Orange County NC Website
6 <br />on minimal social security benefits. The ordinance provides for the <br />possibility of a user friendly atmosphere. <br />James Brittain, a member of the Chapel Hill/Carrboro branch of the NAACP, <br />indicated that the move for a Civil Rights Ordinance began in 1964. The <br />Chapel Hill Council initiated a proposal which established a special <br />agency with full time staff and a governing board to deal with a variety <br />of racial problems. Now Twenty-nine years later the community is still <br />debating, discussing and studying. Responsible action needs to be taken <br />now. <br />Mattie Rose Crowder spoke in opposition to this ordinance. She believes <br />that residents of the unincorporated area will be denied freedom of <br />speech. She commented that it appears to be intentionally nebulous in <br />order to give excessive latitude to those interpreting the Ordinance. <br />Earl Davis spoke in opposition to this Ordinance. It appears to be aimed <br />directly at rural Orange County residents. He indicated that he believed <br />the ulterior motive behind this Ordinance is to keep new business out of <br />Orange County. He reminded the Commissioners of the story of the <br />Regulators and the Battle of Alamance where citizens told the Governor <br />they would pay no taxes or obey unjust laws. <br />Robin Stanford Mulkey, an Orange County native, spoke in opposition to <br />this Ordinance. She believes it puts too much power in the hands of a <br />volunteer commission. It would afford too many opportunities for the <br />mismanagement of power. These types of issues need to be handled by <br />judicial authority, not quasi-judicial. <br />Katherine Dickman, Director of the Women's Center, spoke in support of <br />this Ordinance. She spoke about the discrimination in the area of housing <br />which many women deal with consistently in Orange County. It is only <br />through mutual understanding and fair treatment that we can build a <br />community free of tension. A copy of her statement in its entirety is in <br />the permanent agenda file in the Clerk's office. <br />Adam Stein, an attorney licensed in North Carolina, has represented <br />victims of discrimination in both local and State Supreme Courts. He <br />commends the Commission for its work. As a representative of the American <br />Civil Liberties Union he spoke against the "Other protected Classes" <br />portion of the Ordinance. It is his opinion that it is in violation of <br />the law. He commented that the Ordinance is unconstitutional because it <br />is too broad. He believed that Martin Luther King could be in violation <br />of this Ordinance for statements that he made about continuing to resist <br />until the discrimination was overcome. He asked that the portion <br />pertaining to "words" be deleted. <br />Oliver Melvin, a Compliance Specialist with the Durham Human Relations <br />Commission, spoke in support of this Ordinance. He indicated that when <br />people perceive discrimination, a problem exists whether or not <br />discrimination has actually occurred. Over 90~ of the cases they receive <br />are resolved at the administrative level. In the remaining 10~, <br />