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This file contains material relating to Community Development Block Grants, Urban Reinvestment Task Force.
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8/7/75 - People United to Save Humanity (PUSH), Philadelphia
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8/7/75 - People United to Save Humanity (PUSH), Philadelphia
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This file contains material relating to Community Development Block Grants, Urban Reinvestment Task Force.
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Carla A. Hills Speeches
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The original documents are located in Box 1, folder "8/7/75 - People United to Save
Humanity (PUSH), Philadelphia" 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States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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
PEOPLE UNITED TO SAVE HUMANITY
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA
AUGUST 7, 1975
INVITING ME TO FOLLOW JESSE JACKSON AND LEON SULLIVAN
AS SPEAKER TODAY, IS SOMETHING LIKE ASKING ME TO DEMONSTRATE
MY PACKHAND FOLLOWING ARTHUR ASHE OR TO MATCH DRIVES WITH
LEE ELDER.
HAV NG BEEN PRESENT AT THE LUNCHEON, I KNOW I CAN'T
MATCH REVEREND SULLIVAN'S STYLE, ONLY LAST WEEK HE TOLD
ME THAT HIS MESSAGE WAS ABOUT 30 PERCENT SPIRITUAL AND 70
PERCENT BUSINESS. You AND I BOTH KNOW THAT HE IS UP TO 100
PERCENT IN BOTH CATEGORIES.
I PLAN TO STAY IN MY FIELD -- WHICH IS HOUSING, AND
MY RULES ARE VERY SIMPLE -- Do EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO
PRESERVE AND REVITALIZE OUR CITIES AND TO IMPROVE THE
LIVES AND LIVING ENVIRONMENTS OF OUR PEOPLE.
HAVING STATED THAT, I SHOULD ALSO TELL YOU THAT I
DON'T HAVE A FOOLPROOF METHOD TO REACH THOSE GOALS.
GERALD a FORD LIBRARY
-2-
HAVE YOU EVER NOTICED THAT WHEN YOU GET TO BE THE
HEAD OF SOMETHING, SUDDENLY EVERYONE SEEMS TO HAVE ADVICE
ON HOW YOU SHOULD DO YOUR JOD? Now, I AM GLAD TO GET
ADVICE FROM EVERY QUARTER -- AND I MEAN THAT. I SPEND A
LOT OF TIME MEETING WITH A VARIETY OF GROUPS.
BUT ONE REASON I AM so PLEASED TO BE HERE WITH YOU
TODAY IS THAT PUSH IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS NOT CONTENTED
ITSELF WITH GIVING ADVICE, IT HAS TAKEN AN ACTIVE ROLE IN
WORKING WITH HUD.
TOGETHER WE HAVE TACKLED SOME REALLY TOUGH PROBLEMS,
SUCH AS THE PLIGHT OF FEDERALLY-ASSISTED MULTIFAMILY HOUSING,
I AM PLEASED TO BE HERE FOR ANOTHER REASON -- BECAUSE
I SHARE PUSH's BASIC CONCERN FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE INNER-CITY.
THE CITIES ARE A VALUABLE AND IRREPLACEABLE NATIONAL
ASSET. THEY ARE STILL THE CENTERS OF OUR INDUSTRY AND
COMMERCE, THE SHOWCASE OF OUR CULTURE, AND IN THIS ERA OF
SHORTAGES, THEY CONSTITUTE A RESOURCE WE CANNOT AFFORD TO
WASTE,
R.
FORD
GERALD
-3-
A CITY IS BUT THE SUM OF ITS PARTS, IT IS COMPRISED
OF BRICK AND MORTAR STRUCTURES -- BUT ITS HEART AND ITS
MIND ARE ITS PEOPLE. UNLESS THOSE VITAL ORGANS ARE HEALTHY,
THE CITY, LIKE THE PEOPLE IT CONTAINS, WILL NOT SURVIVE,
WHEN I LOOK AT THE CITIES -- AT WAYS TO REVITALIZE
THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT -- I SEE ITS PEOPLE. THE PEOPLE
NEED THE GOVERNMENT'S ASSISTANCE, AND THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS
THOSE PEOPLE TO PRESERVE THE CITIES,
ONE PIECE OF ADVICE I GOT FROM A WELL-MEANING FRIEND
BEFORE COMING UP HERE TODAY WAS TO TALK IN GENERALITIES,
NOT OF PARTICULAR PROGRAMS, AS THAT COULD BE CONTROVERSIAL,
BUT IT IS NOT MY NATURE TO DUCK CONTROVERSY. BESIDES THAT,
I HAVE FOUND THAT A DIALOGUE OVER A CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE
OFTEN PRODUCES THE INSIGHTS THAT LEAD TO SOLUTIONS.
So LET'S TALK ABOUT OUR PROGRAMS FOR PEOPLE PARTICULARLY
THOSE CREATED BY OUR NEW HOUSING LAW, THE HOUSING AND
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AcT OF 1974.
R.
FORD
GERALD
-4-
ONE OF THE NEW PROGRAMS IS THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM WHICH IS OUR PRIMARY PROGRAM FOR HOUSING OUR
LOWER INCOME FAMILIES. THIS PROGRAM REPLACES A VARIETY
OF COMPLEX AND OVERLAPPING SUBSIDY DEVICES. THIS PROGRAM
DIFFERS IN PHILOSOPHY FROM MANY OF ITS PREDECESSORS IN
ONE VERY IMPORTANT REGARD -- IT SUBSIDIZES PEOPLE NOT HOUSES.
UNDER THIS PROGRAM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL GIVE
$1.6 BILLION IN RENTAL SUBSIDIES TO ELIGIBLE FAMILIES
THIS FISCAL YEAR, THESE FAMILIES MAY LIVE IN NEW, SUB-
STANTIALLY REHABILITATED OR EXISTING UNITS, THE AMOUNT
OF THE SUBSIDY IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FROM 25 PERCENT
TO 15 PERCENT, OF THE FAMILY'S INCOME AND THE COST OF ITS
HOUSING,
IN THE PAST, GOVERNMENT HAS TOO OFTEN MET THE HOUSING
NEEDS OF THE POOR BY TEARING DOWN THEIR EXISTING NEIGHBORHOODS,
DESTROYING THEIR FAMILY TIES AND SOCIAL ROOTS, AND THEN
MOVING THOSE FAMILIES INTO, ALTHOUGH NEW, COLD AND FOREBODING
GOVERNMENT-SUBSIDIZED VERTICAL SLUMS,
R.
FORD
GERALD
-5-
PRUITT-IGOE IN ST. LOUIS, COLUMBIA POINT IN BOSTON,
AND STELLA WRIGHT IN NEWARK DOCUMENT THE GOVERNMENT'S
FOCUS ON BUILDINGS RATHER THAN PEOPLE IN YEARS PAST.
WE ARE HOPEFUL THIS NEW RENTAL SUBSIDY PROGRAM WILL
PROVIDE A DIFFERENT KIND OF HOUSING OPPORTUNITY.
FOR ONE THING IT PLACES A HEAVY EMPHASIS ON UTILIZING
EXISTING STOCK. FAMILIES WILL BE GIVEN HOUSING VOUCHERS
TO SHOP THE MARKET FOR AN EXISTING DWELLING, MAXIMIZING
THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A LOWER INCOME FAMILY TO CHOOSE THE
HOME AND NEIGHBORHOOD IN WHICH IT WANTS TO LIVE,
AND, WE ARE COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT A CHOICE
REALLY EXISTS, WITH RESPECT TO EXISTING HOUSING, WE
REQUIRE THE LOCAL AGENCY WHICH ADMINISTERS OUR RENTAL
SUBSIDY PROGRAM TO HAVE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND OUTREACH
PLAN, TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY COUNSELING AND RELATED
SERVICES TO RECIPIENTS, TO ENCOURAGE THE PARTICIPATION OF
LANDLORDS OUTSIDE ESSENTIALLY LOW-INCOME AND MINORITY
AREAS, AND TO ASSIST A RECIPIENT FAMILY IN SECURING HOUSING
IN THOSE AREAS, FINALLY, WE ARE COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING
THE PROGRAM WITH A VIGOROUS ENFORCEMENT OF THE FAIR HOUSING
FORD
LAWS.
-6-
PROVIDING A SUBSIDY FOR USE WITH EXISTING STOCK
ALSO ALLOWS A RECIPIENT FAMILY -- IF IT CHOOSES -- TO
REMAIN IN ITS HOME AND PRESERVE ITS ROOTS IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMMUNITY.
IN ADDITION THE NEW RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM INCLUDES
A NEW CONSTRUCTION COMPONENT, WHICH DIFFERS FROM PRIOR
CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMS IN SEVERAL RESPECTS. BUT, YOU OF
PUSH WHO HAVE BEEN STUDYING FEDERALLY-ASSISTED MULTIFAMILY
PROJECT DEFAULTS WILL READILY RECOGNIZE THE MERITS OF THIS
SUBSIDY, WHICH UNLIKE ITS PREDECESSORS, IS OPEN-ENDED.
WE HAVE SEEN TOO MANY HOUSING PROJECTS WITH FIXED
INTEREST SUBSIDIES INCAPABLE OF SURVIVING THE RECENT
RAPID RISE IN OPERATING COSTS. THE NEW SUBSIDY AVOIDS
THIS PITFALL, SINCE IT RISES AUTOMATICALLY WHEN THE LOCAL
MARKET RENTS INCREASE TO REFLECT INCREASED COSTS,
FORD
-7-
HUD IS FOCUSING ON THE NEEDS OF THE CITIES IN OTHER
WAYS. THE FLIGHT OF MIDDLE-INCOME FAMILIES FROM THE CITIES
COMMENCED AN ERA OF DECLINE FOR MANY URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS
WHICH ULTIMATELY LED TO BLIGHT AND ABANDONMENT. WE BELIEVE
THAT THAT TIDE OF DECLINE MUST BE STEMMED, WE CAN NO
LONGER TOLERATE AN URBAN LANDSCAPE IN WHICH ABANDONED AND
BOARDED-UP HOMES POSE A DETERRENT TO REHABILITATION AND
AN INCENTIVE TO FURTHER ABANDONMENT.
REHABILITATION OF OUR EXISTING HOUSING STOCK IS CRUCIAL
TO THE PRESERVATION OF OUR URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS.
OVER THE COMING YEAR, HUD WILL PROVIDE MORE THAN $70
MILLION IN DIRECT FEDERAL REHABILITATION LOANS BEARING A
3 PERCENT INTEREST RATE. THIS AMOUNT IS IN ADDITION TO
THE $221 MILLION OF FEDERAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK
GRANT FUNDS, WHICH LOCAL COMMUNITIES ARE DEDICATING TO
REHABILITATION LOANS AND GRANTS. HENCE, A TOTAL OF ALMOST
$300 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDS WILL BE AVAILABLE DURING
THE YEAR FOR THE REHABILITATION OF URBAN PROPERTIES.
FORD
-8-
THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS CONSTITUTE
AN IMPORTANT RESOURCE FOR THE REVITALIZATION OF THE URBAN
ENVIRONMENT. WE WILL PROVIDE $2.7 BILLION IN FEDERAL
FUNDS TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES UNDER THIS PROGRAM DURING THE
COMING YEAR, AND OVER $8 BILLION OVER A THREE-YEAR PERIOD,
LOCAL COMMUNITIES ARE GIVEN BROAD LATITUDE IN UTILIZING
THESE FUNDS TO ACHIEVE THE STATUTORY GOALS, WHICH INCLUDE
PROVIDING HOUSING FOR LOWER INCOME FAMILIES, UTILIZING
THE EXISTING HOUSING STOCK AND PRESERVING URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS.
IN THE PROGRAM'S FIRST YEAR, 66 PERCENT OF THE FUNDS DISBURSED
WERE USED FOR THE PRESERVATION OF DECLINING AND BLIGHTED
NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE Act REQUIRES CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IN THE FORMULATION
OF PLANS FOR THE USE OF THESE FUNDS. THE CITY MUST HOLD
PUBLIC HEARINGS AND IT MUST GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO
PARTICIPATE. I HOPE YOU MAKE GOOD USE OF THIS LEVER ON THE
DECISION-MAKING PROCESS,
-9-
RECENTLY AT HUD WE IMPLEMENTED A DEMONSTRATION URBAN
HOMESTEADING PROGRAM TO SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE COMPREHENSIVE
LOCAL STRATEGIES FOR NEIGHBORHOOD PRESERVATION.
WE HAVE A LONG-STANDING COMMITMENT WITH THE FEDERAL
HOME LOAN BANK BOARD TO THE URBAN REINVESTMENT TASK FORCE,
THE TASK FORCE HAS SUCCESSFUL NEIGHBORHOOD PRESERVATION
PROGRAMS IN SEVERAL CITIES, THE FOCAL POINT OF WHICH ARE
HIGH RISK REVOLVING REHABILITATION LOAN FUNDS,
ALSO, WE HAVE TRIED TO ACHIEVE THE PRESERVATION OF
URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS BY SAVING THEIR RESIDENTS' HOMES. WE
ACTIVELY SOUGHT PASSAGE OF THE RECENT EMERGENCY HOUSING
LEGISLATION WHICH INCLUDES AUTHORITY TO ASSIST DELINQUENT
MORTGAGORS TO RETAIN THEIR HOMES, I HAVE CONVENED A
DEPARTMENTAL TASK FORCE TO WORK ON THE IMPLEMENTING
REGULATIONS FOR THIS PROGRAM.
RECENTLY WE ANNOUNCED A NEW DEMONSTRATION DEFAULT
COUNSELING PROGRAM,
-10-
FINALLY, ANOTHER TOOL THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS
PROBLEM IS SECTION 518(B) OF THE 1974 AcT, WHICH ALLOWS
THE GOVERNMENT, IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, TO PAY FOR THE
REPAIR OF SERIOUS DEFECTS AFFECTING THE SAFETY AND HABITABILITY
OF FHA-INSURED HOMES IN "OLDER DECLINING URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS".
THAT FRIEND I TOLD YOU ABOUT EARLIER NOT ONLY SUGGESTED
I AVOID TALKING ABOUT SPECIFIC PROGRAMS, BUT ALSO IMPLORED
ME NOT TO MENTION SECTION 518(B). WHEN PUSH CAME TO SHOVING,
-- HE CAUTIONED -- IT WAS USUALLY ON HUD's PERFORMANCE IN
IMPLEMENTING THIS PROGRAM -- AND I WOULD BE OPENING A CAN
OF WORMS.
WELL, I THINK YOU ARE ENTITLED TO KNOW WHERE WE STAND
ON THIS PROGRAM. LET ME SAY UNEQUIVOCALLY THAT I BELIEVE
THAT GIVING HOMEOWNERS IN THESE "OLDER DECLINING URBAN
NEIGHBORHOODS" THE RESOURCES TO CORRECT SERIOUS DEFECTS
SO THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE TO LIVE IN THEIR HOMES WILL HELP
US TO ACHIEVE OUR GOAL OF PRESERVING THOSE HOMES AND THOSE
NEIGHBORHOODS.
-11-
AT THE SAME TIME, YOU AND I BOTH KNOW THAT HUD HAS
HAD PROBLEMS IN IMPLEMENTING THE 518(B) PROGRAM. THE
STATUTE ITSELF IS EXTREMELY RESTRICTIVE AND IS DIFFICULT
TO IMPLEMENT. BUT, WE HAVE TAKEN SOME POSITIVE STEPS.
WHEN THE PROGRAM WAS BEGUN, THE DETERMINANT OF A
NEIGHBORHOOD'S ELIGIBILITY WAS WHETHER CENSUS DATA SHOWED
THAT MORE THAN HALF ITS HOUSES WERE BUILT PRIOR TO 1940.
WE QUICKLY DISCOVERED THAT OUR TEST WAS TOO RIGID AND
MECHANICAL, ACCORDINGLY, ON JULY 21, WE ISSUED A MEMORANDUM
THAT WHENEVER A NEIGHBORHOOD FAILS THE CENSUS DATA TEST,
THE CHIEF APPRAISER AND CHIEF UNDERWRITER WILL MAKE AN
INSPECTION AND CAN FIND A NEIGHBORHOOD ELIGIBLE WHERE THEY
BELIEVE IT QUALIFIES FOR ASSISTANCE WITHIN THE INTENT OF
THE STATUTE.
BESIDES EXPANDING THE TEST FOR NEIGHBORHOOD ELIGIBILITY,
WE TRIED TO LIBERALLY CONSTRUE 518(B) ELIGIBLE DEFECTS TO
INCLUDE, FOR EXAMPLE, CERTAIN LEAD BASED PAINT CONDITIONS.
ALSO, WE HAVE SPECIFICALLY INSTRUCTED OUR FIELD OFFICE STAFF
TO LOOK SYMPATHETICALLY ON ANY HOMEOWNER'S CLAIM AND WE HAVE
PROVIDED AN APPEAL PROCEDURE,
-12-
RECENTLY, WE HAVE UNDERTAKEN AN OUTREACH EFFORT TO
ENSURE THAT POTENTIALLY ELIGIBLE HOMEOWNERS KNOW ABOUT
THE PROGRAM. IN ADDITION TO MEDIA ADVERTISING, WE HAVE
SOUGHT TO INVOLVE COMMUNITY GROUPS. PUSH HAS BEEN AN
ACTIVE ADVOCATE FOR OUR PROGRAM, AS WELL AS A CRITIC OF
ITS OPERATION. PUSH HAS TAKEN AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN
PUBLICIZING 518(B) IN SEVERAL CITIES.
BUT PROBLEMS REMAIN, WE HAVE CONSTRAINTS, STAFFING
AS WELL AS STATUTORY, CONGRESS HAS SEVERELY CUT OUR
MANPOWER IN THE AREA RESPONSIBLE FOR THE 518(B) PROGRAM,
OUR STAFF SHORTAGES MAKE COOPERATION BETWEEN HUD AND
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS PUSH ALL THE MORE IMPORTANT,
I URGE YOU TO HELP HOMEOWNERS DETERMINE WHETHER THEY
HAVE AN ELIGIBLE CLAIM AND TO ASSIST QUALIFIED HOMWOWNERS
TO PREPARE THEIR APPLICATIONS.
I THINK THE END RESULTS WILL BE POSITIVE.
et
FORD
-13-
HOUSING CANNOT, OF COURSE, STAND ALONE AS A MEANS
OF PRESERVING OUR CITIES. ANOTHER KEY TO THE SURVIVAL
OF URBAN AMERICA IS THE AVAILABÌLITY OF EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE CITY'S PEOPLE. HUD HAS TAKEN SOME
STEPS ON THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ISSUE. WE RECENTLY
RECEIVED A COMMITMENT OF $6 MILLION FROM THE DEPARTMENT
OF COMMERCE TO FUND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR INHABITANTS
OF PUBLIC HOUSING PROJECTS, SINCE 1972, OVER $29 MILLION
IN CETA FUNDS HAVE BEEN USED FOR THIS PURPOSE,
WE HAVE ISSUED REGULATIONS AND ARE IN THE PROCESS OF
DEVELOPING HANDBOOKS TO IMPLEMENT A REQUIREMENT THAT THE
RECIPIENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS PROVIDE
TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO THE LOWER INCOME
RESIDENTS OF PROJECT AREAS AND CONTRACT WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES,
TO THE GREATEST EXTENT FEASIBLE, IN EXPENDING THEIR FEDERAL
GRANT FUNDS, GRANTEES ARE REQUIRED TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE
IN THEIR PERFORMANCE REPORTS. WE ARE TRYING TO KEEP JOBS
AND MONEY IN THE INNER-CITY NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE THE
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GRANTS ARE BEING DIRECTED,
-14-
WE ALSO HAVE UNDERTAKEN AN EFFORT TO INCREASE THE
PARTICIPATION OF SMALL MINORITY CONTRACTORS IN HUD REPAIR
WORK AND OF MINORITY BROKERS IN THE SALE OF HUD-ACQUIRED
PROPERTIES. To DATE, MINORITY AND SMALL BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY
WORKSHOPS HAVE BEEN HELD IN 13 CITIES. IN FISCAL YEAR 1975,
HUD AWARDED 60,000 REPAIR CONTRACTS TOTALLING OVER $7 MILLION
TO MINORITY FIRMS; WE HOPE TO MORE THAN DOUBLE THAT AMOUNT
IN FISCAL YEAR 1976.
I AM PROUD OF THE HUD PROGRAMS TO PRESERVE THE INNER-
CITY AND TO ASSIST ITS RESIDENTS IN ACHIEVING A BETTER
LIVING ENVIRONMENT.
I AM ALSO PROUD OF ONE OF MY FIRST ACTIONS AT HUD
WHICH WAS TO RECOMMEND TO THE PRESIDENT THE APPOINTMENT
OF MR. JAMES H. BLAIR TO BECOME HUD's ASSISTANT SECRETARY
FOR FAIR HOUSING AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY. HE IS UNIQUELY
QUALIFIED TO SHOULDER THE HEAVY RESPONSIBILITIES WHICH I
HAVE DELEGATED TO THAT OFFICE. HE HAS BEEN ASSOCIATED
WITH CIVIL RIGHTS ENFORCEMENT PRACTICALLY ALL OF HIS ADULT
LIFE,
-15-
JIM SERVED AS THE DIRECTOR OF THE DIVISION ON CIVIL
RIGHTS, STATE OF NEW JERSEY, DEPARTMENT OF LAW AND PUBLIC
SAFETY, WHICH ADMINISTERED NEW JERSEY'S FAIR HOUSING LAW
AS WELL AS ITS OTHER NON-DISCRIMINATORY STATUTES. MORE
RECENTLY, HE WAS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MICHIGAN
CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION, WHICH HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR
ENFORCING ALL OF MICHIGAN'S NON-DISCRIMINATION STATUTES
INCLUDING ITS FAIR HOUSING LAW.
THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE PERSONALLY ACQUAINTED WITH HIM,
KNOW HIM AS A MAN OF COMMITMENT TO CIVIL RIGHTS AND A MAN
OF DIRECTION AND PURPOSE, ALTHOUGH JIM HAS BEEN IN THE
DEPARTMENT LESS THAN TWO MONTHS, I ASKED HIM TO JOIN ME
TODAY SO THAT I MIGHT INTRODUCE HIM TO THOSE OF YOU WHO
HAVE NOT HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING HIM AND TO ENABLE HIM
TO MENTION SOME OF HIS PRIORITIES IN REACHING OUR COMMON
GOAL OF AN OPEN SOCIETY, I WILL REMAIN FOR QUESTIONS AT
THE CONCLUSION OF HIS COMMENTS. BUT NOW, I WOULD LIKE TO
PRESENT TO YOU MR. JAMES H. BLAIR, ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR
FAIR HOUSING AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY.