St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1961-02-10
TEXT OF LETTER
SENT TO WASHINGTON

| VIC SlIOlBly pTOleSL the dCLlOn
taken by the City Council of St.
Paul on February l, 1861 in the
approval Of Site 9 and the Hollow
Playground for public housing. We
base our protest on the following
reasons:
l. No communication or consul
tation occurred between the Coun-
Gil members or the Housing and
Redevelopment Authority with this
neighborhood which is approx
mately 90% Negro. It was only
through rumors that we prepared
an impressive list of community
leaders, both white and Negro, to
speak against the acquisition of
site 8 on the basis 1t would pro-
hibit future expansion of the play
ground. (The list of speakers Is
encloSed). Only eleven units were
to be involved. Just seconds before
the vote was taken a motion was
made to throw in the Hollow Play
ground. AS well as site 8 which
Is adjacent. A unanimous ballot
was cast while other sites includ-
ing vacant land on the West Side
were rejected. At this hearing site
was not recommended by the
Housing Authority. The Hollow
Playground was not recommended
by either the Housing Authority
or the City Planning Board. The
City Council acted capriciously and
Of its own volition.
In order to facilitate passage of
the motion two agendas were used.
Our group was given an agenda
dated January 30th and involved
only site 8 with eleven units, where
as the City Council used an agenda
dated February LIST, and included
site 8 and the Hollow with an
additional 40 units This caused
confusion and CONSERVATION be-
cause our group was not aware of
the difference in the agendas and
the number Of sites being dis
cussed
2. Racial overtones permeated
the entire hearing, references be-
ing made concerning the safety
and welfare" of families II public
housing were accepted. This seems
to violate the stated detectives of
the Federal Housing Administra-
ton and Home Finance Agency to
make provision for housing for all
people on a scattered basis with
the provision that minority groups
be consulted. Ironically, this neigh
borhood was the first in the city
to go before the City Council and
express a willingness to accept
four public housing sites. The date
was September 5, 1860. We want
to make it clear we support pub
lie housing
3. AS far as we can understand
no provision whatever has been
made for plans for the replace
ment of the Mckinley School which
Is antiquated, overcrowded, has
poor lighting and Is lacking in
modern facilities. With more fam
lilies in the area and no provision
for a school, we cannot equate this
action with the need to serve fam
lies.
We have been told that the high
rise building will be used for Sem
Tor Citizens. Even II this Is true,
and there have been many verbal
promises In the past, altered so
drastically, 1t Is unbelievable, we
still have the problem of an In
creasing child population and an
overcrowded school nearby. We
have also been told II we accept
this all the other things will follow,
including both a school and a play
ground. However, there Is no spec
lfic commitment in the plan itself.
What insurance does this give us
for the future?
4. The approval Of site 8 plus
the Hollow Playground opens the
way for the relocation Of several
minority groups in the area. The
Halle Q. Brown Community House.
located two blocks away, has stat
ed clearly that they are willing and
anxious to work with all people
regardless Of age, race, religion or
economic status. 1t Is already serv-
ing people on this basis.
Nevertheless, 1t does not seem
healthy procedure to concentrate
minority groups in one area and
tends to move away from the prac-
ficaa and franda ~ daaao-TaOa fiOs1