The Wyandotte news-herald. (Wyandotte, Mich.) 1943-1963, 1945-05-24

the project" Signed-Homer Far
guson. United States Senator.
The delegation to Washington
consisted of: Melvindale - Mayor
Stoddard, Councilman Clarence
Sheets, Allen Elrod and William Ri
ward; School District No. 11-Presi-
dent Ralph willard, Secretary
Ralph jolly, Treasurer Arthur
Moore, Trustee Carl Anderson and
Attorney Martin L. Leacock; Ecorse
Township - Attorney Harry Vel
mure and Supervisor Henry Her
rick; Lincoln Probationary Ar
thur Zirkaloso; Wyandotte-Attor-
ney Herbert P. Schendel and Coun-
Gilman Richard T. Kelly.
At the first meeting of the dele
cation in Washington your repre-
sentativeS stated to the group that
the Mayor and Council were whole
heartedly behind their effort and
that as delegates We would cooper
ate 100 per cent, that our purpose
in being there was to present q
solid front to unite Down River
communities and TO cement the
friendship of Wyandotte to its
neighboring municipalities.
Our next meeting was with Will
liam S. Cole, Senior Investigator
for the Mead National Defense
Committee. After hearing the pro-
tests Of the Down River delegation,
Mr.. Cole stated that he would bring
the protests to the attention of
the committee.
The delegation then met with
Congressman John Lesinski and
placed our protest before him.
Our next conference was with
Philip M. Klutznick, Federal Public
Housing Administrator and Charles
B. Lawrence, Jr., Regional Direc-
tor Of our area for the Federal Pub
lie Housing Authority. At this
meeting, 1t was pointed out that
the Federal Government had not
consulted local municipalities or
school districts regarding this tenn
porary unrestricted housing prof.
ect but had actually pulled a sneak
attack by filing an order in Federal
Court. The Administrator was duly
Apologize about lack of notifica-
ton, however, no assurance was
gwen that the project would not
go on. Mr.. Klutznick then pointed
out that his organization did not
determine need, that this was left
entirely in the hands of the Ma
tional Housing Administrator John
B. Blandford, Jr.
The delegation then met with
the National Housing Administra-
tor, John B. Blandford, Jr., William
Divers. Regional Representative
National Housing Agency, Charles
B. Lawrence, Jr., Regional Director
Federal Public Housing Authority
and a Mr.. Phillips. At this meet
ing a lengthy discussion pro and
con was held but the National Ad-
ministrator did not indicate that
he would reinvestigate the need for
the project.
1t is our opinion that in spite
of all the arguments advanced by
the various communities that the
National Housing Administrator in
tends to allow the Federal Public
Housing Authority to place a 1410
unit temporary unrestricted hous-
ing project In Ecorse Township
said project to cost approximately
"A. 900, 10000.
At present the project is held UP
by virtue Of an order to show cause
set for Monday. May 18th, in Fed
eral Court.
Following our meeting with Mr..
Blandford, the delegation met with
Congressman Lesinski, and left a
complete report.
The general attitude Of the COM
mittee indicated that they felt the
project would 60 on despite the
protests of the communities, des-
perately crowded school condition,
the changing of the character of
the neighborhood, racial ill-feeling
and a general trend toward recon-
version.