The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1950-03-04

City Officials Must kededlcate
DCTROlTS Pathetic Housing Program, instead OF
improving apparently is getting worse. especially Tor
poorer ia miles who afford the exhorbltant prices
attached Ia new homes built by private builders.
OF course the city granted more than -FOUR nnon
dollars by the Federal Government to supplement the oca
building program, but what IL the situation aer the graz"
tude of our federal government!
From, where we sit the situation is becoming desPe-
rately worse may be attributed to the bungng OF
the present administration of newly elected fathers.
Yes they inherited the unfortunate situation from
nrevious administration but instead OF improving on the
numerous mistakes accumulated the years by the va
rous administrations the lords of the manor either
consciously unconsciousy bungng the entire pro
gram, insofar it poorer families especially
Negro families
Inentness if not prejudice has been displayed in prac
ticallv every move the Common Council and the Mayor
have made or attempted make Originally, the govern
nen earmarked million dollars for lowcos hous
ing in order to alleviate nhuman conditions IN whcn d
large percentage of local citizens through terrible
livelihood.
What the result proposed plans as announced by
our City Government?
r., ;r,uendo ehickanery and blatant disregard for
fair play sites for Negroes and other minority poor
groups deleted from the program And IT retained
are thrown the mouths of greedy private builders
Mavor Cobo has repeatedly stated that he 'tavors
private builders exhastng their toward rebuild
ing the sum and using federal monies to build puoc
housing when private capital cannot or Will not assume
the building.
That means that low income families. although they
are being moved their homes will never see
them again. WHY? They do NOT earn enough .on'S ~
move into New homes planned by the city oti'la'S'
An expert On housing, addressing members OF the
Detroit Common Council pointed out that sxty-tour per
cent of the families who presently moving elsewhere
will not be fortunate returning the homes butt
for them
CONCERNING the alleged pattern system Of the Detroit
Housing Commissions. whites in projects for whites ana
Negroes IN projects Negroes Mr. Abraham New lork
housing coucltant stated "Mayor CoboS Stun clearance
program is hshi, impractical and will take at least eight
years o ret results"
Mr. Abr;hams also reported that mixed housing pro-
cctS M New York have worked beautifully and failure to
insii a policy Of non-Segfegaton in Detroit housing
would oily dSurber Of racial tensions and result
in dcScssion.
There was the coop housing idea that met approval
until high brass discovered that several Negro families
were included Immediately the plan. previously blessed
and found be solution for portion of the city nous
ing needs blocked only because of petty racial hate
II later than many Of think Racial hate has no
Mace in shalv world, that OF 1850. 1t can serve as
one Of the greatest destroyers of morale DESTROYED
morale and especially when weakened by false premises
can prove detrimental to the general welfare
Detroit city officials along with members of the ous-
a CITY that will stand bcacon example of the
brotherhood mankind regardless Of race creed religion
or color.
II f. mo for the citizcnrv to envson the city as
beacon that ghs the path righteous not bgotry or dog
matisn Cite, Ike nations built on hate, dogmatsm. pref
udice and double talk survveno in the last half
of this twirling whirling Twentieth Century
VII Detr0iterS ever awake