The election of Carl Stokes was a triumph in itself on the basis that despite the color of his skin, he was able to win the appointment of mayor. Yet, just making an appearance into the seemingly all-white world of politics was not enough for Stokes. He needed to make a difference.
Carl's brother and former congressman Louis Stokes
"By the time I left City Hall four years later, I had managed to put black people in the policy and decision-making positions in all departments of city government." ~ Carl Stokes, 1973
Through all his endeavors, Stokes worked to improve the city not just for blacks but for everyone, all over Cleveland. For example, housing was not only improved in predominately poor black slums but for the white lower class as well. As a mayor, Stokes focused on equality rather than assisting only those to whom he could relate.
"Housing was one of my true and lasting achievements. When I took office there had been no new public housing built in five years and there was none under contract. When I left office four years later we had built 5,496 units of low and moderate income housing at a cost of more than $102 million. No city in the country had a record like that." ~ Carl Stokes, 1973
"We did move forcefully on demolition of old abandoned buildings, doubling the number of torn down in any one past year. Vigorous enforcement of the housing authority building code added millions of dollars to the tax duplicate and cleaned up some of the worst eyesores and safety hazards in the poorer neighborhoods." ~ Carl Stokes , 1973
Throughout his administration, Stokes was a voice of the people. As an African American, his viewpoints on issues enabled him to take action toward making the city a better place for all.
"Cleveland: NOW! was instrumental in building housing, creating jobs, building day-care and recreational activities, new drug-treatment centers, and a number of other positive things. But the really important achievement was in solving a problem no other city had been able to solve, that of getting people totally involved in an effort to do something for their city." ~ Carl Stokes, 1973
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"People had to have a feeling that the building they saw, the progress in evidence around them, was the result of their effort and determination to see their city move." ~ Carl Stokes, 1973