Minutes 02/11/1947 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Notion of $~r. Weiseman to~s~t the privilege of the floor who presented the-following: "RESOLUTION Since the South Street uB0 has had more than 12000 enter its doors these ten days of February, since more than 1,006 men have seen fit to sleep in its dormltor~y and social hall, since more than $00 men have been present at its Java Club Worship services on S~_ud~' s, since it is one ~usement spot offering food service and rest room facilities in a home-like manner, 24 hours a d~, the Operating Committee of the South St. Club requests that your honorable body go on record ~s';requesting that'these services be maintained throughout the current yea~ 1947. That this resolution be forwarded to the Regional USO National USO officials. That a copy be forwarded to the Federal ~orks Agency at Washington as the record owners of the Building. The Portsmodth USO closing will tt~ow literal ly thousands of men in blue on t he street with not enough o f the rigJ~t kind of t~hings to do. Some official recognition of this great asset to the community should be taken ~y the city fathers. The Na~y (i.e. the enlisted men) spend more money in Portsmouth than all the industrial payrolls combined. The good will of these world-wide ambassadors is the g~eatest Ch~n~er of Cow~,erce the comrmmity cau ever~orgs~uize, The Club is a community youth asset. It affords mo~e thmu 100 different yo'~ug women wholesome recreation seven nights a week. This a~ctive membership of young ladi.es L~ a type you would be proud to cml i you~ daughters. 0~r Czty ~nager proudly crowned one Queen Saturday night with more than 500 present at the dance. The most orderly group of PeoPle outside of church in Portsmouth Thank you kindly for~ givir~ these matters you~ consideration and w e humbly ask your endorsement of our we!fa~e work at this critical moment in our short ter~m t~h~ough 1947. Respectfully submitted, A.~. Hill, Chairmmu, South Street's Operating Committee.~ Mr. Hill, Captain Kennedy ~ud ~r. McLean ~poke. The foIlowing letter was read: ~Mayor eslze To Fox, Portsmouth, Va. February 10, 194V Dear ~r. Fox: In response to your request fo~ a statement of the Navy, s attitude with respect to the possible ~cquisition. of the South Street U.S.0. property by the A~erican Legion at ~h.e time of you~ recent visit to my office w~.th ~r. A_rthur O~ens, C~$y Ear,.get, ~Ir. F~m~k ~av~rence and ~r. Buchan~u, you ~e in - for~ned that the Navy strongly desires the present activities to continue under the auspices of. the USO for the benefit ef enlisted personnel as long a t this or~anisation remains in a position t o f~u~ction. ~ T~ere is reasonable assurance that the U.S.0. will continue to serve the Navy,s needs in Portsmouth in its customary praiseworthy ~mu~ner throughout the present calenda~ yea~. There will be eo~_tznuzng need. for sLmilar services there- after. It is considered tha~ any plans for the dispo - sition of thzs property should await the actual disestablishment of the U.S.0. and that any action by the City in sponsoring the acquisition of this property by any group should be taken only after full consideration of the best interests of the Navy and the community. Very t~uly yours., N.W. Gokey, Captain, U.S.N., Acting Commander." The City w - ~_ager presentedthe following resolutzon: "~HE_W_EAS, the United States Government constructed on the co~e~ of South and Crav~ford Streets, d~ring the year 1941, a buzldzng~to bossed by the United Service 0~gaui~ations in Portsmouth, Virginia, as a center of activity fo~ the service men who were ordered to or visited the City or thi~ s~ea, and