Page 2A - THE CHARLOTTE POST - Thursday, March 2, 1989
n
ity Attorney Makes SpringFest Inquiry
Continued From Page lA
Springfest, Inc. is currently be
ing questioned by the City of
Charlotte's Attorney's Office.
'We have been asked by Attorney
Wayne Alexander (Carolyn Ma
son's lawyer) to look into the
matter and consult with Spring
fest officers," said Henry Under
hill, a lawyer for the city.
He also mentioned that Liz
Mills, the MWBE (Minority and
Women Business Enterprise) co
ordinator for the city, asked for
a review of Springfest activities,
especially as they relate to mi
nority vendors.
"We wrote a letter to the chair
man of Springfest, Inc. as to why
the request of Carolyn Mason
was denied," said Underhill, His
office received the information
from Springfest on Tuesday.
Underhill disclosed the fact
that the City of Charlotte nego
tiates a contract with Springfest
each year. The contract specifies
the City’s support to Springfest
with the agreement to close
down certain streets, permit the
sale of beer and wine and "a
number of other things."
The contract between Spring
fest and the City of Charlotte,
has not yet been negotiated for
this year's festival, scheduled to
be held the weekend of April 28 -
-\prll 30, said Underhill. Part of
'he investigation from his office
will be to determine if, in past
contracts with the City, Spring
fest complied with all local ordi
nances, rules and regulations.
Nancy Elliott of the City's Bud
get Department says the City has
provided Springfest "certain In-
klnd services," such as: setups
for portable stages, setups for
electrical outlets, portable pub
lic address systems, clean up or
trash pick-up, and appropriate
police and fire control. She also
mentioned the fact that the City
of Charlotte one year carried
Springfest on its insurance.
In consideration of the city's
support to the downtown festi
val, MWBE coordinator, Liz
Mills, expressed regret that
there are no statistics or policies
in place regarding black or mi
nority participation in Spring
fest.
Also, said Mills, "I'm disap
pointed that a black vendor has
to go to this extent to feel that
she is being treated fairly. This
has nothing to do with preferen
tial treatment. I hope we can
work this out."
Sam Young, chairman of West-
Fest, Inc., the organization that
yearly sponsors a westside com
munity festival, says it would be
a mistake for blacks to boycott
Springfest based on the black
vendor dilemma. "Springfest is
a city festival. It is not a white
festival. You don't boycott an in
stitution that benefits the entire
community. You move decisive
ly to make it better and get your
fair share," said Young,
He believes if Springfest had
more black involvement on its
various boards, the incident of
the exclusion of Carolyn Mason
may not have happened.
"Policy changes are the right of
any organization," Young point
ed out. "Springfest, Inc. made the
new policy without being fully
cognizant of its ramifications.
They didn't consider the fact
that the only black vendor
would be affected by that change.
"If Springfest had more people
of color on its board they could
have been alerted and sensitized
to minority concerns."
With the recent resignation of
Gloria Duval. Springfest Inc,
has no blacks serving on any of
its boards,
Springfest apparently lacks a
sensitivity towards minority
concerns. Young inferred. "I
GOP Reaches To Blacks
Continued From Page lA
the Republican Party communi
cate that the doors are open to
blacks, Hispanlcs, native Ameri
cans, women and other minori
ties,"
The door may be open, but
only to the Republican agenda
of opening the market for eco
nomic development, Cobb
maintains.
"The Republican Party is not
going to change its basic posi
tion," he said, adding that those
positions may be best received
among working-class blacks.
"There is a substantial middle
class that is developing in the
black community, and that's
what the Republican Party is
trying to reach."
Although African-Americans
vote heavily in favor of Demo
crats, black patience with the
party may be waning, Cobb said.
The Republican strategy is to
push its accomplishments to
gain black support.
"I think a lot of blacks are tired
of having promises broken," he
said. "But what we're guilty of in
the Republican Party is we've
written off the black vote.”
Increasing sophistication
among black voters is a hopeful
trend for GOP candidates, Cobb
said. Although African-
Americans as a group tend to
vote Democrat, blacks have
shown a wUllngness to split the
ticket.
"There were days when there
were black leaders who could
literally deliver votes," Cobb
said. 'Those days, frankly, have
long since passed. Blacks are
becoming more independent
and that's where the Republican
Party should realize that."
Cobb admits there will be
skeptics to the GOP’s outreach
to minorities, so the results of
the party's efforts may not be
seen in the immediate future.
'That's not going to happen in
the 1990 elections," he said. "It's
going to be a long-term project."
Many blacks see the GOP as
the party of the affluent "country
club" types, Cobb said. And with
the recent election of Republi
can Louisiana state Rep. David
Duke, a former Grand Dragon of
the Ku Klux Klan, some see it as
the party of racists.
"We've got to explain that,"
Cobb said. "Some of the original
Democrats who moved to the
Republican Party years ago did
so for racially motivated rea
sons, but that's in the past,"
Noting that it is unlikely that
the GOP will regain the majority
of black support it held before
Franklin Roosevelt wooed Afri
can-Americans to the Demo
crats, Cobb said the Republi
cans only want to be a viable
option to those who agree with
their principles.
'You’re not talking about win
ning 55 percent of the black
vote," he said. 'The party should
have a broad appeal, not neces
sarily a majority appeal in the
black community."
SHOP THE CLASSIFIEDS TODAY AND YOU
MAY FIND THE RIGHT JOB FOR YOU!
PAGE lOB
Complete
Income Tax Preparation
for Both
Individuals & Businesses
Competitive Rates on
BOOKKEEPING SERVICES
for Small and Large Businesses
MEL JACKSON ACCOUNTING SERVICE
an Affiliate, has now expanded it’s
service and is headed by: EVAN WEBB,
CPA. Evan has 25 years experiehce as
a corporate controller and director.
FREE PARKING
Serving Charlotte For Over 40 Years
377-5209
201 S. KINGS DR.
ACROSS FROM CINEMA THEATER
BETWEEN 3RD ST. & INDEPENDENCE
hope the current situation will
sensitize Sprlngfest’s board
members and they'll move
quickly and sincerely to correct
the problems."
Also, said Young, "It is inher
ent upon us, the black citizens,
to let It be known that there are
talented black Individuals who
want to be actively Involved in
Springfest. These Individuals
would be assets to the Springfest
organization and there definite
ly should be more black ven
dors."
Meanwhile, the negative rami
fications that have come about
as the result of Mason's exclu
sion from vendor sales at
Springfest’89 are being felt at
the office of Springfest, Inc.
"Based on my conversations
with members of the black com
munity, we've become very
aware of the concerns in the
community,” Executive Director
Steve Kaufman said Tuesday.
"Right now, we're trying to ar
range to put together a meeting
of Springfest board members
and members of the black com
munity. We are indeed trying to
institute steps to made aware of
the specifics of these concerns.
"it would be to everyone’s best
interest to arrange a meeting."
AUTO INSURANCE,™
Low Monthly Payments
1824 N. Graham Street 375-9209
PhoM/CALVM FUaUtOM
Robert Maxwell (1) helped sponaor a aurprise luncheon Wednesday
in honor of Rose Marie Cotton, who retired from the U.S. Small
Busineas Administration. Cotton's former position was that of As
sistant Director. She worked for the government for 33 years. The
limcheon was also sponsored by Elizabeth Mills and Pat Grlgg. Cot
ton intends to spend more time on the business. Express Line,
which she partly owns and do some consulting.
Braces For Children & Adults
Dr. PAUL A. McGILL
P D.D.S., P.A.
lice Limited To Orthodontics"
DIENT LOCATION & SAT. HRS
4)375-7005
Beatties Ford Road
iateway Professional Center
‘ rlotte, North Carolina 28216
! EASTOVER ;
i FOOT CLINIC, P.A.
I Formerly the practice of
„j;[J;.^'Dr. Lee Abernethy, Jr. and Dr. Ronald V. Futerman). |
•DIABETIC FOOTCARE
•HAMMERTOES
•SURGERY
•CALLOUSES
•BUNONS
•CORNS
DR. RONALD FUTERMAN ANNOUNCES
The Opening of Two New Locations
EASTOVER FOOT CLINIC LAKESIDE FOOT CLINIC!
Lakeside Professkffiai Building
N.C. Hwy, 73 at Jetton
Cornelius, N.C.
892-3399
Eastover Medical Park
2614 East 7th Street
Charlotte
376-3505
333.4014
2 FREE PAIR
ACUVUE®
DISPOSABLE CONTACT
LENSES
ACUVUE
(Ftafilcon A)
DISPOSABLE CONTACT LENSES
DISrOSALENS
SYSTEM
(or! if iCtlU* I’xpiros nil 2-28-8^>
NOW ANAIIAmit Al:
DR. PAULA NEWSOME
1S12 Lyndhiiisi Avenue • >75-1 VI-S nr '.“S-'yS"
Retire To Live...You Earned It..
Live At...
RENAISSANCE PLACE
Rental* Retirement
Community
In Fourth Ward For
Senior Citizens
Who Want To Be
Where The ACTION Is!
*Early Bird Bonus
- 2 Months
"FREE" Rent
►24-Hour Security
►Homestyle Meals
►Transportation to Doctor's Office
►Near Churches & Educational Facilities
•Housekeeping Services
•Arts, Crafts, & Exercise Rooms
•Timed-Control Elevators
•40-Bed Personal Care, with Wellness Philosophy
•Renaissance Place "Respects" Your Right To Make Your Own Decisions
►Personal Care Services in the Health Center For Residents Requireing Assistance
Eat in the Dining Room or Prepare Your Own Meals
(Kitchen View of 1 Bedroom Apartments)
One-Bedroom Apartments
(Bedroom View)
CALL TODAY!!
Let Us Take "YOU" On A Tour To Witness
The Amenities Offered To Make Retirement Full-filling
631 North Tryon Street
Margaret M. Smith, Marketing Director
Mon. -Fri. 9:30-5:00
(704)332-3121