The Tribune. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1951-19??, 1954-01-23
ROanOke's Stun
Clearance Plan
Should Be Altered
(EDlT ORlAL)
EDIT Q r lAL)

While The Tribune contends that the Northeast Re-
development plans should be altered it is also
of the leaders of the opposition the plan need to
change their attitude
Instead of the authorities paying what they consider
reasonable price for the standard homes and homes
that easily be brought up to standard and leaving
the to reestabsh themselves elsewhere
at their risk is unreasonable undemocratic and un
neighbory. Houses which of necessity must be moved
for reasonable redeveopment of the section in question:
other section of the city, should be moved the
expense of the Authorities and to location less de-
sirabe than the formerly occupied owe then that
are strong ought to bear the nfres of the weak and
not to please ourselves, is injunction of the Holy
Bible.
When one is reduced from home-owner to tenant
the ambition OF his life is shattered and his pride and
security as a property ownng citizen is blasted
Many of the people living in this section designated
for redevelopment bought their homes at exorbtant
prices and at times when the property hardly in
makeshift condition Some of them have added room by
room and modern conveniences to the limit of their
meager income to establish comfortable homes for them
selves and their dependents Now for the City, State OF
Nation to become party to any destined to
render insecure the twilight of their lives inumane
Some of the panicsricken leaders of the opposition
to the acknowledgment plan ringing true the charac
erlstcs of people by fear Not only they
fighting any redevelopment project which will affect
them in their better homes but they also vigorously OPP
cleaning up the disgraceul sums city which
breed crime disease and immortality 1t regretted
that they take that attitude to block progress But it
not that they wish to block progress but they afraid
of something which happen in generations
come. They afraid that the redevelopment of the
of load uItipo
to the possession of their property They are really cry
ing wolf, wolf when in reality there is no wolf. The
of the opposition is dreadfuly weakened when they
fight to retain shacks where there modern
venlences and numbers of people crowded into small
quarters to eat sleep live regardless of sex or age
disease. 1t should be remembered that most people
living in these sum tenants and not property
owners.
Yes The Tribune contends that the Redevelopment
Authorities need to alter their plans and the opposition
need to alter their attitude AS have said from the
beginning the widening of the streets to accommodate the
flow of traffic to and from the proposed NW Viaduct
is must Not mansion in the path of that neces-
sary right of way could stop it,
Unless the opposition demonstrates willingness to
play ball with the City, and convince the that they
don't to hinder the progressive growth of our city
by fighting to prevent the cleaning up of most
dlsgracetu living conditions in Roanoke in referendum
the voters would vote overwhelmingly in favor of the
Redevelopment Authorities plan as of today.
Many Negroes, Northeast, Northwest and Southwest
Will vote for the Redevopment project If the Northeast
people lose their fight it will be because their own lead
er attempt battle on too many fronts They should con-
centrate their section because that is the only
point in question If they lose that battle they will
certainly be without argument to defend section
many times than their own