NAACP Says Housing Law Advisory Vote Question Not Negotiable

NAAQ^qys Housing Law Advisory Vote<br><br>The possibility of holding an advisory vote on local fair housing legislation is not considered to be a negotiable question by the board of directors of the local branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.<br><br>Dr. Albert H. Wheeler of the NAACP reported on that position following a board meeting last night, held in the aftermath of Mayor Cecil O. Creal’s statement yesterday that he would appoint a committee representing various<br><br>1963 thu<br><br>community intereS? w study the latest fair housing ordinance proposal.<br><br>The mayor made the statement after meeting with Wheeler and Mrs. Ruth Hobbs, president of the Ann Arbor Board of Realtors.<br><br>Civil rights groups do not consider petitions to the City Council for advisory balloting as actually involving a move to provide advice to the City Council, Wheeler said. The petitions are interpreted as coming from persons opposed to fair housing legis-<br><br>lation. he added.<br><br>If that interpretation is correct, civil rights groups do not believe the petitioners “have a right to vote on our rights.” he said.<br><br>Wheeler also pointed to the more than 1,800 signatures obtained for a letter to the council asking for strong fair housing legislation.<br><br>Wheeler said the NAACP board believes it will be useful to participate in negotiations concerning the work of the mayor’s committee because the board feels that<br><br>housing law backers will be in a position to work from a position of strength in seeking a strong ordinance.<br><br>The board considers the proposed ordinance given first reading approval by the council Monday night to be weak.<br><br>Public hearings held on the previous ordinance proposal did not influence the council and it is felt that to rely on further hearings would be working from a position of weakness. Wheeler explained.<br><br>He also said it is felt that opposition to housing legisla-<br><br>te business community is not as strong as some believe and that this situation is regarded as favoring efforts to strengthen proposed legislation through the ma ror’s committee.<br><br>. t^eal said he would appoint the committee by Aug. 14. It is I) include public officials, busi lessmen, bankers, civil rig! Is group representatives, elm ch leaders and represen-tati es of the two major politic I parties.<br><br>T1 i mayor said the committee ill report to him by Sept<br><br>Question Not Negotiable<br><br>1. Wheeler said the mayor will be asked to advance the date for the report so that it will not be made so close to the early September time the council is scheduled to consider the proposed ordinance at final reading stage.<br><br>Creal said he hoped that demonstrations backing fair housing legislation will be halted until the committee has a chance to report. City Hall has been picketed for the past nine Mondays.<br><br>Wheeler said the NAACP board favors a continuance of<br><br>the demonstrations until negotiations begin, with a decision to be made on whether or not the demonstrations are to continue after the committee begins work. In the meantime. contacts with various participating groups would be made in an attempt to develop a unity of opinion.<br><br>Meanwhile, the Ann Arbor Fair Housing Association, official sponsors of the picketing, will meet at 8 {>.m. today for discussion of agenda items which will include continuance of the City Hall demon-<br><br>strations.<br><br>Recommendations by the organization’s steering committee have been prepared but J. Alan Winter, a committee member, said they would not be released until after being presented at the general meeting. The meeting will be held 3080 Platt Rd.. headquarters for Laborers Local No. 959.<br><br>Winter said that no official announcement had been issued concerning one report that picketing would be con-> tinued.