Preserving Black Communities By Hoyle H. Martin, Sr. Post Editorial Editor The story on page one concerning a petition of 762 names opposing the construction of a county vehicle maintenance garage near Beatties Ford and Hoskins Roads is one of millions in America that remind us that the U.S. Riot Commission Re port of 1967 continues to be a fact to the extent that "our nation (re mains) two societies, one black, one white-separate and unequal." When, for example, a black family seeks better housing that happens to be in a white neighborhood,whites flee in panic, often selling their homes at a loss to unethical real estate speculators who promote se gregated housing and then engage in blockbusting practices that result in underpayment to the panicing whites and overcharges to blacks moving in. Here in our city, Hidden Valley was some years ago all white, now it is more than 65 percent black. Was blockbusting a factor? The request to build a garage in a black neighborhood reminds us too that even when blacks live in sepa rate neighborhoods there are institu tionalized forces that tend to destroy J * * · · - - - uociujjcu, wen preservea DiacK communities. Studied show that roadways which cut through or block-in communities often contri bute to their eventual decline. What effect, in the long run, will be boxing-in and slicing up or north west Charlotte by 1-85, 1-77 and Highway 16 have on the retension and up-keep of three of the most impressive black communities in Charlotte? Add to that the danger of jet aircrafts flying low overhead to and from Douglas airport. These facts about black communi ty life are well known to blacks but little understood by whites whose knowledge of black neighborhoods is too often limited by the quick obser vations made as they drive hurried ly in their air-conditioned automo biles through overcrowded low-in come housing areas that ring the center city. How many whites in Charlotte have seen a black neigh borhood other then Earl Village or Fairview Homes? How many whites have seen, or gotten out of their automobiles long enough to visit someone, in the neighborhoods that may be affected by the proposed garage at Beatties Ford and Hoskins Roads? How many of our County Commissioners have seen these neighborhoods? Black neighborhoods have carried the burden of most low-income hous ing units, of most crosstown "bus ing" for younger school children, of less police protection, of less ambu lance service, of no hospital, of less fire protection, and of instances of higher prices for inferior quality food items in chain stores. Have not the black neighborhoods been asked and-or given enough of the city and county's burdens without adding a garage? The Northwood Estates Communi ty Affairs Association and its sup porters favor establishing a park on the site for the proposed garage. However, since Commission Chair man "Liz" Hair has said, based on a Park and Recreation Study, that "the area appears to be fairly well served with parks", it seems unlike ly that the Commissioners will ap prove the idea of a park. Neverthe less, the POST believes that the Commissioners should look beyond the park report to the human situa tion. As the report says, three of the parks are each within a lVfe mile distance from the Beatties Ford and nusMiis rvuaa îniersecuon, nowever, the report does not point out that children going to such play areas would have to cross the overpasses at 1-85 and 1-77 and streets with heavy traffic, some with possibly no sidewalks. The other park is four miles away without sidewalks on the main route. How many parents any where would permit younger child ren to travel such great and hazar dous distances to reach a play area? The POST strongly urges the Mecklenburg County Commission eres to reject any proposal to build a garage on the site at Beatties Ford and Hoskins Roads and that they seek a more suitable location away from any residential area. Further more, the POST suggests that the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Planning Commission seek more creative and complementary uses for public lands in or near residential areas. We think, for example, that a park would be ideal for the Beatties Ford-Hoskins Road intersection. Let us endeavor to preserve our commu nities, not destroy them. Blacks, Bicentennial And Priorities As we approach the 200th birthday of our nation some debate exists over whether black Americans should participate in the Bicenten nial which, at its worst, is a remind er of black enslavement in 1776, the abandonment of reconstruction in 1876, and the continued existence of social and economic discrimination against blacks in 1976. At its best, the Bicentennial cele bration offers us the opportunity to enlighten the nation and to educate our children to the extraordinary role that black people have played in building America. We applaud, for example, the newly formed Concerned Black Citi zens for a Better Bicentennial, how ever, before pressing to rename Beatties Ford Road "Martin Luther King Boulevard," we believe that the road should be worthy of such a great American's name. Blacks need to concern themsel ves with the high crime rate, high insurance rates for businesses, traf fic congestion and the current effort to locate a county motor vehicles maintenance garage on Beatties Ford Road. RETURNING TO BUILD A BETTER BLACK COMMUNITY. Blacks' Destiny In Own Hands REPORT FRO M ;^AfrtWoshingtoû I Bicentennial Washington JIM MARTIN, 9th District Congressman There will be many exciting opportunities this year to take part in your Bicentennial ce lebration. A visit to our Na tion's Capital would be a me morable way to do so. Two hundred years ago, there was no such city as Washington, but today it is one of tbe prime points of Bicen tennial interest, a living sym bol of our heritage This week I want to use this time to offer some observations and sug gestions to make your visit easier and more rewarding. Every part of Washington has made special plans for the Bicentennial, from the popu lar Smithsonian Institution, which has 23 separate Bicen tennial oroiects, to the U.S. Capitol. There are many new developments, such as Consti tution Gardens, a beautiful park and rest area near the Lincoln Memorial. The Natio nal Zoo has been completely renovated. The crowds started arriving a month ago so if you plan to come in the next three months, be sure you have confirmed reservations. Also, you should plan to come on a weekend when business and convention trade is lightest If the hot weather is discourag ing you. why not wait until Autum, one of the choice times of the year to visit Washing ton. October is usually a dry and mild month. You will spend less time waiting in lines, find better accomoda tions and get more personal attention. When you make your plans to vacation in Washington, let me know. I'll send you a packet of useful literature and a good map of the city. You might want to circle the places on the map that you want to visit. When you get here, drop by my office for passes to the (Hduse arid Senate galleries. My advice is to forget about driving in Washington. Traffic in the downtown area is con fusing enough for those of us who work here, much less the visitor. To make it easy on yourseii, try taking one of the fringe-parking shuttle-buses being operated from huge parking lots at R.F.K. Memo rial Stadium or the Pentagon. The bus ties in with the regu lar bus system called Metro bus. Beefed-up bus service is planned for the bicentennial, so visitors will be able to park their- cars at large shopping centers, or leave them at their motel and ride Metro. The National Park Service spon sors an open-bus service that offers the ideal solution to seeing the favorite sights in the city. This Tourmobile ser vice allows you to get off and on at will, at your own pace, for a nominal fee. The Tour mobile is one of the bargins of Washington, and I recom mend it to everyone who spends a few days here. If yu are short on time, there are charter bus and limousine ser vices available as well as taxis for hire. If you enjoy bike riding, at least a dozen bike ways wind over 50 miles through beautiful parks along the Potomac River. If your feet tire quickly, there are some sit-down sights in Washington, including the Supreme Court, congressional committees or the House and Senate sessions. And while you are here, take time to view the Capitol as not only the seat of the greatest legisla tive body on earth, but as mammoth museum of history and art. The question often arises, "What about crime in Wash ington? Is it safe?" Despite the general assumptions to the contrary, it is safe to visit in Washington, a lot safer than years ago. Lighting is much better and there are more police. Yes, you can get mug ged, robbed or have your car stolen if you're careless, but if you use common sense and stay alert, nothing will happen to you. Lock your doors. Don't wander into neighborhoods you know nothing about. In other words, don't do things you would not do in any other large city. Thousands of people come to Washington each year to visit historic places, explore galle ries and museums, take in exhibits and cultural events. If you take part in these reward ing experiences as others do, in all likelihood you will be as safe here as at home. TO BE EQUAL VKKNOX Κ. JORDANJR Replacing The Welfare System Given George McGovern's experience of hav ing his 1972 presidential campaign run aground over his plan for an income maintenance system, it's unlikely that welfare reform will play much of a role in the current campaign. But whether a Republican or a Democrat is elected in November, one of the first orders of business will have to be a plan to replace the present welfare system. Part of the reason is that welfare costs are rising sharply, straining federal and local bud gets, without however, providing adequate assis tance to all in need. Last year welfare costs rose by over 21 percent, largely because of the rise in unemploy ment that left many families without resources. Continued high unemployment will mean inceas ing numbers of people forced onto the welfare rolls. The impact of these costs has already led to calls for federalization of welfare as states and cities, already strapped financially, face the need to find money for welfare benefits to the victims of our economy. Four big-state govern ors have come out for federal take-over of welfare costs and many others would look favorably on such a development. As an interim measure, federal take-over makes sense. It would relieve local budgets, impose fair national standards, and provide assistance to the most hard-pressed cities and states. But it could only be an interim solution because the present welfare system, even with a federal take-over of costs, would remain an inefficient, degrading system that grudgingly aids some while ignoring the needs of others. There would still be a means test to separate "us" from "them", and the program would remain political football, a vehicle for condem ning the poor and circulating myths and stereo types. It would be best to start from scratch and devise a system that recognizes the existence of poverty, the necessity to insure minimum Ηνϊησ standards for all, and the need for a universal system designed to aid, not punish, people on the margins of a shaky economy that cannot now provide jobs for all. aome twelve million people are now on the welfare rolls, nearly all of them too old or too young to work. That's only about half the people officially designated as poor, and if you take into account the way the official poverty level has lagged behind inflation, there may be as many as 40 million people who are actually poor. By constructing a system that aids only those who manage to