King Tribute

As one of the co-founders of the Martin Luther King Tribute Coalition, I am responding to Pamela Hamilton’s letter of Feb. 17 regarding the Centre City Development Corp.’s proposal for a quick-fix San Diego tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The Martin Luther King Tribute Coalition, founded in January, 1989, is comprised of more than 30 local groups representing several thousand individuals.

A majority of the groups and individuals in the Martin Luther King Tribute Coalition views the naming of the so-called “linear” park or narrow walkway for Martin Luther King Jr. between Harbor Drive and the railroad tracks (initiated by CCDC) as completely inadequate and insulting to Dr. King’s memory.

The Feb. 19 City Council rubber-stamp vote was to simply name it “King Promenade.” Not to use the complete name, Martin Luther King Jr., as part of a tribute reveals a discomforting insensitivity to his memory and principles.

The 30-foot-wide waste land is a private proposal--indeed: not significant, respectful, timely, nor is it initiated by the City Council.

We insist it is the City Council’s responsibility to initiate any proposal for a truly significant Martin Luther King Tribute. Why should the pressure be removed from the council, which has miserably failed in the effort to pursue a significant memorial to Dr. King following the infamous refusal of the Port Commission to name the convention center for him on July 25, 1989?

In our opinion, the CCDC proposition is a desperate, last-minute attempt by moneyed interests to qualify San Diego as host of the 1993 Super Bowl. We will not be silenced by any transparent, too-little, too-late efforts to impress the National Football League.

Before the 1988 Super Bowl was played here (soon after the disastrous referendum when Martin Luther King Way signs were removed) I remember that the African-American community was urged by city and business interests not to protest before or during the game. They were promised a significant memorial to Dr. King to replace Martin Luther King Way. The issue is not whether San Diego’s minority community deserves economic windfalls resulting from the Super Bowl--they most certainly should benefit.

Some of us see the CCDC linear park proposal as one with strings attached--that economic assistance and development will flow to the African-American and minority communities, if they accept the walkway as the city’s tribute to Dr. King. But minority and women-owned businesses and ethnic communities should receive the same attention, assistance and support for economic development at all times, not just when a sporting or other event is scheduled.

While a few African-American activists support the effort to host the Super Bowl here despite the failure of this city to designate a substantive city-sponsored memorial to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., many others in African-American, peace, environmental, women’s, labor, business and religious organizations who make up the Martin Luther King Tribute Coalition, question whether San Diego deserves the Super Bowl.

If the NFL fairly and consistently applies its same criteria as it did with Phoenix in demonstrating respect and honor for Dr. King’s teachings and memory, San Diego clearly fails the test.

We believe that the City Council is allowing a vocal, hate-filled group of racially prejudiced people to prevent the city from designating a fitting Martin Luther King tribute, such as an important building or thoroughfare.

The underlying issue is that of racism, which the city must confront positively. Naming a significant memorial to Dr. King may seem symbolic to some, but the action would go a long way toward healing the pain and the wrong that was done when Martin Luther King Way was taken away from us.

We are determined to settle for no less than a major building or street named for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

JIM JACOBSON, Martin Luther King Tribute Coalition