strength. A new district election plan, which could add as many as two^fro-Americans to the all-white board, goes into effect during this election year. During a special meeting last week, members of the board said they wanted to see the results of the April 1, 1990, census before considering an election by district planL Those results would not be available before April 1, 1991. Still, the NAACP wants some sign of commitment from the school board, Mr. Marshall said. ^ - "Given the documented history of racial discrimination that was confirmed in the following court cases:, one, the 1970 Catherine Scott Case, two, the 1986 Thornburg vs. Gingles decision and, three, the 1988 NAACP/Forsyth County Commissioners out of court settlement; the school board should recognize that it has no legal recourse and should respond positively^ to. the local NAACP's request," Please see page AQ Low pay, new work schedule cause police shortage By RUDY ANDERSON Chronicle Managing Editor The Winston-Salem Police Department is having trouble holding on to its officers. At least that is what the latest figures show from the city's personnel department. Officers the Chronicle spoke with point toward two factors, the pay scale and the new work schedule. Most officers said they would rather not be identified in connec tion with this story because they didn't want to 'anger' Chief George L. Sweat or other city officials with their complaints. But other city employees are talking. "We got a bunch of vacancies over there (the police department)," said Joe Chandler, the city's personnel supervisor. Based on current figures from his department, Mr. Chandler says there are a total of 352 sworn officers including the chief and his three assistants. The police department is budgeted for 415 positions. - Patricia Kirby, a city personnel specialist who does exit interviews for employees who leave the city's service, *34 433 Sen,or Patrolman ?33,338 ?33,000 ?31,728 *29,000 I CWm Winston-Satom Graansboro Durham RaHagh Charlotte says what she hears from officers who leave is that morale is low right now. "Everybody is concerned about money and that new work schedule," she said. The new work schedule introduced by Chief ^tfeat was designed to put more officers on ihe strccj/uuring peak hours. Officers now work four days and nave two days off on a rotating basis. "An officer could comc back from his days off and find that he/she is working the mid night shift," Ms. Kirby said. "Many (officers) say their bodies aren't able to adjust to the time changes." And she said there is onc^thcr aspect of the schedule that really riled those officers who have left. "Court assignments used to be done during an officer's regular work schedule. Now its mandatory' that officers who make court appear ances do it on their days off," she said. "They (officers) get paid for it. But it's still working on their day off. It might take all day or it might not." Some officers say the bottom line here is, that very often, fewer people arc being forced to carry more of the workload. That could mejn an officer won't be around in your neighborhood when you need one,they say. But city officials arc making plans to deal with the problem. City personnel analyst, Bruce Farrington, says "the city is trying to do something about that right now. Nothing is finalized yet, but we've talked with each other about police recruit pay problems." He adds," we need to Please see page A7 - voices ? k TONYA y. SMITH " * Staff Writer J*' :v. - V - ? , Did the Winston-Salem Urban League's Board of Directors act too quickly when it adopted in November 1939 a resolution opposing an Expanded Area Service (HAS) plan? Members say no, but a proponent of the f plan, which would establish toll-free tetcpnonc services for residents wishing to place calls within the Triad, say the board acted before it received both sides of the argu mem* <<? y ?- * Mike Horn, spokesman for Citizens for a Toll-free Triad Committee, joined King Triplets a member of the Urban League Board and manager of Southern Bell Tele phone Company's local office, in a debate of EAS during a public forum Fteb. 23, ?~r? About SS community members, the majority of them Afro-Americart and elderly, attended the forum and most of them spoke out against EAS. The majority of them were also constituents of the Urban League and had received their information about, the EAS plan from iguc board members and staff. That information was sided, said^Mr. Horn, bccausc the board of director's ?. - .. resolution represents Southern Bell's position - officials at the telephone company are strongly against EAS. "Whereas a plan has been proposed for the Triad that would expand the local calling areas for telephone customers regardless of their economic level or need for the services; and whereas the plan would substantially inrrrncr lora! nhonr bills for all cu$tomcr*..be it resolved that the Winston-Salem Urban League board of directors opposed this Extended Area Service plan pro posed for the Triad," reads the resolution signed by Joseph L. Dickson, board chain and Dclores J. Smith, league president and CEO. Mr. Triplctt said residents' bills would increase by S3.04 a month. The public staff of the state .Utilities Commission has estimated the monthly fee at $4.57. But Mr. Horn contends that it is too early hj the proceaMO determine rates. .J" "It is conccivablc, although not probable, that the commission could decide t^iaino revenue lost' (bccairsc the five Triad telephone companies - Southern Bell, North State, Carolina, Ccntcl and Alltel - would not be , Please see page A8 - . &&&& 7 :??? ? ' , Tffl. Norfolk Stat*'* Jerome Colt, to ? portrait oFjuWio. to?t attittptXK 10,WO at the Scop*. This y**r marked th* final year; (hat No/olkwlll host in* 1 annual.event. Richmond, i^p?i ww uip oio to nosi Hfw tournamejft for fh* hill thre*#eaHfc "But wtiH* Rich- i ljd lor that time oerlod. other JM J* ?w? umi miw |#w? ivwj wiw^. Cltiee wRM larger aranaa are pp paringtolaunch their Bpa totandthla major sport-? Ing event. Wlnston-Selem la mmtfnio* cities who will report*dly bid on the .next contractor 1994. Winston'e advantage? The newly luMfneo Lawrence Joel IMtnbrta! Coliseum Mats at ?ooiteo*oviM' m subetantiafly ? ire. This year, ig the tourna * $4.5 million Opponents call new coalition 'dangerous' By TONYA V. SMITH - Chronicle Staff Writer It's been called the new "coalition" and the "pen tagon," however, now the Afro-American community is calling the faction on the Cfty Board of Aldermen a danger ous weapon that could potentially place numerous blaclc .issues and concerns on the back burner for good. On Dec. 4, 1989, the five-member body made its first public display of powePby voting down Mayor Martha S. Wood's slate of committee assignments, and introducing and passing their own. Vivian H. Burke, Lynne S. Harpe, Robert S. Northington Jr., Nancy T. Pleasants and J. Hugh Wright voted together on the revised committee assign ments, however, only [Northeast Ward AldermanITurRxr receivcd public criticism about her vote. -Afro-Americans accused Mrs. Burke of betrayal and defection and launched a recall effort to remove her fronT office. That effort is "continuing," according to spokesmen with the Concerned Citi/cns of the Northeast Ward, who also have said ihcy have more than the 600 signatures nec essary to begin a recall. Both Mrs. Burke and Mrs. Harpe, Democrats, have been criticized because of their alignments with Republi cans Northington, Pleasants and Wright. However, Walter Holton, chair of the Forsyth County Democratic Party, said 'i don't buy the line that a new coalition has been formed. 1 think that.on cach individual issue the members of the board have voted their conscience. 1 believe that in the . years of service to our city, both Mrs. Burke and Mrs. Harpe have consistently taken stands that have been right for the community andthai's why they were reflected." * "There will always be disagreement among different members of the board on various issues. But if an aldermen votes his or her conscience and supports the issues they Please see page A7_ (Winston-Salem Chronicled Jackson won't run for mayor of D.C. WASHINGTON (AP) -- Jesse Jackson's political future is beginning to resemble his past. His recent announcement that he will not run for mayor of the nation's capital revived the assumption that when the 1992 presidential campaign gets rolling, Jackson will make h+s thifd for ths Whit? House. want to continue to serve, but not as mayor," Jackson told a news conference, ending speculation that he might run to succeed the troubled Marion Barry as mayor of the District of Columbia, a city without a state. Serve as what, was the next natural question. "It is premature to talk about the next level of activity." he replied to such queries. "The push is for statehood." Jackson established residence in Washington last spring, a move that touched off speculation he would run for mayor. The talk intensified after Barry was arrested on a misdemeanor cocaine possession charge and later indicted on perjury charges. INSIDE Business A6 Classified B13-B15 Community News A9 Editorials A4, A5 Entertainment B12 Religion B1 Sports B7 . Opportunity is often missed because it is disguised as hard work. SUBSCRIPTION HOTLINE . . . 722-8624 : J
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