Street renaming has become a racial issue, city councilman says

Ledger Staff Writer

A black Gaffney City Councilman said Monday he’s never witnessed such a division along racial lines on council.

Bernard Smith’s comments were in response to a compromise that passed by a 5-2 vote that allowed a stretch of Dr. L.M. Rosemond Lane from Logan to Limestone streets to remain named Meadow Street. The compromise was originally proposed by several business people who claimed the name change would cause a financial hardship.

“The whole dynamics on council have changed for the worse,” said Smith, to cheers from the large, predominantly black audience. “...This is a new low that this council has made this a racial issue. ...The compromise is not fair to the black community.”

Smith also reminded councilman Dennis Ramsey, who proposed the compromise, that his District 4 has a large black population.

The other black councilman, Tom Reid who made the earlier motion to extend the name-change to East Frederick Street, was less harsh.

He claimed that council members Wayne Ramsey and Billy Love didn’t have a problem with the proposal when it was brought up a year ago. He also said Mayor Henry Jolly instructed him to wait until after the August general election to propose the street name change.

Reid also said he would pay the expenses incurred by the businesses over the name change.

Jolly, who voted in favor of the original motion, said he favored the compromise because of the historical importance of Meadow Street to the city’s founder, Michael Gaffney.

Rev. J.W. Sanders, Sr., pastor of Bethel Baptist Church, urged council to abide by its original action because Dr. Rosemond was a man who built bridges between the races.

“(Dr. Rosemond) was the epitome of peace and tranquility,” Sanders said. “...Dr. Rosemond was a giant of a man and I hope you don’t rescind your decision.”

Another black businessman, Corey Haney, said he didn’t remember a furor erupting when other city streets changed names.