St. Louis Post-Dispatch from St. Louis, Missouri • Page 74

2 Nov. 20, 1969 ST. LOUIS POSTDISPATCH Says Fair Housing Won't Be Effective In Olivette Until Community Wants It "Enforcement of fair housting laws won't occur in Olivette until the community decides that is what it really wants," says Arnold J. Wilson director of human resources for University City. He said that Congress had failed to appropriate enough money to enforce its own fair housing legislation, and he Sadded, dryly, "That is where the country is and that is where Olivette is." Wilson was one of four participants in a panel discussion on fair housing this week at Central School, Price and Old Bonhomme roads in Olivette.

The discussion was sponsored by the human relations committee of the Central School Parents Association. The other speakers were Samuel H. Liberman II, a lawyer and member of the Greater St. Louis Committee, Freedom of Residence, Mrs. Virgil L.

Border, housing specialist for the St. Louis Urban League's Operation Equality; and Frank Unnerstall, sales manager of the west St. Louis County office of Dolan Company Realtors. The panelists agreed that fair housing had not been widety accepted in St. Louis County and that acceptance would be desirable.

Each speaker's comments reflected his experience with the subject and there was disagreement on some details. Situation In U. City Wilson described integration in University City since a fair housing ordinance was adopted there in 1964. That suburb, he said, is now 16 per cent black as a. result of the ordinance.

"If you have a fair housing law and you enforce it, then what?" he asked rhetorically. "We found out that black people do not cause deterioration of property values and that the city is in better condition where blacks have moved in than it was before. Suddenly, because of integration, people became particularly interested in community maintenance. Black residents became leaders in this effort." traced a chain reaction caused by rumors that blacks lower living standards in a neighborhood, asserting that it begins with panic selling by whites at below-market prices and ends with black residents cut off from financing for home improvements. "Black people don't make schools and houses go down," he said, "unsources." Because panic selling has slowed down and integration seems to be gaining in University City, "blacks and whites can work together in the community dynamically," he said, adding, "I can assure you that many University City residents are having the best times of their lives, while others are still prisoners of their old fears." Question On Crime A.

J. Wilson Jr. A chain reaction Responding to a question from the audience, Wilson said that crime in University City is not increasing so fast as it is in Florissant, but that University City is affected somewhat by a carry-over of crime from neighboring portions of St. Louis. In addition, he said, "There is less violence at University City High School than there was at Roosevelt High School in the city when I was there several years ago.

The kids are the element least concerned about integration and one of their greatest protests is 'Why won't our parents let us Liberman observed that "black people who move to the suburbs from low-income neighborhoods in city are more concerned about crime than whites; they are trying to escape it." He went on to say that "on paper, discrimination in housing is pretty well forbidden. For violations there are remedies in court after complaints have been filed with administrative agencies-local, county, state or federal." But, he said, for qualified, middleand upper-income blacks have been about 50 per cent effective. She gave examples of the kinds of discrimination she has encountered in her work. "I referred a black couple with a joint income over $18,000 to an apartment in the county with an advertised vacancy," she said. "When the couple arrived for inspection, they were told it had been rented.

Afterwards, called, the building manager told the apartment was vacant. It was obviously a matter of skin color. Credit Questioned "Another problem occurs sometimes when a black couple applies for an apartment in a white neighborhood and nothing follows. We call the buildS. H.

Liberman ll ing managers about the and Panic" cation and are told the couple's credit is no good. Of course, in terms of enforcing the laws. their credit record is impecWhite people continue to discable. criminate, and there are black "Often, when a white real people who are ignorant of estate agent is approached by their rights or who find court a black couple, he says someprocedures distasteful. thing like this, 'This house "Then there are real really is not very attractive.

estate salesmen who attempt Let me show you something to steer (black) clients to areas elsewhere. And he takes them where they think the clients to University City. But the belong, and often the couple tells me they would preare unaware that nine times fer to live in Kirkwood, Ladue out of 10 they can purchase the or Creve Coeur, let us say." property of their choice. She mentioned a black memof ber of the faculty at Southern "I and others in Freedom Residence believe that the fedIllinois University Edwardssub- ville who sought housing in the eral system of housing be changed to north county and was turned sidies should enable a lot more people to back repeatedly with excuses. have can't emphasize enough said.

He referring in that there are overwhelming adequate housing," man was worknumbers of blacks who are as particular to income ers whose jobs are the subfinancially well off as you or urbs. "Holders of these jobs she asserted. Praises Mortgage Firms should be able to live near where they work," he said. Mrs. Border acknowledged that some white real estate And Panic' agents have worked closely "But we are now in a period with Operation Equality, and of fear and panic, in which she cited local mortgage comsome people avoid certain probpanies for "excellent co-operalems by moving away from tion." But she said that not them," he said, adding, "You long ago such companies were in Olivette have the opportufinding that nity to intermingle with low they used to block home loans income families by supporting to blacks.

housing programs for them. It Unnerstall, the real estate would give you a chance to executive on the panel, said understand how people from that recently there has been the inner city really live." "more acceptance" of potenMrs. Border said that Opera- tial black homeowners by real tion Equality is an Urban estate agents in St. Louis CounLeague project for placing in ty. However, he declared that St.

Louis County black famreal estate agents "do not deal ilies that are "culturally, ecowith property under their own nomically and socially ready" control" and that' "feelings to move and for providing "de(about blacks) are created by cent, sanitary housing" for low(white) people living in a given income blacks. She said her neighborhood and not by real less you withdraw their have some distance to go efforts to find county residences estate salesmen." WOULD YOU BELIEVE? Chenoweth Chapman (U has joined in the fight against inflation and LOWERED PRICES! in all three of our store locations you now SAVE from our delivered prices and can have SAME DAY SERVICE on drycleaned garments YOU CAN NOWETH-CHAPMAN ENJOY QUALCHE- ITY IN RENEWING YOUR 4731 DELMAR GARMENTS, DRAPERIES, RUGS AND LAUNDRY, AND PAY LESS THAN YOU WOULD WITH MANY ORDI2807 S. McKNIGHT NARY CLEANERS! (AT MANCHESTER) 608 N. McKNIGHT (AT DELMAR) BRING YOUR CLEANING IN TODAY! Every diamond tells you he loves you from 14 Karat white or yellow Truly a bouquet of fiery diamonds, 14K bridal in this duo. 14 Make to Sell for $269 Our Price $195 Bankmark American.

Use Our Express Lay-away Diners Club Plan Retail? Shoppers Why Pay Charge 111 S. MERAMEGNEW YORK-ANTWERP Enlarged to Show Detail Air Force First Lt. Thomas C. Harrington (right), son of Mr. and Mrs.

J. Thomas Harrington, 4715 Heege Road, Affton, is shown receiving the Bronze Star from Col. R. A. Ruebel in Vietnam.

Harrington was decorated for outstanding duty as transportation officer with the Fourteenth Aerial Port Squadron. He graduated from Bayless High School and Parks College of Aeronautical Technology of St. Louis University. Notes On Servicemen Do you know a serviceman whose name you would like to see in the Post-Dispatch Community News? If so send his name, rank, branch of service, unit, the place where he is stationed and what he is doing to: Community News, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 1133 Franklin.

Avenue, St. Louis, 63101. Please include your name and telephone number. Marine Second Lt. WILLIAM M.

CASEY, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry F. Casey, 6719 Scanlan Avenue, has been ordered to Vietnam on completion of training at Quantico, Va. He graduated from St.

Louis Priory in 1965 and Harvard Universityi in June of this year. Airman 1-C FRANK SCHEMBRI, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Schembri, 5109 Exeter Avenue, Shrewsbury, recently returned to Clark Air Force Base, Phillipines, after a tour of duty in Vietnam. Schembri is a maintenance mechanic working on turbo-prop aircraft.

He is a 1968 graduate of Affton High School. The Navy and Marine Corps sons of Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Mazzuca, 5245 Daggett Avenue, were recently reunited after tours duty in the Far East. Lance Cpl.

CARLO MUZZUCA returned from service with the Third Marine Division and his brother, Corpsman LARRY MAZZUCA, had just returned from duty at the Naval Hospital at Atsugi, Japan. Both were students at Southwest High School. Navy Lt. (jg) SCOTT T. HOMAN, son of Mr.

and Mrs. Carl H. Homan, 111 Brent Avenue, Oakland, is serving as activities civil engineer at the Naval Support Activity, Dan Nang, Vietnam. He is a 1962 graduate of Kirkwood High School and graduated from Washington' University. Air Force S.

Sgt. RICHARD L. LOONEY, son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Looney, 1422 Cora Street, has received the Air Force Commendation Medal at Yozo Dohe Air Station, Okinawa.

Sgt. Looney was decorated for meritorious service as an instructor while at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. He attended Washington Technical High School. JAMES 'A. INGHAM, son of Mr.

and Mrs. James M. Ingham, 9 Mayfair Drive, Ladue, has been commissioned a second lieutenant in the Air Force on completion of Officer Training School at a la Air Force Base, Tex. He is a graduate of Webster Groves High School and Westminster College. Air Force Lt.

Col. GEORGE H. MILLER, son of Mrs. V. Miller, 2431 Rockford Road, has received the Bronze Star for service as commander of a maintenance squadron at Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand.

His wife, Elenore, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Necker, 3820 Dover Place. U. City Board The regular meeting of the University City Board of Education will be held at 7:30 p.m.

today at the Ward building, 725 Kingsland Avenue. The board's the newspaper date incorrectly listed meeting as Friday its monthly calendar of events. Loppert Roos Traditionally beautiful furs and apparel 7720 FORSYTH CLAYTON PA 7-1977 Sale! Fall Clearance Dresses Suits Gowns Coats off WANT THINGS? WATCH THE WANT ADS! "I never thought I would see a Checking Account that was really Free" CITIZENS BANK of University MISSOURI ANNOUNCES A NEW FREE CHECKING PLAN NO SERVICE CHARGE Only Requirement, simply maintain $100 minimum balance "Not just a bank a friend" Fill out and mail coupon for full details CITIZENS BANK OF UNIVERSITY CITY UNIVERSITY CITY, MISSOURI NAME ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP CHECKING ACCOUNTS SAVING ACCOUNTS COLLEGE CLUB AUTO LOANS NIGHT DEPOSITORY PERSONAL LOANS SAFE DEPOSIT BOXES NIGHT DEPOSITORY PERSONAL MONEY ORDERS TRAVELERS CHECKS BANKING Member Monday thru Thursday 9:00 A.M. to FDIC Monday thru Thursday 8:00 A.M. DRIVE-UP to PREMIUM PASSBOOK SAVINGS CHRISTMAS CLUB CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSIT BUSINESS LOANS HOME IMPROVEMENT LOANS BANK BY MAIL INSTALLMENT LOANS Postage Paid Both Ways BANKMARK DRIVE-UP BANKING HOURS 4:00 -Friday 9:00 A.M.

to 7:00 P.M. A FULL SERVICE 6:00 WINDOWS 8:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M. BANK -Friday 8021 Olive Blvd. University City, Mo.

63130 (993-6040).