Newspapers / The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, … / Nov. 1, 1979, edition 1 / Page 10
Part of The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
A!Lilx^us*ve Interview With Mayoral Candidates Special To The Poet Charlotte voters will choose a new mayor when they go to the polls on Tues. Nov. 6. In separate interviews The Char lotte Post asked candidates Eddie Knox (Democrat) and Barry Miller (Republican) their views on ten issues facing Charlotte in the 1960’s. Here are their replies: P0^ What is the main issue in this campaign? KNOX: Transportation. Growth will come to our city, even if we don't want it. The capacity to move people across town is critical. MILLER: The quality of life for our people is number one. This means safe neighbor hoods, better transportation, less pollution, more housing. POST: State your position on scattered site Public Housing? KNOX: 1 subscribe to a totally integrated community. Society shouldn't segregate poverty. We need scattered site housing. MILLER: I support it. We must promote easy access to health, safety and welfare services for residents of public housing. We must put people first. Undue stresses are created when people are in an environment unfamiliar to them. POST: What solutions do you see to the housing shortage? KNOX: We must involve the private sector in bousing de velopment. The Third Ward Rehabilitation Program is a good example of private and public involvement. I would make low income housing an important priority. If you don’t have a decent place to lie down at night, you can’t be happy. muuLibit: uur main prooiem is the loss of current stock housing. We need private funds for rehabilitation, at a cost of one-third less than public funding. Neighbor hood groups, like the Wilmore Association, can make a major contribution to increas ing community pride, involvement and a compet itive spirit that will help maintain our neighborhoods. I would also support a bond issue to raise housing revenue. POST: How do you view Dis trict Representation? KNOX: I’m for it. I chaired the sub-committee on District Representation. The public has a good feeling about it; they believe it’s an open way to City Hall. It can work. The challenge is to make it work. MILLER: District Represent ation benefits people. I signed the original petition and worked for it. When neighbor hood interest increases and people get together, the quality of life improves. Many benefits have already been noted - wider membership on city committees, greater density, successful bond is sues. POST: How would you deal with the City Workers’ Union efforts? KNOX: We have a devoted group of dty employees. If you pay a decent wage and give access to elected offici a Is, you can have good rapport with dty workers without an outside group such as a union. Employees can represent • themselves. The law says they can join a union, but in the pub lic sector there is no "supply and demand" rule as in the pri vate sector. If the lines of communication are open and we are reasonable in handling problems, we won't have un ions. MILLER: Unions are legal. The dty should take a positive attitude towards the psy chological and physical needs I-- ' — ot its workers, but should not negotiate with any unions. The public needs city services on the street. I favor instead "participative management" where employees meet in groups with each layer of management. Then you wouldn't need a grievance system. POST: How would you have handled the recent Sanitation Workers’ Strike? KNOX: I would be open to listening to complaints and be more patient. In this case I think the workers should have had a better cause. (The issue was a better grievance pro cedure.) MILLER: I would get the workers more involved and tell them how much we ap preciate them. A police of fleer is the most important person in our community, and the sanitation worker is se cond. A higher moral would reduce labor turnover and workers would be happier with their jobs. POST: What do you think of the state's “RIGHT-TO WORK” law? KNOX: I support it. It has worked well in this state. Wages aren’t what they ought to be, but legislation has in creased the minimum wage and new industry will bring higher wages. MILLER: I think we must have it to create an atmos phere where people can use imaginative approaches to management. If you involve workers in their own man Better Look Out! GHSP Launches 55 MPH Campaign Special TO The Post RALEIGH- A new state wide campaign designed to increase voluntary compli ance with the 55 mile per hour (MPH) speed limit by North Carolina motorists was an nounced here Friday. State Secretary of Trans portation Tom Bradshaw and Secretary of Crime Control and Public Safety Burley Mit chell announced the launching of the campaign. Results of an opinion survey of the state’s drivers, Which was used to develop the campaign, «i«q were released. Next week, the Governor’s Safety Program (GHSP), an agency of the North Carolina Department of Transportat ion, in cooperation with other state agencies, will begin the new effort, using the theme: “I Believe In 55,” according to GHSP Coordinator Edwin Guy. “It will consist of public service announcements on radio and television and in newspapers. Outdoor advert ising, posters, bumper stick ers and other promotional material also will carry the message,” Guy said. Mitchell said the Depart roent of Crime Control jnd • Public Safety “strongly sup-' ports the ‘I believe in 55’; campaign.” “We have been involved in the development of this camp aign and will assist in carry ing out some features of the program,” Mitchell said. “The State Highway Patrol and other law enforcement agencies are doing an excel lent job enforcing the 56 mile per hour speed limit, but it is simply impossible to have enough officers to apprehend all the violators of this law. That’s why compliance must be voluntary and why increas ed cooperation on the part of the driving public is absolute ly essential if we are to reduce speeding in North Carolina.” Bradshaw said that the 55 mph speed limit “has proven to be of great benefit, saving both lives and fuel.” “But there is another reason why increased compliance with the 55 mile per hour limit is important to North Carolina federal funding of highway iippcovetnent projects,” he said. The transportation secret ary explained that recent fed eral legislation established a graduated system of comp liance standards to measure the effectiveness of state speed limit programs and im poses financial penalties for failure to comply with the new criteria. The new standards increase the lowest acceptable level of compliance from 30 percent of drivers obeying a posted 55 mph limit in 1979 to 70 percent in 1983 and beyond. Last year in North Carolina, 45 percent of all drivers obeyed the 55 mph limit, according to speed checks conducted by the North Carolina Department of Tran sportation in accordance with specifications of the Federal Highway Administration. “Many North Carolina driv ers know the advantages of the 55 mile per hour speed limit,” Bradshaw said, noting that the opinion survey, con ducted by North Carolina State University Survey Re search, found that 43 percent of those responding to the survey said it saves lives and reduces injury; 34 percent feel it saves gas; and 90 percent believe it makes driving more relaxing. Hie lower speed limit has saved 1.5 billion gallons of gasoline a year since its intro duction, according to U.S, De partment of Energy esti nates. agement, they don’t need out side- parties. Let’s get right down to the individual work ers. POST: What can be done about Low Wages in our area? KNOX: I see more involve ment of the private sector in job training and referral. The Chamber of Commerce could be a clearing agency for low income youth looking for jobs. I think the competency tests will remove that final obstacle that has especially held back black youth. We must make youth competitive to be able to demand decent wages. When youth are qualified, there will be no excuse for them not getting jobs. This transition period may be traumatic for some, but in the long-run it will work. MILLER: Our main problem is underemployment. We need to upgrade people’s skills, train them on more sophisticated equipment. This means more colleges and vo cational schools. I was a founder of the CPCC Found ation which provides scholar ships and programs of cont inuing education. I am com mitted to upward mobility of our people. POST: What can be done to improve Public Transporta tion? KNOX: I would computerize the signal lights to move traf fic smoothly through town, and encourage merchants to offer bus tokens, which is cheaper than the parking to kens many now provide. Hie media should offer free space to encourage bus ridership. I favor satellite circulation be tween shopping centers and more express buses to certain areas. I would create a citizens' task force devoted to the certain areas. I would create a citizens’ task force devoted to the bus system. MILLER: The challenge is to move the moat people in the moat efficient and dependable way possible. I would ask the state legislature to create a mass transit authority, a ded icated group of citizens to plan our transit system into the late 1960’s. We need more imagin ation to make the bus a real alternative. We should post schedules at each stop, use electronic equipment to mon itor performance, use more part-time drivers for peak hours. I also propose a beltway around the center city. Regular buses would bring in passengers to four beltway transfer points for shuttle buses to the downtown and to medical facilities. This would reduce pollution and congestion and also save en ergy. POST: What other issues do you want to bring before the black community? KNOX: The black comm unit} gave Harvey (Gantt) an ex cellent vote and we expected that. But I consider it was a vote for Harvey and not a gainst me. I have a history of fairness in Job programs and have campaigned regularly in the black community. Now I’m asking for your help and support. MILLER: We need to involve our youth in programs that give achievement and pride. Recognition is a great mo tivator and encourages up ward mobility. Young people are our greatest resource. Letter To The Editor Health Care Bond Senior Citizens for better Health Care 1000 Baxter Street Charlotte, N.C. 28204 Phone: 332-3049 October 25, 1979 Letter to the Editor: On Novermber 6th, the Health Care bond referendum will be placed before Char iot te-Mecklen burg voters. Passage of this bond issue is of critical Importance to the future of Charlotte Memorial Hospital, to its ability to ade quately respond to the health care needs of the community, and to its ability to con tinue providing high quality medical care to Chariot te Mecklen burg and the surroun ding area. Representing ‘‘Senior Citiz ens for Better Health Care,” our group has met on several occasions with Memorial staff regarding specific problems in the clinics and the emergen cy room that needed to be add ressed. The staff has always been attentive to our group and expressed willingness to review and act on our con cerns. Some of these problems have already been addressed: improving the avalilability of wheelchairs and walkers for in-coming patients, new signs covering the federal Hill-Burt on program which are now vis ible and readable, and also im proved staff attitudes toward patients. Even with these changes, there is much more that can be done. Memorial serves not just el derly but a broad cross section of the population in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County. It has an obligation to serve ALL people with the best poss ible medical care and to do so in a responsive manner. While problems mav exist, Memori I al does need the support of its community. It has shown its willingness to listen and act on problems expressed by the community. Now we need to respond. Voting YES on Nov ember 6th for the health care bond referendum is a step that we all need to take as respons ive citizens and voters in Mecklenburg County. Sincerely, Johnsie Evans, Spokesperson r" Black Elected Officials Support Mamite Shuford By Eileen Hanson Special to the Poet Harvey Gantt and five other black elected otticials threw their weight behind Marnite Shuford’s campaign last week in her bid for an at-large seat on city council. Gantt says he fears the black representation on council will be reduced unless the black community comes out in force for the Nov. 6 election. On the present council, three of ll members are black-Gantt, Charlie Dannelly and Ron Lee per After five years as an at-large member, Gantt is leaving the council after this term. He chose instead to run for mayor, but lost to Eddie Knox in the Democratic primary. Other endorsements for Shuford’s campaign came from Phil Berry, chairman of the school board; Rev. George Battle, school board member; State Senator Fred Alexander; City Councilmen Lee per and Dannelly; and former County Commissioner Robert Walton. All are Democrats, as is Shuford. The only other Black running for an at-large seat is Republican Rudy Hendricks. Also «n««kins for Shuford were community leaders L.C. Coleman. Carrie Graves and Rev. Coleman Kerry. "We have a very good chance of winning, but it all depends on the turnout of black voters,” said Shuford, a lawyer an^ native of Char lotte, “We could lose a seat on council if blacks don't vote." There will be a benefit jazz performance for the Shuford campaign on Sunday, Nov. 4 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Excelsior Club, 921 Beatties Ford Rd Lee Freeman and Zoom, Magic and other groups will perform Refreshments will be served. There is a 10 dollar donation at the door. first Black Foot!_ Coach Keeps His Cool WiUie Jeffries tries to ignore the fact that at 41, he is the first Black man named as a major college football coach.' He also tries to ignore the possibility of the extra pres sure that position could bring. “I do believe there were a lot of people with doubts in their minds,” he said slowly, his face screwed up in thought about Dec. 28, when be was ■ named to replace Jim Wright at Wichita State University. “This is a first. But we’ve established a really good rap port with the community We haven’t any type of that pro blem. “People nationally (will be jlootong_atjne racially) more so than those locally. I think my staff and I have been accepted by the community.” But Jeffries - who led all black South Carolina State to five bowl appearances, in five conference titles and the 1978 Black national championship during a 50-18-4 six years as head coach for his alma mater knows be has other problems to concern him at Wichita. He is working from a 4-71978 WSU record, faces a schedule that starts off at New Mexico State and includes road games at Oklahoma State and Alabama and will be starting a freshman walk-on at quaK erback. Dr. Barry Miller . Republican candidate Eddie Knox ...Democratic candidate 1 he Affordable 80’s , The 19X0 automobiles are better than ever before. Enjoy the advantages of their greater gas mileage and improved efficiency with a new car loan. We’ll give you an emergency kit absolutely FREE, while they last, for your driving safety, because H,lt,hus-You’re Somebody Special-— 11 MECHANICS & FARMERS BANK 101 Beatties Ford Rd. 2101 Beatties Ford Rd. 951 S. Independence Blvd. City councilnUm Harvey Gantt gives Ms indorsement to Marnite Shuford in the at-larfh city cpnncii race, (photo by Hanaon) ' •. ■ , 4 #' •W« 4 * " ^4* *• .r? •■« • • * 4 •* I WINTER SIDING SALE! "10% DISCOUNT" Here s A Chance To: | | g= * Save * 100 to * 1000 On Work Done Between November 1,1979 and January 31, 1980 * Protect Your Home Through This Winter * Beautify Your Home Before The Holiday Season * Say Gobdbye To The Paint Brush NO PAYMENT DUE 'TIL SPRING! --1 r - - Ahmfun or Vinyl Siding Roofing * Wide Variety of Colors Gutters & Downspouts Expert Workmanship THE BETTER Storm Doors & Windows 40 Year Gucrantee BUSINESS BUREAU Attic 100% Financing Insulation FOR FREE ESTIAAATE - CALL STEVE LUND6ERG — • \ ' f" • • J ✓ jjqp ■'«-—— Cyclone Roofing and Siding Co: SINCE 1935 615 Fugate Ave. Charlotte, N.C. 375-4476 i /
The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Nov. 1, 1979, edition 1
10
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75