Box 7, Folder 17, Document 52

Box 7, Folder 17, Document 52

JOMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMISSION

ESTABLISHED BY THE MAYOR AND THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN, NOVEMBER, 1966
1208 CITY HALL, ATLANTA GEORGIA 30308 TELEPHONE 522-4468 EXT. 488

Mr. Invinc K. Kater, Chairman
Tue HoNoRABLE SAM MASSELL, Jr., Ex-Officio June 28 ’ 196 T
President, Board of Aldermen

COMMISSION MEMBERS

Mr. T. M. ALEXANDER, Sr.

Mr. R. BYRON ATTRIDGE

xs, ibd Barret TO: THE MAYOR AND THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN
Miss HELEN BULLARD

Mr. R. J. BUTLER

Mr. Rosert Dosss FROM: COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMISSION

Mr. HamItton Dovuc.as, JR.

Mr. C. G. Ezzanp

Most Reverenp Paut J. HALLINAN WHEREAS, we the Atlanta Community Relations Commission,
See a ereih have completed the public heari in the followi

his. Josurn HAs plete e public hearings in the following areas,

Mr. At KUETTNER Summer Hill-Peoplestown, Edgewood-Kirkwood, Vine City-Lightning,

A neared Mechanicsville-Pittsburg, Northwest area, Perry Homes-Scotts

Mr, F. W. PATrerson Crossing, Boulevard area, Capitol Avenue area, Dixie Hills area,

- img faeap cach apts and two open meetings city-wide; and

Mr. M. 0. “Buzz” Ryan
Mr. Jack SELLS

Se eae Soeeen Whereas, these meetings have been at the request of the
THE REVEREND SAMUEL WILLIAMS z : i
people who live in the area and/or community people who are con-
cee oe eee cerned with what is happening and could happen to this City; and

Executive Director

WHEREAS, the same thread runs through all of the communities.
The complaints have no geographic priorities. In broad areas they
can be listed as follows’

1. Apparent unwillingness of the City to move in areas
until, as it is phrased, "the City has to”.

2. Job opportunities.
3. Inadequate garbage collection.

2 4. Inadequate recreation facilities, with particular emphasis
on recreation facilities for teenagers and young adults.

5. Inadequate police patrol on one hand, and overzealousness
of police in emergencies.

6. Bad housing conditions, with the attending problems of
high rent, overcrowding, rats, bugs, flies, lack of garbage cans.

7. A feeling: that the poor people of Atlanta are somehow
set apart from the mainstream of the life of the City and that they
are as a group, ignored until they start "making things happen."

8. The policies of the Atlanta Housing Authority, in regard
to housing projects.

9. The policies of real estate people in failing to provide
minimum conditions relating to health, maintenance, and rent increases;

and,


-2-

Resolution cont'd

~

WHEREAS, the City is directly concerned with the first four
items:

1. Apparent unwillingness---to move in areas until---"the
City has to"----

2. Job opportunities.
3. Inadequate garbage collection.
4. Inadequate recreation facilities,----

we urge that the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen take whatever emergency
measures are necessary to provide additional recreation facilities, adequate
garbage collection, and preplanning in terms of next year, and that plan-
ing be a city-wide concern; and, :

WHEREAS, we recognize that all Departments are limited in terms
of finances; and,

WHEREAS, we heartily applaud the efforts of the past, we have an
obligation and a concern to stress that the time to start for summer plan-
ning for 1968 is now; that citizens in all areas should know what is being

proposed; ana,

WHEREAS, we believe that the other items listed need further
investigation by the Commission; and,

; WHEREAS, we believe that we can work in areas involving these
problems by conferences and hearings with the people involved; be it
further

RESOLVED, that the Atlanta Community Relations Commission goes
on record as being unalterably opposed to mob violence; that we pass this
Resolution in an effort to alleviate some of the causes, and that we
underline the philosophy that in Atlanta we should not allow demonstrations
to determine City policies; that we urge private owners and rental agencies
to immediately begin fulfilling their obligations; that we support the
efforts of the Economic Opportunity Atlanta in neighborhood organizations;
that we request the City Attorney to furnish the Commission with the legal
obligations of private owners of dwellings and/or apartment houses; and
that we applaud the efforts of all groups and individual citizens in their
efforts towards making Atlanta maintain its unique potential greatness;
and be it further ‘

RESOLVED, that it is the profound conviction of the Atlanta
Community Relations Commission that no city can achieve true greatness
without fulfilling its obligation for city services and for community
involvement; and be it further

RESOLVED, that we, as private citizens of Atlanta and as
members of the Atlanta Community Relations Commission, recognize our own
responsibilities and involvement and-our own late recognition of these
problems and we urge the involvement of every responsible citizen in
Atlanta in working towards a continuous effort at the solution of the
problem.. We recognize the efforts of the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen.


3.

Resolution cont'd

In a sense of urgency, we call for a greater concentration of essential
efforts in tangible planning and performance of city obligations, which
will, we sincerely believe, have the support from all citizens of Atlanta;
and be it further

RESOLVED, that this is the job for all Atlanta, for all citizens
in all sections, not just the elected officials.

The above Resolution was unamiously adopted at the regular monthly meeting
of the Community Relations Commission, June 23, 1967, Committee Room #2,
City Hall, Atlanta, Georgia