
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, February 18, 1995                   TAG: 9502200019
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-9   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: EVELYN D. BETHEL
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

WE'VE NOT LEARNED FROM PAST URBAN-PLANNING MISTAKES

WAS IT poetic justice, pure coincidence or powerful wisdom that the front page of the Jan. 28 edition carried the announcement of the upcoming article ``Street by Street, Block by Block - How Urban Renewal Uprooted Black Roanoke'' and The Washington Post story, ``32 nations bow before the lesson of Auschwitz''? Leaders in Poland gathered ``to affirm a common vow: Never again.'' The Street by Street article on Jan. 29 revealed that Roanoke's vow is `` ... trying to be more sensitive.''

The historical atrocities of both Auschwitz and urban renewal-turned-black removal are adequately documented. Some in society think neither really happened. Therein lies the sad, sad possibility each might happen again.

In fact, careful reading and analysis of Street by Street leads to more than one disturbing conclusion. It's very clear that Roanoke city has never stopped, and has no intention of stopping, black removal. Although the planned expansion to 10th Street and the Gainsboro-Second Street four-lane highway were mentioned, other plans, such as the four-lane highway on Loudon Avenue from 5th Street to Lakeside Plaza, and the widening of 5th and 10th streets, were neglected. These plans are contrary to the admissions by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

HUD issued a January 1994 publication in conjunction with the Empowerment Zone/Enterprise Community program. It stated that a lot has been learned from past mistakes since urban planning too often had ``destroyed community history and identity by tearing down buildings [and] demolished buildings that produced unwanted `no man's lands,' and separated people rather than building a sense of community [and] permitted freeways and major roads to dissect neighborhoods and isolate people [and] displaced small local businesses and stores.'' A ride or walk through Gainsboro will show a prime example/case study of those mistakes. Despite HUD's findings, Roanoke continues to proceed with plans now known to be mistakes.

Another very disturbing conclusion is that there has been, and apparently still is, no true fiscal accountability of monies received by Roanoke city. What happened to the millions of dollars accepted in the name of Gainsboro but not used in Gainsboro? How much was spent on contractors, consultants, etc.? Were they local? Was money earmarked for Gainsboro used in other areas of our city? Who was responsible for such accounting, and where are the records? Why won't city officials conduct a line-by-line fraud audit to determine where the money is? Could it still be in an account waiting to be used? An audit would deny or confirm any allegations of misuse of funds. Regardless of the outcome, an audit would help restore and instill trust in the workings of our local government. This longstanding lack of fiscal and personal accountability raises very serious questions about the administration of Roanoke city government.

Thank God for the United States of America where we have freedom of speech. Thank God for staff writer Mary Bishop, who desired to investigate, and her dedication to beautifully reveal untold truths. Thank God for Cindy Pinkston, who used her skills in photography to unveil what words can never show. Thank God for Robert Lunsford, who accurately prepared a detailed map to show how arrogance and cultural ignorance administered urban renewal in a way that caused black removal from the face of a most historical and significant part of Roanoke. Thank God for the publishers of the Roanoke Times & World-News for allowing disclosure of facts (some unfavorable to your newspaper).

While the ``Street by Street'' expose explains what happened, it raises questions begging for answers by city officials. How did projects that were supposed to result in better homes and communities change areas into industrial centers? What departments and which people (or positions of authority) made, then approved, the motions? Did local-government officials influence religious organizations for their own welfare? What safeguards can be put into place so there will not be an abuse of power? Should our system of city government be changed so that administrators can be held accountable? These and other questions might very well be raised by every citizen in the Roanoke Valley and beyond. The questions must be answered by city officials to prevent past actions from happening in the future.

Look at history: A government (or any organization) that oppresses and abuses the defenseless doesn't succeed. Those who do not learn from history keep making the same mistakes. Should this city continue its present course, Roanoke will never live up to its full potential. A city built upon deceit, lies and mistrust is destined to fail.

Evelyn D. Bethel, of Roanoke, is president of Historic Gainsboro Preservation District Inc., and of the Historic Gainsboro Preservation District Coalition.

by CNB