The Tribune. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1951-19??, 1954-02-06
The Special Election On The
Charlottesville Housing Issue
By Randolph L. White


After debating the issue pro and con for the past
five years Charlottesville Council has ordered special
election for April Is to determine the need of redevel
opment and housing authority.
Council also appropriated 1000 to conduct what it
calls an unbiased program to inform the voters the
pros and cons of a housing authority.
Prior to Councils move in this matter it had
appointed Housing Committee giving it the task of try
ing to find private investors who would invest their
money in low-renta housing project the needs
of the citys lowest income group, which of are
Negro citizens. The Committee failed to find such
vesors and eventually rendered its resignation in frus
tration.
Like most cities where public housing and redevel-
opment projects have been sought governing bodies have
usually resisted the idea of accepting Federal aid Char
lottesvile has not proved exception to this rule In
each of the hoty contested debates the pros
of establishing a Federal Housing and Redevelopment
Authority for Charlottesville, certain members Council
sought to create alarm among the taxpayers by predicting
terrific increase in taxation and control from Wash
ngton. AS substitute they urged that such project
be handled with private funds. But, is usually the
case, private investors failed to forth.
The truth of the matter regards the claim of in
creased taxation where public housing authorities
established, is of course taxpayers paying terrific
Subsidy for s with the real estate interests actually
reaping the benefits Here is what really happening
these holders of sum properties making exhorbitant
profits from owning, managing and selling such prop
erues. ~: TgY
Public housing is the taxpayers best buy Private
enterprise has been able to build lowrenta hous
ing and develop blight-sricken any worthwhile
scale Nor does it contemplate embarking upon such
program The true aim of realtors is to prevent
the arge-scale construction of lowrent public housing
because they consider it to their fat profits from
slum holdings.
A recent survey of sub-standard dwellings in a GER
tain New Jersey city showed that every sum dwelling
cost the c1tys government average of $172 year
Tor health welfare police protection and other services
Based on that cys population it averaged S276 from
the pocket of every worker employed in that city This
condition. the concludes has since been corrected
by the establishment of Federal Housing Authority and
the prior cost the workers have dropped from
$2.76 to 119 year.
Because of economic conditions facing them Char
IottesviIe Negroes at near the bottom of the
economic ladder AS result it should be obvious the
most casual observer that these citizens cannot compete
anywhere near equal with their white reighbors on the
real estate market A smaller number Of white people
here are equally mpotent financially They too shoult
benefit equally if the voters decide that the city actually
needs public housing and redeveopment authority The
principal difference between the two races is when
white family can increase it's earning sufficiently
IT isn't barred from buying renting housing whereve
it afford But Negroes find themselves either "shut
ln or "shutout" of most desirable residential areas
they newcomers or have to move
Not only will public housing authority backe
with federal funds long way toward eliminating tn
condition faced by lowest income groups it will bene
fit the city immeasuraby. beautiful city will b
enjoyed by all citizens; juvenile delinquency crime am
health hazards will be greatly reduced and the value