Organizations, Individuals Take Steps to Combat Cause, Results of Urban Crisis

Jewish organizations and individuals In three major Eastern cities have developed programs to combat the causes and consequences of the urban crisis. The board of trustees of the Jewish Community Council of Essex County, N.J. has voted support of the Newark Urban Coalition and a grant of funds to that agency, Sidney M. Weinstein, JCC president, announced. The action was part of an overall program approved by the Council to help deal with the problems of urban deterioration, civil rights, race relations, minority group deprivation and poverty.

The Council approved a Series of recommendations from its community relations committee for active support of legislative proposals and community programs offered by the Governor’s Commission on Civil Disorders, it also established guidelines for dealing with proposals for core-city help from the Council’s local agencies.

A group of Philadelphia Jewish residents, acting in their individual capacities and not as representative of Jewish organizations, has been meeting with representatives of the Black Coalition to develop a program for racial progress and to promote better Negro-Jewish relations. Robert Klein, executive vice-president and general manager of radio station WDAS, and Stanley Branche, executive director of the Black Coalition, said the meetings represented “a joint effort to create new lines of communication and develop affirmative action programs in order to deal with the current racial crisis.” Arras of activity include attracting more Negroes to become businessmen, development of machinery to investigate complaints or charges of exploitation in the ghetto, programs of educating both communities to the need and aspirations of the other, and joint statements on public issues confronting the two communities.

(In Washington, D.C. a coalition of Jewish agencies has established a special fund to provide interest free loans to Jewish businessmen who are in financial straits because of during rioting in April. The loan fund will be operated by a committee that will consider applications for aid from small retail firms that are no longer able to borrow money through customary channels. Morris, chairman of the committee, said the decision to establish the committee and fund was made at a United Jewish Appeal executive committee meeting. He said the UJA unit will act as coordinating age my and work with the Jewish Community Council and other agencies in the capital.)