  Urbanoutdoors Member Username: Urbanoutdoors Post Number: 238 Registered: 11-2005 |
I often wonder if George Edwards won and slum clearance projects were replaced by public housing for the residence of those areas(edwards view) Would Racial tensions flared as quickly? Instead of what happened with Cobo slum clearance projects were replaced by private development and no public housing being built through the 1950s. | ||
Urbanize Member Username: Urbanize Post Number: 976 Registered: 02-2007 |
One can only imagine. | ||
65memories Member Username: 65memories Post Number: 387 Registered: 10-2003 |
Urbanoutdoors...I'm doing research on this subject right now...a number of positive projects were cancelled and/or vetoed when Cobo became Mayor because he was beholden to the conservative neighborhood civic associatiations, like the TelCraft Civic Association, for his election. In addition, these efforts to deny integrated areas in the city were supported by the right-wing rants of publisher Floyd McGriff's neighborhood papers, The Redford Record and The Brightmoor Journal. The zoning of the area north of Schoolcraft and west of Lamphere in Northwest Detroit became a political issue three years after it was zoned for multi-residential(1947)because two Black families had invested in the project (McGriff, playing the race game, termed the project "biracial" and used code words in his papers to incite racial animosity). Once again, prejudice reared its ugly head and the city fell victim. This was combined with deliberate segregation of the public school system. So yes, I believe if Edwards had been Mayor, the tenor of the city would have been different. | ||
Urbanoutdoors Member Username: Urbanoutdoors Post Number: 239 Registered: 11-2005 |
Yeah its crazy in looking through Edwards's manuscript you really get a feel for what a difference he could have made if the city only elected him. | ||
Urbanoutdoors Member Username: Urbanoutdoors Post Number: 240 Registered: 11-2005 |
Yeah, McGriff was a sleaze ball that took money from Councilman oakman and would do what ever he could to smear edwards name. | ||
65memories Member Username: 65memories Post Number: 388 Registered: 10-2003 |
Urbanoutdoors... Drop me a line at gmtorg@yahoo.com | ||
El_jimbo Member Username: El_jimbo Post Number: 102 Registered: 12-2006 |
We wouldn't have to worry about expanding Cobo Hall.  | ||
Urbanoutdoors Member Username: Urbanoutdoors Post Number: 241 Registered: 11-2005 |
Not to mention most likely no 375! | ||
Urbanoutdoors Member Username: Urbanoutdoors Post Number: 243 Registered: 11-2005 |
And Quite Possibly no Riots. | ||
Detroitnerd Member Username: Detroitnerd Post Number: 840 Registered: 07-2004 |
I believe, the fix was already in by 1943, when Jeffries abandoned his progressive, labor-allied platform and sided with white landlords, restrictive housing covenants, and the racist state and city police forces. | ||
Urbanoutdoors Member Username: Urbanoutdoors Post Number: 246 Registered: 11-2005 |
Yes that had a bit to do with it but the demolition of Black Bottom with no Housing alternatives came in the 1950s and the decision to go with private investment instead of public housing. that decision made it available to expand the number of median income home owners. But also led to no available housing for african americans that were displaced by slum clearance. As police commish in the 1960s Edwards still had a chance to stop the riots but a short term and the lack of backing from city Hall made it to difficult for permanent changes in the police department to take place. | ||
Fury13 Member Username: Fury13 Post Number: 1549 Registered: 10-2003 |
Albert Cobo was a very popular guy. Did Edwards have a chance to defeat him? How close was the election? | ||
Detroitnerd Member Username: Detroitnerd Post Number: 844 Registered: 07-2004 |
I don't think public housing was opposed by Detroit in the same way it was in Dearborn by Orville Hubbard. Of course, Hubbard framed it in terms of the government coming in and dictating how the housing must be used. Jeffries got housing built for Detroit war workers, but then tried to go against federal dictums. This resulted in the memorable Sojourner Truth riot, with white mobs trying to stop African-Americans from moving into the Conant Gardens development. You could say that "private development" became the way to advance segregation in the area (the carrot). But public policy was used to obliterate black neighborhoods for freeways (the stick). | ||
Urbanoutdoors Member Username: Urbanoutdoors Post Number: 249 Registered: 11-2005 |
Cobo came in on the conservative vote Pushing segregated neighborhoods and private building projects that would build single family homes, coming from the position as city treasurer. Edwards had been a two term city council president that was the front runner all the way to the primary pushing for public housing efforts to replace the clearance of paradise valley which was the more progressive side. If it was not for the allegations of newspapers and the conservative whites of the city edwards would have won. This was the time of the red scare though, so as the campaigns went on Cobo pushed the fact that edwards was a communist since he had been arrested in the 1930s Yale and towne strike (labor unions). This forced edwards to declare as a democrat instead of nonpartizan. He alienated part of his voting base in doing so and lost in the highest turn out till that date 309,000 to 204,000 votes. | ||
River_rat Member Username: River_rat Post Number: 265 Registered: 02-2006 |
Quoting urbanoutdoors, "Cobo came in on the conservative vote Pushing segregated neighborhoods(sic)". Sure are glad that didn't happen! | ||
Urbanoutdoors Member Username: Urbanoutdoors Post Number: 251 Registered: 11-2005 |
I wonder if Edwards would have pushed as hard for the corktown industrial development as cobo did. (I live in the slum)...(Corktown) According to cobo. Corktown might have had 6000 residence instead of maybe 1500(thats pushing it.) | ||
Psip Member Username: Psip Post Number: 1844 Registered: 04-2005 |
The Detroit City Council in 1942  Thomas Leadbetter, Chas. E. Dorais, John C. Lodge, Henry S. Sweeny, William A. Comstock, Jas. H. Garlick, William G. Rogell, George Edwards, Eugene I. Van Antwerp, John W. Smith WSU/VMC | ||
Urbanoutdoors Member Username: Urbanoutdoors Post Number: 254 Registered: 11-2005 |
Psip, Cool pic! | ||
65memories Member Username: 65memories Post Number: 390 Registered: 10-2003 |
Interesting that George Edwards is sitting next to Billy Rogell...two diametrically opposed views on almost everything. And Urbanoutdoors is correct...in addition to the racist rantings of Floyd McGriff, every person with an opposing viewpoint was labelled a Communist. | ||
Jdkeepsmiling Member Username: Jdkeepsmiling Post Number: 249 Registered: 01-2006 |
I see a parallel to todays world: What was a communist or red sympathizer in 1942 is now the equivalent of not supporting blindly this nations military strategy. Amazing how those in power can always create an "enemy" we must all be scared of. | ||
Psip Member Username: Psip Post Number: 1853 Registered: 04-2005 |
Is this the same George Edwards who became police commissioner and then went on to the 6th court of appeals? (George Edwards) DECEMBER 16, 1963 IN WASHINGTON TODAY, THE SENATE CONFIRMED THE NOMINATION OF DETROIT POLICE COMMISSIONER GEORGE EDWARDS AS A JUDGE OF THE 6TH U. S. COURT OF APPEALS. | ||
Psip Member Username: Psip Post Number: 1854 Registered: 04-2005 |
Answered my own question. http://www.reuther.wayne.edu/c ollections/hefa_10.htm yes, the same guy | ||
Urbanoutdoors Member Username: Urbanoutdoors Post Number: 255 Registered: 11-2005 |
Yup one of Detroit's most progressive politicians also reformed michigan probate court in the 1950s. In the 40s he was studying law at night, Being the youngest common council member ever (at that point in time not sure now)and working at Timken-Detroit Axle Company all at the same time. That is until he got drafted in 1945. Then he became Pres of city council when he got back. I wish a council member now would try to take on such a load.... |
