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94 under Virginia law. Mr, Pfaltz asked Council to ask our State legislators to sponsor a bill to allow cities to adopt such a program. Mr. Blair Hawkins, 702 Belmont Avenue, discussed imminent domain and what he feels were improper proceedings on Vinegar Hill and Garrett Street. Mr. Hawkins asked Council to investigate. PUBLIC HEARING: NAMING OF 9TH/10TH STREET CONNECTOR AND 10m STREET TO HEMINGS WAY Ms. Daugherty said that naming of the street has some importance, but that improving the quality of life in neighborhoods adjacent to 9th/10 Street, some of which are among the oldest in the City, is of most importance. Ms. Daugherty said that recent initiatives such as the transition zone in Fifeville and the Quality Community Council meetings have helped. Ms. Daugherty asked Ms. Cinder Stanton, historian at Monticello, to provide some background information on the Hemings family. Ms. Stanton said that the Hemings were a remarkable Monticello family and she has been impressed with their involvement in Charlottesville. Ms. Stanton reviewed the history of the Hemings family and said she feels this enslaved family could represent others during that time period. Ms. Ellen Swan Wright read a letter from her mother, Ms. Diane Swan Wright, Director of Special Programs at Monticello, which had been Sent to The Tribune Newspaper, supporting the naming of the street after the Hemings family in honor of all unknown and unacknowledged acts of courage by enslaved families. The public hearing was opened. Ms. Agnes Cross White, 250 W. Main Street, said she finds it unfathomable that we are still devoting an inordinate amount of time talking about the relationship between Sally Hemings and Thomas Jefferson. Ms. White said Ms. Hemings was considered property, and while she should be lauded, their relationship should not be romanticized. Ms. White said the contn'butions of the Hemings family should be acknowledged, but she vehemently opposes naming a street after Sally Hemings because she contributed nothing to the community, and if she had not had relations with Thomas Jefferson, we would not even know about her. Ms. White said she feels it would be an insult to African-American women. Ms. Lillian Inge, 1527 Rutledge Avenue, supported the Fifeville Neighborhood Association in their request that the street be named after Hemings. Ms. Inge said she feels it would be fitting as the family did a lot of building at Monticello, Charlottesville and the University of Virginia. Mr. Thomas Sheehan of Keswick, said he is not opposed to naming a street after Hemings. Mr. Sheehan said he has helped form the Thomas Jefferson Society and feels that Jefferson is entitled to a fair trial before a determination is made that he fathered children by Sally Hemings. Ms. Patricia Edwards, 212 6th Street, N.W., said that she supports naming the street after the Hemings family, in memory of her grandmothers who were also slaves. Ms. Edwards said that Hemings is a famous name in this community and the first slave name she heard as a child. Ms. Edwards said she hopes Council will recognize this family that was led by a single mother who went on to do special things. Ms. Edwards noted that while some in the community have suggested naming the street after Rebecca McGinness, Ms. McGirmess made it clear to her that she did not want anything named after her. Mr. John Spears, 2519 Hydraulic Road, said he opposes naming a street after Hemings as he feels it would be glori~ing and justifying a bad situation, and an attempt to try to justify actions by Thomas Jefferson. Mr. Spears said Sally Hemings had to