The objective of this study is to examine the need for commercial development in Ward Eight of Washington, D. C. To determine the need for development the writer identified and described the existing businesses in the ward, as well as discussed the prevailing economic conditions in the area. The study demonstrates that the need for commercial development is due primarily to the need for a more diverse and competitive commercial district in the ward. The need for development is also due to the loss of business in consumers' dollars by Ward Eight entrepreneurs to other commercial areas outside of the ward. The analysis demonstrates further that the businesses located in Ward Eight do not nor cannot offer employment to a large number of Ward Eight residents; therefore, a need exists for the kind of businesses that can offer increased employment opportunities for the residents of the area. The writer finds that the three explanations mentioned above are conditions that help create the need for commercial development in Ward Eight of Washington, D. C. The information in this study was obtained from primary and secondary sources. Primary data were gathered from interviews and a survey using a structured questionnaire. Secondary sources .of information for the study were obtained from books, government publications, magazines, newspapers, and scholarly journals. A descriptive analysis was used as a methodological approach in this study.

This study was undertaken to examine why the Office of Housing Rehabilitation has failed to adequately process loan and grant applications. The problem centers around the fact that the demands made on the personnel of the Office of Housing Rehabilitation are beyond their capabilities. Motivation and inadequacy of staff are discussed as possible causes. Both of these aspects of the problem are addressed in separate sections of the paper, namely (1) Motivation and Job Performance; (2) The Staff: A Focus on Demands, Size and Development. Recommendations for the solution of this problem involve more cooperation with and trust for the employees by management, and greater input into the decision-making process by the employees.

The primary intent of this study is to examine the issues surrounding the 55 mph National Maximum Speed Limit Law and determine whether or not the existing law warrants continuation on all highways. The issues addressed in the paper are the historical background of the law, costs, benefits and savings associated with the law, enforcement and compliance, and support for and opposition to the 55 mph National Maximum Speed Limit Law. The findings of the study showed that the 55 mph National Maximum Speed Limit Law has proven to be effective in reducing costs through reduced fuel consumption. In addition, this law is also an effective safety measure in reducing fatalities on highways. The writer recommends that the 55 mph National Maximum Speed Limit Law should be maintained on all highways in this country. In strengthening the enforcement of the law, the writer further recommends that additional funds be provided to assist state patrol agencies. The main sources of information were secondary which included data from statistical abstracts, Federal Highway Administration documents, printed congressional committee hearings and reports. The primary sources utilized were derived from interviews with representatives of the Georgia Motorist Trucking Association and the Federal Highway Administration. In the event that policymakers increase the national maximum speed limit, the writer recommends that the federal government impose an additional safety measure such as requiring all states to enforce mandatory seatbelt usage to prevent the potential increase in the number of fatalities that may result from a higher speed limit.

This study examines whether or not the political behaviors of black women maternal figures in traditional or nontraditional political means, influence their daughter’s future political activities. This research stems from the problem regarding the limited analysis of black mother-daughter relationships, the scholarship’s lack of analysis of how this relationship explains the origin of black women’s activism, and the limited definition of political activity, engagement, and efficacy for African-American women. Data for this research was gathered by utilizing the qualitative method of case studies and narrative analysis. Based on the data collected, the researcher found that while black women activists idolized their maternal figures, it varied whether they defined their maternal figures as activists. However, all of the participants highlighted certain tenants of black womanhood that were utilized for their physical survival as well as their survival as activists. While their maternal figures were an influence to their activism, their childhood experiences in a geographic location led to their participation in the movement more than their maternal figures. Furthermore, African-American women engage in activism and politics through collective participation, grassroots organization, nonviolent protest, and community advocacy. The conclusion drawn from this research is whether maternal figures are essential for black women’s activism. Based on this research, these maternal figures are partly influential to black women’s activism by providing them an example of black womanhood as well as the tools necessary to facilitate their activism.

This study analyzed whether African American students in the Atlanta University Center schools were knowledgeable about public health policies and programs concerning abused and neglected children. Two hundred and one (201) participants were selected utilizing convenience sampling. The study surveyed males and females of which 91% were African American students. A survey questionnaire was utilized to collect data. The findings of the study indicated that a majority or 57.2% of the students were not knowledgeable about public health policies for abused and neglected children. However, a majority of the students indicated that they were knowledgeable about public health problems and programs for this population. A majority or 84.1% indicated that they were not abused and neglected as children, but a significant percentage or 15.9% indicated that they were abused and neglected. When the chi square test for significance was applied, the null hypothesis was accepted indicating that there was no statistically significant evidence at the .05 level of probability that the students were abused and neglected when they were children.

The primary intent of this study is to examine the impact of governmental regulations on Small Business Enterprises located at the Campbellton Plaza. Campbellton Plaza is one of the fourteen commercial districts in Atlanta which has been targeted for revitalization by the City of Atlanta. The project is a joint venture operated by Southwest Economic Development Corporation, the Citizens and Southern National Bank, the Atlanta Economic Development Corporation, Georgia State University Small Business Program and the Bureau of Planning. The writer, through working with the small businesses and the city government at the Campbellton Plaza observed that the federal government as well as state and local municipalities played important roles by giving assistance to small business in several ways. For the merchants to be eligible for the needed assistance, they have to comply with several criteria, regulatory guidelines and deadline. Although this study is confined to the Campbellton Plaza, it is hoped that the study will contribute to a better understanding of the impacts of the governmental regulations on small business in general by the readers of this paper. This study was chosen because of constant complaints by the merchants about the criteria in getting the Business Improvement Loan Fund designated to the Campbellton Plaza. The data for this study were obtained from both primary and secondary sources, and the methodology employed is descriptive analysis.

The primary intent of this degree paper is to discuss some of the probable impact of the Tax Reform Act of 1986 on Blacks. An attempt has been made to show the economic status of the Black population and to explain the probable impact of the Tax Reform Act of 1986 on it. The old tax system had several shortcomings which prompted the need for tax reform. Among the several reasons for a new tax system were lack of efficiency and equity in the old system. Black politicians advocated more support for the equity side due to the disproportional distribution of the Black population, the distribution of income (majority of Black incomes are found in the lower income brackets and only about 20 percent of their income comes from property while majority of it comes from employment). Also, proportionally, more Black female head of households are found in that category (head of household) than White females. These circumstances would put the Black population in a position to bear more of the tax burden proportionally, than the White population. The major findings of the study were that (1) the restructuring of the tax rates could lower the progressivity of the tax system (this could probably have a disproportional adverse impact on the Black population), and (2) that the increase in the standard deduction and personal exemptions would probably compensate for this adverse impact on Blacks and other minority groups. It was concluded that the impact of the overall tax system on the tax burdens of the Black population, depends on the extent to which the system stresses progressive versus regressive taxes. There is still room for improvement and reform, and that through more research, income tax reforms can be made better. The main sources of information for this paper include The Atlanta Journal and Constitution, Consumer Reports, National Tax Journal, publications from the Bureau of the Census, and the Internal Revenue Service. Also, a wide variety of primary and secondary information was used.

The primary intent of this paper is to examine the impact of literacy training on workplace illiteracy. Specifically, the paper examines the effectiveness of a computer-based literacy training program called the Principle of the Alphabet System (PALS) organized for an identified group of City of Atlanta illiterate employees. This paper focuses on five employees located in the Parks Maintenance Bureau of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs. The issues addressed in this study focus on definitions of functional literacy and correlations between workplace literacy and job performance. The study is significant, for, it draws attention to the role literacy programs can play within the workplace. The findings of the study showed that literacy training does have a positive impact on adult illiterates in the workplace by enabling them to meet the basic literacy demands of their jobs. Literacy training also heightens an individual's self-confidence and gives employees the motivation to pursue higher career goals. The study also showed that a computer-based literacy training program is a highly effective means of training adult illiterates and is appealing to most adult literacy students. Both primary and secondary sources of information were utilized for the study. Primary sources included a telephone survey administered to City of Atlanta employees who completed the literacy training program. Other primary sources were interviews with City of Atlanta personnel and others involved in the training program. Secondary sources of data included books, journal articles, public documents, and periodicals.

Black voter participation has received considerable scholarly attention. Indeed, an important relationship exists between rates of political activity for blacks and the development of public policy by legislative bodies, elected officials, and governmental administrators. That is, ethnic affinity has long been an important symbolic component of American politics, and ethnic identification has often provided an incentive for otherwise inactive voters to vote for a representative of their ethnic community. The presence of a minority member on the ballot might be expected to increase minority group participation particularly when the candidate is running for an office such as state senator that is considered important. This study begins to address this paucity by exploring factors which influence blacks to participate in the political process, specifically the voting patterns of black registered voters as exemplified in both the primary and the run-off elections in the 35th State Senate District Democratic Primary in South Fulton County, Georgia. Data from interviews with 561 black voters as they left the polls on election day, September 4, 1984, is used to explore what influences black voters to participate in the political process. A tentative analysis of white racial bloc voting patterns in the district will be explored. White racial bloc voting means that whites will vote only for white candidates, and that no matter what the qualifications of black candidates, there will be one or more white candidates who will attract nearly all of the white votes. Additionally, this study suggests that evidence from a growing body of research clearly indicates that black electoral participation influences the distribution of public benefits at the state and local levels. The major findings of the study are as follows: 1. The State Senate District 35 exhibited a pattern of racial bloc voting; and 2. A surprisingly high degree of political participation by black voters was exhibited during the election(s).

The primary purpose of this study is to examine the Managing Criminal Investigations Incentive Program (MCI) by analyzing its components and assessing to what extent these components were successfully implemented, The MCI concept was to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the management of criminal investigations. MCI was developed and implemented by the Atlanta Bureau of Police Services (ABPS) and initiated in Zone One of the Bureau. The stated objectives of the MCI Program were: (1) to train and motivate patrol officers to conduct and document thorough preliminary investigations, thus improving the preliminary reports for the continuing investigations; (2) to develop a case screening method which would identify cases which are most susceptible to solution, thereby allowing efforts to be directed towards cases most likely to be solved; (3) to improve the efficiency of investigations through improved case management; (4) to increase the rate of case acceptance by the prosecutor and the rate of conviction of prosecuted cases; through more thorough preparation (of cases); and (5) to develop a monitoring system which would allow for evaluation of the criminal investigation process. The conclusions of this paper have been reached based upon the results of an exploratory inquiry of policies, procedures, reports and performance data relative to the implementation of the MCI program in Zone One of the ABPS. In addition, conclusions were drawn based on the results of attitudinal surveys distributed among MCI participants.