Minutes 11/09/1943 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

effect that Wilson High School should t~ke over the Stadium lease for the foot-ball seaseon. This policy may be alright, providing that Norc~mHign~ is allowed the opportunity of having some preference as to game dates. There is no objection to allowing Norcom High to s3~ranEe its schedule alder %filson has placed all iZs horace~ games. %~e feel that ~,~ilson perhaps is entitled to have first p~eference, since it is the larger school and is paying a larger amount of money for stadium use. We feel~ however, that Norcom High should have oreference of dates over other schools seeking use of the stadium. The City Schools, white and-colored, should be 9.11owed ~o set their football dates before ~he stadium is let to schools of Norfolk County and elsewhere. We are sincerely hoping that a policy ~conforming to this recommen- dation will resu]Z from the action of the City Couhcil in the s~adium matter. Respe ct fully yours Young Men~s Civic Organization, John H. Lewis, Sec." On motion, same was referred to the Stadium Committee. The following letter was read: "The Young Men'sOivic Organization takes this means of supportiag the es- tablishment of two colored theaters in the ~00 block of High St., as was proposed in a orevious meeting of the City Council. ~ We are aware t~t several business firms in that block, aion=~ with Dr. E.T. Glover, our City Coroner, have expresaed~ objection to the theaters being operated in the 900 block on grounds that these theaters would cause a depreciali on in property values. To begin with, this Organization is inclined to receive the grounds on which ~these objections are made in an unfavorable lig?zt. Indeed,~ these objections may be an insult ~o th.e thousands of colored people of this are~ whose economic support heloed to ms_ke the objecting business firms possible. Some of them may owe their very existence-to t~he. patron- age of colored people and ~he good will of the colored. We contend tha~o the theaters would not lower property values i~ that bloak$ If anything, these at, tractive additions would pep up that motly block in both appearance and ~ activity. The Bland Theater in the 800 block certainly has not caused any depreciation in pro- bothpertYraces,Values'whichBusinessis as ltestablishmentSshould be. around the Bland have prospered with the pat~ronage of The 900 block of High St. where the proposed theaters would be. located, is situated right in the center~ of the downtown colored area. It is the logics~ and practical- signt for these theaters. It is a well knovn% fact that two theaters are direly needed in this crowd- ed 0ity, where recreational facilities for colored people are seriously limited. The streets are loaded with people, all of them war workers who have no place to go. The theaters will of- fer some relief, and certainly at no oos~ ~o the City. ~e contend that ~he orderly and Democratic prog-~ess and expanslon of bus- iness enterprises should not be cD~ked with ne. trow objections based sol'ely on racial discrimi- nations. That belongs in Gemmany. It does not become Americans. In conclusion we say: Let's Pmve those 'theaterspthey are needed. And t!~y will cause no more decrease in property values than~ has been caused by the present operations of a bottling plant, a me,t-packing house, a garage and an i ce house. Yours truly, Young Men's Civic Organization John H. Lewis, SeCretary.~, Motion of Mr~ Fox for the Clerk to notify said organization that the ac - tion o f the Council i n this matter was not Moverned by racial reasons, was adopted. The Committee on operation of the Stadium made the following report: "The Stadium Committee respectfully o~fers t~s report and recommends the following to be adopted f9r the management, control and supervision of the Stadium: 1. Management - The City is to provide all usual facilities and to maintain, control supervise and manage the stadium property. It will be the responsibility of the City to keeo the property in condition. - 2. ~a) Woodrow Wilson High School. The stadium will be used by the school authori ties for all ~ublic school activities and the Woodrow Wilson HiMh School shall be given prece= dence for its scheduled events; provided that the use by the school will no~ conflict with the schedule of league baseball games or other prio? engagements that have been recorded with the City Manager. (b) The Woodrow Wilson.High School shall b e given~ecedence for its scheduled football events: which sDhedule must be furnished the C~ty Manager by 'Jdly let ~ each year. (c) ~ne ~oodrow Wilson High School shall have precedence Tot its scheduled base- ball e~ents or other athletic events, provided it does not interfere with orevious!y scheduled games. The schedule of the baseball genes must be in the Manager's office-not later than fif- teen days after the schedule of the successful bidder under Section ll has been delivered to the City l~uuager. (d) The Woodrow Wilson High School shall have full rights for the use of one of the dressing rooms.