I ?*? ^ Photo by T. Kevin Walker ? Marityn ton bora look* at MDIf ?f ffto wfN oppaar In tho book. Book tells story of black community HI By T. KEVIN WALKER THE CHRONKXq '* ? Through a series of innovative and popular calendars, The Soci ety for the Study of Afro-Ameri can History has paid tribute to many of the city's unsung heroes and heroines. For more than a decade, the society has literally made the study of African American histo ry a year-round event, packing its calendars with the lore and lega cies of black schools, churches, ????????????? neighborhoods, entrepreneurs and politicians. But those who have missed the calendars over the years shouldn't fret. SSAAH is branching out in order to tell a story that hasn't been told before. The group has spearheaded "African Americans in Winston Salem/ Forsyth County: A Pictor ial History. a soon-to-be pub lished book that will attempt - in 192 pages - to tell a story that's been more than 200 years in the making. ' "History only becomes history if it is recorded some place," said Henry Lewis, the president of SSAAH. "We want to ensure that the contributions that African Americans made to the develop ment and growth of Winston Salem and Forsyth County are recorded for the next generation." A reception last Friday at the Anderson Center to announce the book's publication brought out Winston-Salem's A-list. Politi cians, business leaders, educators., and plain folks mingled and milled around the spacious recep tion hall while classical musk wafted through the air, courtesy , j of a masterful pianist. The event was highbrow and SSAAH promises that the book will be as well. "The book will be a first-class, coffee table publication," Lewis said. Although copies of the book weren't on display - it will not be released until late July or early ' : - See Book on A13 # - -1 i f 75 cents WlNSTON-SALEM GREENSBORO HlCH POINT Vol. XXV No. 41 The Chronicle , 010600 CAR-RT-SORT*"C0x2 N C ROOM 1974 - Celebrating 25 Years - 1999 " : FORSYTH CNTY PUB LIB ^ . ? ' 6b0 W 5TH ST # ^ WINSTON SALEM NG 27101-2755 Ready to run I til^ BiF ill?Hi l> ?!?!????I ???!! ?? ?? III?? I ???? I v Photo by TVsrry Jones Jonieee L&wia, Kori Ctmptitmi, DeArtist Woods and Alexander Jones chat at they wait their turn to cot i ipofs during Boston Elm i Ml Itory School's annu" of (bM day. The foursome, at trthgraders, were set X> run in the school* relay race. ? [;;? - , . V , ? . ? ?' ; '? | <;;jr.'?? ?. ? .? ? Robinson delavs aldermen's vote on budget By T. KEVIN WALKER THE CHRONICLE Two weeks ago the board of aldermen muzzled one of its own, when it prevented Alder man Vernon Robinson from questioning officials from non profit agencies. At a budget hear ing Tuesday night, Robinson retaliated by introducing a motion of "no consideration" on the budget vote, pushing the vote back at least two weeks. I' "I'm not ready to vote on the budget," Robinson said. He said his fellow board members deprived him of his "constitu tional duty" of asking in-depth questions of the non-profit offi ? ? ? y cials, who had come to the hear ing to ask the city to allocate funds in the 1999-2000 budget for their particular agencies. Unlike other motions, a motion of no consider ation cannot be debated or voted on by other board mem bers. Items that an alderman moves no consideration on are simply pushed back for a vote at * - . a later date. . Other board members were visibly annoyed by Robinson's motion. The aldermen, who had spent more ? ? A.t A.\- - I I man mice hours at City Hall the night before to vote on a landfill expansion, have been attending budget workshops nn/4 Vt ?*t n r*e aliu ..vai.i.ga i for a month and had planned on passing a budget Tuesday. Robinson has advocated cut ting all city funding for non -profits and using the money to provide tax relief to city resi- _ dents. He and Alderman Steve Whiton have even come up with their own version of a budget, the Changing Course Budget, which would give property own ers a 12 percent tax cut. The bud get the board is , considering reduces the property tax rate by only a penny for every SI00 of property evaluation. The budget currently being considered will probably provide non-profits with about SI million. Set- ludyt on All Bl_-JL v Robinson Cavanagh PTAA vacancy stirs controversy By DAMON FORD THE CHRONICLE By the end of this month members of the Win ston-Salem Board of Aldermen will vote on appointing a person to the Piedmont Triad Airport Authority board. And some political watchers hope that appoint ment will go to an African American. Currently, Hudnall Christopher temporarily holds the seat until a decision is made. The Win ston-Salem appointee also serves as the board's chair. The PTAA board is made up of seven members who serve three-year terms. They are appointed by Burk* ~ See Airport >? n A12 Champions * TV Associated Press photo by Jacques Brinon Vtnui Williams, loft, and hmr sistar Sarana Williams pass with tha trophy aftar thay dafaatad Martina Hingis and Anna Kaurnikova in tha woman's doubias final at tha Franeh Opan in Paris Sunday. Audit reveals costly issues at HAWS HUD flags irregularities in contracting, credit card procedures By T. KEVIN WALKER THE CHRONICLE ' ? A much anticipated audit of the Housing Authority of Winston Salem by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development reveals that HAWS has often thrown standard procedures aside over the years, instead following unorthodox processes that have been costly to the agency. ? \ According to the audit, HAWS failed to install air conditioning and heating units in 1,624 of its properties in a timely and effective manner. Delays in installing the units will result in unnecessary costs of about $3 million. From 1995 through 1997, HAWS purchased more than 1,700 heating and air conditioning units, but by February 1999, units had been installed in only 446 apartments, according to the audit. HAWS attributed the delays to the fact that its own personnel were being iiu>H to install thp units a situation HAWS savs ? was not effective. A private contractor was brought in to work on the project in 1998, three years after the units were purchased. The agency did not follow federal guidelines that require agencies to operate projects in an "efficient and economical manner," according to the audit. The audit recommends, among other things, that HAWS submit a plan detailing the source of funds and the methods that will be used to complete the projects. HAWS has 60 days to report corrective actions that have been implemented or taken in response to all tne audit s recommendations. A copy of the final audit, which was conducted by the District Office of the Inspector General from December 1998 to March 1999, itfas sent to Reid Lawrence, HAWS executive director, on June 3, but (Lawrence was informed of initial findings a month earlier. The audit / was spurred by citizen complaints, which "generally concerned ques tionable and unsupported disbursements made by (HAWS)." The audit review covered a three-year period, January 1995 to December 1998. Lawrence was appointed interim executive director in October 1998, winning the permanent position two months later. Though many of the blunders contained in the audit happened while other executive directors were at the helm. Lawrence said he is working to come up with solutions, rather than pointing fingers. "As far as blaming anybody, I don't do that," he said Tuesday. "I just take what's been put in front of me." Lawrence said he'll try to learn from the mistakes the agency has made in the-past. "I've always tried to better my administration through things I've ' * learned from others," he said. ., Lawrence said he will soon begin working with his staff to come up with solutions to the problems to present to the board of com missioners and HUD. V . "We will go through each one of (the recommendations)," Lawrence said. ; See HAWS on A!3 1 t Board sets site tor EastSide Cafeteria Much talked about eatery will be on 14th Street By T. KEVIN WALKER THE CHRONICLE The EastSide Cafeteria took one giant step toward becoming a real ity this past weekend. At a board meeting Saturday, members of the East Winston Com munity Development Corporation and the Ministers Conference of Winston-Salem announced that the much talked about eatery will be constructed on East 14th Street, near the point where the street intersects with New Walkertown Road. Officials chose the site over four others including a spot in East Win ston Shopping Center because stockholders pushed for a brand new facility rather than an existing one. Set CufaUitu on AH ? ro* SUBSCRIPTIONS CALL (336) 722-8634 ? MASTERCARD, VISA AND AMERICAN EXPRESS ACCEPTED ? -f M * *. ? ?