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- Oral Histories
Interview with Leon Williams, Transcript, 2008
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WILLIAMSLEON-2008T
Interview with Leon Williams, Transcript, 2008
2008-10-28
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Interviewer: Rhodes, Gloria; Transcriber: Jardee Transcription
An oral history conducted by Gloria Rhodes with former County Supervisor Leon Williams on October 28, 2008.
In 1969, Williams became the first African American elected to the San Diego City Council as a representative for District IV. He later became County Supervisor in 1982. During Williams' years in the City Council, he helped initiate the Southeast Economic Development Corporation (SEDC), which promoted land use programs in order to revitalize and sustain Southeast San Diego. He similarly endorsed the downtown redevelopment project.
In addition to (re)development projects, Williams' Prevention Policy sought to create long-term solutions for issues such as crime, drugs, welfare, and health concerns. He was a proponent of needle exchange programs to help fight against AIDS, and was a major supporter of the anti-smoking ordinance. During this time, Williams also taught public policy classes part-time at San Diego State University.
Williams was extremely active with the Metropolitan Transit Development Board (MTDB). In 1976, he began his long tenure with the MTDB, and in 1994 was appointed Chairman of the Transit System's Board of Directors. He believed the San Diego Trolley was a means to connect and revitalize San Diego's older neighborhoods, rather than expand into undeveloped areas. He retired from City Council in 1995, and the MTDB in 2005.
This oral history was made possible by a grant from the President's Leadership Fund and is part of Creating Community: African Americans in San Diego.
In 1969, Williams became the first African American elected to the San Diego City Council as a representative for District IV. He later became County Supervisor in 1982. During Williams' years in the City Council, he helped initiate the Southeast Economic Development Corporation (SEDC), which promoted land use programs in order to revitalize and sustain Southeast San Diego. He similarly endorsed the downtown redevelopment project.
In addition to (re)development projects, Williams' Prevention Policy sought to create long-term solutions for issues such as crime, drugs, welfare, and health concerns. He was a proponent of needle exchange programs to help fight against AIDS, and was a major supporter of the anti-smoking ordinance. During this time, Williams also taught public policy classes part-time at San Diego State University.
Williams was extremely active with the Metropolitan Transit Development Board (MTDB). In 1976, he began his long tenure with the MTDB, and in 1994 was appointed Chairman of the Transit System's Board of Directors. He believed the San Diego Trolley was a means to connect and revitalize San Diego's older neighborhoods, rather than expand into undeveloped areas. He retired from City Council in 1995, and the MTDB in 2005.
This oral history was made possible by a grant from the President's Leadership Fund and is part of Creating Community: African Americans in San Diego.
Southeast Economic Development Corporation; San Diego City Council; Fourth District of San Diego; African Americans; San Diego County Supervisors; San Diego Metropolitan Transit System; Metropolitan Transit Development Board; Leon Williams; Gloria Rhodes; Interviews; Oral Histories; Margaret Williams; San Diego State College; Great Depression; Segregation; Fellowship for Reconciliation; Jack Kimbrough; Alpha Pi Boulé; Intercultural Organization (San Diego State College); San Diego County Sheriff's Department; Neighborhood Youth Corps; Economic Opportunity Act of 1964; Black, Oriental, Mexican Brothers; BOMB; George A. Scott; Hamilton Marston; Center City Development Corporation; Committee of One Hundred; Balboa Park; Lincoln High School (San Diego); Will C. Crawford; Ernest Hartzog; Larry Carlin; Board of Education v. Superior Court (Carlin); Michael Schaefer; William Jones; Rosalind Winstead; Wes Pratt; Tony Young; Jim Mills (California senator); San Diego Trolley (red)
5500 Campanile Drive
California - San Diego - San Diego State University
© San Diego State University. All rights reserved.
- Oral Histories
Creating Community: African Americans in San Diego
English
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49 pages
Yes
WILLIAMSLEON-2008
more keywords from interview: San Diego State University Transit Center; Rodney Slater; California Environmental Quality Act; CEQA; Jim Bates; San Diego Police Department; Citizens Interracial Committee; Donna Lindsay Salk; Lionel Van Deerlin; Carrol Waymon; Walter H. Hahn; Earl B. Gilliam
- San Diego State University Library and Information Access, Special Collections and University Archives
San Diego State University Library and Information Access, Special Collections and University Archives
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