05-11-15 Common Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING MAY 11, 2015 Presenters: Councilmember Karen White, 1912 Malvern Way, South Bend, Councilmember Henry Davis, Jr., 5117 Idlewood Drive, South Bend – White along with Councilmember Henry Davis presented Resolution 15-34 to the full Council. Councilmember White read the letters and history of the request by Mr. Schoby and residents for the public change to Martin Luther King Drive to a more prominent street. Councilmember Henry Davis, Jr. read the Resolution to the full Council. This being the time heretofore set for the Public Hearing on the above bill, proponents and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. Those wishing to speak in favor: Samuel Brown, 222 E. Navarre St., South Bend – I work for a group Citizens United for a better government. I commend Mr. Schoby for his hard work. I am for this bill and hope that we get it done like it should be done. Huey Schoby, 3415 Riverside Drive, South Bend – Community Activist fighting on Martin Luther King Drive. The reason for this request as it gives access to schools, businesses, residents to the Northwest Community and covers a lot of territory. As we know many people lost their lives for the actions taken to get a civil rights bill and a voter registration bill. For the last fifty years, as I’ve seen how blacks were treated and are still being treated today, is why I chose for this street to be re-named. We have four (4) girls who lost their lives for this. We need to give good exposure for his name daily. I think this is well overdue, Dr. King deserved better than that. The bus terminal will have his name on their scroll. This will be best for the community and the city of South Bend. I have been working on this for several years, on the streets that covers the schools that buses will be in route, serve as a great reminder. I would like for the Council to consider this change. Constance Green, 3217 Dunham St., South Bend – I am approximately two blocks off of Western Ave. One day I found that Western Ave street name had been changed, there was no petition and the neighborhoods didn’t know about it. What I like about this resolution is that it gives organization; you are organizing a procedure and no-one is left out. If there is a procedure everyone will have a voice. Deborah Walker, 639 Diamond Ave, South Bend – I was the original person that fought for Martin Luther King and the first street change. It took 5-6 years then, just to get that small strip. It is emotional for me as I worked hard along with several other people. If you want to make an addition to what it is now then that is fine, but do not spite the people that worked to get where we got. Charlotte Bridges, 2220 S. Dundee St., South Bend – I marched on city hall along with Dr. Martin Luther King. I thought all the time that three blocks was an insult to him. It should have been for more than that from the beginning but something is better than nothing. Can you explain to me that we are taking the three blocks and the additional street, or what are we doing with the current three blocks? When they started in the beginning they could have changed the whole street. He deserves far more than that. Rebuttal: Councilmember White, We are saying the process has to be more open and include the citizens. That the process is clear with those who make the decisions with street naming and is handled within the city in the Mayor’s office. We are stating that three blocks is not adequate and does not do justice for Dr. Martin Luther King. That we are looking at a more prominent area that does justice to the late Dr. Martin Luther King. That there is a process that involves community engagement, where you don’t have to open the paper to find out a street has been renamed. What we are doing as a Council, is creating a process that does not rest with us but is open and transparent to the community. 9