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Editorial
July 29, 1957
The Home Journal
Charlotte Amalie, Saint Thomas County, Virgin Islands
What is this article about?
The editorial condemns the Virgin Islands Housing and Redevelopment Authority for ignoring community opposition to building 300 low-rent housing units at Sugar Estate, favoring the originally proposed Altona site, and praises cross-political unity in protesting the agency's unaccountable decisions.
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Full Text
Editorial
The community is up in arms, and rightly so over the decision of the Virgin Islands Housing and Redevelopment Authority to proceed with the construction of the proposed 300 units of low rent public housing at Sugar Estate.
If any public agency ever adopted a "public-be-darned" attitude, the Housing Authority certainly has. Despite the overwhelming sentiment in the community for the construction of the project at Altona, the site originally proposed by the Authority itself, the agency is determined to ram the Sugar Estate site down the throats of the people. Every reason is being advanced by the Authority why Altona is undesirable, but a few weeks ago when it appeared that the legislature would be cool to that site, the Authority vigorously campaigned for Altona and insisted it was ALTONA OR NO HOUSING PROJECT.
As one organization spokesman declared at the protest meeting Friday night, the Authority is thumbing its nose at the people because the membership is not subject to legislative confirmation. They are appointed by a governor who is not responsible to the people.
We are happy to see leaders from all walks of life and all political shades banding together in this fight. If this is still a democracy the people's will must prevail.
The community is up in arms, and rightly so over the decision of the Virgin Islands Housing and Redevelopment Authority to proceed with the construction of the proposed 300 units of low rent public housing at Sugar Estate.
If any public agency ever adopted a "public-be-darned" attitude, the Housing Authority certainly has. Despite the overwhelming sentiment in the community for the construction of the project at Altona, the site originally proposed by the Authority itself, the agency is determined to ram the Sugar Estate site down the throats of the people. Every reason is being advanced by the Authority why Altona is undesirable, but a few weeks ago when it appeared that the legislature would be cool to that site, the Authority vigorously campaigned for Altona and insisted it was ALTONA OR NO HOUSING PROJECT.
As one organization spokesman declared at the protest meeting Friday night, the Authority is thumbing its nose at the people because the membership is not subject to legislative confirmation. They are appointed by a governor who is not responsible to the people.
We are happy to see leaders from all walks of life and all political shades banding together in this fight. If this is still a democracy the people's will must prevail.
What sub-type of article is it?
Infrastructure
Partisan Politics
Constitutional
What keywords are associated?
Public Housing
Sugar Estate
Altona
Community Opposition
Housing Authority
Democracy
Protest Meeting
What entities or persons were involved?
Virgin Islands Housing And Redevelopment Authority
Community
Legislature
Governor
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Opposition To Sugar Estate Housing Project Site
Stance / Tone
Strongly Supportive Of Community Protest Against Housing Authority
Key Figures
Virgin Islands Housing And Redevelopment Authority
Community
Legislature
Governor
Key Arguments
Authority Ignores Overwhelming Community Preference For Altona Site
Hypocrisy In Campaigning For Altona Then Rejecting It
Authority Not Accountable Due To Gubernatorial Appointment Without Legislative Confirmation
United Opposition From Diverse Leaders Upholds Democracy