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Box 4, Folder 4, Document 5
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es n ? c oe = oN Fhe i es a A,
Nw A iY mS OPA LLANE TAN
‘COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMISSION
MEMORIAL DRIVE ANNEX BLDG.
: 121 MEMORIAL DRIVE, S. W.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303
$22-4463
ainds July 25, 1969
DR. SAMUEL W. WILLIAMS, CHAIRMAN
VICE MAYOR SAM MASSELL, JR.,
. EX-OFFICIO ‘ -
-COMMISSION MEMBERS,
MR. T. M. ALEXANDER, SR.
—“MR. R. BYRON ATTRIDGE
MRS. SARA BAKER . ;
MISS HELEN BULLARD . 7 4 . _
rae KIT LEE FROM: Community Relations Commission
MR. MIKE CHEATHAM
REP. JAMES E. DEAN ; s :
MR. ROBERT 00885 . ;
Rebtel a eT ARD UBJECT: Summary of Complaints from Town Hall
MR. L. L. GELLERSTEDT, JR. ; 1 :
die ChAnbes Ane a , _ Meetings and Recommendations of the
DR. ROBERT E. LEE i i -
= ‘MRS. F. W. PATTERSON * Commission
RABBI JACOS M. ROTHSCHILD ‘
MR. PAUL SHIELDS *:
MR. L. D. SIMON |
.-..MRS. MARY STEPHENS : . = . oath, = ia
DR. J. RANDOLPH TAYLOR The key role of the Community Relations Commission (CRC)
REV. J.-A. WILBORN : ; i "
| in the Mayor's Summer Program has been in holding Town
MR. WILLIAM MCGEE, EX-OFFICIO . . * :
ATLANTA YouTH concress Hall meetings in the disadvantaged ares of the City. The
Commission initially goes in to hear the complaints of
TO: Mayor Allen and the Board of Aldermen
MR. NAT WELCH
ERE earn Foe citizens and returns some thirty days later and reports on
a: : -—... actions taken by City Hall and other agencies. In many
is. <<. cases, CRC has been able to report corrective action taken
ere ‘fy by City Departments and other agencies (note Supplement
' "A" for responses this week to complaints at Perry Homes),
Town Hall meetings have been held since March in the
following communities: Blair Village, Grant Park, Mechan-
icsville, Perry Homes, University Homes and Edgewood-
Kirkwood, |
This report tabulates the frequency of complaints registered
-.in the initial meetings. The frequency of complaints is not
_ in itself conclusive evidence of the gravity of problems faced
“7 by Atlanta. °
The purpose of this memorandum is to make recommendations
5 on problems the Commission has been unable to resolve.
Far and away the most frequent complaint received was the
need for more and better recreational facilities. Twenty-six
sgh -complaints were received on this subject compared with
ie eight each on police and garbage service. Twenty-four
a complaints on recreation dealt with the need for more swim-
ee ming pools, more play lots for tots, and programs for teen-
ee ‘ agers. Two complaints had to do with lack of services by
° a
Page 2
Summary of Complaints
Community Chest agencies in the disadvantaged areas, The Commission
would like to recommend four areas for improving this situation:
1.
The Parks Department capital improvement budget of
approximately $350,000 is grossly inadequate. This
-- sum can easily be expended to build one new park; but
this $350,000 has to be spread over 65 parks. For
example, a modern swimming pool costs approximately
teens senian Srertiee E220 O00. + be City of Atlanta needs to give serious
consideration to a multi-million dollar bond issue for
.. improvement and expansion of its Parks system. It
should be pointed out that the Parks Department is
operating 80 play lots of which 40 are staffed. These
are constructed and maintained principally from Federal |
Poverty Funds. If these funds are reduced, this would
. throw an immediate and substantial burden on this City.
~—"—~2.-~Emphasis should be placed on expanding and improving
- a:
play lots for tots and neighborhood parks in such com-
munities as Mechanicsville, Summerhill, Fulton Village,
Blue Heaven, Bowen Homes, Perry Homes and Grant
+ Park area. Parks need to be in walking distance of
these citizens where possible; ghetto families have very
poor transportation. Improved transportation in disad-
vantaged areas will help broaden recreational opportu-
nities.
Better utilization must be made of school-playgrounds
“and facilities. This requires more cooperation between
. the Atlanta School Board and the Parks Department.
4.
With the costs of construction and real estate spiraling,
. Atlanta has to make better use of school facilities for
recreation.
The need is pressing for improved recreation in public
“housing. The Atlanta Housing Authority can build recre-
--ational buildings. The City should urge action here by
the Authority. The Board of Aldermen has offered to
pay 50% of the costs of operating recreational programs
in public housing if the Authority would do likewise.
Under Federal law, AHA can not do so. Therefore, the
City must accept its responsibility here in as muchas
' it has assumed responsibility in providing other services
in public housing,
A major burden for improving recreation in the City rests with the Parks
Department. Churches have been remiss in developing recreational programs
Page a ‘ F
Summary of Complaints
need to step up their programs in disadvantaged areas and to guard against
serving just the middle class. The Atlanta Children's and Youth Services
Council has done an outstanding job in coordinating and promoting volunteer
services and warrants continous support.
Complaints about the Atlanta Police Department were eight in number.......
seven dealing with the need for greater protection and quicker, response and
---——one-about segregation in the department. Four suggestions were made by
citizens for improving police services;
1. More foot-patrolmen in areas of high crime,
2. Quicker switchboard answering at headquarters.
3. Complete desegration of the Police Department.
--—-4, - Improved street lighting in areas of high crime. This has
sharply reduced crime in some American cities.
. if Atlanta is to cope with its rising crime rate, citizens must share this
responsibility with the Police Department. The Atlanta Police Department
must be givena dequate funds for operations, salaries, training and research,
Atlanta citizens have a strong responsibility to report crimes and to serve as
witnesses where needed,
_Garbage service also ranked second in number of complaints. The Commission
"received six complaints on the quality and frequency of garbage colléction and
-----—two complaints on garbage being strewn over premises. The Commission held
a special meeting in June with the Director of the Public Works Department and
the Director of the Sanitary Service to inform them of these facts and to make
recommendations. The Public Works Committee of the Board of Aldermen
needs to take further steps to mechanize garbage collection and to increase the
ee “———pay of sanitary workers and to elevate the dignity of the job. Citizens need to.
show more appreciation for the men who perform this important public service.
-A serious complaint heard at Town Hall meetings during the spring dealt with
the failure of the City to remove junk cars. The responsibility for removing
junk cars on private property rests with the Sanitary Department and on streets
with the Police Department. In the last few weeks both departments have moved
forward with aggressive programs for coping with this nagging problem.
Other complaints received by the Commission are listed below in the frequency
in which received:
7 complaints......on sewers and drainage--5 on flooded streets and
2 on dirty sewers and smelly creeks.
5 complaints, ss. lack of jobs for youth.
Page 4 :
Summary of Complaints
5 complaints......Comprehensive Health--3 on services offered and
5 complaints. .
““~"“~4°complaints..
4 complaints..
3 complaints..
3 complaints...
3 complaints..
2 complaints..
2 complaints..
e
2 alleging discriminatory hiring practices.
.- Model Cities--lack of knowledge of program,
inadequate community representation, objections
to home purchase and repair programs, and
community contractors not getting a chance to bid.
- +
so repair of and the need for better street lighting.
-.need for new streets and the paving of existing
streets,
ieYats.
..City of Atlanta--2 on the lack of coordination of
City Departments and 1 on the lack of responsiveness_
to complaints of citizens.
. Atlanta Housing Authority--2 on the condition of
housing and 1] on high rents.
.. Urban Renewal--the desire of citizens for information,
and representation on urban renewal committees.
..- Economic Opportunity Atlanta
The Community Relations Commission itself was not above criticism. One
.complaint was registered on the lack of youth representation on the Commission
and another on the inability of the Commission to respont to complaints.
NO.
SUPPLEMENT "A"
The follow-up meeting in the Northwest Perry Homes area was held on
July 22, The CRC was able to report the following positive actions on
complaints registered by the citizens:
1,
Transportation--the CRC met with Mx. William Maynard,
President of the Atlanta Transit Company, to encourage
the extension of the Perry Boulevard Bus to Hollywood Road.
This would enable the residents of Perry Homes to have bus
Sescnee to the K-Mart and several large grocery stores.
in the Bankhead Highway area. The Atlanta Transit Company
agreed to make this extension on a three month trial basis.
New bus schedules were handed out to residents of paeay
Homes at the CRC meeting,
~ Recreation:
a. Through the efforts of the Atlanta Youth Council, the
Butler Street YMCA and Community Chest a recreation
program for teenagers at Northwest Perry Homes has been
developed. This program will provide recreation four
fg
Lf * °
nights a week during the remainder of the summer.
b. Mr. Persells reported that the Atlanta Housing
Authority will begin surveying for the construction of a
new recreation building within the next few weeks.
‘‘« Page 2
Stipplement "A"
3. Consumer Services: oe atte
a. CRC reported that Mr. Alterman, of Big pene Food
Stores, has agreed to build a new supermarket in the area
‘providing a minimum of three suitable acres can be found.
__.__Mr, Welch surveyed the area with a large shopping center
developer who promised a best effort to develop a shopping
‘center for the Perry Homes Area.
b. Mr. Lindskoog met with Mr. Yates: of Yates & Milton
oe Stores, to request that a phamndetét be placed in their.
"Drug Store in Perry Homes. Mr. Lindskoog plans te work
further on this issue
_4, ‘Atlanta Housing Authority:
a. In Moepen rs to the re Sidente request, new railings will be
placed on unprotected stairways.
_---—-b. Mr. Persells reported that operations are now under way
to eliminate the maggots that have become a serious problem
_ in one. section of the housing project.
“5. Proctor Creek--citizens were pleased with the report that
the City is presently doing extensive work to eliminate the
af
a
odor of Proctor Creek.
Community Relations Commission
Percent of Total
Total Complaints 87
Parks 26 30%
Police 8 9%
Sanitation 8 9%
Sewers, etc. ff 8%
Employment 5 6%
Health 5 6%
Model Cities 5 6%
Cities Services
Percent of Total
(July) * Total Complaints 708
Parks 32 5%
Police 133 19% .
Sanitation 267 38%
Sewers, etc. 59 8%
Employment No Figures Available
Health 19 3%
Model Cities No Figures Available
* Other Prominent Complaints
Housing Code 36
Traffic Engineering 40
Nw A iY mS OPA LLANE TAN
‘COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMISSION
MEMORIAL DRIVE ANNEX BLDG.
: 121 MEMORIAL DRIVE, S. W.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303
$22-4463
ainds July 25, 1969
DR. SAMUEL W. WILLIAMS, CHAIRMAN
VICE MAYOR SAM MASSELL, JR.,
. EX-OFFICIO ‘ -
-COMMISSION MEMBERS,
MR. T. M. ALEXANDER, SR.
—“MR. R. BYRON ATTRIDGE
MRS. SARA BAKER . ;
MISS HELEN BULLARD . 7 4 . _
rae KIT LEE FROM: Community Relations Commission
MR. MIKE CHEATHAM
REP. JAMES E. DEAN ; s :
MR. ROBERT 00885 . ;
Rebtel a eT ARD UBJECT: Summary of Complaints from Town Hall
MR. L. L. GELLERSTEDT, JR. ; 1 :
die ChAnbes Ane a , _ Meetings and Recommendations of the
DR. ROBERT E. LEE i i -
= ‘MRS. F. W. PATTERSON * Commission
RABBI JACOS M. ROTHSCHILD ‘
MR. PAUL SHIELDS *:
MR. L. D. SIMON |
.-..MRS. MARY STEPHENS : . = . oath, = ia
DR. J. RANDOLPH TAYLOR The key role of the Community Relations Commission (CRC)
REV. J.-A. WILBORN : ; i "
| in the Mayor's Summer Program has been in holding Town
MR. WILLIAM MCGEE, EX-OFFICIO . . * :
ATLANTA YouTH concress Hall meetings in the disadvantaged ares of the City. The
Commission initially goes in to hear the complaints of
TO: Mayor Allen and the Board of Aldermen
MR. NAT WELCH
ERE earn Foe citizens and returns some thirty days later and reports on
a: : -—... actions taken by City Hall and other agencies. In many
is. <<. cases, CRC has been able to report corrective action taken
ere ‘fy by City Departments and other agencies (note Supplement
' "A" for responses this week to complaints at Perry Homes),
Town Hall meetings have been held since March in the
following communities: Blair Village, Grant Park, Mechan-
icsville, Perry Homes, University Homes and Edgewood-
Kirkwood, |
This report tabulates the frequency of complaints registered
-.in the initial meetings. The frequency of complaints is not
_ in itself conclusive evidence of the gravity of problems faced
“7 by Atlanta. °
The purpose of this memorandum is to make recommendations
5 on problems the Commission has been unable to resolve.
Far and away the most frequent complaint received was the
need for more and better recreational facilities. Twenty-six
sgh -complaints were received on this subject compared with
ie eight each on police and garbage service. Twenty-four
a complaints on recreation dealt with the need for more swim-
ee ming pools, more play lots for tots, and programs for teen-
ee ‘ agers. Two complaints had to do with lack of services by
° a
Page 2
Summary of Complaints
Community Chest agencies in the disadvantaged areas, The Commission
would like to recommend four areas for improving this situation:
1.
The Parks Department capital improvement budget of
approximately $350,000 is grossly inadequate. This
-- sum can easily be expended to build one new park; but
this $350,000 has to be spread over 65 parks. For
example, a modern swimming pool costs approximately
teens senian Srertiee E220 O00. + be City of Atlanta needs to give serious
consideration to a multi-million dollar bond issue for
.. improvement and expansion of its Parks system. It
should be pointed out that the Parks Department is
operating 80 play lots of which 40 are staffed. These
are constructed and maintained principally from Federal |
Poverty Funds. If these funds are reduced, this would
. throw an immediate and substantial burden on this City.
~—"—~2.-~Emphasis should be placed on expanding and improving
- a:
play lots for tots and neighborhood parks in such com-
munities as Mechanicsville, Summerhill, Fulton Village,
Blue Heaven, Bowen Homes, Perry Homes and Grant
+ Park area. Parks need to be in walking distance of
these citizens where possible; ghetto families have very
poor transportation. Improved transportation in disad-
vantaged areas will help broaden recreational opportu-
nities.
Better utilization must be made of school-playgrounds
“and facilities. This requires more cooperation between
. the Atlanta School Board and the Parks Department.
4.
With the costs of construction and real estate spiraling,
. Atlanta has to make better use of school facilities for
recreation.
The need is pressing for improved recreation in public
“housing. The Atlanta Housing Authority can build recre-
--ational buildings. The City should urge action here by
the Authority. The Board of Aldermen has offered to
pay 50% of the costs of operating recreational programs
in public housing if the Authority would do likewise.
Under Federal law, AHA can not do so. Therefore, the
City must accept its responsibility here in as muchas
' it has assumed responsibility in providing other services
in public housing,
A major burden for improving recreation in the City rests with the Parks
Department. Churches have been remiss in developing recreational programs
Page a ‘ F
Summary of Complaints
need to step up their programs in disadvantaged areas and to guard against
serving just the middle class. The Atlanta Children's and Youth Services
Council has done an outstanding job in coordinating and promoting volunteer
services and warrants continous support.
Complaints about the Atlanta Police Department were eight in number.......
seven dealing with the need for greater protection and quicker, response and
---——one-about segregation in the department. Four suggestions were made by
citizens for improving police services;
1. More foot-patrolmen in areas of high crime,
2. Quicker switchboard answering at headquarters.
3. Complete desegration of the Police Department.
--—-4, - Improved street lighting in areas of high crime. This has
sharply reduced crime in some American cities.
. if Atlanta is to cope with its rising crime rate, citizens must share this
responsibility with the Police Department. The Atlanta Police Department
must be givena dequate funds for operations, salaries, training and research,
Atlanta citizens have a strong responsibility to report crimes and to serve as
witnesses where needed,
_Garbage service also ranked second in number of complaints. The Commission
"received six complaints on the quality and frequency of garbage colléction and
-----—two complaints on garbage being strewn over premises. The Commission held
a special meeting in June with the Director of the Public Works Department and
the Director of the Sanitary Service to inform them of these facts and to make
recommendations. The Public Works Committee of the Board of Aldermen
needs to take further steps to mechanize garbage collection and to increase the
ee “———pay of sanitary workers and to elevate the dignity of the job. Citizens need to.
show more appreciation for the men who perform this important public service.
-A serious complaint heard at Town Hall meetings during the spring dealt with
the failure of the City to remove junk cars. The responsibility for removing
junk cars on private property rests with the Sanitary Department and on streets
with the Police Department. In the last few weeks both departments have moved
forward with aggressive programs for coping with this nagging problem.
Other complaints received by the Commission are listed below in the frequency
in which received:
7 complaints......on sewers and drainage--5 on flooded streets and
2 on dirty sewers and smelly creeks.
5 complaints, ss. lack of jobs for youth.
Page 4 :
Summary of Complaints
5 complaints......Comprehensive Health--3 on services offered and
5 complaints. .
““~"“~4°complaints..
4 complaints..
3 complaints..
3 complaints...
3 complaints..
2 complaints..
2 complaints..
e
2 alleging discriminatory hiring practices.
.- Model Cities--lack of knowledge of program,
inadequate community representation, objections
to home purchase and repair programs, and
community contractors not getting a chance to bid.
- +
so repair of and the need for better street lighting.
-.need for new streets and the paving of existing
streets,
ieYats.
..City of Atlanta--2 on the lack of coordination of
City Departments and 1 on the lack of responsiveness_
to complaints of citizens.
. Atlanta Housing Authority--2 on the condition of
housing and 1] on high rents.
.. Urban Renewal--the desire of citizens for information,
and representation on urban renewal committees.
..- Economic Opportunity Atlanta
The Community Relations Commission itself was not above criticism. One
.complaint was registered on the lack of youth representation on the Commission
and another on the inability of the Commission to respont to complaints.
NO.
SUPPLEMENT "A"
The follow-up meeting in the Northwest Perry Homes area was held on
July 22, The CRC was able to report the following positive actions on
complaints registered by the citizens:
1,
Transportation--the CRC met with Mx. William Maynard,
President of the Atlanta Transit Company, to encourage
the extension of the Perry Boulevard Bus to Hollywood Road.
This would enable the residents of Perry Homes to have bus
Sescnee to the K-Mart and several large grocery stores.
in the Bankhead Highway area. The Atlanta Transit Company
agreed to make this extension on a three month trial basis.
New bus schedules were handed out to residents of paeay
Homes at the CRC meeting,
~ Recreation:
a. Through the efforts of the Atlanta Youth Council, the
Butler Street YMCA and Community Chest a recreation
program for teenagers at Northwest Perry Homes has been
developed. This program will provide recreation four
fg
Lf * °
nights a week during the remainder of the summer.
b. Mr. Persells reported that the Atlanta Housing
Authority will begin surveying for the construction of a
new recreation building within the next few weeks.
‘‘« Page 2
Stipplement "A"
3. Consumer Services: oe atte
a. CRC reported that Mr. Alterman, of Big pene Food
Stores, has agreed to build a new supermarket in the area
‘providing a minimum of three suitable acres can be found.
__.__Mr, Welch surveyed the area with a large shopping center
developer who promised a best effort to develop a shopping
‘center for the Perry Homes Area.
b. Mr. Lindskoog met with Mr. Yates: of Yates & Milton
oe Stores, to request that a phamndetét be placed in their.
"Drug Store in Perry Homes. Mr. Lindskoog plans te work
further on this issue
_4, ‘Atlanta Housing Authority:
a. In Moepen rs to the re Sidente request, new railings will be
placed on unprotected stairways.
_---—-b. Mr. Persells reported that operations are now under way
to eliminate the maggots that have become a serious problem
_ in one. section of the housing project.
“5. Proctor Creek--citizens were pleased with the report that
the City is presently doing extensive work to eliminate the
af
a
odor of Proctor Creek.
Community Relations Commission
Percent of Total
Total Complaints 87
Parks 26 30%
Police 8 9%
Sanitation 8 9%
Sewers, etc. ff 8%
Employment 5 6%
Health 5 6%
Model Cities 5 6%
Cities Services
Percent of Total
(July) * Total Complaints 708
Parks 32 5%
Police 133 19% .
Sanitation 267 38%
Sewers, etc. 59 8%
Employment No Figures Available
Health 19 3%
Model Cities No Figures Available
* Other Prominent Complaints
Housing Code 36
Traffic Engineering 40
Comments