eeR cornu
Liquor By The Drink
Will It Make A Difference?
~oy noyie h. Martin Sr.
Over most of the last tert days the
media has inundated or outright
intoxicated us with news about
developments leading to the N.C.
General Assembly's passage of a
local option liquor-by-the drink bill
last week.
The new law gives any county or
city which currently has an ABC
system the right to have an election
to let the voters decide whether their
local government should allow cert
ain licensed businesses the opportu
nity to serve liquor-by-the drink.
The bill does not create drinking
places such as open bars or lounges.
What it does is simply allow local
elections to be held to decide the
issue.
in spue οι uiat simple Dut import
ant fact, many people are already
assuming a major economic boom in
new and huge profits from the
expansion and creation of new resta
urants, hotels and increased conven
tion business. Others appear to
anticipate open bars with liquor and
money following in the streets of
Charlotte-Mecklenburg. In addition,
leaders in the Airport bond camp
aign have attributed at least 10
percent of their two-to-one margin of
victory on Tuesday to passage of the
mixed drink bill. ,·
The liquor bill has created politi
cal vibrations too. The Rev. Coy
Privette and his anti-liquor forces
accused Gov. Jim Hunt of failing to
help defeat the liquor bill while
professing to oppose it. At the same
time, the bill has been credited with
the making of a new political leader -
Parks Helms. Helms, as one news
story so aptly stated, "was credited
by his colleagues for guiding the bill
through the House with tireless
effort, skillful parliamentary mane
uvering and quiet persuasion."
Finally, and inspite of opposition to
premature action expressed hy
some state lawmakers, the Mecklen
burg County Commissioners agreed
in one of its few unanimous decisions
to allow voters to express them
selves on the issue in early Septem
ber.
The emotional upheaval reflected
in these developments appear to
indicate we have become intoxica
ted by the very thought of liquor-by
the-drink. Therefore, come late
September we may all go on a
drinking binge to celebrate our new
freedom, even if it kills us.
The sobering realities that may
keep us from this drunk orgy are
seen in a number of largely ignored
but significant factors. First, its
possible for the anti-liquor forces to
win in a local mixed drink vote.
Ironically, it is liquor drinkers -
brown-baggers - who may help
defeat a local mixed drink vote
because of their opposition to higher
priced mixed drinks.
Secondly, a Charlotte Chamber of
Commerce official has reportedly
said mixed drink revenues in many
places have not come up to expecta
tions. Thirdly, some restaurant and
night club owners don't think mixed
drinks will significantly change
Charlotte. One well known owner
said it would be five or more years
before any distinct change would
evident.
i^asuy, exacuy now iiquor-Dy-the
drink will affect Charlotte-Mecklen
burg will depend largely upon how
the state ABC board writes the rules.
Indications are they will be strict.
Therefore, in spite of the hoopla
over liquor-by-the drink there may
be little change, little difference,
little interruption in the pace and
pattern of Charlotte-Mecklenburg's
lifestyle. That, we believe, might be
a blessing we are not even now sober
enough to appreciate.
1J» we need AS Urban League?
vu vwiv uv) vciuvii jcj. «luiuau «ii .t
executive director of the National
Urban League will visit Charlotte to
discuss ways in which a Charlotte
based affiliate of the League might
be able to serve the interests of
Charlotte-Mecklenburg.
Underlying Mr. Jordan's visit is a
concern about high levels of black
unemployment and low levels of
quality housing in the city of Char
lotte. While these problems are
evident, there exists in Charlotte a
number of agencies and organiza
tions that are at least partly con
cerned with aiding in the pursuit of
solutions. The organizations we are
referring to are the Black Political
Caucus, the NAACP, the Black
Women's Caucus, three or more
ministerial organizations, numerous
neighborhood organizations, frater
nal and religious groups and the
Charlotte Area Fund,
h 1
With all of these organizations, we
might ask, will one more organiza
tion make a difference. Can the
Urban League find solution to these
problems when others have not? We
believe in this case the answer is
yes.
Our response in the affirmative is
based on our belief that a Charlotte
Urban League affiliate might and
should direct its energies exclusi
vely to the problems of housing and
unemployment. None of the existing
agencies have that charge. There
fore, we believe the Urban League
will and can make a difference in the
progress of blacks in Charlotte.
However, this difference, in the
final analysis will depend on our
willingness to learn and our willing
ness to help the Urban League help
us to be what we want to be. Will you
do your part?
BLACK COMMUNITY
SELF HELP -MUTUAL AIP
sblf mpRoveneNT - cooperation
....l„hi«tBwi!«n»rntw inAi»-.ailiaepr<i'i *ï!8 ϊίΚΐί'ί-ί W-ζί C { I
Black's Destiny In Own Hands |
Price Tags On Workers
By Bayard Rustin
Special To The Post
American workers have
once again become the first
casualties in the renewed
"war on inflation." Caught
between the crossfire of pro
blem and solution, workers
are steadily bombarded by
rapidly rising prices while
simutaneously confronted
with corporate and govern
ment attempts to impose wage
"restraint" and "modera
tion." The proepects for victo
ry - even stalemate- seem
dim. But for 800,000 workers
in the cotton industry, many of
them black, the battle is even
more dangerous.
While thousands of workers
toiled at their daily tasks in
the textile and cotton mills,
two of President Carter's top
economic (advisors r-< Charge*
-· solemnly pondered the
"economic impact" of long
awaited regulations to protect
cotton workers from byssino
sis, a serious disease more
commonly known as "Brown
Lung."
Numerous medical studies
have shown that a significant
number of cotton workers,
perhaps as many as 20 percent
of the total work force, eventu
ally contract "Brown Lung"
in one form or breath. ÀS the
disease progresses, workers
experience more advanced
and painful breathing diffi
culties leading to total.(Usabi
lity and eventually a pre
mature death.
Writing to some obscure
governmental body known as
the Regulatory Analysis Re
view Group, Charles Schultze
- once known at a libéral
warned "it is important to
insure that any new régula
tions (to protect the health of
cotton workers) do not impose
unnecessary or uneconomic
costs on American industry."
In effect, Schultze was say
ing that the health - even the
very lives - of American
workers has a price tag. In
this particular instance. Bos
worth's economists as the
Council on Wage and Price
Stability calculated the cost of
saving one life at $440,000, a
figure deemed highly
"iinemnnmip."
Perhaps I am naive or old
fashioned, but the thought of
producing "economic impact
statements" about the biolo
gical organs of human beings
leaves me cold - and dis
mayed. If modern economists
«become so sophisticated
they *a^oqw.
leiy calculate ine monetary
worth of each human breath,
and each drop of human blood
without looking into a work
er's pitiful eyes, I fear they
have lost touch with the
human values that movitated
the generous, and far-sighted
economic policies which
characterized most of the
post-war era, especially dur
ing Democratic Administra
tions.
While the Carter Admini
stration's handling of the cot
ton dust affair leaves me
deeply disappointed and
shocked, the role of Labor
Secretary Ray Marshall mis
me with genuine hope. In
deed, the labor secretary
seems to be the Administra
tion's only economic advisor
with compassion and an in- ■
formed understanding of the
needs and aspirations of
America's working people.
As the New York Times
reported, Secretary Marshall
strongly and quickly protested
Schultze's callous disregard
for health and safety of cotton
workers. In a memorandum
to President Carter, Marshall
opposed any delay in imple
menting anti-Brown Lung
measures in America's cotton
mills.
Moreover, Marshall person
ally appealed to the President
on behalf of America's cotton
workers. Unfortunately, the
Administration's econometric
techinicians, who have diffi
culty discerning the difference
between a living human being
and a pile of machinery, pre
vailed on President Carter.
To a very large extent, the
cot toil dust affair illustrates
—«— -""«vme «p|K*:ui οι
Prteideift OMtefs approach'
to controlling inflation. Like
his conservative Republican
predecessors - men who at
least never pretended to be
friends of working people -
President Carter and his
economic advisors have
pushed American workers
into the /rontlines of the "war
on inflation."
While workers have their
wages suppressed and their
jobs . threatened,' the real
causes of inflation - exhorbi
tant interest rates, fat Salaries
for corporate executives, law
yers and doctors, and high fuel
and food prices. - slip by
virtually unchallenged.
If the President persists in
his largely ineffective and
misguided anti-fiation strate
gy, we can rest assured that
the 150,000 victims of Brown
Long will be the first of many
helpless people sacrificed, in
the' name of "price stability."
[By Vernon Ε.
Jordan Jr.ss
το
BE
t
EQUAL
Voting Rights For D. C. 1
The Congress is considering a proposecfgj
constitutional amendment that would finalljf*
give full Congressional representation to Wash
ington, D.C. :
Such a move is long overdue. There can be nd«
justification for depriving the people of the
District of so basic a right. A nation whose^,
founding revolution based on the principle of η6
taxation without representation can no longer
refuse representation to citizens of its capital, f*
Along with the overriding philosophical princi
ple of representation, there are important. ~
arguments suDDorting an amendment that would -.·
end the colonization of Washington, D.C. ···■#
Its size is one. Home to 760,000 people, thé;1
District is already more populous than ten .
states. Its people pay well over a billion dollars
in taxes - more than was returned from 19;,.
states. Its per capita tax payments were higher
than all but three states. I"·
So the argument that giving the District two .
Senators and a voting representative would be/,
unfair to the states, whose voting power in:".
Congress would be diluted slightly, is meaning
less. States with smaller populations and states
generating fewer tax revenues have been "
admitted to the Union and received their share of
two Senate seats and one or two Representa- ·
tives. :
tu_ rv: _a. ■ _α. ι _i ι λ. α ι «κ *i t*
Auv i/iouivt uao aiwajro ucuii ucaicu line d
political colony. . It has not had a voting"?
representative in Congress since 1800. Since 1970.
it has had only a single non-voting Representa- -
tive. It wasn't until 1964 that District citizens"'
had the right to vote for Presidential and Vice .
Presidential electors. For a hundred years, until -
1974, its local government was appointed. ".:c
That's a disgraceful record, made the more
disgraceful by the continued disenfranchisement ^
of its citizens who are taxed but have no say iijf~
how their taxes are used.
The blatant unfairness of this situation makes...;
voting rights for the District a major civil rights
question. And that aspect is heightened by thejf
District's large black population - about 7ft
perceiU^flMiootal^ . Thirteen .yea*»
passage oFthe-Voting' flftghta Act, blaek · and- j
white - Washingtonians are still deprived of ·
basic electoral rights. 'rf*
Some may fear that the District's two Senator» · ,
will be blade and liberal. But such an objectives
is too base even to surface into the open. Simple
fairness demands change, and blacks an(£j
liberals have never objected to the right o?^
representation for areas that are all white or.
predominately conservative. "cl
The Housi of Representatives has already"
passed a resolution calling for granting ttijTj
District two Senators, House members and
Presidential electors based on population, and
participation In the ratification of Constitutional ?
amendments. The Senate is considering a
slightly different measure, but both agree on the^.
substance of Congressional representation for'
the District. -·«·
It is important that an amendment draft be"·
passed for consideration by the states. Three'·:
fourths of the states have to back it for the;:';
measure to become part of the Constitution^
making votine riehbi fnr th» nïeWnt
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Calumet 5-0200
Proposition 13 Passes
U«f i 'flfaiil lnlmaa·
UJ ,Ul>l UIu <J\JTTI Ulnl
The citizens of California
have shown that the primary
indifference by voters towards
Government stems frotn the
fact that we have too much of
it. Citizens of California
turned out in record numbers
to demonstrate their concern
about too much Government.
In an overwhelming victory
Proposition 13 has found its
way into California law books
The victory has caused wide
spread concern nationwide.
Politicians everywhere are
worried that this type of situ
ation can happen in their
vicinities.
To see what Proposition 13
means to the taxpayers of
California, let's take an
example A taxpayer owning
a $50,000 home would pay
tl .250 a year in property taxes
before Proposition 13. After
the passage of Proposition 13
the same home owner will
have to piy λ flMKMct tsoo
liofore going into the pros
and cons of Prop 13. let me say
that property taxes are unfair
Unlike income taxes properly
taxes are Irnsed on accumula
lion rather than earning
power Λ i|uick example will
demonstrate the point As
nime a person on an tH.mm
-annual income inherit· some
land. If this person wanted to
keep the deduction he would
receive on his income tax for
paying property tax is worth
less, since his income tax was
neglible anyway. Or we could
take an older couple who is '
receiving social security as
their only source of income. If
this couple had accumulated
property in their younger
days, then they wouldn't be
able to keep it because of the
taxes. Apartment dwellers
can get by without paying
property taxes. The owner of
the dwelling has to pay taxes.
But everybody enjoys the
porks, public schools, and
ambulance services, and
whatever at the expense of
property owners. The only
reason proeprty owners bear
the burden of taxes is simply
because property owners are
controllable. To own property
you must go through yank
and yards of red Upe_and
filling out forms. This in
formation is kept on file down
town where H is readily acces
sible to tax collectors. (>n the
other hand apartment dwell
ers don t go through this hum
drum ritual Moreover, apart
ment dwellers can afford to
move »! ii drop of hat since it
only requires grabbling up
belonging· and splitting. This
cause* another headache ft*
city tax collectors. Conse
quently, homeowners must
bear the burden.
Back to Prop 13. With a
massive cut in Government
Revenue. Government will be
forced to cut back on spend
ing A lot of people will dislike
this, but I think it is good. I
can t talk about California and
its cutbacks because I'm not
familiar with their spending
But it goes without <|urMion
thai there are mnssi vc ways to
cut Iwck without Inning I lu I
much Κ or example, here in
Charlotte if the situation
occutred we could cutback
without much loss in effi
ciency In Government.
'Snoopy' the Police helicopter
it nice but it is not worth its
expense. The crap in the
school system with option thia
optlon that would go. The
Government purchased ambu
lance service could be
scraped. And because most
minority geared government
funded programs are not
worth the paper they are
written on, they could be
scraped.
The point here is after
balancing coit over need
many progftama can be
scraped. Those programs felt
to be worthwhile will be
picked up by the private
sector.
Currently we despise the
Govern/™ m for overspending
and undcrthinktng But be
cause taxpayers reqiH-M moat
of the - stupid program* in
- ^kHWeilW. they *"enly upend
what we ask them to This has
canned a lot ni people to u*e
I he Government nx η crulvh
Anything nomelxwly want* the
government ran deliver at the
la*pny»*rH truquât» oi course
The private seelor pfciys little
or no rote in MOri:H program*
and the Government is footing
the MU ma lite buideu uf
promoting socialism, and they
do it inefflctanO?· .
It i· past time that Churches
and Social Clubs, Fraternities
and Soriorlttoa, Communities
and the like, take a more
positive role in providing
social programs Proposition
13 will force this on their
should*».
The massive layoffs and cut
backs currently going on in
California are exaggerated.
As hap-hazardly as they spend
it, the California Government
is cutting back. No planning..·.
no study tu find the faiia Μκ.·;
budget, just straight cutbac^-.
1 don't think this is necessatfa-r
But there will be some
fering as a result of
tion 13. But this is
in order to reverse our ci „
—
If the tax revolt continea·*
then in 10 years might be
able to balance the budget. Λ»-:
the heading in the observer*»:
neatly put it: How do Ametfe *r
cans spell relief: T-A-X-C
T. ■rw'
Handicapped Driver's Mufaily Gtàde "*♦·
Handicapped drivers can
now find the resources they
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The 7tMpage directory lists
and describes more than 500
transportation service· for
hiindicnppcrt drivers, includ
ing driving school·, manu
fiivturer* <»f handicapped
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publirtriini*
« 'i>p»w of tljr directory arc
l.>r$l ItM'llMlHIg p»wf
tigc Hm·"' inicrcHlcd in re
ceiving a copy ehould write WP1
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