In the children's story, Puss-in-Boots, the miller's son inherits only a cat.  Happily for the young man, his cat is a magic cat who wins a fortune for him.  Orange has inherited a "magic cat" as well: the Programmatic Cat of Ernie Thompson. 

Ernie Thompson was a community organizer.  Back in 1958, he helped organize Citizens for Representative Government.   He always liked to tell the fable of a cat and a fox who met one day in the woods.  They got to talking about what to do when the dogs came.  The fox said that he had a lot of tricks that he used to fool the dogs.  The cat said, "I only have one trick: I run up the tree."  Just then, as luck would have it, they heard the dogs coming.  The cat scampered up the tree.  The fox started to do his tricks -- but the tricks didn't fool the dogs and they made short work of the poor fox.  The cat, watching from his perch in the tree's branches, said to himself, "It doesn't pay to know too many tricks." 

Ernie Thompson always told Citizens for Representative Government that they had to be like the cat and go up the tree, "The programmatic tree.  Only if we stick with our program will we succeed."  He told this story thousands of times in the 13 years he worked with CRG.  What was the program of CRG?  It was a broad program of improving Orange for the betterment of all the citizens.  This program has several special points.  It understands that a city needs to be beautiful, inclusive and active.  It is concerned with commerce and employment, schools and juvenile delinquency.   This holistic program guided CRG and has been inherited by all the citizens of Orange.  The issues might be adapted for any city in the world.  While the particulars of the program may have changed in the 50 years since this program was developed, the categories are still the right ones, and the breadth of interest is still critical.  It is a good guide for the next 50 years. 

How lucky we are to have inherited a cat! 

Here is The New Day Platform:

CRG's 1958 New Day Platform

I.  Redevelopment and relocation

1. The partial redevelopment plan now under consideration must be implemented to include other sections of the City in order to increase ratables and improve the character of the city.
2. Study future water needs based on the projected plans.
3. A Citizens Committee be set up to work side by side with the City Commissioners to bring in private housing capital and industry.
4. Seriouly examine the need to replace the ancient City Hall.

II.  Unemployment

1. Problems resulting from the current recession and shops leaving our City must be vigorously met by the city officials.
2. Unemployment Compensation should be extended and increased immediately as was done in the state of New York.
3. Federal taxes should be immediately reduced to increase the purchasing power of consumers and relief to business.
4. Maximum distribution of federal surplus food supplies to the unemployed and others in need.
5. The maximum use of local labor forces in the Redevelopment program and other government projects should be mandatory.

III.  Freeway [what is now known as Route 280]

1. It should be the policy of the City Government, which is not now the case, to provide all aid and assistance in relocation of the displaced families.
2. An official city committee should be established whose duties it shall be to provide relocation and assistance.
3. Depress the Freeway to protect the properties and beauty of the City.

IV.  School System

1. Discriminatory school lines still in existence in Orange and all other forms of discrimination in the school system should be wiped out.
2. Federal funds should be sought for the purpose of improvement of the physical plants.
3. Adequate pay for teachers and other city employees.
4. Strengthen the school system by amending the charter to permit an elected Board of Education.

V.  Civil Rights

1. The city of Orange should have a functioning Civil Rights Committee.

VI.  Recreation and Juvenile Delinquency

1. Develop and implement a year-round recreational program thru-out the City.
2. Establish a special division in the Police Department manned by trained personnel to develop a program to prevent and manage Juvenile Delinquency.

VII.  Representative Government

1. The future of Orange is contingent upon achieving these objectives through representative government made up of Negroes and Whites. 

Reference:

Ernest Thompson and Mindy Thompson [Fullilove], Homeboy Came to Orange: A Story of People's Power, Bridgebuilder Press, Newark, 1976.  For the story of the Programmatic Cat and the New Day Platform, see especially pages 57-62. 

Where we are Today