THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, October 12, 1994 TAG: 9410120451
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MIKE KNEPLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 73 lines
The topic was supposed to be public housing, but two words kept coming up: Herbert Collins.
Last month, Collins, a city councilman, helped set off a wave of community debate by criticizing public housing residents and operations.
His comments prompted the City Council to schedule an in-depth discussion of public housing Tuesday with the Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority.
But the meeting quickly turned into a critique of Collins' statements.
Some councilmen and housing authority commissioners called Collins' controversial remarks bold and courageous; others called them unfair and hurtful.
Collins had only two words for his council colleagues: ``No comment.''
He had a lot more to say a few weeks ago when he told a downtown-area improvement committee that public housing residents make up a subculture who ``are the most underemployed, the most undereducated, the most underchurched.
He also said Norfolk had too much public housing and should consider tearing some down and scattering the replacement units throughout the city.
Shirley Freeman, the only public housing resident on the housing authority's board of commissioners, scolded Collins Tuesday.
``It's hurting me that you all call names about us. I am not unchurched. I am not uneducated. You have a lot of nerve,'' Freeman said. ``It hurts me very bad.''
Doyle Hull, housing authority commission chairman, said Collins' comments helped move public housing to the forefront of community attention.
Councilman Paul R. Riddick suggested that Collins erred by being too sweeping in his characterizations of public housing residents.
``The remarks Mr. Collins made probably reflect only a very, very, very small percentage of persons,'' said Riddick, who grew up in the Young Terrace public housing neighborhood.
Councilman W. Randy Wright tended to support Collins.
``We've got to come to grips with the realities of what's out there,'' he said. ``We've got taxi drivers that won't go into the areas because they're afraid. We got pizza drivers that won't deliver in the area because they're afraid. There's a breakdown in the system. . .
``We can't begin to tackle these types of problems if we can't have an honest, open discussion.''
Councilman G. Conoly Phillips praised Collins.
``I'd like to publicly compliment Herb Collins,'' Phillips said. ``I think he made a very bold statement and a statement that needed to be made. And I believe that the great majority of the city basically believes in what he said. . .
``We do need to put it on the table. And I think that what he said has been thought by many of us, but we haven't had the courage to say it.''
Councilman Joseph N. Green Jr. said Collins' statements contributed to a long-held ``fear in the black community when he said these buildings will have to be recycled. That is a threat to the people who live in public housing.''
Councilman Mason C. Andrews and Mayor Paul D. Fraim urged calmer deliberation about public housing issues.
Fraim thanked Collins for helping to identify public housing problems. ``What we're really about doing is trying to give hope,'' he added.
He also said the council still intends to create a task force to study public housing, possibly in two weeks. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
RICHARD L. DUNSTON/Staff
City Councilman Herbert Collins' comments prompted the City Council
to schedule an in-depth discussion of public housing with the
Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority.
by CNB