1971 by Ava Constant
Jimenez, Nick. “Hillcrest Zone Change Sought: Building Recommended Despite Official Plea.”
This newspaper article by Nick Jimenez covers the City Planning Commission’s recommendation for rezoning half the block of the Hillcrest area for use by Southwestern Oil and Refining Co. Jimenez writes that the head of the city’s Neighborhood Improvement division at the time, Ron Stubing, reported the construction of the office building to “be an encroachment into the neighborhood and deteriorate it.” Jimenez also addresses attempts from the Hillcrest community to fight the development of Southwestern Oil. The issue with the rezoning is that it would displace a large number of the predominantly Black citizens of the community, many of whom are of lower income and may not have the resources to relocate or find a new home.
Jimenez is a journalist for the Caller Times who focuses on local news affecting the Coastal Bend area. His profession requires him to attend these meetings to gather and report information directly to the public. Therefore, this is a good source for what was discussed by the commission as well as the final decision they reached. This information is important to add to the digital archives because it allows me insight into how rezoning would affect the residents of Hillcrest, something that is being argued about even today.
This article can be accessed using a TAMU-CC faculty, staff, or student’s login information for the database America’s Historical Newspapers from the following citation: Jimenez, Nick. “Hillcrest Zone Change Sought: Building Recommended Despite Official Plea.” Corpus Christi Caller, January 6, 1971, 14B. Accessed April 19, 2022. Readex: America’s Historical Newspapers.
Community members can visit TAMU-CC Bell Library to use the online resources, but need to check in at the circulation desk and ask to be logged on to a computer.
Caller-Times News Service. “Oil Spill Pollution Complaint Dismissed.” Corpus Christi Caller, April 21, 1971, 16C. Accessed April 15, 2022. Readex: America’s Historical Newspapers.
This newspaper article covers the dismissal of a complaint towards Charles F. Terrel, a Coastal States Gas Co. employee for “insufficient evidence.” Terrel was accused of “spilling a half-barrel to one barrel of bunker oil” into the Corpus Christi Ship channel while loading a tanker on February 9, 1970. Whether or not Terrel was guilty, this raises concern about the serious issue of water pollution as well as the lack of concern displayed by the court’s unwillingness to investigate the matter further. This matter remains important as Corpus Christi remains a port city, with many oil and gas tankers traveling through the area, risking more of these types of spills and incidents. Pollution can have a detrimental effect on the population, which is why I will be adding this to this archive.
This article can be accessed using a TAMU-CC faculty, staff, or student’s login information for the database America’s Historical Newspapers from the following citation: Caller-Times News Service. “Oil Spill Pollution Complaint Dismissed.” Corpus Christi Caller, April 21, 1971, 16C. Accessed April 15, 2022. Readex: America’s Historical Newspapers.
Community members can visit TAMU-CC Bell Library to use the online resources, but need to check in at the circulation desk and ask to be logged on to a computer.