Vol. LXXXIX, No. 39-S
urday, July7, 1979
Twelve Pages
Ann Arbor, Michigan Ten Cents
MEAT PRICES, UNEMPLOYMENT FALL
Dual economic boosts reported
WASHINGTON (AP) - A surge in
jobs for white teen-agers pushed the
nation's unemployment rate to a five-
year low of 5.6 per cent in dune while a
drop in wholesale meat prices signaled
some relief this summer for inflation-
battered shoppers, the government said
yesterday.
The dual bright economic reports by
the government were in sharp contrast
to President Carter's gloomy forecasts
of higher inflation, rising unem-
ployment, and a possible recession
during the next year because of large
hikes in imported oil prices.
The Labor Department said unem-
ployment during the month declined
from 5.8 per cent in May to 5.6 per cent
in June, the lowest level since August
1974. The jobless rate has been flut-
tering just below the six per cent mark
since last summer.
WHOLESALE PRICES during June
advanced by a modest 0.5 per cent,
raising hope that inflation may soon
moderate. A decline in meat prices
helped offset rapid advances for
gasoline and heating fuel during the
month, the department said.
Deputy White House press secretary
Rex Granum said the wholesale price
figures are "an indication that the
patience of the American people is
beginning to pay off. We should see
moderating food prices at the grocery
store in the months immediately
ahead."
However, Granum said the soaring
price for energy "reinforces the fact
that we must continue to work to curb
our dependence on foreign oil."
ON SUNDAY, Carter said steep in-
creases in crude oil prices approved by
the Organization of Petroleum Expor-
ting Countries (OPEC) will boost
Man-handled AP Photo
Birmingham, Alabama police remove an unidentified man from the site of
racial violence Thursday night. Birmingham Mayor David Vann sought a court
order yesterday banning demonstrations where violence occurred. See story,
Page 5.
unemployment above six per cent, add
two to 2.5 percentage points to the in-
flation rate and increase the chances
for a recession. Inflation is raging this
year at a 13.4 per cent pace.
But the latest employment and
wholesale price reports failed to show
any evidence of economic
deterioration.
In another economic development,
the Federal Reserve Board said
yesterday that Americans continued to
go deeper into,-debt in May as they
borrowed a record $28 billion. Con-
See MEAT, Page 2
Carter
tackles
domestic
issues
FromAPandUPI
WASHINGTON-President Carter,
deciding "now is the time" for a long,
hard look at his policies, presided over
a "domestic summit" yesterday at
Camp David. The session dealt with the
escalating problems of energy, the
economy and their political fallout.
Aides said Carter, publicly unseen
and unheard from since Tuesday, may
remain in seclusion "well into next
week," reviewing the problems that
have piled up on the nation and on his
presidency.
After initial talks with White House
advisers associated with his 1976 cam-
paign, Carter invited a group of gover-
nors led by Kentucky's Julian Carroll to
his mountain retreat for evening talks
on oil shortages and the recession-
threatened economy.
CARTER, WHO canceled a major
energy policy address to the nation
Thursday night, also scrapped plans to
address a weekend meeting of the
National Governors Association in
Louisville, Ky. Carroll is chairman of
the state executives group.
One White House official, who
declined to be identified publicly, said
the president "decided now is the time"
for a reassessment of his domestic
policies. Another described the review
as "almost a domestic summit."
Aides passed word that Carter will
stay cloistered in the Maryland moun-
tains "well into next week." The aides
said no date has been set for Carter's
return to the White House.
ONE WHITE HOUSE official said '
key issues at Camp David are energy
and the economy. But the official said
"the discussions will not be limited to
those subjects."
The official said "the president will
not be returning to Washington until
he's seen the people he wants to see,
and has had time to assess what he has
heard."
See CARTER, Page 2
REDUCTIONS WOULD HURT HANDIC A PPED:
Saturday Dial-a-Ride may be cut
By BETH PERSKY
Reductions in transportation services
can inconvenience the average person.
But handicapped individuals who rely
on public transportation can find their
lives changed when certain services
become unavailable.
The Ann Arbor Transportation
Authority (AATA) late this summer
will consider recommendations to cut
Saturday Dial-a-Ride service for out-
county residents. This reduction would
mean many handicapped people who
work during the week might not be free
to travel to shop or socialize, according
to Lena Ricks, AATA Local Advisory
Council member. Ricks also is a staff
member of the Ann Arbor Center for
Independent Living, which provides
services to the handicapped.
"FOR THOSE PEOPLE who work, it
would eliminate the time they have for
shopping and some medical trips. It
would affect the center because we bve
many programs on Saturday," she
said.
Dial-a-Ride service outside the city
was cut from a rate of 18,000 to 15,000
service hours per year as of July 2, said
Ray Perez, AATA special services
operation supervisor.
Perez said when Washtenaw County
reduced the amount of money it
provides for service outside Ann Arbor,
either Saturday service would have
been eliminated or vans would have
carried less passengers during the
week. He said Saturday service is being
continued on a trial basis until the end
of this summer. More than 30 han-
dicapped people attended the June 13
AATA Board meeting to protest
'The services are constantly
changing without people know-
ing it. It discourages riders.'
-John Weir, member of
AATA Adrisory Conncil
possible reductions in Saturday ser-
vice.
"WE WERE THERE because we
thought they were going to make a lot of
cuts we wouldn't know about," said
AATA Advisory Council member John
Weir. Weir is one of the handicapped
members of the council, which also in-
cludes several senior citizens.
The County Commissioner's Out-
County Transportation Policy Commit-
tee, which consists of three Washtenaw
County Commissioners, two elected
members, one senior citizen, and one
handicapped individual, is slated to
review out-county Dial-a-Ride at the
end of the summer. The committee will
then make a recommendation to the
AATA board.
"It's a great service when it works,"
said Weir. "In town it's not working too
badly. Out-county's about at a limit for
service."
"IT'S A PAIN to use," he added.
"You have to call in advance, and call
the next day to see if they take you."
Fewer vans have been available for
See POSSIBLE, Page 9