Atlanta Episcopalians Challenge City
Episcopal News Service. November 6, 1980 [80392]
ATLANTA -- Just one week before the latest victim of a wave of killings was discovered here, the Episcopal bishops, staff and black clergy had urged the city to clean up areas where young people were endangered.
The pastoral letter -- issued Oct. 24 -- seeks to address the underlying causes of housing problems, racism and despair that have been highlighted by the murders of 11 young black children and the disappearance of four more in the last 15 months. Four more children died in a public housing day-care center explosion that touched off rumors and fears of major racial disturbances.
In the letter, Diocesan Bishop Bennett J. Sims, Suffragan Bishop Charles J. Childs, diocesan staff members and black Episcopal clergy of the city pointed to five steps the city authorities could take to protect the children.
These include faster police response to calls from public housing projects; restoration or demolition of vacant housing; a fitness survey of public housing facilities; statute enforcement to clean up vine- and garbage-infested regions; and exploration of transportation or escorts for youngsters.
Urging city officials to "put poor people into new prominence in their budgeting concerns," the letter pointed to the contrasts in Atlanta:
"It is deeply divisive of our city that Atlanta boasts of a mammoth new airport while neglecting the neighborhoods of our poorest people. This neglect breeds a mounting distrust of officialdom. We recognize that all enterprises, public and private, must endure the burdens of their own history and the limits of funding. In the churches we are keenly aware of this. But we are also aware that new urgencies make new history and move money around. Fresh vision changes priorities. Great challenge can generate new money."