I 1m - f MlCliIGAN crnZi:N ood Par Di ric Council:' Speaking up for 1 poor . eople who I ere pushed out . By NOTE; The following �polt is pan of an on-going series to commemorate the fint 20 yean of citizen district councils, estab­ lisJud to represent resident: of urban renewal �as. . The Elmwood Park #3 Citizen District Council (CDC), represents citizens from Lafayette to Vernor, Mt Elliot to Chene, including the old "Black Bottom" area. Elmwood CDC was formed in 1973 as the result of a civil war. Residents of the com­ munity worked to seeeed from the larger So theast Citizc District Council and form a council of their own, to repre­ sented their ideas. According to John B. Me­ Donald, the problem with the old Southeast Council was "prejudice" - not racial prejudice of hite people against Black, but prejudice of council membus of both races against people without money. . --rhe Black people did not want to see 10 income Blacks (in the area), the white people complained against low inoome ites," McDo d said Without a fair deYelopment plan, poor people would be pushed out of the area by urban renewal and would not be able to ID(We back· Claiming that the old Southeast District Council did not . to create such a plan, residents, under the leadership of McDonald and a social worker named Margaret Moogan got the city to establish· a new council LO GLABO A spo esperson noted that a ed: C rtoon----� The 'Young People Musical Theater of Detroit (YPMT), in cooper tion with the Detroit Bia Arts Alliance (DBAA) and I Project BAIT is searching forcartoo· whose wor ould be exhibited a lobby display during up­ coming YPMT produc­ tions. The cartoo either in­ dividual or strips, would be mounted on poster board and displayed like other visual art wor . In additio the cartoo would be made available to ne pape locally and nati nally, for publication. If you're intere ed or know of anyon' interested, in being a part of thi project, contact YPMT 838-3377 and/or the DBAA 931-3427 I. .. when the Elmwood Council was formed, there were long months of laboring - nights, weekends and sometimes holidays.· McDonald suggested there were some built-in difficulties. Some people did not under­ stand that he and Moogan wanted mixed housing for all in­ comes. It was charged that the two wanted the whole area built up for welfare people." Therefore, the Elmwood Council was set up in such a way that there were residents from other areas on it, 'including the more affluent Lafayette Park. However, McDonald stated, the dM:rsity of groups, incomes, interests, and attitudes on the council did no cause dissention or hostility which might be ex­ pected "It's wonderful here." he said "We worked very close together without bickering or political in­ fighting. We would have never developed so far as we had, ifwe hadn't worked together." One significant sign of coun­ cil unity was the fad that Mc­ Donald served as the council's chair for 15 years, OYer since the. day it was formed Among the accomplish­ meats proudly listed by the 1 AC FULL NUMBE 0 WINCOME When low income people Ye from Section 8 develop­ ents, McDonald said, Iopen do not try to get low . come people to replace them d the subsidies are not used He claims that the Michigan _ te Housing Authority does n t adequately pro teet fhe . ts of low income people. He also charged sometimes nefits classified as Section 8 Iy provide market rate hous­ wbich is too high for low in­ people to pay. Mcl>onald or ked with coFunity leaders and com­ m nity businessmen to form the Coordinating Couuncil with ref.resentat:ives of every citizen diStrld council State la establishing dis- trict councils gave the coor­ dinating council the power to appoint two representatives to it n the governing board of the troit Housing Commission, areas. McDonald chosen by his fellow members to serve on the Housing Commission for the last 15 years. He was elected b th by his fellow repre- sentatives and by the yor' appointees to serve djfferent tl;rms as the Housing doDJ.JJW;­ sion President and Vice Presi­ dent In his work 0 . the Ifousing Commission, McDonal� was in­ tested in maintaining public housing, program under the Roosevelt Administration, sug­ gested by Eleanor Roosevelt to ensure that people with less in­ come could have "safe and sanitary housing." McDonald charged because of I cutbacks under Republican administrations, cities are not given funds to keep public hous- �intad. s � BREWSTER SHOULD B REPAIRED McDonald believes that it wo d have been better to repair ho sing in such projects as Br ter, rather than tearing the down, because the old te niques of buildi made &0 ing last longer. owever, he does not blame Ma r Coleman Young for thi de ion, but state that the De artment of Housing and U r an Development under Re ublican Administration pre ented funds from being use for repairs. cDonald indicates he has see Mayo Young as an ally, who has "revitalized this town" and uilt up neighborhoods in Cas and Gratiot" • Church I opens doors to 'ousted homeless c blankets were donated to aid there is no church business this undertaking_ pending, the peop are allowed ome people can't tand to to remain all day rather than see us help ourselves", said Pip- turning them out on the street in pin, after someone reported the the mominp until dinner time church to the rue Inspector. as many shelters do. Pippin said someone from that Sh1elter coordina or Morris Department came out and Brown said that many of the threatened to fine Rev. Cobbin people are burn-out victims if he did not resolve the poten- from the recent fire in'the Tre- tial fire bazzard, Way Aparu,cuts in Detroit Pippin said Cobbin stood Pippin Said on the days the firm against the inspector and people are not able to stay at the told him he had no intention of church, they are kept busy at the turning the people out into the NHU Drop- In Center, 3627 cold because of a potentiality. Cass, to man the office duties Pippin said the inspector and . t in the distribution of pho ed Cobbin later and gave donated clothing. e 0 to continue his efforts. Pippin said .he called the Cobbin said he uspects the majority of the downtown shel- ( anonymous complaint wa ters such The Coalition On someone's attempt to gain Temporary Shelter (COTS), r�nge against him for u ef- The Salvation Army, The Walk­ forts to stop casino gambling. in, and The Rescue Mission to He said he has been in close I inform them that NHU is in a contact with City County offi- temporary helter program in ciaIs, d has requested that case any of their clieDtele should they arrange a meeting with get turned a y, they can refer Public Housing. them to Freedom Missionary Cobbin said he intends to Church. Public Housing to open i avail- . Pippin said for the first three ble door to the home . He days the people were being fed said in the meantime, ap- from the budget of NHU, but proximately 100 people are after the ne spread, many picked up by the NHU. van and donations were made to the droppedoffatthechurch ere church and now meals are the people are fed and bedded planned two and three days down for the night ahead instead of having to buy . He said some days when food everyday .: council are over 900 units of housing in such developments asr - JOHN D. MCDONALD SQUARE, named for Mc­ Donald himself, on Vernor at Prince Hall Drive, consisting of 180 units. - FRANKLIN WRIGHT VIlLAGE, 142 units at Lafayette and Chene, - FENIMORE COURT,· 144 units on the east and west side of r'i\'e, east of Olene. - ELMWOOD VIlLAGE, 10 condominiums on Robert Brady Drive, east of Chene. - NOEL VILLAGE, 202 units Prince Hall Drive east of Chene. - HUNTINGroN PLACE, 101 units in a program which provides people who wish to owntheirownapartmentanop- ELMWOOD PARK CITIZENS DISTRICT COUNCIL portunity to purchase one. _ And most recently, . e I . pact in variety orh I ts. DELTA MANOR, 99 units of - senior citizen hous� on Ver- there will be plans for more representing the concerns of nor between St. Alban and housing win the near future", residents in urban renewal Cheae. when funds and development McDonald predicts that companies are found to do it While proud of these chan- ges, McDonald expressed dis­ appointment that many poor people were unable to benefit from them. Because housing prices were so high, poor people were unable to afford to pay for them. He notes that in 15-20% of the. housing units of ome developments, federal law states there are supposed to be federal "Section 8" housing sub­ sidies to help people with 10 in­ comes pay the costs, but he es­ tes that less than the full ,!mber actually benefit from .'