Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-05-07
LETTERS TO THE STAR
Neiqhborhood Project

Neighborhood Project
The wind of "neighbor-
hood democracy" that J. w.
Haywood, jr.. sees rising In
the land (Star, May ID is
blowing stronger in Wash
ington than he knows.
He mentioned the National
Capital Clearing House for
Neighborhood Democracy and
Neighbors, Inc, as manifes-
tations of this new spirit. We
Of Neighbors. Inc, would like
to thank him for his high
regard of us. But he and
others may be interested to
know that we are not the
only organization working on
a local level to create neigh
borhoodS in which people Of
diverse races and beliefs will
feel welcome. At least two
other local groups must be
mentioned. The LII m o n d.
Riggs Park Citizens Associa-
ton, the only fully inte-
grated and active citizens
association in the city, has
recently, under the chair
manShip Of Sol Gnatt. under
taken a vigorous program
whose purpose is to maintain
the integrated character Of
its area. In Mount Pleasant,
q group Of neighbors has
just formed a new independ-
ent, integrated citizens or
ganization called Neighbors
for q Modern Community.
The president is Warren
Morse.
All of us in these three
groups are Joined by q COM
mon realization: the old resi-
dental patterns are not
working; they leave us too
much q prey Of our preju-
diceS and too vulnerable to
real estate brokers who have
learned to manipulate those
prejudices for their own
profit.
We do not try to intrude
upon prejudice-that is a
personal affair. But we ask
those white neighborS of ours
who are gathering them
shelves for fight to the sub
urbS to look around first; ask
where they can find neigh
borhoods as charming, as
well-Serviced, as convenient
as the ones in the older resi-
dental sections of the city,
and ask themselves how
much longer they are going
to let unfounded fear cause
them grievouS financial, So
cial, psychological and moral
loss. Marvin Captain.
I would like to- commend
Assistant Corporation Coun-
sci Clark King for the stand
he has taken banning sold"
signs by real estate agents
in residential communities.
I would like also to correct
any possible misinterpreta-
ton of a statement incorrect
ly attributed to me in a story
concerning that hearin g
which appeared in The Star
April 81.
The position of the La
mond-Riggs Citizens Associa-
ton is not to resist the entry
of colored buyers into this
community. Our association
is integrated and was repre-
sented at the corporation
counsel hearing by an inte-
grated committee. Actually
this effort by the association
is only one aspect Of our
larger program to stabilize
our community.
This program to stabilize
our neighborhood includes
many activities. Certain of
these are: Cd Insisting that
all coming and housing regu-
lationS be enforced. ca
Keeping records of unethical
sales activities Of specific real
estate agents. CD Encourag-
ing residents to get to know
their neighbors and to judge
them on their merits - not
their race or religion. "a Es-
tabliShment of a rumor CEN
ter. 60 Creation of a liaison
with other neighborhood Or
CARNATIONS. 90 Distribution
of a brochure to business and
Government Offices to adver-
tise the desirability Of our
integrated neighborhood. Cd
Use of our neighborhood
newspaper to point up the
high cost of moving" and
the fallacy of escape to the
suburbs. CD Devoting our
last meeting (May a to a
program Of progress on stabi-
lizing our neighborhood.
As you can see, our pro-
gram simply is to keep our
community q place in which
all can be proud to live.
Sol Gnatt,
President. Lamond Riggs