Minutes 02/10/1981 - Laserfiche WebLink

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February 10, 1981 This is our concern. What will you do to help us?" Willie Harrell, 153 Florida Avenue, representing Port Norfolk Civic League, spoke in opposition of subsidized housing. Jim Edwards, 2S2 Idlewood Avenue, representing Shea Terrace Civic League, spoke in opposition. Mary Felton ~ennings, 4618 Valhalla-Drip, e, spoke in Oppomition. James D. Lassiter, 508 Powhatan Avenue, spoke in against low-income housing in Westhaven and Simonsdale. John G. Wallace, 300 Deal Drive, spoke in opposition. Vincent T. Carlo, 4615 County Street, representing Westhaven Civic League, spoke in opposition. Jim Hartley, 43 E. Pollux Circle, spoke as a concerned citizen, made the following presentation: "I have watched the events of the heard most of the views that have been views to you. Housing controversy for expressed on the issue, about 15 months now. I~have and have relayed some of those I don't pretead to know of a simple answer to this problem, but then I and most of the citizens do not know all that you do, about this issue. We don't know just what was promised over the last 5 or 10 years to get the tax dollars that have come back into our city. And even though I and others have watched the newspapers for clues to what was taking place in you negotiat~ans with HUD we don't have all of the facts. I haw~ heard and am at ~imes inclined to agree that, possibly the best thing to do is no longer ask for our federal tax dollar back through HUD, because the strings are to long. But then,~might it be that those strings are no longer strings but are now ropes that bind ~his city and its citizens to promises that we are not even aware of. You have so, me difficult choices~ to make and no matter what your choice, some will be displeased. I am aware that it was felt that the negotiations over the last months required confiden- tiality, but the news media tell me that you and HUD have come to an agreement. So tonight I appear to ask, No as a citizen to demand to know the full details of that agreement; and all of the events and prom~ises (over ~hs years) that have led up to the agreement. Also as our elected officials I wan~ to know how each of you feel about that agreement. And last because you can not know how the~c~ty as a whole feels about the latest developments without first asking. Wouldn't it be appropriate to put the question to a referendum to de~er~ine your cours( for now and the future." Rev, John E. Jones, 1526 ~{~nta Avenue, representing black citizens of the city, spoke with respect to ~he comments madec~y previous speakers, as to the disrespect made to the Mayor, and that the interest should be of Y~J~e City of Portsmouth and not the communities. As we are all one city and we either live or smnk together. In listening to the snide remarks and if the~ are right, then there will be trouble because the blacks of today are not the blacks of yester- day. The blacks will not go back and be suffered indignities that we went through before. From what I've heard here tonight I don't want anymore parts of the moral majority, and law and order. I would rather go back to a period of time in which each man does his own benefit be- cause this, people, is a nation and this is what ~ea prayed on. We must learn tonight that this is a giant step that this Council has taken. On motion meeting adjourned. APPROVED -~ City C1 er~/~/ -