10131969 Regular Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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regular meeting, october 13, 1969 p<'lge two "Dear Sir: "Concerned by what we believe is unnecessary friction in this community over the ethnic make-up of the Local Public Agency of Urban Renewal, we the undersigned commissioners express a willingness to resign if resign- a~ion of one of us will allow for the appointment of a responsible Latin-American citizen of lengthy tenure in this community." The letter was signed by Jerry L. Moore, Robert W. Walts, I and Charles R. Willms. The Mayor said he thought it was a nice gesture, but the Commissioners would have to decide among themselves which one would.like to resign. Dr. Craddock said there were other ways to resolve t\:le problem. Dr. Walts spoke from among the visitors in the Council Room, saying "I resign" Guillermo de la Rosa made a comment from the same area, and the Mayor asked him to come forward to speak, since he was on, the prepared agenda. representing a neighborhood group. Mr. .de la Rosa introduced himself as spokesman for "EI Consejo del Barrio de la Victoria 1 & 2". He stated that the people in the neighborhood felt an injustice had been done the Mexican-American community by the City Council when they did not appoint a representative of that ethnic group to the Urban Renewal Board. He quoted from the cutl- rent issue of The San Marcos Record to make several points. The Mayor said he ~ a lifel~sident of San Marcos, and he had never been accused of being unfair to any ethnic I group. He cited.a list' of citizen boards apJ:1ointed by the Council to show that all ethnic groups are represented. Mr. Serur said he looked forward to the day when there would be no "hyphenated citizens, just Americans all." Bob Barton, jr, came before the Council as ~ representative of the Hays-Caldwell New Democratic Coalition, to protest the fact that~r. Jose Hinojosa. President of the organi- zation, was not reappointed to the Urban Renewal Board. Augustin Lucio, jr., came before the Council with a protest from the Nelson Neighborhood Council. Mr. Lucio recalled that he had been appointed to the first Urban Renewal Board. He said that San Marcos, as a community! had eryjoyed,better relations between the "Anglos" .and theM~~ican~Americans than most towns in Texas, and he deplored the present unrest occasioned by the latter group not having representation on the Urban Renewal Board. Mr. Celestino Mend~z, Jr., recognized by the Mayor, asked Executive Director Jim Brown for certain financial data relating to Urban Renewal from its first project in San Marcos, I to the present. Mr. Brown asked that he submit his request in writing to the City Council. so that it would be a.matter of record. He said he would be glad to furnish Mr. Mendez the information through City channels. The Mayor read aloud a letter from Mrs. Katherine Hardeman, offering her resignation from the Planning & Zoning Commission. She swggested that Mr. Harvey Miller be appointed in her place. Mr. Dannelley proposed the name of Bob Elder for appointment to the Planning & Zoning Commission. The Mayor said other