Rights Commission Studies Discrimination in Housing
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- SERVING METUCHEN SINCE 1893 47,500 VOL. XL VI-11 METUCHEN. H E * JERSEY, MARCH 17,1966 Pool Issue An Open Letter From CSG Head Isn’t Dead Franklin H. Young, chairman of the executive (M rs.) Dorothy Studnicki of 19 Juniper street, and The Metuchen swimming committee of the ‘‘Citizens for Sound Government,” Franklin H. Young of 120 Oakland avenue, who was pool issue isn't dead. It this week answered criticisms of his organization^ subsequently designated as chairman. Later, Donald was e x p e c te d to be dis prim arily leveled by Metucheo Mayor Thon j) f 177 High street and Van D. Thompson cussed at last night's Bor in an open letter to Utt w M tc. v. prris avenue, were added to this com- ough Council caucus. Young jaaid i^ rm ^rln miift by tlii mayor at j&ny other individuals wefe consulted C o u n c il m an Eugene "‘^ ^ T c l l meeting andlastThurs- when tl or assistance was needed, Haley said early yesterday Club m eeting,.“ indicated a lack “ The petition* filed with the Borough that he would present pos rof the purposes and objectives of Council jus to its July 8, 1965, meeting, im- sible ways that the govern ■ Sound Government’ ” , the group mediately prl us with the names of over 850 the borough’s proposed plan to build families who sim ilar views, and defections ing body could move to have been mini! establish a pool plan to pwimming pool. n the intervening months, many., i make the facility a reality W entire text of Young’s, open l e t t e r more families ndicated theiy support tytrffiis ) exactly what bur name implies -- a'" .TTgfW: by 1967. The borough's “ While the bonding capacity and the psidents prid taxpayers of Metuchen who s that different individuals possibility of hiring an together because of the common belief opposed the pr< 1 pool plan were many and architect were two'of the nner; in which the now defunct proposed varied, two ndamental principles were points Haley contemplated i s formulated and in which the pool itself unanimous to st, even though borough land ...been operated was a perfect example would be used trough credit would back up the bringing before the;council financing, it w o$$$ot be a, municipal pool open to for discussion. Ijlf f ivernment. Hence) our name — Citizens Mayor Thomas Weber i Government. a ll,- but rather Hp jpis to be a private club available “ We a r t • ?nbn-profit; non-political organization. only to its, meiMj^s. This would be discrimination said, “ 1 believe the council We are no* formally incorporated. We have no hard of the worst kijpipbr the benefit of a minority group; majority is of the general and against al|;^he residents, MMCfilly (hose who impression that we should and fast ri)^|*lor members or supporters. We come procede in some way. from all of life'.’ We represent all races, P°o1 gw matter cr064» and rf|jgions, and both political parties. We _ s'of a much ne^^jf^^P ^pn to want to con aider have strength quietly and discreetly, ^location of the B orottjjP ^ thoroughly, but w* don’t but n6f ’’ ^would cost as much or mo want to stall •»r<5utid with of a luxury item available fori it. We w tjiiljre care and “ The beginmtl|of the CSC was a meeting attended by some 30 per'sdrte in the B1L Hall last.June. The only a -f&fc months each year. Such a project i make , UM» the way deter be undertaken only after it has been submitted mined give* us the best pool proponents were.hanci-in-glovc with the Recrea tion Commission and the Borough Council, except and approved by the electorate at public referenda promise of-success." for Councilman Samuel Rock. The handwriting on the “ Two additional reasons were high in the mit^ wall wa£-"<£7y clear. Made individually, our of CSG supporters: Third, the proposed construction New Police argurnp'ms h^d fallen on deaf ears. The only chance costs and proposed operating expenses seemed con of obtaining a meaningful examination of the proposed pletely unrealistic (subsequent events proved this I pool plan was to organize. We did, and an executive be so). Fourth, every reasonable effort should Applications comm ittee was selected. The press corps gave these made to locate the pool where It would not destr4 activities, including the election of rhe executive com one of . the few remaining public parks left to tj mittee, wide coverage. This committee, elected then present and future generations of Metuchen Are Sought and still serving, is comprised of Joseph Chizmarik dents. It is ridiculous to spend $120,000 to buy l4Hj§§ of 64 Beacon Hill drive, George Hoffman of 17 a developer could not use in order to build a park aSE; Newman street, Harry F. F’ayton of 31 Herold place, (Continued on Pog. 18) . Applications are still being accepted from Metu chen residenteior the three vacancies on. the Police Boro May Step Up New St. Development Department. The borough would like to screen and Metuchen Mayor Thomas New street area project, la n d in the New street munity,” said the mayor. test applicants as soon as Weber probably won't ap in order to keep ahead of area,” said Weber. “ We don’t want to be left possible, so the three new point a Redevelopment the state In planning. “ If behind, so we undoubtedly patrolmen selsctcd will be _ Agency to determine the might be wise to let them “ We are concerned with want to know about any able to Uttend the county fate of the New street ur (Parking Authority) go keeping the area a com move* the Railroad Divi police sc hoot in early April. ban renewal area until the ahead and acquiring more muting center ill our com sion plans to make.” Chief Edward Leiss safd first Borough Council . as of Monday, OMytWo ap meeting in April, but some plications have been re discussion on the downtown ceived. He saidj TrnlSBe area was scheduled for last Rights Commission Studies m o re application^ a r e night's caucus meeting. submitted, the borough Weber said yesterday might have to accept non- morning that, in view of r e s i d e n t s ' applications. state proposals to pos Applicants must be between sibly develop “ Park ‘n‘ Discrimination in Housing 21 and 35 years of age. Ride” stations for com The Metuchen Commis place. We are also aware isting laws which this week The starting salary for muters in the surrounding sion on Civil Rights today of the fact that Negro fam were strengthened when the patrolm en is presently area (Edison and Iselin announced plans for a two- ilies are rarely .vSb-oWF’ tNew Jersey Senate passed" $5,355, but this would be have been mentioned), Bor- year community education houses in white neighbor l^ie new anti-discrimina increased, if Borough Coun ough Attorney Martin and research project' on hoods bTMetuchen. tion bill on Monday.” cil adopts an ordinance Spritzer had been directed housing which will begin “ Because we believe that providing increases of to contact Herbert Thomas early next month. discrimination in housing Four project goals were $2200-300 on the depart of the Railroad Division “ All Metuchen residents is the big stumbling block listed by the commission: ment salary scale. of the State Highway De should know that they live to a truly integrated com • Determine whether at If ' the o r d inarice ,is partment. The mayor.said in a primarily segregated munity and its solution the titudes of white home own adopted after a public hear the borough will submit community,” the commis key, to many of the other ers toward integrated ing on-Monday, the starting the railroad station and sion said in a prepared' areas of racial freedom, we living can be improved by salary would be $5,555. downtown area study pre statement. Several streets are embarking on a twu- a program of education. After one year on the force, pared last year by Plan are all Negro; the great year p r o g ra m of com • Eliminate block it would be $5,971. The ning Consultant Isadore m a jo r ity are all white, munity education and re busting in Metuchen by pro third year it would reach Candeub to the division and' leaving only a few which search. viding home owners with the maximum of $6,803. request thar~Metuchen be are truly integrated. “The commission be “facts about the practice and informed of any plans to Racially mixed neighbor lieves that most Metuchen methods of combating it. build ‘' F3ark ' n’ Ride” sta hoods tend to border the residents are not aware tions in the area. segregated areas and are of the p r o b le m s facing • Stop the gradual growth Weber said that he not spread throughout the qualified buyers of other of segregated neighbor planned to rdise the ques Borough. races who wish to live in hoods in Metuchen. tion last night whether It “ It is further apparent the borough. It is also our " •Create an atmosphere would not be advantageous to us that some white home- feeling that even.those in which people of all races —o-uiners - di&piay the us ual -residents who are reluc- and religions can live side the Parking Authority, to symptoms commonly seen , rant to accept any change by side without fear in Me make a move now on the before panic selling takes will wish to obey the ex tuchen.