WEBVTT 00:00:09.500 --> 00:00:44.310 00:00:09.500 --> 00:00:16.160 Please have order. Come on, brother. Everybody except staff members and senators. 00:00:16.540 --> 00:00:30.160 Please leave the stage weight the evaluation work on the poverty program, 00:00:30.980 --> 00:00:37.370 which we have been engaged in now for many weeks. The purpose 00:00:38.040 --> 00:00:44.310 of our visit to San Francisco is to attempt to discover what's 00:00:44.310 --> 00:01:09.850 00:00:44.310 --> 00:00:50.290 wrong with the poverty program. What's right for the poverty program. And 00:00:50.290 --> 00:00:55.570 what has members the United States Senate we can way can do, 00:00:55.570 --> 00:01:01.950 if anything, to improve the planning, programming and the operations of the 00:01:01.950 --> 00:01:09.850 many different programs which constitute the war against poverty. Sarah Murphy. No, 00:01:11.140 --> 00:01:33.360 00:01:11.140 --> 00:01:16.090 I made some notes here, and it's very difficult. To room them. 00:01:16.090 --> 00:01:20.010 It seems that the lighting is set up to accommodate the photographers 00:01:20.020 --> 00:01:27.850 rather than the witnesses or the senator's Mrs uh Washington. Do you 00:01:27.850 --> 00:01:33.360 feel that the that there is too much control of the program 00:01:33.370 --> 00:01:51.520 00:01:33.370 --> 00:01:37.980 from outside of the city and that if there was more control 00:01:37.980 --> 00:01:41.870 and more of the setting up of guidelines within the city, it 00:01:41.870 --> 00:01:47.380 would be helpful. Uh, Senator, can you hear me? Yes. I feel 00:01:47.380 --> 00:01:51.520 that if the guideline was set up with the people and not 00:01:51.520 --> 00:02:10.260 00:01:51.520 --> 00:01:55.920 for other people, then it would be much meaningful, I say, Uh, 00:01:55.930 --> 00:02:02.580 the most effective part of the program is education number one. Number 00:02:02.580 --> 00:02:07.190 two. I would say jobs Well, as the program has been in 00:02:07.190 --> 00:02:10.260 operation over a period last several years, what do you think is 00:02:10.840 --> 00:02:25.780 00:02:10.840 --> 00:02:15.100 been the best part of the program are the best part of 00:02:15.100 --> 00:02:19.030 the program? Have been motivation of people you know, making them know 00:02:19.030 --> 00:02:21.600 that they you know that they can stand on their own 2 00:02:21.610 --> 00:02:25.780 ft. I feel like this is giving some dignity on pride and 00:02:25.780 --> 00:02:46.740 00:02:25.780 --> 00:02:28.870 taking people off welfare role. I feel like this have been, you 00:02:28.870 --> 00:02:33.630 know, one of the outstanding job. The people that do. They feel 00:02:33.630 --> 00:02:41.430 that the concept of welfare program of welfare has been degrading. Do 00:02:41.430 --> 00:02:46.740 they feel like it's been degraded? It's degrading, Yes. Uhh. I can 00:02:46.740 --> 00:03:00.620 00:02:46.740 --> 00:02:50.060 only speak for myself, and I would say yes. Do you think 00:02:50.060 --> 00:02:54.140 the people generally in the Hunter Point area or on welfare, do 00:02:54.140 --> 00:02:58.100 they feel that the program and the idea of welfare's is degrading 00:02:58.100 --> 00:03:00.620 and that there should be a different kind of a program? Let 00:03:00.620 --> 00:03:17.600 00:03:00.620 --> 00:03:04.940 me speak for myself. Uh, may I? I I would like to 00:03:04.940 --> 00:03:09.230 say, uh, my husband fell ill and I had to go on 00:03:09.240 --> 00:03:13.980 welfare, and I was I was a miserable person. Every time I 00:03:13.980 --> 00:03:17.600 walk in that welfare office, I felt like that. I was just 00:03:17.600 --> 00:03:31.120 00:03:17.600 --> 00:03:20.910 something that people could walk on, and I had no dignity. I 00:03:20.910 --> 00:03:23.880 had no pride. So when I got a job in the poverty 00:03:23.890 --> 00:03:27.660 program, I began to feel like I was somebody. So I would 00:03:27.660 --> 00:03:31.120 say that you know, that Isn't that the direction? Really? We should 00:03:31.120 --> 00:03:58.310 00:03:31.120 --> 00:03:34.950 all be working toward try to, develop a system whereby people that 00:03:34.960 --> 00:03:48.810 train people are trained and, uh, with skills on so that they 00:03:48.810 --> 00:03:52.930 can obtain job on that also has a major effect on the 00:03:52.940 --> 00:03:58.310 family unit itself. E I have only a high school education with 00:03:58.320 --> 00:04:12.800 00:03:58.320 --> 00:04:01.740 about nine months of college, and I went in this program with 00:04:01.750 --> 00:04:05.100 the high hope that I could further my education and get more 00:04:05.100 --> 00:04:09.220 training. Training has not come up to what I had expected. Maybe 00:04:09.220 --> 00:04:12.800 my expectation was too high, but I was expecting this type of 00:04:12.810 --> 00:04:37.200 00:04:12.810 --> 00:04:17.280 training that I could move on to high jobs and better 00:04:17.280 --> 00:04:22.430 education. So I think due to this was a cutbacks and cuts 00:04:22.430 --> 00:04:26.750 of programs that community had presented, which was still there. I can't 00:04:26.750 --> 00:04:37.200 see e fine. I'll go ahead. Yeah, I'm here. Uh, so the 00:04:37.210 --> 00:04:57.800 00:04:37.210 --> 00:04:43.900 community, uh, I lost my God, I would say you're talking about 00:04:43.910 --> 00:04:50.230 your own town education. Continue, e think, due to cutbacks and program, 00:04:50.230 --> 00:04:54.380 which the community had set up night after night and worked on 00:04:54.390 --> 00:04:57.800 which we had, uh, survey the community and come up with meaningful 00:04:57.800 --> 00:05:13.150 00:04:57.800 --> 00:05:02.100 program that people wanted. So then we submitted the programs and 00:05:02.100 --> 00:05:06.670 then the hi structure, you know, on the board which was appointees, 00:05:06.670 --> 00:05:10.780 other mayor, we got full cooperation. And also, I hate to say 00:05:10.790 --> 00:05:13.150 it, but we didn't get any help from the matter at all 00:05:13.150 --> 00:05:27.480 00:05:13.150 --> 00:05:17.300 in the part of the program. So due to this way, were 00:05:17.300 --> 00:05:20.250 short changed. So therefore I did not get the expectation of the 00:05:20.260 --> 00:05:24.660 training program as way had thought purposes. Senator County, will you please 00:05:24.660 --> 00:05:27.480 proceed? Let me ask you this. You had a you had problems 00:05:27.480 --> 00:05:47.630 00:05:27.480 --> 00:05:32.470 and violence and disorder and lawlessness here about a year ago have 00:05:32.470 --> 00:05:35.890 the conditions that brought that about. They changed over the period of 00:05:35.890 --> 00:05:43.550 the last 12 months. That definitely not their conditions, uh, that were 00:05:43.550 --> 00:05:47.630 brought about did not happen just a year ago. This has been 00:05:47.630 --> 00:06:02.640 00:05:47.630 --> 00:05:50.920 something that has been building up over the What I'm asking you 00:05:50.920 --> 00:05:55.650 is whether those conditions that brought that about brought about the disorder 00:05:55.650 --> 00:05:58.910 that occurred at that period of time, whether over a period of 00:05:58.920 --> 00:06:02.640 last year, whether there have been improvements and changes, Would you change 00:06:02.640 --> 00:06:22.680 00:06:02.640 --> 00:06:07.560 those? No. I'm sorry to say no. Could you briefly outline what? 00:06:07.570 --> 00:06:12.210 What? You What people of the area consider the major problems which 00:06:12.220 --> 00:06:17.440 brought about these disorders and what we're that still needs still needs 00:06:17.440 --> 00:06:22.680 to be action taken. The major problem that brought about this change, 00:06:22.690 --> 00:06:39.530 00:06:22.690 --> 00:06:25.530 you would have to let me, uh, you know, go back a 00:06:25.530 --> 00:06:29.720 little bit. This did not happen overnight. This is something that has 00:06:29.730 --> 00:06:35.080 been handed down from 1954 When I came to San Francisco. The 00:06:35.080 --> 00:06:39.530 young people that was in this incident were born a T that 00:06:39.540 --> 00:06:57.310 00:06:39.540 --> 00:06:41.980 along about that time, these young men have grew up in this 00:06:41.980 --> 00:06:49.160 situation. Police brutality, poor schools, poor education, kick outs. Mostly they call 00:06:49.160 --> 00:06:52.750 them dropouts. But they kick out in hunters point. If you from 00:06:52.750 --> 00:06:57.310 Hunter's point you get no chance at all. I can only court 00:06:57.310 --> 00:07:10.600 00:06:57.310 --> 00:07:01.650 My daughter wouldn't even tell that she lived in Hunters Point because 00:07:01.660 --> 00:07:04.530 although she had a B plus, But if they don't know that 00:07:04.530 --> 00:07:07.520 she came upon this point, she would not have got the chance 00:07:07.520 --> 00:07:10.600 that she did get. So the Children lie about their addresses. They 00:07:10.600 --> 00:07:25.270 00:07:10.600 --> 00:07:13.290 will not tell that they live in her this point. So this 00:07:13.290 --> 00:07:16.370 is something that has grown up in the young people on this 00:07:16.370 --> 00:07:20.280 hostility. It was, You know, it's something that didn't happen overnight. Only 00:07:20.280 --> 00:07:25.270 thing the police killing the, uh what I'd like to call it 00:07:25.280 --> 00:07:42.870 00:07:25.280 --> 00:07:29.690 slaughter, uh, young man in the back. Then this brought this thing 00:07:29.700 --> 00:07:34.090 out, which was already there. There have been efforts within the community 00:07:34.100 --> 00:07:40.000 in San Francisco, Northern California, improved conditions, so that, yes, the efforts 00:07:40.000 --> 00:07:42.870 are being made every day and night, but I don't think we're 00:07:42.870 --> 00:07:59.230 00:07:42.870 --> 00:07:47.000 getting no place. The same old pattern, Same thing. People. Uh, sure 00:07:47.000 --> 00:07:50.550 that people are trying. We're working very hard. And if something is 00:07:50.550 --> 00:07:54.500 not done way, I'm sorry to say, but it just might not 00:07:54.510 --> 00:07:59.230 be so good this summer. Senator. Are this is one of the 00:07:59.240 --> 00:08:22.500 00:07:59.240 --> 00:08:03.960 few facilities that is available seven days a week for the people, 00:08:03.960 --> 00:08:08.390 the young people community to use. We have it, Uh, what is 00:08:08.390 --> 00:08:13.700 this thing? The condition of the housing and 100 point of a 00:08:13.700 --> 00:08:22.500 housing condition. And please be quiet. We can hear the answers with 00:08:22.510 --> 00:08:38.340 00:08:22.510 --> 00:08:26.800 housing conditions and hundreds point is so poor and has been over 00:08:26.800 --> 00:08:30.750 the years that that's reason why that we have a cooperation and 00:08:30.750 --> 00:08:33.870 we are planning. We're working awful hard to try to do something 00:08:33.870 --> 00:08:38.340 about the housing problem. We have a rehabilitation of proposal into the 00:08:38.340 --> 00:08:53.320 00:08:38.340 --> 00:08:44.440 great city now and way acting for to rehab the temporary 00:08:44.440 --> 00:08:48.020 housing that we that will last for the next five or six 00:08:48.020 --> 00:08:51.170 years. And they're telling us that this is a waste of money. 00:08:51.180 --> 00:08:53.320 So when it comes to human being, it's waste of money. But 00:08:53.320 --> 00:09:08.790 00:08:53.320 --> 00:08:55.810 we can spend billions of dollars in the main to the moon. 00:08:55.820 --> 00:09:00.420 So we act in this great the action this city to give 00:09:00.420 --> 00:09:05.130 us ,000 to rehabilitate these places for people to have a decent 00:09:05.130 --> 00:09:08.790 place to live. The housing is just that bad. Who was the 00:09:08.800 --> 00:09:23.640 00:09:08.800 --> 00:09:13.410 Who owns that Housing 100 points. Well, it was a battle other 00:09:13.410 --> 00:09:17.120 day. Really? I don't think they know who on it. Uh, a 00:09:17.130 --> 00:09:20.110 housing authorities said they on it in the city think they own. 00:09:20.120 --> 00:09:23.640 So I really couldn't answer a city or the housing authority taking 00:09:23.640 --> 00:09:51.960 00:09:23.640 --> 00:09:33.370 any steps to improve the housing. Wait, they had. The San Francisco 00:09:33.370 --> 00:09:41.260 Public Housing Authority has had ,000,000,200 billion. I believe it was, I'm 00:09:41.260 --> 00:09:45.440 not for sure, but anyway that have driven down to 400 some 00:09:45.440 --> 00:09:51.960 . Have nothing been done for hundreds point? It's a clocks Senator 00:09:51.960 --> 00:10:22.600 00:09:51.960 --> 00:10:02.590 Kennedy. Senator Murphy remembers of the press, Ladies and gentlemen 1964 With 00:10:02.600 --> 00:10:08.880 the message Passage off the Economic Opportunity Act, The president and Congress 00:10:08.890 --> 00:10:15.740 declared a nation war on poverty. That ball program cause 3.5 a 00:10:15.750 --> 00:10:22.600 bilion. But the question remains. Is the war on poverty a war? 00:10:22.610 --> 00:10:50.560 00:10:22.610 --> 00:10:28.870 A melon skim ish you go on Poverty from its beginning has 00:10:28.880 --> 00:10:36.560 been troubled with the problems Are politicians on national and local levels, 00:10:37.160 --> 00:10:44.760 the involvement off maximum visible basis off the poor and the decision 00:10:44.760 --> 00:10:50.560 making process and the problems are not enough money to do the 00:10:50.570 --> 00:11:14.720 00:10:50.570 --> 00:10:56.360 job. The poverty programs, due to its mandate of involvement the poor 00:10:57.140 --> 00:11:02.900 and determine how much fun should be spent, has drawn a scare 00:11:02.900 --> 00:11:08.250 into politicians at all levels. Off the governor, a big city mayor 00:11:09.140 --> 00:11:14.720 fear the board that poor gaining power through the recognition off the 00:11:14.720 --> 00:11:35.850 00:11:14.720 --> 00:11:21.350 importance and development of our communities. The biggest fear only comes about 00:11:21.360 --> 00:11:25.380 when politicians are not awaken to the fact that in the past 00:11:25.380 --> 00:11:30.160 they have not been responsible to the needs of an overwhelming segment 00:11:30.640 --> 00:11:35.850 off our great city of population. But what they do not realize 00:11:35.860 --> 00:11:58.830 00:11:35.860 --> 00:11:41.220 is that the poor are not necessary and arrested in voting anyone 00:11:41.220 --> 00:11:46.460 out of office, but rather the poor wanted only to reshape those 00:11:46.460 --> 00:11:54.350 establishment, such as the Welfare Department, Housing Authority, Redevelopment Agency and others. 00:11:55.240 --> 00:11:58.830 We are charged by the privilege community to deal with the problem 00:11:58.830 --> 00:12:20.950 00:11:58.830 --> 00:12:03.100 of the poor. One would think that the frightened politician would be 00:12:03.110 --> 00:12:10.770 grateful to hear firsthand from the people who do educational, social and 00:12:10.770 --> 00:12:18.030 economic circumstances have remained mute for so many years. It's Washington. Do 00:12:18.030 --> 00:12:20.950 you live in 100 point? Yes, I do, sir. How long have 00:12:20.950 --> 00:12:45.020 00:12:20.950 --> 00:12:25.070 you lived here ever since 1944. Do you have a job? Yes, 00:12:25.070 --> 00:12:27.870 I do. Due to the poverty programs I see you have a 00:12:27.880 --> 00:12:38.610 family. Yes, I do. Non Children. Thank you. E on this point 00:12:38.620 --> 00:12:45.020 wasn't seen off a so called right which brought overnight big promises 00:12:45.030 --> 00:13:13.210 00:12:45.030 --> 00:12:51.100 from so called responsible elements off the community. May I call this 00:12:51.100 --> 00:13:02.320 city? More than 2000 jobs was promised when tensions when tensions ease 00:13:02.320 --> 00:13:07.680 and pressure sub died all on Lee. 130 jobs left in this 00:13:07.690 --> 00:13:13.210 resident. Once again the paying off hungry are being felt. Our young 00:13:13.220 --> 00:13:30.930 00:13:13.220 --> 00:13:17.690 people are looking for jobs and they are not. The eyes of 00:13:17.690 --> 00:13:22.570 our young men are expressing list and how they have nothing to 00:13:22.580 --> 00:13:27.090 do and no place to go. Joblessness is but one of the 00:13:27.090 --> 00:13:30.930 many cause of poverty. However, it is the one element which is 00:13:30.940 --> 00:13:48.830 00:13:30.940 --> 00:13:36.090 the most urgent fell effort to mobilize total community resource is have 00:13:36.100 --> 00:13:40.640 failed. This is why the fellow government must plan ever part and 00:13:40.640 --> 00:13:44.960 role in providing active funds to pop carry out mental poverty programs. 00:13:45.840 --> 00:13:48.830 The poverty program in Hunters Point have only begun to do the 00:13:48.830 --> 00:14:07.170 00:13:48.830 --> 00:13:52.980 job or bring a system of self help to 51,000 person living 00:13:52.980 --> 00:13:58.990 here. We have the health screening, uh, beyond health screening program, which 00:13:58.990 --> 00:14:02.590 you did a tremendous job in this community. And if the funds 00:14:02.590 --> 00:14:07.170 are not, if this program is not refunded, this community will suffer 00:14:07.180 --> 00:14:28.360 00:14:07.180 --> 00:14:13.560 much greater laws. During the past summer, 700 eighties to person was 00:14:13.560 --> 00:14:19.160 examined. The summer youth program was 312 boys that was went through 00:14:19.160 --> 00:14:24.700 This heads this health center 252 Head start. Children was seen about 00:14:24.700 --> 00:14:28.360 the screen and through the this taken care in the health facility. 00:14:28.740 --> 00:14:46.750 00:14:28.740 --> 00:14:35.130 159. Cooperative preschool. Nice. Your Children was seen 19 youth for service 00:14:35.130 --> 00:14:39.340 was enrolled 400 other individual Children. So you can see this is 00:14:39.340 --> 00:14:43.190 just a merrily scratch of the surface. What the poverty program have 00:14:43.200 --> 00:14:46.750 done for hundreds point. Miss Washington. I'm afraid that's all the time 00:14:46.750 --> 00:15:01.580 00:14:46.750 --> 00:14:49.930 we can. A lot to you, your whole statement. Better than full 00:14:49.930 --> 00:14:54.290 in the record. They're now here for Mrs Ruth Williams. I should 00:14:54.290 --> 00:14:57.300 like to say that I don't have a type written statement. I 00:14:57.300 --> 00:15:01.580 have to say what I know within my arm thoughts and within 00:15:01.580 --> 00:15:16.460 00:15:01.580 --> 00:15:05.260 my very interested in hearing problem, Miss Williams. But you're gonna have 00:15:05.260 --> 00:15:09.010 to confine yourself because we have so many witnesses to five minutes. 00:15:09.010 --> 00:15:12.180 Let me ask you first. You live here in Hunters Point. Yes, 00:15:12.180 --> 00:15:16.460 Ideo. How long have you lived here? Seven years. Are you employed? 00:15:17.040 --> 00:15:41.650 00:15:17.040 --> 00:15:23.350 Yes, I am. Where? Beg your bond. Where? My firm know where? 00:15:23.360 --> 00:15:26.230 What is your job? Where you Oh yes. I'm employed for the 00:15:26.240 --> 00:15:30.860 Planned Parenthood world Population agents. And how many Children do you have? 00:15:31.240 --> 00:15:41.650 Six face. Proceed. Uhh! But I am going Thio. Please be quiet 00:15:42.440 --> 00:16:02.130 00:15:42.440 --> 00:15:45.850 you can bring. I am going to try to speak about the 00:15:45.860 --> 00:15:53.740 positive aspects off the poverty program within the Hunters Point area. But 00:15:53.750 --> 00:15:56.740 first, I think I should have to tell you a little bit 00:15:56.750 --> 00:16:02.130 about how I came into the anti poverty program. I was one 00:16:02.130 --> 00:16:23.010 00:16:02.130 --> 00:16:07.480 of the first community residents to sit on the citywide anti Poverty 00:16:07.480 --> 00:16:12.620 Council. I was in the fight for majority representation because I believed 00:16:12.630 --> 00:16:17.080 in majority representation for the people, for the poor people within the 00:16:17.090 --> 00:16:23.010 areas to sit on the decision making body of the poverty program 00:16:23.020 --> 00:16:45.260 00:16:23.020 --> 00:16:29.040 in San Francisco true. There has been a lot of criticism about 00:16:29.050 --> 00:16:33.610 the anti poverty program in San Francisco, and I think this criticism 00:16:33.620 --> 00:16:38.730 has been mainly because of the fact that the poor were three 00:16:38.730 --> 00:16:45.260 policymakers for the anti poverty program within this area. Uhh. But if 00:16:45.260 --> 00:17:03.940 00:16:45.260 --> 00:16:49.990 one would take time to measure the positive things that have happened 00:16:50.000 --> 00:16:53.390 and I know about them in Hunters Point because I live here, 00:16:53.400 --> 00:16:58.410 um, there would not be so critical because I know that when 00:16:58.410 --> 00:17:03.940 the entire poverty program, uh, employment first start within this area on 00:17:03.940 --> 00:17:24.890 00:17:03.940 --> 00:17:09.550 a very skimpy budget that for the first time within this area 00:17:09.940 --> 00:17:15.860 there were welfare recipients going on to gainful employment. There were people 00:17:15.870 --> 00:17:20.930 who had been cooking and scrubbing floors that were qualified to do 00:17:20.930 --> 00:17:24.890 something mawr. But because of the fact that these people had been 00:17:24.890 --> 00:17:45.800 00:17:24.890 --> 00:17:29.030 discriminated against for so long, they had nothing else to do but 00:17:29.040 --> 00:17:32.930 do this type of work and to be underpaid and under employed. 00:17:32.940 --> 00:17:38.880 So we have any number ah, welfare recipients who have gone on 00:17:38.890 --> 00:17:45.800 to be gainfully employed within the anti poverty program. My name is 00:17:45.800 --> 00:18:05.190 00:17:45.800 --> 00:17:51.110 Suzanne Cook, and I am a representative of the youth from the 00:17:51.220 --> 00:17:57.160 baby community and the hundreds point district and live here. Miss Cook? 00:17:57.640 --> 00:18:01.090 Yes, I dio, baby, you have a job? No, I don't. Are 00:18:01.090 --> 00:18:05.190 you married? No, I am not. Go right ahead. Okay, Well, last 00:18:05.190 --> 00:18:28.410 00:18:05.190 --> 00:18:10.780 year, um, the federal, um sponsored ah summer youth program for about 00:18:10.790 --> 00:18:16.450 12,000 youth. And to this date, there has seemed to be known 00:18:17.040 --> 00:18:22.300 no type of organization started for summer work program for the youth. 00:18:22.310 --> 00:18:28.410 And in about approximately 45 days or less, um, school be out. 00:18:28.420 --> 00:18:45.060 00:18:28.420 --> 00:18:31.690 There will be thousands of youth that will be out on the 00:18:31.690 --> 00:18:36.080 streets with nothing to do And with the youth of the Hunters 00:18:36.080 --> 00:18:41.580 point community are concerned with the situation way feel that this is 00:18:41.580 --> 00:18:45.060 an emergency and that all every one of the city and the 00:18:45.060 --> 00:19:01.840 00:18:45.060 --> 00:18:49.410 state and federal government should support us and some sort of, um, 00:18:49.420 --> 00:18:54.120 Dr or try to obtain some kind of funds to raise something 00:18:54.130 --> 00:18:58.830 to help you do something during the summer. Okay. And it's called. 00:18:58.830 --> 00:19:01.840 How old are you? I'm 18. How far are you going to 00:19:01.840 --> 00:19:22.930 00:19:01.840 --> 00:19:07.360 school? Right now? I'm attending college. Where are you college? I'm attending 00:19:07.360 --> 00:19:11.230 City College of San Francisco. graduating high school. Yes, I have. Thank 00:19:11.230 --> 00:19:18.360 you. And at this point, we think, actually, please be quiet. It's 00:19:18.360 --> 00:19:22.930 very hard for us to hear with the youth the turning point 00:19:22.940 --> 00:19:40.090 00:19:22.940 --> 00:19:28.080 feel that it is very necessary that everyone who is, um concerned 00:19:28.080 --> 00:19:31.720 with the problems of the trouble that goes on during the summer 00:19:31.720 --> 00:19:36.740 with restless students that have nothing to do without your help, there 00:19:36.740 --> 00:19:40.090 will be all play and no work. And probably some trouble during 00:19:40.090 --> 00:19:54.360 00:19:40.090 --> 00:19:42.730 the summer if we don't have some kind of program to get 00:19:42.730 --> 00:19:48.250 started. Thank you very much, Miss Smith. Here now. Yes, Miss. Miss 00:19:48.250 --> 00:19:50.370 Smith, can we hear from you, please? Fresh. Will you tell us 00:19:50.370 --> 00:19:54.360 where you live when you employed? Whether you're married. How many Children? 00:19:55.140 --> 00:20:16.500 00:19:55.140 --> 00:19:59.940 Yes. My name is Audrey Smith. I'm a widow. I have three 00:19:59.950 --> 00:20:05.390 Children. I live in the Western Addition. I'm a district organizer for 00:20:05.390 --> 00:20:10.050 the Western edition. Poverty programs. Where you employed? I didn't get it 00:20:10.640 --> 00:20:16.500 for the Western edition Poverty programs. Thank you. Please proceed. One of 00:20:16.500 --> 00:20:42.160 00:20:16.500 --> 00:20:22.690 the things that I would like to uh, talk about is the 00:20:22.690 --> 00:20:30.050 need of people programs we were fighting for Max Max fees, participation 00:20:30.740 --> 00:20:37.230 and we thought we had it. The people in the communities tried 00:20:37.230 --> 00:20:42.160 to put together programs that will all turn down. True, some of 00:20:42.160 --> 00:21:00.340 00:20:42.160 --> 00:20:48.740 the agency programs have been of some help, But I think on 00:20:48.740 --> 00:20:52.470 I feel from working in the poverty program for a year and 00:20:52.470 --> 00:20:55.270 a half is a volunteer and for a year and a half 00:20:55.270 --> 00:21:00.340 is a paid employee that the concern of the residents, uh, the 00:21:00.350 --> 00:21:22.730 00:21:00.350 --> 00:21:06.350 citizens in the target area is that they don't have programs that 00:21:06.350 --> 00:21:12.290 have been put together or requested by them, are you? I would 00:21:12.290 --> 00:21:18.100 like to see more funds come in for youth programs. I'm afraid 00:21:18.100 --> 00:21:22.730 that the five minutes would not permit me to tell you what 00:21:22.740 --> 00:21:42.110 00:21:22.740 --> 00:21:27.800 should be said regarding our poverty programs. I'll point out, Mr Brooks 00:21:27.800 --> 00:21:29.970 and you and I wrote around the car for a whole hour 00:21:29.970 --> 00:21:36.310 and you tell me all about it. So I would like to 00:21:36.310 --> 00:21:42.110 make three brief points. And since I have been deluged with persons 00:21:42.120 --> 00:21:56.990 00:21:42.120 --> 00:21:45.120 who had something to say, we have young people in our job 00:21:45.130 --> 00:21:49.170 corps centers. We have young people in the neighborhood youth corps. We 00:21:49.170 --> 00:21:53.200 have persons who are working in mental health areas, and all of 00:21:53.200 --> 00:21:56.990 these are very vital to us. But what I would like to 00:21:56.990 --> 00:22:18.000 00:21:56.990 --> 00:22:02.770 say as far as the program itself one thing. Most of the 00:22:02.780 --> 00:22:08.550 grants are shut such short determination that you cannot possibly implement them. 00:22:08.560 --> 00:22:13.240 An example. The Bayview Neighborhood Community Center, founded 12 years ago by 00:22:13.240 --> 00:22:18.000 the citizens of hundreds Point and, um maintained by them for this 00:22:18.000 --> 00:22:35.240 00:22:18.000 --> 00:22:22.390 time with volunteer staff, was given a six month grant. In that 00:22:22.390 --> 00:22:26.500 length of time, they were to staff it and prepared to continue 00:22:26.510 --> 00:22:31.110 and seek other funding. This gentleman is quite impossible because it takes 00:22:31.110 --> 00:22:35.240 six months almost the wheel to staff. Then we had to battle. 00:22:35.250 --> 00:22:53.610 00:22:35.250 --> 00:22:41.040 Our program was based around guidelines out of Oyo That said, uh, 00:22:41.050 --> 00:22:44.550 that time that we had to go into some area, even though 00:22:44.550 --> 00:22:48.030 we have been doing many services for years in some area that 00:22:48.030 --> 00:22:53.610 no other social agency was administering too. So we came up with 00:22:53.620 --> 00:23:15.800 00:22:53.620 --> 00:22:59.090 a tutorial cultural enrichment program which we found upon about a week 00:22:59.090 --> 00:23:05.210 or so before continued funding came up was not, uh, apropo anymore 00:23:05.220 --> 00:23:11.220 for program. So consequently, we had to try to change our program 00:23:11.230 --> 00:23:15.800 overnight, So we switched to a multipurpose facility, which we have been 00:23:15.800 --> 00:23:33.070 00:23:15.800 --> 00:23:19.830 all the time when all we had asked for in the beginning 00:23:19.840 --> 00:23:24.470 was funds in which to enable an existing agency within a poverty 00:23:24.470 --> 00:23:28.450 community that had been working with people for 12 years. To be 00:23:28.450 --> 00:23:33.070 able to continue and get a sound basis are at least a 00:23:33.080 --> 00:23:51.330 00:23:33.080 --> 00:23:38.340 financial basis from which to operate and service the community. The other 00:23:38.340 --> 00:23:42.870 area is that the memos that came out and their interpretations on 00:23:42.880 --> 00:23:47.270 the regional and the local levels, the fact that a memo comes 00:23:47.270 --> 00:23:51.330 out of Washington and may be interpreted many different ways before it 00:23:51.340 --> 00:24:15.000 00:23:51.340 --> 00:23:58.650 reaches people. Consequently, many times what we were operating under today, we 00:23:58.650 --> 00:24:04.370 found out tomorrow was not, um, tolerated anymore are that we were 00:24:04.370 --> 00:24:09.790 in violation of some part of the act. These things, we think 00:24:09.790 --> 00:24:15.000 need, uh, certain amount of clarification. My third point would be Is 00:24:15.000 --> 00:24:33.310 00:24:15.000 --> 00:24:20.270 that from the the top administration on down. And I was fortunate 00:24:20.270 --> 00:24:24.070 enough to have been in Washington a few months ago to find 00:24:24.070 --> 00:24:29.130 that the program, which professed to involve the poor, did not involve 00:24:29.130 --> 00:24:33.310 them on the top administrative levels, and I think that certainly they 00:24:33.310 --> 00:24:50.350 00:24:33.310 --> 00:24:37.660 had a lot to offer in reviewing programs. Along with the expertise 00:24:38.740 --> 00:24:43.080 we have our Planned Parenthood way have our men's action council. We 00:24:43.080 --> 00:24:46.610 have our busy bee nursery centers, one of which you see an 00:24:46.610 --> 00:24:50.350 example on the wall. I'll close this in just one minute. Uh, 00:24:50.740 --> 00:25:10.540 00:24:50.740 --> 00:24:55.620 and we have these things which we did not start in 1964. 00:24:55.630 --> 00:24:59.840 We did not start them in 1965 But we did start them 00:24:59.850 --> 00:25:06.650 in 1948 1954 1956 when there was not money, poverty programs started 00:25:06.650 --> 00:25:10.540 here, Um, right after the war, when we were faced with being 00:25:10.550 --> 00:25:26.190 00:25:10.550 --> 00:25:15.380 the first fired after being the last hired during the hostilities of 00:25:15.380 --> 00:25:20.030 the Second World War. Let me point out that this hearing is 00:25:20.040 --> 00:25:23.440 being conducted for the benefit of the people of this area on 00:25:23.440 --> 00:25:26.190 the member of the United States Senate and not for the benefit 00:25:26.190 --> 00:25:46.620 00:25:26.190 --> 00:25:33.500 of the television people way. Can't see uh, e them now I've 00:25:33.500 --> 00:25:36.990 got some lights around the side. Now I understand the television crews 00:25:36.990 --> 00:25:43.210 have taken all the plugs, which I'm I guess we're I guess 00:25:43.210 --> 00:25:46.620 we're sort of way sort of at the mercy of the media, 00:25:46.630 --> 00:26:03.810 00:25:46.630 --> 00:25:49.250 but we just have to do the best we can. If we 00:25:49.250 --> 00:25:52.850 could get some lights around the hall, then the witnesses could see 00:25:52.850 --> 00:25:58.050 the senators, the senators, instability across the street That is closed about 00:25:58.050 --> 00:26:03.810 60% of the time. Uh, right directly across the street. Well, because 00:26:03.810 --> 00:26:21.150 00:26:03.810 --> 00:26:08.880 they claim that they don't have staff, they won't trust us. Operated 00:26:08.890 --> 00:26:14.180 on duh. Consequently stays there. We have youngsters on this corner as 00:26:14.180 --> 00:26:17.390 we had a year ago that are building up and with school 00:26:17.390 --> 00:26:21.150 getting out is gonna be a lot worse. I have a steady 00:26:21.150 --> 00:26:38.680 00:26:21.150 --> 00:26:26.250 stream of young people daily and adults coming through our office asking 00:26:26.260 --> 00:26:31.210 for jobs, assistance and help in various best Brooks. Excuse me, but 00:26:31.220 --> 00:26:34.690 Senator Kennedy is questioning witnesses, and I have no doubt in due 00:26:34.690 --> 00:26:38.680 course you get you way are working on a tight time schedule. 00:26:38.680 --> 00:26:54.240 00:26:38.680 --> 00:26:42.890 I please ask You just let Senator Kennedy continuous questioning in orderly 00:26:42.890 --> 00:26:46.300 manner. Senator Kennedy, Do you think there's been to much of Washington 00:26:46.300 --> 00:26:51.110 or the city fathers or City Hall or the state capital coming 00:26:51.110 --> 00:26:54.240 in and telling people what's good for them? Yes, I do, because 00:26:54.240 --> 00:27:09.660 00:26:54.240 --> 00:26:57.110 it's impossible for you to give me what I need unless you 00:26:57.120 --> 00:27:01.850 hear my needs coming from me. The whole concept of community action, 00:27:01.860 --> 00:27:06.530 community action, part of a program of poverty program is aimed at 00:27:06.540 --> 00:27:09.660 trying todo deal with that kind of a problem. Has that been 00:27:09.660 --> 00:27:29.810 00:27:09.660 --> 00:27:16.510 successful? Yeah, I think the idea of community action three idea of 00:27:16.520 --> 00:27:20.770 community action programs was try to have the people themselves, that poor 00:27:20.770 --> 00:27:24.880 themselves involved in dealing with these kind of problems. Do you think 00:27:24.880 --> 00:27:29.810 that's been successful? It has been successful, but not enough. One of 00:27:29.810 --> 00:27:46.670 00:27:29.810 --> 00:27:33.570 the good things about the program in Oakland when a part of 00:27:33.570 --> 00:27:37.630 the program came along, I think he gave a new hopes for 00:27:37.640 --> 00:27:42.120 people that here was something that we're going to do something about 00:27:42.120 --> 00:27:46.670 the conditions under which people were living. Do you want hopes were 00:27:46.670 --> 00:28:05.050 00:27:46.670 --> 00:27:52.620 buildup? What? The interception of the program. It was got together, first 00:27:52.620 --> 00:27:56.760 of all, without the consultation with the poor. And I think this 00:27:56.760 --> 00:28:01.960 is one of the bad things about the program way. Understand the 00:28:01.970 --> 00:28:05.050 Constitution, any at all. It says for the people and by the 00:28:05.060 --> 00:28:22.030 00:28:05.060 --> 00:28:08.690 people. But this program has got together and the poor people are 00:28:08.690 --> 00:28:13.940 tired of people planning for them and not planning with them. We 00:28:13.940 --> 00:28:17.390 find that some of the other bad things about the program we 00:28:17.400 --> 00:28:22.030 didn't realize the fact that there were so many specialists and analysts 00:28:22.030 --> 00:28:37.890 00:28:22.030 --> 00:28:26.280 and super analysts in in our city until some money came in 00:28:26.280 --> 00:28:29.830 to do something about the poor. All of a sudden, everybody become 00:28:29.830 --> 00:28:33.730 especially, it's about the conditions of the poor. We realize the fact 00:28:33.730 --> 00:28:37.890 that nobody but nobody could be a specialist about the poor. I 00:28:37.890 --> 00:28:50.220 00:28:37.890 --> 00:28:40.380 don't care how many books you read and how many degrees you 00:28:40.390 --> 00:28:43.740 get in college, uh, reading about the poor. But unless you are 00:28:43.740 --> 00:28:47.500 poor yourself or have been poor, then you cannot be a special 00:28:47.500 --> 00:28:50.220 about the conditions of the poor. So this is one of the 00:28:50.220 --> 00:29:05.990 00:28:50.220 --> 00:28:53.660 things about but one of the good things that brought about some 00:28:53.660 --> 00:28:55.560 of the good things that brought about. And this is one that, 00:28:56.040 --> 00:29:00.050 over and beyond, everything it bought the poor people together, if nothing 00:29:00.050 --> 00:29:05.990 else. But we feel that at this particular time in Oakland, if 00:29:06.000 --> 00:29:20.270 00:29:06.000 --> 00:29:08.330 we had more money to do things with, we could do a 00:29:08.330 --> 00:29:12.790 better job with the cutback of the money that just isn't enough 00:29:12.790 --> 00:29:17.110 money available to do the things that we need. Thio be happening 00:29:17.120 --> 00:29:20.270 that need to be happening in Oakland. Mr. Williams, let me interrupt 00:29:20.270 --> 00:29:31.970 00:29:20.270 --> 00:29:22.300 you for a moment to ask you a couple of questions. I 00:29:22.300 --> 00:29:25.070 should have asked you in the beginning. How long have you lived 00:29:25.070 --> 00:29:28.550 in Oakland? 17 years. Are you married? I am. I have a 00:29:28.550 --> 00:29:31.970 wife and five boys and three girls on working for the federal 00:29:31.970 --> 00:29:44.190 00:29:31.970 --> 00:29:35.330 government for 24 years. What is your job of the federal government? 00:29:35.340 --> 00:29:38.150 I'm a truck driver. How far do you go in school? I 00:29:38.150 --> 00:29:41.110 finished high school. I have take junior high school. I've taken several 00:29:41.110 --> 00:29:44.190 courses in training and working with youngsters. Thank you very much. So 00:29:44.190 --> 00:30:02.830 00:29:44.190 --> 00:29:48.610 Well, you proceed. And private property been in Oakland ever since. There 00:29:48.610 --> 00:29:53.960 has been a Negro in Oakland way. Feel that with the this, 00:29:54.540 --> 00:29:58.000 I could call it this bureaucracy that we have in Oakland. Our 00:29:58.000 --> 00:30:02.830 city, Father, The way they run things in Oakland, and as long 00:30:02.830 --> 00:30:19.120 00:30:02.830 --> 00:30:05.190 as they run things the way they are, there's gonna always be 00:30:05.190 --> 00:30:09.590 poverty in Oakland. Now the money comes to Oakland and we feel 00:30:09.590 --> 00:30:14.480 that the poverty money would be better spent if there were more 00:30:14.490 --> 00:30:19.120 of the poor people involved in the policy making decisions on the 00:30:19.120 --> 00:30:33.270 00:30:19.120 --> 00:30:22.260 top side. When I say the top side of them about to 00:30:22.260 --> 00:30:27.050 save before you interrupting the senator was that when the program first 00:30:27.050 --> 00:30:30.880 got together in Oakland, it was got together without the poor. We 00:30:30.880 --> 00:30:33.270 had something known in Oakland. At that time, I think it was 00:30:33.270 --> 00:30:50.530 00:30:33.270 --> 00:30:38.060 known as the associating associated agencies, and we had representatives from the 00:30:38.070 --> 00:30:42.940 different departments of our city. And when this first million dollars came 00:30:42.940 --> 00:30:45.760 into Oakland, I think they formulated what was known then as the 00:30:46.040 --> 00:30:50.530 call now the Department of Human Resource of the Sea. And it 00:30:50.530 --> 00:31:08.010 00:30:50.530 --> 00:30:53.820 was trauma lated without any of the poor people sitting on that 00:30:53.820 --> 00:30:59.020 body. But after the program got together and all of the policies 00:30:59.020 --> 00:31:04.080 were made and of course, the sale was set. Then they found 00:31:04.080 --> 00:31:08.010 out they had to have the poor people involved in this, uh, 00:31:08.020 --> 00:31:24.530 00:31:08.020 --> 00:31:11.450 on this way, D C body and West Oakland happened to be 00:31:11.450 --> 00:31:15.690 the first area that happened to get this Target Error advisory committee 00:31:15.690 --> 00:31:19.710 together. And at that time, I think we first had three people 00:31:19.720 --> 00:31:24.530 two seats to setting in one alternate, but their voices was not 00:31:24.540 --> 00:31:39.340 00:31:24.540 --> 00:31:28.210 very much of a voice at that particular time. They were just 00:31:28.210 --> 00:31:32.050 sitting there to approve what had already been approved. We should say, 00:31:32.440 --> 00:31:35.790 because of the fact that they had set the policy up, how 00:31:35.790 --> 00:31:39.340 things were going to be going and whether they voted, whether the 00:31:39.340 --> 00:31:52.710 00:31:39.340 --> 00:31:42.440 34 target areas at that time, whether the 12 people were sitting 00:31:42.440 --> 00:31:45.360 there, whether they voted against it, it didn't make any difference because 00:31:45.360 --> 00:31:47.220 they were already going to do what it was going to do 00:31:47.220 --> 00:31:52.710 anyway. How are you, Mr Low? 45. Are you married? Yes. How 00:31:52.710 --> 00:32:09.900 00:31:52.710 --> 00:31:56.350 bigger? Family. Three Children. Do you have a job? No, I don't. 00:31:56.840 --> 00:31:59.670 How far do you go in school? I went to high school 00:31:59.670 --> 00:32:04.980 and tender Naval Naval ship. Better school. Are you un relief at 00:32:04.980 --> 00:32:09.900 the present time? Are you un relief? Uh, no, I'm not. How 00:32:09.900 --> 00:32:23.980 00:32:09.900 --> 00:32:13.620 do you How do you pay for groceries and your rent? Uh, 00:32:13.630 --> 00:32:16.500 it's kind of difficult question, but the way I pay it, actually, 00:32:16.500 --> 00:32:19.140 at the present time, the reason why I'm not working at this 00:32:19.150 --> 00:32:23.980 very moment is because I was injured. on the job you get, 00:32:23.990 --> 00:32:42.610 00:32:23.990 --> 00:32:29.390 you get compensation. Well, I was kind of complicated. No, I get 00:32:29.400 --> 00:32:34.210 part conversation because it has not been a decided yet by the 00:32:34.210 --> 00:32:39.590 federal government who was hearing my case downtown. So, uh, it's not 00:32:39.590 --> 00:32:42.610 fully about. Just tell us what you think is right. And what's 00:32:42.610 --> 00:33:00.050 00:32:42.610 --> 00:32:46.270 wrong about the poverty program in Oakland? Well, I feel one thing 00:32:46.270 --> 00:32:49.120 as I said that I have lived here in a long time, 00:32:49.130 --> 00:32:55.800 and these area that I have been a poor person and developed 00:32:55.800 --> 00:33:00.050 lived in the area. And the first thing that I feel the 00:33:00.060 --> 00:33:24.550 00:33:00.060 --> 00:33:05.370 probably program has done a tremendous job in bringing together for the 00:33:05.370 --> 00:33:12.040 first time poor people from the community to try to determine their 00:33:12.040 --> 00:33:20.460 destiny. And this has developed a sort of pride within the community. 00:33:21.140 --> 00:33:24.550 There are many people within the community or at the present time, 00:33:24.550 --> 00:33:42.400 00:33:24.550 --> 00:33:29.030 and I feel that the city, the city directors and so forth 00:33:29.040 --> 00:33:32.850 do not understand this and are trying to block this particular thing. 00:33:33.340 --> 00:33:37.920 This these developments are taking place in the area where the poor 00:33:37.920 --> 00:33:42.400 people feel that they have some chance to make to determine their 00:33:42.400 --> 00:34:00.260 00:33:42.400 --> 00:33:48.790 own destiny and become part of the policy making body has improved 00:33:48.800 --> 00:33:52.860 the situation. I think in the city in the city of Oakland, 00:33:52.870 --> 00:33:56.930 100% there are many what I feel that some of the main 00:33:56.930 --> 00:34:00.260 weaknesses of the program, what I feel is one of some of 00:34:00.260 --> 00:34:20.510 00:34:00.260 --> 00:34:03.330 the main weaknesses of the program. So we can hear you now. 00:34:03.330 --> 00:34:07.010 You're doing fine before I'm Lomas Rich, and he's doing reveal that 00:34:07.010 --> 00:34:11.620 some of the main weakness of the program is that there has 00:34:11.620 --> 00:34:20.510 not been enough effort being made to help. The small industries are 00:34:20.510 --> 00:34:40.310 00:34:20.510 --> 00:34:26.050 a small business people within the community to get some of the 00:34:26.050 --> 00:34:29.300 benefits which will also help the poor people. What I mean by 00:34:29.300 --> 00:34:34.760 that is that's a small doctor's office. He would be able to 00:34:34.760 --> 00:34:40.310 maybe employed a person full time if he had a chance for 00:34:40.320 --> 00:34:55.500 00:34:40.320 --> 00:34:45.620 among the manpower commission something to get subsidies to start this person 00:34:45.620 --> 00:34:49.760 to help the race, uh, subsidize this person's work for a while, 00:34:50.140 --> 00:34:52.450 and while he was getting started, then he would be able to 00:34:52.450 --> 00:34:55.500 employ this person full time. The person will be offered the relief 00:34:55.510 --> 00:35:10.690 00:34:55.510 --> 00:34:58.510 roles or wherever there is for good. For example, there is a 00:34:58.510 --> 00:35:02.150 manpower commission the city has which asked the federal building for millions 00:35:02.150 --> 00:35:06.640 of dollars. There is not one single poor person. Even though the 00:35:06.640 --> 00:35:10.690 OTC has 51% That's on the Manpower Commission. I don't know how 00:35:10.690 --> 00:35:23.840 00:35:10.690 --> 00:35:15.390 the city, uh, justifies this yet. They make the whole approach for 00:35:15.390 --> 00:35:17.470 how we're supposed to get the money and how it will spend. 00:35:17.470 --> 00:35:21.980 Nobody has any say, you know, and, uh, they want a matter 00:35:21.980 --> 00:35:23.840 of fact, they don't want t o D c They have anything 00:35:23.840 --> 00:35:38.670 00:35:23.840 --> 00:35:26.810 to do with that? They wanna they wanna take it over, Which 00:35:26.810 --> 00:35:29.890 would be perfectly maybe. Okay, at least we had some say We 00:35:29.890 --> 00:35:33.730 have no say whatsoever on the Manpower Commission. That's one good example 00:35:33.740 --> 00:35:38.670 way have the another thing that's come along like the model city 00:35:38.670 --> 00:35:54.620 00:35:38.670 --> 00:35:41.430 is coming along. Well, this again, I think we should have more 00:35:41.430 --> 00:35:44.900 determination as to the question of what? You know what? The board's 00:35:44.900 --> 00:35:48.950 gonna do for us. Thank you very much, Mr Low. All the problems 00:35:48.950 --> 00:35:54.620 that have been mentioned up to this time actually concerns the Spanish 00:35:54.620 --> 00:36:13.800 00:35:54.620 --> 00:36:00.210 speaking people. Besides one other factor besides being poor, they also have 00:36:00.210 --> 00:36:06.460 the problem of communications with the agencies and programs. Language Problem. A 00:36:06.460 --> 00:36:09.640 tous point. I think the problem is not the Spanish speaking people, 00:36:09.640 --> 00:36:13.800 but the agencies themselves. They do not speak Spanish and cannot reach 00:36:13.800 --> 00:36:30.120 00:36:13.800 --> 00:36:17.250 these people. Could you give us an estimate as to how many 00:36:17.260 --> 00:36:22.030 people live in Oakland who do not speak English? I could not 00:36:22.030 --> 00:36:25.910 say how Maney do not speak English. There is an estimated 60,000 00:36:25.920 --> 00:36:30.120 speak Spanish in Oakland. Most of them are bilingual, though, aren't they? 00:36:30.330 --> 00:36:48.450 00:36:30.330 --> 00:36:33.890 I couldn't say I could give you a number from bilingualism or 00:36:33.890 --> 00:36:38.830 monolingual losing, but the poverty program is finally beginning to reach these 00:36:38.840 --> 00:36:43.520 people. There are several projects now in existence in Oakland. The Spanish 00:36:43.520 --> 00:36:48.450 Speaking Information Center, which is, uh, to date, has helped 3100 people. 00:36:49.330 --> 00:37:07.820 00:36:49.330 --> 00:36:54.730 Spanish speaking people. Uh, there is another project now that will has 00:36:54.730 --> 00:36:57.840 not been funded yet or the funds have not been reached yet. 00:36:57.850 --> 00:37:01.850 This is for higher education of Spanish speaking high school Children and 00:37:01.850 --> 00:37:07.820 also the Spanish speaking neighborhood organization with only two staff persons. Um, 00:37:07.830 --> 00:37:27.460 00:37:07.830 --> 00:37:15.590 this is approximately but these projects are greatly understaffed for the 00:37:15.590 --> 00:37:19.180 amount of people that need the help in Oakland. One other project 00:37:19.180 --> 00:37:23.350 that has been helping the Spanish speaking in Oakland is the SPDC, 00:37:23.350 --> 00:37:27.460 which is a the Oakland Small Business Development Center. And today they 00:37:27.460 --> 00:37:50.880 00:37:27.460 --> 00:37:32.520 have granted nine loans to Spanish speaking persons and have created 68 00:37:32.520 --> 00:37:37.160 new jobs. But this project has been phased out. Now in Oakland, 00:37:40.230 --> 00:37:43.550 One of the major concerns of the Spanish speaking people is the 00:37:44.150 --> 00:37:50.880 unemployment. You tell us why that program was phased out. Um, I 00:37:50.890 --> 00:38:04.030 00:37:50.890 --> 00:37:54.620 couldn't see why. I'd like to know why myself e was one 00:37:54.620 --> 00:37:57.990 of the persons that benefited from this program. This project. Did you 00:37:57.990 --> 00:38:01.790 inquire why it was phased out? Yes. And it, as far as 00:38:01.790 --> 00:38:04.030 I know, it went back to S B A. That it was 00:38:04.040 --> 00:38:23.580 00:38:04.040 --> 00:38:07.670 what? They're changing their policies. This is the question of making loans, 00:38:07.670 --> 00:38:13.170 huh? Yes. Thistles nationwide on I deplore it. We're going to see 00:38:13.170 --> 00:38:16.040 we can do to get it back and order again. Like I 00:38:16.040 --> 00:38:23.580 mentioned, all those 99 loans are 68 new jobs created bad, and 00:38:23.580 --> 00:38:42.160 00:38:23.580 --> 00:38:26.430 this is one of the projects is greatly helped The Spanish speaking 00:38:26.430 --> 00:38:31.040 in Oakland, presently 18% of the Spanish speaking citizens in Oakland are 00:38:31.040 --> 00:38:38.800 unemployed, I guess a lot more underemployed, aren't they? Yes, definitely. On 00:38:38.800 --> 00:38:42.160 increasing the population is not shown an increase in jobs and open 00:38:42.200 --> 00:39:04.150 00:38:42.200 --> 00:38:46.140 A major concern at this time is jobs employment. They believe they 00:38:46.140 --> 00:38:53.350 can help themselves by having fair employment. Three projects I mentioned are 00:38:53.360 --> 00:38:58.830 helping to great extent. But again, these projects are understaffed and more 00:38:58.830 --> 00:39:04.150 funds needed me. The one big problem that very few people seem 00:39:04.150 --> 00:39:23.460 00:39:04.150 --> 00:39:09.420 to realize programs, agencies is that these people have the problem in 00:39:09.420 --> 00:39:14.340 the communications in a great deal of them are non English speaking 00:39:15.920 --> 00:39:18.860 on whether it be good or bad. But this is a problem. 00:39:18.860 --> 00:39:23.460 This exists right now. The language problem. We've got a problem. Oakland 00:39:23.460 --> 00:39:43.950 00:39:23.460 --> 00:39:29.340 has an outstanding militant Spanish speaking community leadership that are ready to 00:39:29.820 --> 00:39:34.090 work with projects if the funds were available. These are only a 00:39:34.100 --> 00:39:40.180 few of the projects that are in existence now, but more funds 00:39:40.180 --> 00:39:43.950 are needed to create more projects. Proposals have been written. Proposals have 00:39:43.950 --> 00:40:01.860 00:39:43.950 --> 00:39:48.740 been submitted but not being funded. And again, this is the big 00:39:48.740 --> 00:39:53.640 problem. One of you, uh, make some comments on the whole concept 00:39:53.640 --> 00:39:57.750 of urban renewal on the question of moving people out of housing 00:39:58.120 --> 00:40:01.860 units and then building new housing units. I understand you had a 00:40:01.870 --> 00:40:17.490 00:40:01.870 --> 00:40:06.450 housing unit. The acorn. Is that housing units in the Oakland where 00:40:06.450 --> 00:40:09.820 the people have not been moved back or having there's no housing 00:40:09.830 --> 00:40:13.610 found for them? Is that correct? That is correct, Urban, and you'll 00:40:13.610 --> 00:40:17.490 in My book is, but the old fella says that they go 00:40:17.490 --> 00:40:31.120 00:40:17.490 --> 00:40:19.250 to the end of the rainbow and you find a part of 00:40:19.250 --> 00:40:23.370 gold. That's just about what it is in Oakland with Urban and 00:40:23.370 --> 00:40:28.200 you and model City. What you're saying, Mr Williams, is that there 00:40:28.200 --> 00:40:31.120 isn't any part of gold, aren't you? That's exactly what I'm saying. 00:40:31.120 --> 00:40:46.460 00:40:31.120 --> 00:40:35.750 You just keep going. And this is what that that is the 00:40:35.750 --> 00:40:38.580 way it is with the people that have been moved out of 00:40:38.580 --> 00:40:42.550 their homes are in West Oakland. If you would take a tour 00:40:42.550 --> 00:40:46.460 of West Oakland, you see the barren land now before redevelopment came 00:40:46.460 --> 00:41:03.450 00:40:46.460 --> 00:40:50.190 along, Uh, it was told to the public bother city fathers. They 00:40:50.190 --> 00:40:55.160 had them believing that industrial and everybody else was lying up, waiting 00:40:55.170 --> 00:40:59.460 to, uh, rebuild this property and put industrial down there and do 00:40:59.460 --> 00:41:03.450 all this modernistic building and what have you and today has nothing 00:41:03.460 --> 00:41:17.110 00:41:03.460 --> 00:41:07.070 been done? Now they took people's home, and these people that were 00:41:07.080 --> 00:41:11.070 moved out of their homes were old people on fixed incomes and 00:41:11.070 --> 00:41:14.010 getting maybe 2 a month. Their homes were paid for. They 00:41:14.010 --> 00:41:17.110 had a house and two lots in the city. Whoever bought it 00:41:17.110 --> 00:41:32.980 00:41:17.110 --> 00:41:21.820 gave them maybe at ,000 at the most for a house 00:41:21.820 --> 00:41:24.510 and two lots and told the house off the lot. So one 00:41:24.510 --> 00:41:28.910 lots of 25 ,000 And as long as we owned property in 00:41:28.920 --> 00:41:32.980 West Oakland today is valued Aziz, long as you have it. But 00:41:32.980 --> 00:41:43.880 00:41:32.980 --> 00:41:34.950 as soon as they push you out and run you out, all 00:41:34.950 --> 00:41:36.990 of a sudden, that goes up. And if you have been in 00:41:36.990 --> 00:41:40.590 West Oakland yesterday you saw and maybe you looked on television yesterday 00:41:40.590 --> 00:41:43.880 afternoon, you probably so be a rapid transit, forcing the lady out 00:41:43.880 --> 00:41:59.500 00:41:43.880 --> 00:41:49.380 of her home. Uh, this is bad model cities. Another nasty thing 00:41:49.380 --> 00:41:52.230 in our book because of the fact that it has been planned 00:41:52.230 --> 00:41:56.050 without the poor. Now, with the understanding that we have a model 00:41:56.050 --> 00:41:59.500 city is that on day one of planning for model city, the 00:41:59.500 --> 00:42:17.170 00:41:59.500 --> 00:42:04.660 community must be involved. Now they say that they've contacted 500 people 00:42:04.670 --> 00:42:08.730 in West Oakland about model city, and truthful Matter is, they haven't 00:42:08.740 --> 00:42:13.440 contacted anybody. So redevelopment is bad and what we want, and what 00:42:13.450 --> 00:42:17.170 we need is a non opportunity to fix up our properties. In 00:42:17.170 --> 00:42:30.770 00:42:17.170 --> 00:42:19.700 West opened the only thing that we could get a permit for 00:42:19.700 --> 00:42:22.400 from City Hall to do about our property in West Oakland. Put 00:42:22.410 --> 00:42:27.940 roof gutters, steps, windows and doors on our homes, and they won't 00:42:27.950 --> 00:42:30.770 allow us even right now, you have insurance on your house in 00:42:30.770 --> 00:42:44.730 00:42:30.770 --> 00:42:34.570 West Oakland. Burned down. They will not the insurance company. I want 00:42:34.570 --> 00:42:36.600 to build a house back. They'd rather pay you off, running out 00:42:36.600 --> 00:42:39.660 of West open with you all agree that that's been a problem. 00:42:39.670 --> 00:42:44.730 One of the things that, uh, redevelopment does way have beautiful training. 00:42:44.730 --> 00:42:57.440 00:42:44.730 --> 00:42:49.220 Such Connick started coming through Oakland. There are highways that coming through 00:42:49.220 --> 00:42:52.630 Oakland on the people who are really are affected by is the 00:42:52.630 --> 00:42:54.920 senior citizens. There are a lot of poor people who are not 00:42:54.920 --> 00:42:57.440 able to buy another house. So in the meantime, he has to 00:42:57.450 --> 00:43:09.500 00:42:57.450 --> 00:43:00.620 try to read. Do you think the idea of rent of renovation 00:43:00.620 --> 00:43:03.160 is a zit exists on the title one? Perhaps you don't know 00:43:03.160 --> 00:43:05.540 all the details of it. But do you think that the concept 00:43:05.540 --> 00:43:09.500 of renovation, rather than carrying it down and building new housing press 00:43:09.500 --> 00:43:28.610 00:43:09.500 --> 00:43:14.850 makes more sense in some areas? E. I think renovation, actually I 00:43:14.850 --> 00:43:19.020 think, is probably one of the real answers. I think it also 00:43:19.020 --> 00:43:24.930 under the probably program and under the ideas that certain some of 00:43:24.930 --> 00:43:28.610 the places are, people don't have the mind to fix them up. 00:43:29.070 --> 00:43:45.460 00:43:29.070 --> 00:43:33.680 And again, I think that if certain kind of subsidies could be 00:43:33.680 --> 00:43:39.360 given for renovating these homes that way could make a very beautiful 00:43:39.360 --> 00:43:42.040 city out of out of the City of Oakland. Out of that. 00:43:42.050 --> 00:43:45.460 Do you think housing program in the past has been mostly for 00:43:45.470 --> 00:44:02.450 00:43:45.470 --> 00:43:49.890 middle income and upper income? Yes, the idea. And I also feel 00:43:49.890 --> 00:43:54.290 that they should be, you know, definitely developments along the lines of 00:43:54.300 --> 00:44:00.040 cooperative homes toe build by because when a person owns a home, 00:44:00.040 --> 00:44:02.450 or at least there maybe never own it, they think they're gonna 00:44:02.450 --> 00:44:18.610 00:44:02.450 --> 00:44:05.380 on it anyway. When they are paying for it. They think they're 00:44:05.380 --> 00:44:08.920 gonna own. At least they feel it until that time that they 00:44:08.930 --> 00:44:12.040 may own it. They'll keep it up better and so forth from 00:44:12.040 --> 00:44:18.610 the witnesses we heard this morning. A very substantial unrest, guerrilla dissatisfaction, 00:44:18.990 --> 00:44:37.740 00:44:18.990 --> 00:44:24.200 various poverty programs. A strong insistence that there should be more participation. 00:44:24.200 --> 00:44:28.460 The poor. I like to point out, however, that we deliberately hell 00:44:28.460 --> 00:44:32.800 the panels this morning to give the representatives of the poor on 00:44:32.800 --> 00:44:37.740 opportunity to present their case. This afternoon we will be hearing from 00:44:37.740 --> 00:44:58.980 00:44:37.740 --> 00:44:43.970 the Mayor's of Oakland and, I hope, San Jose, San Francisco, from 00:44:43.970 --> 00:44:49.870 the other individuals in what is called sometimes the establishment, sometimes the 00:44:49.880 --> 00:44:54.490 power structure to get their views, the situation. This has to be 00:44:54.490 --> 00:44:58.980 a balanced inquiry. I wouldn't be prepared to draw any conclusions until 00:44:58.980 --> 00:45:17.170 00:44:58.980 --> 00:45:02.720 I come to the end of the day. Senator, your well, your 00:45:02.720 --> 00:45:06.890 recommendations have any effect on the total amount of appropriations for the 00:45:06.890 --> 00:45:12.120 poverty war. They a longer range things. Uh, we're riding two horses 00:45:12.120 --> 00:45:17.170 at once, and it's very difficult when we conclude our country wide 00:45:17.180 --> 00:45:37.770 00:45:17.180 --> 00:45:20.700 hearings three end of this month. We will then proceed back to 00:45:20.710 --> 00:45:26.600 Washington, where we will hold hearings on the administration's amendments to the 00:45:26.610 --> 00:45:32.250 Poverty Act for 1967 we'll have to process that bill, which includes 00:45:32.250 --> 00:45:37.770 a request for North authorization by the president of ,006,000,000. 00:45:37.780 --> 00:45:54.130 00:45:37.780 --> 00:45:42.410 I point out, however, that that's only the authorization. Our subcommittee and 00:45:42.410 --> 00:45:45.440 the Labor Committee generally is a building a more favorable of the 00:45:45.450 --> 00:45:50.240 poverty program than the appropriations committees are. As you know, the appropriation 00:45:50.240 --> 00:45:54.130 was cut last year on May be again. I would not have 00:45:54.140 --> 00:46:13.670 00:45:54.140 --> 00:46:00.820 any really, uh, authoritative views as to what the result is going 00:46:00.820 --> 00:46:06.090 to be in processing that legislation. But our primary long range objective 00:46:06.090 --> 00:46:09.440 is to come out with a comprehensive report towards the end of 00:46:09.440 --> 00:46:13.670 this year on the whole poverty program, which will be broader in 00:46:13.670 --> 00:46:34.910 00:46:13.670 --> 00:46:17.250 scope on, I hope, more definitive than any action we can take 00:46:17.250 --> 00:46:21.990 in connection with the legislation on the Poverty Act amendments for 1967. 00:46:22.980 --> 00:46:28.930 I do think that San Francisco is singularly blast in its capability 00:46:28.930 --> 00:46:34.910 for providing adequate housing. That doesn't mean that the housing here on 00:46:34.910 --> 00:46:52.880 00:46:34.910 --> 00:46:39.740 the point isn't inadequate. Of course it ISS. But if you were 00:46:39.740 --> 00:46:45.210 to see some of the housing conditions in Mississippi, in New York 00:46:45.210 --> 00:46:49.300 City, on in the District of Columbia. I think you would feel 00:46:49.300 --> 00:46:52.880 that you were pretty fortunate here, even though I stress the fact 00:46:53.000 --> 00:47:08.360 00:46:53.000 --> 00:46:56.940 that obviously there's a lot of substandard housing in San Francisco Simitian 00:46:56.940 --> 00:47:00.050 as to whether or not there will be any major change recommended 00:47:00.050 --> 00:47:04.390 in the poverty war program. Well, as you know, the administration bill 00:47:04.390 --> 00:47:08.360 completely rewrites titled One entitled to the act. There are a number 00:47:08.360 --> 00:47:21.820 00:47:08.360 --> 00:47:10.960 of changes made in other titles. All this will have to be 00:47:10.960 --> 00:47:15.210 very carefully evaluated not only by the Senate subcommittee, but by the 00:47:15.210 --> 00:47:18.150 committee over in the House as well. I don't think any of 00:47:18.150 --> 00:47:21.820 us know my colleagues will speak for themselves just what the nature 00:47:21.820 --> 00:47:36.500 00:47:21.820 --> 00:47:25.860 of the legislation, if any, will come out. There is a school 00:47:25.860 --> 00:47:29.110 of thought which thinks that no poverty program can survive the new 00:47:29.110 --> 00:47:33.090 House of Representatives. I hope that's wrong. Senators from the testimony we've 00:47:33.100 --> 00:47:36.500 heard here today, they seem to want to things number one more 00:47:36.500 --> 00:48:09.540 00:47:36.500 --> 00:47:39.090 money and number two more saying how that money is going to 00:47:39.100 --> 00:47:57.590 be spent. Jobs and jobs. Sorry. Ah e what That means we 00:47:57.590 --> 00:48:01.040 just to make you believe me a copy. Just replace this is 00:48:01.040 --> 00:48:09.540 it. And he was with me and in your administration to housing 00:48:09.550 --> 00:48:26.810 00:48:09.550 --> 00:48:12.720 projects you visited in the bill more and in the Hunter sport 00:48:12.720 --> 00:48:15.160 area today. Well, as I said earlier, I thought that the first 00:48:15.160 --> 00:48:24.250 housing project that we visited was he's very fine. Yeah, so adequate, 00:48:24.260 --> 00:48:26.810 Satisfactory housing. Everybody would like to live in a better house, but 00:48:26.810 --> 00:48:41.780 00:48:26.810 --> 00:48:30.590 it was very satisfactory. Second housing development we visit. The particular apartment 00:48:30.590 --> 00:48:35.020 we visited was very nice. It was a lot of inadequate, substandard 00:48:35.030 --> 00:48:37.900 housing in the area. I think that there was a lot of 00:48:37.900 --> 00:48:41.780 that area in space that is being wasted. So I think that 00:48:41.790 --> 00:48:56.390 00:48:41.790 --> 00:48:45.860 people are concerned and rightfully concerned about the fact that with the 00:48:45.870 --> 00:48:49.350 city government over the public housing authority, owning that property and owning 00:48:49.350 --> 00:48:53.710 that housing, that improvements should be made. I think they're also rightfully 00:48:53.710 --> 00:48:56.390 concerned about what will happen when that housing is torn down, as 00:48:56.390 --> 00:49:12.940 00:48:56.390 --> 00:48:59.610 it must be. What's going to happen to them and with any 00:49:00.370 --> 00:49:03.510 any arrangements are going to be made for them is to where 00:49:03.510 --> 00:49:07.580 they could live and whether they could stay in that area. Is 00:49:07.590 --> 00:49:12.940 there any doubt in your mind i e United States prosecute war 00:49:12.940 --> 00:49:30.990 00:49:12.940 --> 00:49:17.520 in Vietnam, A successful war against poverty? E I think all of 00:49:17.520 --> 00:49:21.850 us agree. And Senator Murphy, chairman of the committee, Senator Clark and 00:49:21.850 --> 00:49:26.450 myself, we all agree that we have to meet this responsibility, that 00:49:26.460 --> 00:49:30.990 this program is well worthwhile there, perhaps aspects of the program that 00:49:31.570 --> 00:49:49.200 00:49:31.570 --> 00:49:36.170 we don't think Kara's effective as they might be. But that philosophy 00:49:36.170 --> 00:49:39.900 and the idea behind the program committing the participation of the poor 00:49:40.670 --> 00:49:45.630 of meeting our responsibilities to as a government in a society to 00:49:45.640 --> 00:49:49.200 those who are less well off is essential in this country that 00:49:49.210 --> 00:50:04.820 00:49:49.210 --> 00:49:52.930 way our responsibilities in Vietnam, in Southeast Asia. But we also have 00:49:52.930 --> 00:49:56.100 our responsibilities to our own people here in the United States. And 00:49:56.100 --> 00:50:00.470 I think we all agree in that those responsibilities, they're going to 00:50:00.480 --> 00:50:04.820 be discharged. Senator Kennedy, do you believe that the, uh, Senator Kennedy, 00:50:04.830 --> 00:50:17.440 00:50:04.830 --> 00:50:07.300 Do you believe that the war on poverty is in danger of 00:50:07.310 --> 00:50:10.690 bogging down? Much of the civil rights movement is bogged down in 00:50:10.690 --> 00:50:14.630 about the past year. No, I don't think it's gonna be bogged 00:50:14.630 --> 00:50:17.440 down as I say that way. Think that there are aspects of 00:50:17.440 --> 00:50:36.320 00:50:17.440 --> 00:50:20.760 the program which could be strengthened. There are aspects of the program 00:50:20.760 --> 00:50:24.990 which is well worthwhile, and perhaps some areas which should be changed. 00:50:26.130 --> 00:50:30.890 This concludes KQED s special telecast of the hearings of the United 00:50:30.890 --> 00:50:36.320 States Senate Committee on Employment and, uh, poverty and being held in 00:50:36.320 --> 00:50:51.300 00:50:36.320 --> 00:50:40.590 San Francisco today. Tomorrow the committee will be at the Parks Job 00:50:40.590 --> 00:50:44.030 Corps center and in Stockton. They will conclude their hearings late this 00:50:44.030 --> 00:50:47.280 month and it is out of 10 or 12 hearings such as 00:50:47.280 --> 00:50:51.300 this that whatever new directions are to come in, the poverty program 00:50:51.310 --> 00:50:55.690 00:50:51.310 --> 00:50:55.100 will be defined and eventually enacted by Congress. Thank you very much 00:50:55.110 --> 00:50:55.690 and good night.