Home Photo Gallery Classroom Documents Dear Mr. President: Jointly with my staff, I acknowledge with thanks your letter of September 23rd, requesting that I write to you about the new Social Security Legislation, and also about conditions in our community. Your Social Security Legislation and the Works Program through which you seek to solve the problem of human suffering in this serious economic situation, are very heartening to us. In these measures is a great service to the Country, prompted by the great heart of our President. The deplorable social conditions in our community are due chiefly, we believe, to exorbitant rents. This situation has developed a lamentable overcrowding in families, and this necessarily results in lower physical resistance, lower morals, with the attendant evils--delinquency and morbidity from which unfortunate juveniles cannot escape. The truth of this is obvious when we realize that some city blocks in this area are miniature towns of more than three thousand residents each. One such block has a total population of 3871 souls. Some of the buildings are seriously lacking in sanitary facilities, and consequently, are a menace to public health. An extensive low-cost building program, and the relief from the mental burden are very necessary for the community of Harlem. This would tend to raise the general tone, and create a atmosphere which would tend greatly to the development of law-abiding citizens. These is a great demand for more schools. The present overcrowded situation necessitates classes at 7:40 A.M. for the children as young as ten years, we have been informed. The buildings, with two exceptions, are serving a population which has about doubled itself since their construction. Assuring you of our public and private prayers to God for blessings upon you and your administration, we are, Very sincerely yours,
Rev. J.E. Sarjeant, Pastor
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