HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes City Council - 08/26/1968 - SpecialSPECIAL MEETING
OPEN HOUSING
COLISEUM
August 26, 1968, 7:30 P. M.
PRESENT:
Mayor Jack R. Blackmon
Mayor Pro Tem Ronnie Sizemore
Commissioners:
Dick Bradley, Jr.
Gabe Lozano, Sr.
Dr. P. Jimenez, Jr.
Ken McDaniel
W. J. Roberts
City Manager R. Marvin Townsend
City Attorney I. M. Singer
City Secretary T. Ray Kring
Mayor Blackmon called the meeting to order.
The Invocation was given by Dr. W. H. Colson.
Mayor Blackmon stated that the purpose of the meeting was to hear the pros
and cons of the advisability of adopting a local open housing ordinance. Mayor Blackmon
asked City Manager Townsend to review the salient points of an ordinance as drafted by
the Staff. He then invited Dr. Colson, Chairman of the Human Relations Committee, to
explain the position of the Committee.
Dr. Colson stated that his Committee has received the draft of an ordinance
prepared by the City Staff and had made some modifications in it, and urged the adoption
of it or a similar one.
Harold Alberts, liaison representative of the Human Relations Committee read
several proposals to be included in the ordinance he hoped ultimately to be adopted.
Anne Dodson, Housing Opportunities Made Equal; Jack Wilson, Nueces
County Young Democrats Chairman; Charles Wyatt and Larry Boyd, representing the Unitarian
Church; Dr. Hector Garcia, American G. I. Forum; Msgr. William C. Kinlough, Corpus
Christi Diocese; Jack Reichenstein, Local Chapter National Association of Colored Workers;
Gladys Sayles and Irvin Brown, NAACP; all urged the adoption of an open housing ordinance.
Marshall Boykin III, Mrs. Joe Casillas, Patrick Morris, Attorney, Del Young,
Carlos Truan, Walter McDonald, Tony Bonilla, Charles Wilson, Reverend Graham, and
Sister Paula Marie appeared as individuals and also urged the adoption of an open housing
ordinance. Jule Pels, speaking as an individual, stated that the Home Builders Association
was not unanimous in opposing the ordinance under consideration.
Special Meeting
Open Housing
August 26, 1968
Page 2
In opposition, Attorney Travis Smith, Bruce Herndon, Travis Parker, Bruce Jennings,
Mrs. Nora Di Maffi, gave their views as to why they consider an open housing ordinance
unnecessary. Mr. Smith presented some material regarding other Cities having racial problems.
(Exhibit #15-68) (See File 1301-487)
Sam Allen, representing the Corpus Christi Board of Realtors, and Home Builders
presented petitions containing some 900 signatures in opposition to the adoption of an open
housing ordinance. (Exhibit #16-68) In substance, they feel that in view of existing Federal
legislation, local legislation is unnecessary. (See File 1301-487)
W. D. Bedingfield stated that in his opinion, people of all races will live
wherever their economy will permit. In effect, he stated that he did not consider discrimination
to be a problem in our City and he was of the opinion that anyone could live wherever they
chose, their financial position permitting.
It appearing everyone had spoken who desired to speak for or against the ordinance
in question, the meeting was declared adjourned. Mayor Blackmon suggested that those who
wished to register their names for or against the ordinance could do so at the table. City
Secretary Kring would provide the necessary materials.
Mayor Blackmon stated that the Council would take all the information into
consideration and would discuss it at an early workshop in an effort to arrive at a conclusion
at the earliest possible time.