BICC General Meeting

BICC GENERAL MEETING

t of the meeting o

OCTOBER 1970 MINUTES

Business & Industrial Coordinating Council held on

Repor: of the
Monday, October Bi 1970 - Vail Hall, N.J. Bell Telephone Co., 540 Broad Street

Newark, New J
PRESENT:
Marshall Wolf - Co-Chairman

James S. Henderson, Jr.
William Wilson

John A. Griffith
Durecia Watley

ice Hunt
Anthony DiUbaldi
Gustav Heningburg
Rev. E A. Stulb

Kemeth i Donaldson
John S. Clarkson

Stanley E. Terrell
Jachll Mayer
Bo;

A.
iliam A. Mercer
Talmadge Mercer

National Newark & Essex Bank

Essex County Welfare

B.I.C

Urban Coalition

A3: Rehabilitation Comission
Urban

Division EA Welfare - Newark
Meet Citi

Banberger's - Newark
Mt. Carmel Guild
Mt. Carmel Guild
Project Equality

Ne

Sell Telephone
Ottis Elevator
Schering

Asphalt Workers Union
Rutgers University
Newark NAACP
Downtowner Motor Inn

Gateway

Public Service Electric § Gas
Newark Tea

Metropolitan pec Hein
Newark Board of Educ:

Urban Coalition

Blessed Sacrament Church - Newark
Weston Perry inc.

Firemans Fund of America

Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Co.
Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Co.
B.I.C.

Hahne ncs
Rutgers - Student

ENC.
N.J. Division of Civil Rights
Urban League

C.0.P.i
State Training & Employment Service

C.0.P.E.

Newark Public Library

Frank Briscoe

Met. Unified Methodist Ministry
Eastern Personnel Associates, Inc.

Newark Star Ledger
Fidelity Union Trust
Maple

Western Electric - Kearny

American Je

- Velaro Rights Onati
Tel

erver
Newark Corporation Counsel

National Information Center Inc.
Public Service Gas & Electric Co.

BICC GENERAL MEETING OCTOBER 1970 MINUTES
cont'd. :
Marly-Dunsmore Council. of Social Agencies
Richard Proctor Model Cities : e
Joe Ford Jr. R.C..
Art Weddington Urban League of Essex County
Lou Riley Federal Aviation Administration
Earl Williams N.RD. I,
Harold Hodes i NHR.
ard Freeman Project Equality
Hortense Carey Newark Welfare
—Julius Foster x Western Electric ; Newark e
Emest Bridges General Electric
C. Mitchell. isi Spectator
rry L. Wheeler City Hall í
[ S.E.E.D.
Carol Flores : Rutgers University

Meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by co-cheirman Marshall Wolf, with self intro-
duction of all present.

A brief presentation was-given by Miss Carol Flores of Rutgers, Commmity Day Care
Center, a project abandoned after the death of its founder Mr. James Tate. The students
feeling the need: for the project, revitalized it. It will take. care of-some 30+ child-

belonging primarily to Rutger students, and will be located in the House of Prayer
Chuzci, 407 Broad Street. The center is searching for a teacher experienced in nursery
school training, and is also asking for any assistance, financial or otherwise, which
would be greatly appreciated.

None of the BICC committee's made a report, however, Mr. Birmingham, treasurer, inform-
ed the menbership he would submit his financial statement in the next fifteen days.

Mr. Partenheincr informed the membership of a very nice letter of resignation received
from Jtidge Irvin Pooker, former legal counsel for BICC. He also reminded the business
comunity to send in their U.C.F. pledges.

It was also announced that Mrs. Ruth MCClain was recuperating from a minor illness į
Presbyterian Hospital. Mr. Wolf also introduced Ralph Grebow, new legal counsel fol
BICC. Mr. Grebow is affiliated with Riker, Danzig, Scherer & Brown.

After 4 brief summation on BICC's 6 year relationship with the Urban League, and ex-
pressing hopes for its continuance, Mr. Wolf introduced the Leagues new Executive
Director, and guest speaker, Mr. Earl Phillips. ,

EARL
PHILLIPS: Mr. Phillips providéd the @
T tho Urban Le

x

and orgmnization-l programs are, at stand stills, overlapping one another, and con-
stantly duplicating.

Mr. Phillips said that the Urban League has plans to plug into every existing organi-
zation in the city. To know who they are, and what are al it, and how the
Urban League can help them help the people who are looking to be served. He says the
League has been the most meaningful, outspoken organization in the city, and does not
intend to take à back seat on any issues that effect the Black and Puerto Rican popu

it
bigger ’s
p

The League's 3 main objectives will be (1) working together with. ali-organizations
i 5; In dealing with heih

(2) not be a duplicating organization (3) institutional changes:
e is developing a county wide health, information and referral center.

BICC GENERAL MEETING 3 OCTOBER 1970

There will also be sone institutional changes. Unique new prograns will be started.
t of one; another, self supporting, end carrying its own weight. They
wail hav leve their cm budgets, so if one fails to work out the others can continue to
iction
league is asking for an . operational budget of $800,000. Mr. Phillips informed the
business commmity that it has got to recognize its got to assume a great deal of the
responsibility, net only in big operations. but small operations toot He told the
membership that the league will help in everyway it can for achievement and
plishnent, and asked for support in any endeavor. If need be, he assured the audience ,
they will picket to get things done, or negotiate around the ‘table. He hopes in
months t the businessmen and the community will be honest as they can. Not to
say one thing, ond do another, but to react and Aot p with words.
The Urban League will be doing lots of different things in education, housing & welfare
and will also revamp its magazine. The League has an office (housing) in East Orange,
an education office in Montclair, and also an office in Jersey City. Mr. Phillips
also told.of a program to be called the National Congress of Minority Students; where
students from ell cvor the county would be brought together, to, spend days hopefully
at Rutgers, exposing then to the urban problems, and concerns of the white community.

Mr. Phillips sees the League as new, growing, and being a part of everything. He wishes
every organization and corporation the best of luck in the travel up hill, and hopes
we can all come to the top together.

Mr, Wolf thanked Mr, Phillips for his presentation assuring him that BICC would co-
ooperate in everywiy, with jobs and use of the computer matching program. He also
gave him en opcm invitation to attend the general end executive meetings

Mr. Wolf asked John Clarkson co-chairman o; commmity relations committee to brief
the membership on. the accomplishnents wick che Building, Trades.

JOHN

CLARKSON: Mr, Clark; said. as we all know, it has been very hard for members of the
minority groups to get into construction trade unions as journey

And only a fair amount of progress has been Mr. Boningburg have attended

Clarkson said there is a need to get more clout into achieving our objective. That the
BICC comittee wil have to call on nore groups to help provide the clout. He hopes
to have something of a move objective nature to report at the next meting. He also
said this e very seukitivo matter

ROLAND
STEWART: Mr. Stewart pres ed how the G.N.A.A.C. got started, and what its objectives
were. It consists of 6 organizations, who camo together accidentally because they

and finally out of the last meeting came a little daylight. The utra Newark Air-
Vert Action Comittee has the support from many of the churchs, the city of Newark,
businessmen and agencies. Mr. Stewart says the over all phylosophy of GNAAC.i:

NSE we're goingite rebuild Neverk ‘end the comumiey. at's Bo TC QNI a o
leave anyone out of the planning implementation or control.

GUSTAV; J
HEN B first encounter with the Building Trades came in 1963 over Barringer
High School, then came the Newark-Rutgers confrontation, a law suit grew out of that,
me Medical Schot dispute, the riot, the development of a review council, out of tho
Med School issue, meetings were had with 2 governors, 9 cabinet officers, 2 sets of
city councils, and m 10 progress has been made. Records show in 1970, that we are not
making anymore progress in Building Trades then we were making in 1963. In fact we
are going backwards. The results have been the racial make-up in Building Trades have

worse.
Mr. Heningburg said the only alternative left is to stop the construction, and because
no one group has been able to deal with the problem effectively, the unanimous re-
sponse from all was to deal with the problem as a

Some of the creas of concern. are (1) presence of minority workers on both construc-
tions (2) opportunity for minority businessmen to bid on Gateway mall space and con-
sumer Service area at the Airport. (5) Opportunity for minority businessmen to bid on
invisible contracts, such as maintenance, security, hauling of garbage, etc. (4) and
the employment policies of the tenants of both constructions.

BICC GENERAL MEETING 4 OCTOBER 1970

teway and Port Authority have been very cooperative in furnishing information on
Seir projects. Mr. Heningburg also feels that there has been no deliberste effort to
exclude minority from op-ortunities in construction, but, there is a deliberat
effort in Building Trades.
Mr, Hemingburg stated 2 alternativos, and said they reflected the attitude of all in
volved. (1) either the builders stop the construction (2) or the conmmity stops the
constructii
MARSHALL
WOLF: Mr. Heningburg can anything more be done legally?

PENINGURG: Legal remedies have been tested and failed. The only other legal ( }
is an injunction calling for the shutting dow of the constructions

QUESTION: How about executive order?

HENINGBURG: That again puts the burdon on the back of the contractors and not the
unions. This is why it has not worked so far.

^ QUESTION: Has there been any other support from other sources like the business com-
muni:
HENINGBÜRG: No not a measural degree of assistance.

CONNIE
WOODRUFF: Has tinish or Rodino offered to do anything?
HENINGBURG: No effort has been made to my knowledge.

QUESTION: Ts it possible to put a full page ad in the newspaper pointing the finger
t who's being attached

HENINGBURG: Yes it is possible but very expensive, it would cost about $3,000.
Mr. Wolf introduced the next guest speaker, Mr. Andre Briod, public relations manager
of Food Fair Properties Inc. e

Me. Briod informed the nenbership, that he was mot appearing as an adviso
he could not speak f. . He said he could provide information

How things were going to be worked out, Mr. Briod said, is a very difficult problem.
He told the membership that Gateway Management is the developer not the contractor,

and that they are only one element in all of this. Mr. Briod said Gateway would mean,
jobs, in excess of the 5,000 mark in tho 3 main buildings now under construction, :-
would mean more opportunities for more people. The job levels would have to be dete!
mined by the tenants. (1) Gateway means jobs. (2) It will provide income to y,
and if used wisely will enable the city to do a better job in schools, and social ser-
vices. When the first and second sections are completed , these properties will re-
turn an excess of one million or more in taxes, which can in turn be used for better
social service , schools, etc.

PINCKNEY: Who is the prime owner of Gateway? I've heard that Western Electric is an
owner.

MR.
BRIOD: Western Electric is a tenant, and has nothing to do with the ownership. Food
Fair Properties Inc. is the principle developer and majority omer.

CONSTANCE
WOODRUFF: What does Gene Genola own? He use to be one of Addonizio's boys.

MR.
BRIOD: Genola of Asbury Park is a builder and developer, and has a minority 0
I don't know anything about the political part of it.

EARL
PHILLIPS: What kinds of jobs are going to be available for people in Newark?

ze No

BICC GENERAL MEETING 5 OCTOBER 1970 MINUTES
MR.
BRIOD: These jobs will not only be for people in Newark but for all people.

EARL
e PHILLIPS: Just what kind of jobs are you talking about?
MR,
BRIOD; Skilled, professional, chanbermaids, cleaning, Lawyers, brokers, businessmen,
retailers, etc. You can ask Western Electric, who will be occupying the most
space, and will need the largest amount of employees.

SIDNEY
e GRAYSON: Who is responsible for who the tenants are going to be, and which minority
Tuns the coffee shop or the newsstand?

BRIOD: Food Fair has a rental agent in Newark, namely Feist & Feist,

MrsAQolf thanked Mr. Briod for his presentation and introduced Mr. Orren Kahnt, General
Manager of the Downtowner Motel.

ORREN
KANT: 1 am the General Manager of the Downtowner, and take my orders:from Mr. Krans-
i . We

MARSHALL
WOLF: How many people are you planning to hire in the next 2 weeks?

MR.
KAINT: We have roughly a staff of 20 already. We will hire about 100-130 people in the
next 2 weeks. Hiring will begin around the 15th through the 25th of the month.
e On our basic property there will be 260 rooms, 2 taverns, and 2 restaurante.
QUESTION: Are all the concessions gone?

KAHNT: We have nothing to do with concessions, rooms, food and drink only.

PHILLIPS: Are all the top administrative positions taken? Answer: Yes.
[n a p Tight now, how many are' Black? Ans: 4 or 5.

Mr. Phillips: Is your assistant manager Black?

MR. KANT: No. But we do have a Black coffee shop manager.

MR PHILLIPS: Is your night manager Black? Ans: No. he hasn't been hired: yet.

CONSTANCE
WOODRUFF: What concessions do you have?

MR. KANT: None. Everything except food and drink is being handled by the rental agent.

MARSHALL
WOLF: Obes to see some action, and informed the membership they will be hearing
more from the Gateway Newark Airport Action Committee.

RICHARD
ROCTOR: Commended Mr. Stewart, Mr. Wolf and Mr. Heningburg for the program, and re-
irked that more of us who are BICC members should get behind this and give sone help.
Mr, ‘tor volunteered his services and said the employment committee should also be
involved in this venture.

Meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.

Respectfully submitted by:
© Barbara Parker - Sec.