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5/22/75 - Los Angeles County Bar Association
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This file contains material relating to Community Development of 1974.
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Carla A. Hills Speeches
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The original documents are located in Box 1, folder "5/22/75 - Los Angeles County Bar
Association" of the Carla A. Hills Speeches at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald Ford donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Digitized from Box 1 of the Carla A. Hills Speeches at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
FINAL
LOS ANGELES COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION
Los ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
MAY 22, 1975
I AM so PLEASED TO BE HERE TODAY WITH so MANY FRIENDS
WITH WHOM Rod AND I HAVE SPENT SO MUCH OF OUR PROFESSIONAL
LIVES. THIS ASSOCIATION WILL ALWAYS BE A VERY SPECIAL GROUP
TO BOTH OF US.
AND BECAUSE YOU ARE FRIENDS, INSTEAD OF GIVING A TRUE
"BREAD AND BUTTER" TALK, I WOULD PREFER TO SHARE WITH YOU
SOME THOUGHTS AND IMPRESSIONS THAT I HAVE OBTAINED DURING
MY 14 MONTHS IN WASHINGTON, PLUS A PROBLEM I THINK WE CAN
ADDRESS TOGETHER.
ALTHOUGH I HAVE SPENT 17 YEARS AS A LAWYER AND 70 DAYS
AS SECRETARY OF HUD, MY THOUGHTS, AS YOU MIGHT EXPECT IN
TODAY'S MARKET, ARE WEIGHTED TOWARD MY HUD EXPERIENCE, IF
I WERE FORCED TO DECORATE THEM WITH A THEME, I WOULD
PARAPHRASE, AS so MANY THOUSANDS HAVE DONE BEFORE, FROM
DICKENS:
"IT IS THE BEST OF TIMES, IT IS THE WORST OF
TIMES;
IT IS THE EPIC OF BELIEF, IT IS
THE EPIC OF INCREDULITY."
FORD c- LIBRARY QTVUED
-2-
As ONE WHO WAS INVITED TO THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT BY
ELLIOT RICHARDSON, WHO LEFT BEFORE I ARRIVED, AND AS ONE
WHO WAS ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THE NOMINATION OF ED LEVI, WHO
CAME AS I WAS LEAVING, I HAVE SOME SENSE OF THE FUTILITY
OF COUNTING TOO HEAVILY ON FUTURE EXPECTATIONS.
AND AS ONE WHO HAS LIVED THROUGH THE AGONY PRECEDING
THE RESIGNATION AND WHO HAS SEEN CLOSE AT HAND THE SYSTEM
ENDURE SUCH STRESS, I HAVE SOME SENSE OF THE FOOLISHNESS
OF SUCCUMBING TO UNDUE DESPAIR.
BETWEEN THE CHOICE OF SORROW OR JOY, MY THOUGHTS
LEAN MORE TOWARD CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM FOR THE FUTURE
WITH SOBER CONCERN FOR THE PAST,
To ILLUSTRATE, IT IS STILL TOO EASY FOR SOME
TO SCORN OUR PROFESSION FOR THE RECENT FAILURES OF LAWYERS
IN HIGH PLACES, WITHOUT GIVING CREDIT TO THE SYSTEM THAT
CHECKED THEIR LAWLESSNESS.
GERALD LIBRARY A FORD
-3-
SIMILARLY, WE STILL HEAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE INCREASING
NUMBERS OF LAWYERS AND TOO LITTLE PRAISE FOR THE LEGAL
TRADITION THAT MAKES OURS A GOVERNMENT OF LAWS THAT HAS
ACHIEVED so MUCH IN COMPARISON WITH THOSE COUNTRIES WHERE
TYRANNIES OF MEN RUN UNCHECKED.
BUT, HOW DO WE TREAT WITH THOSE 3 SAD YEARS IN WHICH
OUR LEADERS WERE CONVICTED, INDICTED, OR DISGRACED ON A
SCALE UNPARALLELED IN OUR HISTORY?
I DO NOT REFER MERELY TO OUR HIGHEST ELECTED AND
APPOINTED OFFICIALS. To THE WRECKAGE OF WATERAGE, WE
ADD THE CONVICTION OF FORMER CONGRESSMEN, A FORMER
GOVERNOR, STATE LEGISLATORS, AND A FORMER MAYOR,
To THIS SAD COLLECTION WE CAN ADD THAT 11 OF OUR LARGEST
CORPORATIONS HAVE ADMITTED TO FEDERAL ELECTION CRIMES WHILE.
TWO FORMER LEADERS OF MAJOR LABOR UNIONS WERE IMPRISONED,
AND THE PRESIDENT OF A THIRD WAS CONVICTED FOR THE MURDER
OF HIS RIVAL,
GERALD R. FORD
-4-
COULD ANY OTHER DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT SUSTAIN SUCH
CRIPPLING BLOWS TO ITS CREDIBILITY WITHOUT A THREAT OF
ANARCHY OR EFFORT TO IMPOSE THE TYRANNY OF A TOTALITARIAN
GOVERNMENT?
AND YET, WE NOW APPROACH THE ELECTION OF 1976 WITH A
DEDICATION TO MORALITY AND FAIRNESS FOR THE ELECTORAL
PROCESS THAT FEW WOULD HAVE DREAMED POSSIBLE 12 SHORT
MONTHS AGO, IT IS INDEED A TRIBUTE TO THE ULTIMATE VALUES
OF OUR SYSTEM.
THE QUESTION NOW IS WHAT DO WE DO TO INSURE THAT WE
MOVE THROUGH OUR AGENDA OF PRESSING NATIONAL PROBLEMS?
OBVIOUSLY THE CONFLICTS AMONG US OF PURPOSE, MOTIVE,
AND PERCEPTION HAVE NOT DISAPPEARED. LAWYERS MORE THAN
ANY OTHER GROUP WILL JOIN IN COMBAT
FORD as LIBRARY OERALD
-5-
BETWEEN NEW BUSINESS AND ENERGY GROWTH
VERSES
THE INCONSISTENT DEMAND FOR A BETTER ENVIRONMENT.
BETWEEN THE PRESSURE ON GOVERNMENT TO
GUARANTEE NEW JOBS, HOMES AND SECURITY
VERSES
OUR FAITH IN FREE ENTERPRISE,
BETWEEN THE CRITICAL NEED FOR A MORE
EFFECTIVE SYSTEM OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE
VERSES
OUR DEDICATION TO FAIR TRIALS AND OUR
COMPASSION FOR THE UNDERPRIVILEGED.
BETWEEN THE SHARP DEMAND OF CONSUMERS
FOR BETTER TREATMENT
VERSES
THE EQUALLY INCESSENT CALL FOR LESS
GOVERNMENT REGULATION,
BETWEEN THE DESPERATE CRY OF THE UNEMPLOYED
VERSES
THE UNIVERSAL DESIRE TO AVOID ANOTHER
CRIPPLING INFLATIONARY CYCLE,
GERALD A. FORD LIBRARY
-6-
OF THOSE CONFLICTS WITH WHICH WE DEAL AT HUD, NONE
IS MORE PRESSING THAN THE CURRENT PROBLEMS OF OUR CITIES,
FAIR-MINDED PEOPLE CAN LOOK AT THE AGONY OF THE CITIES
OVER HOUSING, JOBS, SCHOOLS, AND BUSSING, AND AGREE THAT
THE BLAME DOES NOT TOTALLY LIE WITH RACISTS OR WITH
MEDDLESOME OFFICIALS. RATHER, IT IS APPARENT THAT ECONOMIC
AND SOCIAL PROBLEMS HAVE GROWN FAR FASTER THAN OUR CAPACITY
TO FORGE ACCEPTABLE SOLUTIONS.
THE STARK FACT IS THAT MANY OF OUR GREATEST CITIES ARE
BEING SACRIFICED TO OBSOLESCENCE AND DECAY. IN TOO MANY,
BLOCK UPON BLOCK OF ABANDONED, BOARDED UP HOUSES SERVE
AS HOMES FOR THE FLATSAM OF HUMANITY.
NEAR THESE ABANDONED NEIGHBORHOODS AND, PERHAPS, SOON
TO FOLLOW THEIR EXAMPLE, ARE THE SLUMS, WHICH ARE THE BANE
OF OUR COLLECTIVE CONSCIENCE, THESE ARE NOT THE HOMES OF
A LOWER INCOME GROUP BUT RATHER AN "UNDER CLASS", WHO ARE
NOT JUST POOR BUT IMPOVERISHED.
GERALO R. FORD LIBRARY
-7-
THE SLUMS OF AMERICA HOUSE A CONCENTRATION OF SOCIAL
PROBLEMS OF A MAGNITUDE WHICH AT TIMES SEEM NEAR INSOLUBLE.
CRIME, RACIAL ANIMOSITY, FAMILY DISINTEGRATION BREED EASILY
IN THIS ENVIRONMENT.
AND, AS ABANDONMENT GROWS, INCREASINGLY LARGE NUMBERS
OF POTENTIALLY VALUABLE HOUSING STOCK ARE LEFT FALLOW AND
DECAYING -- THEREBY INCREASING THE NUMBERS OF POOR CONSIGNED
TO NEARBY, OVERCROWDED, AND SUBSTANDARD DWELLINGS.
TYPICALLY, THE DECLINE OF A NEIGHBORHOOD STARTS WHEN
THE EASY AVAILABILITY OF NEW HOUSING IN THE SUBURBS ENTICES
FAMILIES TO LEAVE THEIR URBAN HOMES. As THE HOUSING STOCK
BEGINS TO FILTER DOWN, THESE FAMILIES ARE GRADUALLY REPLACED
BY POORER FAMILIES WHO LACK THE ABILITY TO MAINTAIN A
HEALTHY COMMUNITY, AND THE COMPOSITION OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD
BECOMES LESS STABLE.
R. FORD LIBRAL
-8-
THEN, LENDING INSTITUTIONS BECOME NERVOUS AND AS A
RESULT, LENDING POLICIES BECOME MORE STRINGENT. NEW
OWNERS ARE FORCED TO MAKE HIGHER DOWNPAYMENTS AND HAVE
SHORTER-TERM LOANS. HOME IMPROVEMENT LOANS BECOME
UNAVAILABLE.
THUS, THESE FAMILIES ARE MUCH LESS ABLE TO MAINTAIN
OR TO IMPROVE THEIR PROPERTY, OFTEN THE PROPERTIES BECOME
VIABLE ONLY AS RENTAL UNITS, AND THE ECONOMIC LEVEL OF
THE INHABITANTS TENDS TO DECREASE FURTHER,
As THE VALUE OF THE HOMES DECREASES AND THE STRUCTURES
THEMSELVES DETERIORATE WITHOUT POSSIBILITY OF IMPROVEMENT,
OWNERS BEGIN TO ABANDON THEIR BUILDINGS, THE EMPTY HOUSES
BECOME A BLIGHT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, FURTHER DEPRESSING
PROPERTY VALUES. CRIMES INCREASE; NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES
DECREASE. ACCELERATED ABANDONMENT FOLLOWS.
IN NEW YORK CITY ALONE 25,000 UNITS ARE ABANDONED EACH
YEAR.
-9-
GOVERNMENTAL POLICIES HAVE FOR TOO MANY YEARS BEEN
COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE -- IN THEIR ENCOURAGEMENT OF SUBURBAN
SPRAWL AND IN THEIR HOUSING PROGRAMS WHICH CONCENTRATED
THE POOR IN NEW PROJECTS, WHICH TOO OFTEN BECOME TOMORROW'S
SLUMS.
OUR APPROACH TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT HAS ALSO BEEN
OUT OF FOCUS, THE PROCESS OF NEIGHBORHOOD DECLINE IS A
GRADUAL ONE. ITS FORM AND ITS CURE VARY TREMENDOUSLY
BETWEEN CITIES, AND EVEN BETWEEN NEIGHBORHOODS WITHIN A
CITY.
YET OUR EARLIER RESPONSE TOOK THE FORM OF RESTRICTIVE
CATEGORICAL GRANTS, WHICH DEPRIVE COMMUNITIES OF THE
FLEXIBILITY TO USE FEDERAL FUNDING TO ATTACK THE PARTICULAR
CAUSES OF DECLINE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.
EVEN THE BROADEST OF OUR CATEGORICAL PROGRAMS DID
NOT DIRECTLY ADDRESS NEIGHBORHOOD DECLINE, INSTEAD OF
SEEKING TO PRESERVE EXISTING HOUSING STOCK, WE EMPHASIZED
CLEARANCE AND RENEWAL. INSTEAD OF TREATING CAUSES, WE
TOO OFTEN TREATED THE SYMPTOMS.
-10-
A NEW APPROACH IS CONTAINED IN THE 1974 HOUSING AND
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AcT WHICH MAKES THREE SIGNIFICANT
CHANGES IN NATIONAL POLICY:
FIRST, THE Act REQUIRES THAT, AS A CONDITION TO FEDERAL
ASSISTANCE, A CITY MUST SUBMIT A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN.
THAT PLAN MUST IDENTIFY THE NEEDS, OBJECTIVES, RESOURCES,
AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS OF THE COMMUNITY, SPECIFIC ATTENTION
MUST BE PAID TO THE NEED TO "ELIMINATE OR PREVENT SLUMS,
BLIGHT OR DETERIORATION."
A HOUSING ASSISTANCE PLAN MUST ALSO BE SUBMITTED WHICH
ASSESSES THE COMMUNITY'S HOUSING NEEDS AND RESOURCES,
INCLUDING ITS EXISTING HOUSING STOCK,
SECOND, THE 1974 Act INITIATED A RENTAL SUBSIDY
PROGRAM FOR HOUSING LOW AND MODERATE INCOME FAMILIES. IT
GIVES LOCAL COMMUNITIES CONSIDERABLE DISCRETION IN ADAPTING-
FEDERAL HOUSING AID TO LOCAL CONDITIONS. THE COMMUNITIES
MUST DECIDE WHETHER TO USE EXISTING, REHABILITATED, OR NEWLY
CONSTRUCTED HOUSING IN CONNECTION WITH THE NEW RENTAL SUBSIDY
PROGRAM.
GERALO A. FORD LIBRARY
-11-
By ALLOWING A CITY TO UTILIZE ITS EXISTING STOCK, THE
NEW PROGRAM ENCOURAGES THE PRESERVATION OF URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS.
IT PERMITS CITIES TO GIVE LOWER INCOME FAMILIES THE RESOURCES
TO SHOP IN THE MARKETPLACE FOR THE BEST NEW OR EXISTING HOUSING
UNITS THEY CAN FIND IN THEIR PRICE RANGE. By ASSURING OWNERS
OF A REASONABLE RENTAL ON THEIR INNER CITY PROPERTIES, IT
ENCOURAGES NECESSARY MAINTENANCE AND, HOPEFULLY WILL STEM THE
TIDE OF ABANDONMENT,
THIRD, THE 1974 AcT REPLACES THE PREVIOUS RESTRICTIVE
CATEGORICAL GRANTS WITH COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GRANTS, THIS
PROGRAM GIVES FUNDS DIRECTLY TO UNITS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT
AND AFFORDS LOCAL OFFICIALS WIDE LATITUDE IN UTILIZING THE
FUNDS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES FOR THE NEEDS THEY IDENTIFY,
TRUE TO THE STATUTORY PURPOSE, COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN
INNOVATIVE IN THEIR USE OF THESE GRANT FUNDS, AND, THE
EMPHASIS ON URBAN PRESERVATION INTENDED BY THE Act HAS
FOUND EXPRESSION IN CITIES' USES OF THEIR GRANTS,
-12-
FOR EXAMPLE, NEARLY 10 PERCENT OF FUNDS so FAR COMMITTED
FOR NEXT YEAR WILL BE USED FOR REHABILITATION LOANS, THIS
IS MORE THAN DOUBLE THE AMOUNT EVER PROVIDED FOR REHABILITATION
LOANS UNDER THE PREVIOUS FEDERAL CATEGORICAL PROGRAM.
A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THE COOPERATION THAT CAN EXIST BETWEEN
THE FEDERAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN ADDRESSING PROBLEMS OF
OUR CITIES IS THE SPLENDID MANNER IN WHICH MAYOR BRADLEY
AND HIS STAFF WORKED THROUGH THE UNTRIED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAM.
THEY ENLISTED THE REQUIRED CITIZEN PARTICIPATION, AND
SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION FOR $38.5 MILLION DOLLARS IN
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FUNDS, BECAUSE THE APPLICATION WAS
IN PROPER FORM, WE WERE ABLE TO PROCESS IT WELL WITHIN THE
75-DAY PERIOD SPECIFIED BY THE AcT, AND TO ANNOUNCE THE
GRANT THIS MORNING,
THE CITY OF Los ANGELES WILL SPEND OVER $8 MILLION OF
ITS GRANT FOR NEIGHBORHOOD PRESERVATION ACTIVITIES. IT
PLANS TO REHABILITATE 2100 EXISTING UNITS OF HOUSING, AND
IT HAS EARMARKED $2.7 MILLION DOLLARS OF ITS GRANT FUNDS FOR
A LOCAL REHABILITATION LOAN PROGRAM,
#
FORD
GERALD
LISHARY
-13-
FOR THE FIRST TIME, THESE FEDERAL FUNDS ARE GIVEN
TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES, so THAT THEY, NOT THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT, ASCERTAIN THEIR NEEDS, DETERMINE THEIR PRIORITIES
AND DEVISE STRATEGIES TO ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS,
WE LOOK TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GRANTS AS THE SEEDS
FROM WHICH WILL GROW A CONSTRUCTIVE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN
FEDERAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT. THIS IS OUR BEST HOPE
FOR REJUVENATING URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS AND PRESERVING
OUR CITIES,
WE ALSO SEE URBAN HOMESTEADING AS A TOOL FOR NEIGHBORHOOD
PRESERVATION.
UNDER THE TYPICAL HOMESTEAD PLAN, AN ABANDONED PROPERTY
IS CONDITIONALLY CONVEYED TO A QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL FOR A
NOMINAL FEE OR NO CHARGE ON THE CONDITION THAT HE LIVE IN
THE HOUSE FOR AN AGREED UPON TIME, DURING THAT PERIOD,
THE RESIDENT, USUALLY, IS REQUIRED TO BRING THE UNIT UP
TO CODE STANDARDS, AT THE END OF THE PRESCRIBED TIME, THE
RESIDENT OWNS THE HOME,
-14-
I AM HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE TODAY THAT WE ARE IMPLEMENTING
A DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM PURSUANT TO PROVISIONS IN THE
1974 AcT, WHICH WILL PROVIDE FEDERAL SUPPORT OF LOCAL
URBAN HOMESTEADING PLANS.
HUD HAS TRIED IN THE PAST WITHOUT MUCH SUCCESS TO
BE SUPPORTIVE OF CITIES UTILIZING HOMESTEADING. WE BELIEVE
OUR NEW EFFORT WILL CIRCUMVENT THE DIFFICULTIES MET IN THE
PAST,
IN JUST A FEW WEEKS HUD WILL INVITE CITIES. TO SUBMIT
HOMESTEADING PLANS WHICH DEMONSTRATE LOCAL INITIATIVE IN
NEIGHBORHOOD PRESERVATION. WE WILL SUBSEQUENTLY APPROVE SEVERAL
PLANS AND PROVIDE THOSE CITIES WITH HUD-HELD HOUSES TO USE IN
URBAN HOMESTEADING. HOMESTEADING WILL REMAIN A LOCAL NOT
A FEDERAL INITIATIVE. HUD WILL PROVIDE HOUSES TO COMMUNITIES
FOR USE IN THE PROGRAMS THEY DESIGN AND ADMINISTER.
WE KNOW THAT URBAN HOMESTEADING IS NOT THE PANACEA
FOR THE ILLS OF DECLINING NEIGHBORHOODS, STILL, THE
ESSENTIAL SOUNDNESS OF THE CONCEPT IS INESCAPABLE, WE
LOOK TO OUR DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM TO DOCUMENT THE VALUE OF
THIS TOOL FOR USE IN NEIGHBORHOOD PRESERVATION. WE ARE
CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC.
GERALD R. FORD LIBRARY
-15-
OUR STUDY OF THE URBAN HOMESTEADING CONCEPT HAS TAUGHT
US A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT LESSONS ABOUT ITS USE,
FIRST, ALTHOUGH ORIGINALLY CONCEIVED OF AS A MEANS
OF PROVIDING HOUSES TO POOR PEOPLE, IT HAS BEEN MORE
SUCCESSFUL IN PROVIDING PEOPLE TO ABANDONED HOUSES TO
STEM NEIGHBORHOOD DECLINE.
SECOND, HOMESTEADING IS USEFUL IN STABILIZING OR
TURNING AROUND A DECLINING NEIGHBORHOOD RATHER THAN IN
REVITALIZING AN ALREADY BLIGHTED AREA, FILLING EMPTY
HOUSES WITH PEOPLE WHO WILL TAKE AN INTEREST IN THEIR
ENVIRONMENT CAN HELP TO PRESERVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD,
THIRD, FINANCING IS A KEY ELEMENT TO ANY NEIGHBORHOOD
PRESERVATION PROGRAM, INCLUDING HOMESTEADING. VERY OFTEN
ABANDONED STRUCTURES USED FOR HOMESTEADING ARE IN NEED OF
SUBSTANTIAL REHABILITATION, AND THE NECESSARY CAPITAL IS NOT
READILY AVAILABLE. SUCH FINANCING REQUIRES AN ACTIVE
PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE COMMUNITY'S
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, ALSO TAX RELIEF IS ALSO USEFUL
GORALD R. FORD LIBRADA
-16-
TO ENSURE THAT THE THREAT OF INCREASED TAXES DOES NOT ACT
AS A DETERRENT TO HOME IMPROVEMENT EFFORTS.
FOURTH, A COMPREHENSIVE ATTACK ON NEIGHBORHOOD DECAY
MUST ACCOMPANY HOMESTEADING. ANY OVERALL STRATEGY MUST
INCLUDE LOCAL GOVERNMENT, LENDING INSTITUTIONS AND COMMUNITY
RESIDENTS. IN SHORT, NEIGHBORHOOD PRESERVATION MUST BE A
COOPERATIVE VENTURE JOINING BOTH PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTORS,
AND THIS IS WHERE LAWYERS BECOME ESSENTIAL.
FIRST, THE NEW FEDERAL PROGRAM REQUIRES LOCAL COMMUNITIES
TO DESIGN THEIR PLAN FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. CITIZEN
PARTICIPATION IS REQUIRED BY THE 1974 AcT. As CITIZENS YOU
CAN CONTRIBUTE MUCH TO THE FORMULATION OF THE COMMUNITIES'
PLAN.
As ATTORNEYS, YOU CAN FACILITATE THE COOPERATION BETWEEN
GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN
URBAN PRESERVATION STRATEGY. THE ROLE OF FACILITATOR
IS NOT UNFAMILIAR TO THOSE OF YOU WHOSE LIVELIHOOD COMES
FROM SETTLING LAWSUITS AND PUTTING TOGETHER CORPORATE TRANSACTIONS.
IN BOTH INSTANCES YOU ENCOURAGE A DIALOGUE. EXCEPT HERE THE
PAYOFF IS NOT PROFITS, BUT THE PRESERVATION OF OUR TROUBLED CITIES,
FORD a LIBRARY GERALD
-17-
WE CAN SAVE OUR CITIES. WE HAVE THE BASIC TOOLS, IT
IS UP TO US TO FORGE THE NECESSARY PARTNERSHIP AMONG THE
FEDERAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, COMMUNITY RESIDENTS, AND
LOCAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS. THE LEGAL COMMUNITY THROUGH
THIS BAR ASSOCIATION IS PARTICULARLY SUITED TO THIS TASK.
WE AT HUD LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU,
THANK YOU.
GERALD R. FORD LIBRANT