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Urban Development and Neighborhood Revitalization Committee (2)
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The original documents are located in Box 38, folder "Urban Development and
Neighborhood Revitalization Committee (2)" of the James M. Cannon Files 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States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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.
FROM:
JIM CANNON
[July 1976]
SUBJECT:
President's Committee on Urban Development
and Neighborhood Revitalization
The President's Committee, chaired by Secretary Hills, is
currently developing a schedule of trips by members of the
Committee (Cabinet officers and key agency personnel) to
take place between August 2 and the commencement of the
convention.
The trips would provide opportunities for consultation with
locally elected officials and neighborhood groups on the
effectiveness of current Federal programs and discussion for
ways of improving them. The trips would include meetings
with mayors, county officials, as well as neighborhood
ethnic and minority group leaders. Some visits to neighborhoods
are contemplated if appropriate advance work can be done.
The following is the list of cities currently considered
with a brief discription of the pros and cons attending
their selection.
Baltimore, Maryland
-
has a very effective neighborhood
revitalization and rehabilitated
housing program.
Boston, Massachusetts
-
is the site of a conference of
the Urban League starting Monday,
August 2, 1976. The busing issue,
however, may play a large role in
the conference.
Chicago, Illinois
-
contains large ethnic population
which are concerned with keeping
their neighborhoods viable. Mayor
Daley, will not likely criticize the
visit of Administration members
in the press.
Digitized from Box 38 of the James M. Cannon Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
-2-
Hartford, Connecticut
-
is a progressive city with
significant developments in public
housing.
Los Angeles, California -
is the largest metropolitan city
in the west, contains large black
and spanish speaking neighborhoods.
Mayor Bradley should be cooperative.
Minneapolis - St. Paul,
Minnesota
-
the twin cities have developed with
the aid of the State of Minnesota
a sweeping regional coordination
plan.
Newark, New Jersey
-
city contains large ethnic and
black concentrations. Mayor
Gibson is currently President of
the U.S. Conference of Mayors.
New Orleans, Louisiana
-
support of Mayor Landrieu should
be exceptional.
Norfolk, Virginia
-
city with outstanding community
development organization and
excellent citizen participation in
low income housing projects.
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma -
progressive city whose leaders
support Ford Administration
policies.
Portland, Oregon
-
same as above
St. Louis, Missouri
-
large concentration of ethnic and
black neighborhoods.
The above list is not final. Therefore, any suggestions you
might have for cities to replace or supplement visits to the
above would be appreciated. Also any suggestions you might
have for groups or individuals to see during the visits to the
above cities would also be useful.
Housing your This - was file
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
Done by
August 20, 1976 Ugain may,
and is for
MEMORANDUM FOR:
JIM CONNOR
the record
FROM:
SUBJECT:
JIM CANNON Jun
Summary of the Second Meeting
the
of the President's Committee
on Urban Development and
Neighborhood Revitalization.
The meeting was convened by the President at 11:30 a.m. on
Wednesday, July 21, 1976. The following individuals were in
attendance:
Secretary Carla Hills (Chairman)
Jerry Thomas, Under Secretary, Department of the
Treasury (for Secretary Simon)
Henry McQuade, Deputy Administrator, LEAA, Department
of Justice (for the Attorney General)
William Walker, Assistant Secretary, Department of
Agriculture (for Secretary Butz)
Secretary Elliot L. Richardson
Secretary W. J. Usery
Secretary William T. Coleman
Mitchell P. Kobelinski, Administrator, Small Business
Administration
Michael P. Balzano, Director, ACTION
Samuel Martinez, Director, Community Services
Administration
Jim Cannon, Director, Domestic Council
Myron Kuropas, Special Assistant for Ethnic Affairs,
White House Office of Public Liaison (for
Bill Baroody)
Governor Philip Jackson, Jr., Federal Reserve
System (by invitation)
Secretary Hills began the discussion with a summary of a
review of 103 Federal programs which have an impact on urban
areas and their neighborhoods. Because of the difficulty of
FORD is LIBRARY GERALD
2
analyzing so many complicated programs she also suggested
a set of guiding principles to assess Federal delivery of
programs as follows:
1.
Preference for use of block grants, with broad
guidelines;
2.
Preference for funding through locally-elected
chief executive officers;
3.
Conformance of the grant-making cycle to local
budget cycles;
4.
Preference for providing funds to cover 100%
of costs rather than requiring matching;
5.
Preference for multi-year entitlement funding;
6.
Preference for enforcing Federal requirements
through monitoring rather than front-end review,
e.g. Davis-Bacon, environment, and equal oppor-
tunity standards; and,
7.
Use of a "timeclock", or deadline for Federal
action on applications, preferably with auto-
matic approval at the end of the review period.
Secretary Hills also discussed planned trips by Committee
members to urban and neighborhood areas within the next three
weeks to gain first-hand knowledge regarding Federal programs
that are going well and those that are ineffective. She
indicated that the details of the trips would be worked out
by the liaison group of the President's Committee.
Secretary Richardson asked Secretary Hills how she intended
to get from her set of principles to actual program changes.
She indicated that the basic thrust of the principles, as in
the revenue sharing and block grant programs, is to return
decision-making to locally elected officials. She argued that
the principles would guide discussions with mayors, county
officials, and neighborhood leaders to obtain their advice
in developing program changes.
Secretary Coleman indicated he had trouble relating the set
of principles to DOT programs, i.e., building a highway requires
a different consensus than rebuilding a neighborhood. He also
stressed the need for some degree of up-front review of programs,
particularly for their equal opportunity and environmental
content for the Federal Government.
3
Paul O'Neill indicated that he agreed with the need to
develop a more extensive block grant delivery approach,
stating that the Federal Government should let locally-
elected officials do their jobs without endless supervision
from Washington.
Other Cabinet officers and agency heads present expressed
approval of the Committee's work and raised some additional
concerns like the need to address neighborhood problems and
not let the financial problems of cities be the sole concern.
Others, like Secretary Usery, backed Secretary Coleman's
argument for continued Federal supervision of grant programs
to ensure social justice.
The President expressed his support for the Committee and
urged it to carry out the work before it.
dexid
Nat'l Commission
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
Pres.Comke nughborhords Urban
August 27, 1976
Heighbort Girl
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT
FROM:
SUBJECT:
JIM Administration CANNON June
Position on Legislation
Establishin a National Commission on
Neighborhoods
Secretary Hills requests your decision on whether or
not to support a proposal by Senators Proxmire and
Garn, and Representative Ashley, to establish a
National Commission on Neighborhoods (Tab A).
The proposed two-year Commission would, to some extent,
duplicate the review of Federal programs assigned to
the President's Committee on Urban Development and
Neighborhood Revitalization. The proposed Commission
would also look into state and local policies, programs
and laws, as well as investment patterns, local zoning,
tax policies and many other matters affecting neighbor-
hood growth.
BACKGROUND
When Secretary Hills brought the legislation up in the
first meeting of the President's Committee on June 21,
you indicated your opposition in general to national
commissions and said you saw no need for this one
in particular. As a result of this stand, Secretary
Hills declined testimony before the Senate.
Shortly before the Republican Convention, Lud Ashley,
Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Housing and
Community Development, introduced legislation identical
to the Proxmire-Garn bill. Hearings have been set for
September 9, 1976.
GERALD FORD LIBRABA
-2-
Secretary Hills spoke to you on August 13, 1976 in
your office and recommended you support the Congressional
proposal for these reasons:
1.
It is likely to be passed at this session;
2.
Opposition would be contrary to the
Administration's stated concern for urban
neighborhoods; and
3.
The Commission would complement many of
the activities of the President's Com-
mittee.
Since your meeting with Secretary Hills, the Republican
National Convention adopted a Platform calling for an
expansion of your Committee to include representatives
of state and local governments and the private sector --
which the proposed legislation specifically calls for.
CONGRESSIONAL SITUATION
Max Friedersdorf says that "neighborhood" is a motherhood
issue in this election year, and the Proxmire-Garn-
Ashley bill is quite likely to pass at this session of
Congress. Passage will require a waiver of the budget
act, but both the House and the Senate will probably
do so since the amount is only $2 million.
RECOMMENDATION
Secretary Hills recommends approval (Option 1). Max
Friedersdorf and I concur.
Jim Lynn (holding his nose) also concurs.
Option 1: Secretary Hills to support
the legislation to establish
a National Commission on
Neighborhoods.
Option 2:
Secretary Hills to oppose
legislation to establish a
National Commission on
Neighborhoods.
Option 3:
Secretary Hills to avoid
testifying before the House
Committee on the bill.
Rie
DEPARTMENT
OF
CC: May
U.S.
HOUSING
*
THE SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
AND
UNITED
WASHINGTON, D. C.. 20410
August 27, 1976
Causon
MEMORANDUM FOR: Honorable James M. Cannon
pu Thank w with
Executive Director
Domestic Council
The White House
Cala
l
run
I am pleased to report to you on the Committee's
ford to
progress to date.
eadnig,
Members of this Committee have visited nine cities,
walked through many urban neighborhoods, and met with
city officials and neighborhood group leaders to learn
their perspectives on Federal programs in their communities.
Committee members have traveled to Baltimore, Boston,
Chicago, Cleveland, Hartford, New Orleans, Newark, Pittsburgh,
and San Diego.
I hope that each member of this Committee can visit
at least one city in the coming weeks. Please communicate
your city preferences to Mr. Leonard A. Zax, at 755-6810.
Mr. Zax will help schedule the visit, suggest an agenda
for the meetings and receive your report on each visit.
We agreed at our last meeting to prepare an interim
report to the President by October 1. With the assistance
of our Liaison Committee and several smaller working groups,
I plan to circulate a draft interim report on September 15,
I intend to schedule a meeting of the President's
Committee to discuss the draft interim report and other
Committee work during the week of September 20.
Carla His Carla A. Hills
GERALD FORD
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
ITEM TO BE PICKED UP
REQUEST FOR SPECIAL SERVICE
INSTRUCTIONS: Indicate sequence of action by inserting a "1" in appropriate box
below to show which action is first and *2" for that which follows.
DELIVER TO
PICK UP FROM
NAME
NAME
Hon. James.M. Cannon
Exec. Director
LOCATION
LOCATION
Domestic Council - The White House
name
DATE
REC'D REQ'D
BY
Wm. C. Kelly, Jr.
8/30/76
NAME
DATE-TIME
BY
1230 12
TRIP NO 30.
COURIER
WOOD
YELLOW
WHITE
PINK
To be signed and returned to Courier
For receiving unit
Pending copy tor Office Services
HUD-33 (12-67) Previous editions may be used
dexed
THE WHITE HOUSE
extra file copy (one is
in chron.)
WASHINGTON
August 27, 1976
Housing
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT
FROM:
JIM CANNON
SUBJECT:
Administration Position on Legislation
Establishing Jan a National Commission on
Neighborhoods
Secretary Hills requests your decision on whether or
not to support a proposal by Senators Proxmire and
Garn, and Representative Ashley, to establish a
National Commission on Neighborhoods (Tab A).
The proposed two-year Commission would, to some extent,
duplicate the review of Federal programs assigned to
the President's Committee on Urban Development and
Neighborhood Revitalization. The proposed Commission
would also look into state and local policies, programs
and laws, as well as investment patterns, local zoning,
tax policies and many other matters affecting neighbor-
hood growth.
BACKGROUND
When Secretary Hills brought the legislation up in the
first meeting of the President's Committee on June 21,
you indicated your opposition in general to national
commissions and said you saw no need for this one
in particular. As a result of this stand, Secretary
Hills declined testimony before the Senate.
Shortly before the Republican Convention, Lud Ashley,
Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Housing and
Community Development, introduced legislation identical
to the Proxmire-Garn bill. Hearings have been set for
September 9, 1976.
BERALD FORD LIBRURA
-2-
Secretary Hills spoke to you on August 13, 1976 in
your office and recommended you support the Congressional
proposal for these reasons:
1.
It is likely to be passed at this session;
2.
Opposition would be contrary to the
Administration's stated concern for urban
neighborhoods; and
3.
The Commission would complement many of
the activities of the President's Com-
mittee.
Since your meeting with Secretary Hills, the Republican
National Convention adopted a Platform calling for an
expansion of your Committee to include representatives
of state and local governments and the private sector --
which the proposed legislation specifically calls for.
CONGRESSIONAL SITUATION
Max Friedersdorf says that "neighborhood" is a motherhood
issue in this election year, and the Proxmire-Garn-
Ashley bill is quite likely to pass at this session of
Congress. Passage will require a waiver of the budget
act, but both the House and the Senate will probably
do so since the amount is only $2 million.
RECOMMENDATION
Secretary Hills recommends approval (Option 1). Max
Friedersdorf and I concur.
Jim Lynn (holding his nose) also concurs.
Option 1:
Secretary Hills to support
the legislation to establish
a National Commission on
Neighborhoods.
Option 2:
Secretary Hills to oppose
legislation to establish a
National Commission on
Neighborhoods.
Option 3:
Secretary Hills to avoid
testifying before the House
Committee on the bill.
Calendar No. 988
94TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
S. 3554
[Report No. 94-1052]
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
JUNE 11 (legislative day, JUNE 3), 1976
Mr. PROXMIRE (for himself and Mr. GARN) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing
and Urban Affairs
JULY 28, 1976
Reported by Mr. PROXMIRE, without amendment
A
BILL
To establish a National Commission on Neighborhoods.
1
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
3
SHORT TITLE
4
SECTION 1. This Act may be cited as the "National
5 Neighborhood Policy Act".
6
FINDINGS AND PURPOSE
7
SEC. 2. (a) The Congress finds and declares that exist-
8 ing city neighborhoods are a national resource to be con-
9 served and revitalized wherever possible, and that public
10 policy should promote that objective.
11
(b) The Congress further finds that the tendency of
II-0
CC: Quern, May
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
August 31, 1976
ADMINISTRATIVELY CONFIDENTIAL
MEMORANDUM FOR:
JIM CANNON
FROM:
JIM CONNOR JET
SUBJECT:
Administration Position on Legislation
Establishing a National Commission on
Neighborhoods
Confirming telephone call to your office earlier today, the President
reviewed your memorandum of August 27 and approved the following
option:
Option 1 - Secretary Hills to support the legislation
to establish a National Commission on
Neighborhoods.
Please follow-up with appropriate action.
cc: Dick Cheney
Drafts
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
August 27, 1976
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT
FROM:
JIM CANNON
SUBJECT:
Administration Position on Legislation
Establishing a National Commission on
Neighborhoods
Secretary Hills requests your decision on whether or
not to support a proposal by Senators Proxmire and
Garn, and Representative Ashley, to establish a
National Commission on Neighborhoods (Tab A). The
proposed two-year Commission would to some extent
duplicate the review of Federal programs assigned to
the President's Committee on Urban Development and
state and
Neighborhood Revitalization. The proposed Commission
local policies, would also look into investment patterns, local zoning,
programs and tax policies and many other matters affecting neighbor-
laws, as well
hood growth.
as
Background
When Secretary Hills brought the legislation up in the
first meeting of the President's Committee on June 21,
you indicated your opposition in general to national
commissions and said you saw no need for this one
in particular. As result of this stand, Secretary
Hills declined testimony before the Senate.
Shortly before the Republican Convention, Lud Ashley,
Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Housing and
Community Development, introduced legislation identical
to the Proxmire-Garn bill. Hearings have been set for
September 9, 1976.
Secretary Hills spoke to you on August 13, 1976 in
your office and recommended you support the Congressional
proposal for these reasons:
without opposition
1.
It is likely to be passed at this session;
2.
Opposition would be contrary to the
Administration's stated concern for urban
neighborhoods; and
GERALD FORD LIBRAN,
e
3.
The Commission would comp (ment many of
the activities of the President's Com-
mittee.
Since your meeting with Secretary Hills, the Republican
Platform calls for an expansion of your Committee to
include representatives of state and local governments
and the private sector -- which the proposed legislation
specifically calls for.
RECOMMENDATION
Secretary Hills recommends approval.
/ / Option 1: Support the legislation to establish
a National Commission on Neighborhoods.
/ / Option 2: Oppose legislation to establish a
National Commission on Neighborhoods.
FORD i GERALD LIBRARY
Calendar No. 988
94TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
S. 3554
[Report No. 94-1052]
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
JUNE 11 (legislative day, JUNE 3), 1976
Mr. PROXMIRE (for himself and Mr. GARN) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing
and Urban Affairs
JULY 28, 1976
Reported by Mr. PROXMIRE, without amendment
A
BILL
To establish a National Commission on Neighborhoods.
1
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
3
SHORT TITLE
4
SECTION 1. This Act may be cited as the "National
5 Neighborhood Policy Act".
6
FINDINGS AND PURPOSE
7
SEC. 2. (a) The Congress finds and declares that exist-
8 ing city neighborhoods are a national resource to be con-
9 served and revitalized wherever possible, and that public
10 policy should promote that objective.
11
(b) The Congress further finds that the tendency of
FORD i 038470 LIBRARY
II-O
2
1 public policy incentives to ignore the need to preserve the
2 built environment can no longer be defended, either eco-
3 nomically or socially, and must be replaced with explicit
4 policy incentives encouraging conservation of existing neigh-
5 borhoods. That objective will require a comprehensive review
6 of existing laws, policies, and programs which affect neigh-
7 borhoods, to assess their impact on neighborhoods, and to
S recommend modifications where necessary.
9
ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION
10
SEC. 3. (a) There is hereby established a commission
11 to be known as the National Commission on Neighborhoods
12 (hereinafter referred to as the "Commission").
13
(b) The Commission shall be composed of twenty mem-
14 bers, to be appointed as follows:
15
(1) two Members of the Senate appointed by the
16
President of the Senate;
17
(2) two Members of the House of Representatives
18
appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representa-
19
tives; and
20
(3) sixteen public members appointed by the
21
President of the United States from among persons spe-
22
cially qualified by experience and training to perform the
23
duties of the Commission, at least five of whom shall be
24
elected officers of recognized neighborhood organiza-
25
tions engaged in development and revitalization pro-
GERALD R. FORD
3
1
grams, and at least five of whom shall be elected or ap-
2
pointed officials of local governments involved in preser-
3
vation programs. The remaining members shall be drawn
4
from outstanding individuals with demonstrated experi-
5
ence in neighborhood revitalization activities, from such
6
fields as finance, business, philanthropic, civic, and edu-
7
cational organizations.
8 The individuals appointed by the President of the United
9 States shall be selected SO as to provide representation to a
10 broad cross section of racial, ethnic, and geographic groups.
11 The two members appointed pursuant to clause (1) may not
12 be members of the same political party, nor may the two
13 members appointed pursuant to clause (2) be members of
14 the same political party. Not more than eight of the members
15 appointed pursuant to clause (3) may be members of the
16 same political party.
17
(c) The Chairman shall be appointed by the President,
18 by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, from
19 among the public members.
20
(d) The executive director shall be appointed by the
21 President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate,
22 from among individuals recommended by the Commission.
23
DUTIES
24
SEC. 4. (a) The Commission shall undertake a compre-
LIBRARY GERALD FORD
25 hensive study and investigation of the factors contributing
4
1 to the decline of city neighborhoods and of the factors neces-
2 sary to neighborhood survival and revitalization. Such study
3 and investigation shall include, but not be limited to-
4
(1) an analysis of the impact of existing Federal,
5
State, and local policies, programs, and laws on neigh-
6
borhood survival and revitalization;
7
(2) an identification of the administrative, legal,
8
and fiscal obstacles to the well-being of neighborhoods;
9
(3) an analysis of the patterns and trends of public
10
and private investment in urban areas and the impact
11
of such patterns and trends on the decline or revitaliza-
12
tion of neighborhoods;
13
(4) an assessment of the existing mechanisms of
14
neighborhood governance and of the influence exercised
15
by neighborhoods on local government;
16
(5) an analysis of the impact of poverty and racial
17
conflict on neighborhoods;
18
(6) an assessment of local and regional develop-
19
ment plans and their impact on neighborhoods; and
20
(7) an evaluation of existing citizen-initiated neigh-
21
borhood revitalization efforts and a determination of how
22
public policy can best support such efforts.
23
(b) The Commission shall make recommendations for
24 modifications in Federal, State, and local laws, policies, and
25 programs necessary to facilitate neighborhood preservation
GERALD
5
1 and revitalization. Such recommendations shall include, but
2 not be limited to-
3
(1) new mechanisms to promote reinvestment in
4
existing city neighborhoods;
5
(2) more effective means of community participa-
6
tion in local governance;
7
(3) policies to encourage the survival of eco-
8
nomically and socially diverse neighborhoods;
9
(4) policies to prevent such destructive practices
10
as blockbusting, redlining, resegregation, speculation
11
in reviving neighborhoods, and to promote homeowner-
12
ship in urban communities;
13
(5) policies to encourage better maintenance and
14
management of existing rental housing;
15
(6) policies to make maintenance and rehabilita-
16
tion of existing structures at least as attractive from a
17
tax viewpoint as demolition and development of new
18
structures;
19
(7) modification in local zoning and tax policies
20
to facilitate preservation and revitalization of existing
21
neighborhoods; and
22
(8) reorientation of existing housing and commu-
FORD
23
nity development programs and other tax and subsidy
GERALD
24
policies that affect neighborhoods, to better support
25
neighborhood preservation efforts.
6
1
(c) Within two years after the date on which funds
2 first become available to carry out this Act, the Commission
3 shall submit to the Congress and the President a compre-
4 hensive report on its study and investigation under this sub-
5 section which shall include its findings, conclusions, and
6 recommendations and such proposals for legislation and
7 administrative action as may be necessary to carry out its
S recommendations.
9
COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS
10
SEC. 5. (a) Members of the Commission who are Mem-
11 bers of Congress or full-time officers or employees of the
12 United States shall serve without additional compensation,
13 but shall be reimbursed for travel, subsistence, and other
14 necessary expenses incurred in the performance of the duties
15 vested in the Commission.
16
(b) Members of the Commission, other than those re-
17 ferred to in subsection (a), shall receive compensation at
18 the rate of $100 per day for each day they are engaged in
19 the actual performance of the duties vested in the Commis-
20 sion and shall be entitled to reimbursement for travel, sub-
21 sistence, and other necessary expenses incurred in the per-
22 formance of such duties.
ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS
FORD
23
24
SEC. 6. (a) The Commission shall have the power to
GERALD
25 appoint and fix the compensation of such personnel as it
7
1' deems advisable, without regard to the provisions of title 5,
2 United States Code, governing appointments in the competi-
3 tive service, and the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter
4 III of chapter 53 of such title, relating to classification and
5 General Schedule pay rates, but at rates not in excess of il
6 maximum rate for GS-18 of the General Schedule under
7 section 5332 of such title.
8
(b) The Commission may procure; in accordance with
9 the provisions of section 3109 of title 5, United Statees Code,
10 the temporary or intermittent services of experts or con-
11 sultants. Persons SO employed shall receive compensation
12 at a rate to be fixed by the Commission but not in excess of
13 $100 per day, including traveltime. While away from his
14 or her home or regular place of business in the performance
15 of services for the Commission, any such person may be al-
16 lowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of sub-
17 sistence, as authorized by section 5703 (b) of title 5, United
18 States Code, for persons in the Government service employed
19 intermittently.
20
(c) Each department, agency, and instrumentality of
21 the United States is authorized and directed to furnish to the
22 Commission, upon request made by the Chairman or Více
23 Chairman, on a reimbursable basis or otherwise, such sta-
24 tistical data, reports, and other information as the Commis-
LISANCE GERALD R. FORD
25 sion deems necessary to carry out its functions under this
8
1 Act. The Chairman is further authorized to call upon the
2 departments, agencies, and other offices of the several States
3 to furnish, on a reimbursable basis or otherwise, such statis-
4 tical data, reports, and other information as the Commis-
5 sion deems necessary to carry out its functions under this
6 title.
7
(d) The Commission may award contracts and grants
8 for the purposes of evaluating existing neighborhood revitali-
9 zation programs and the impact of existing laws on neighbor-
10 hoods. Awards under this section may be made to-
11
(1) representatives of legally chartered neighbor-
12
hood organizations;
13
(2) public interest organizations which have a
14
demonstrated capability in the area of concern;
15
(3) universities and other not-for-profit educational
16
organizations.
17
(e) The Commission or, on the authorization of the
18 Commission, any subcommittee or member thereof, may,
19 for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Act;
20 hold hearings, take testimony, and administer oaths or af-
21 firmations to witnesses appearing before the Commission or
22 any subcommittee or member thereof. Hearings by the Com-
23 mission will be held in neighborhoods with testimony re-
24 ceived from citizen leaders and public officials who are en-
DERALD FORD LIBRIRA
25 gaged in neighborhood revitalization programs.
9
1
AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS
2
SEC. 7. There are authorized to be appropriated not to
3 exceed $2,000,000 to carry out this title.
4
EXPIRATION OF THE COMMISSION
5
SEC. 8. The Commission shall cease to exist thirty days
6 after the submission of its report under section 4.
BERALD R FORD LIBRARY
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
August 27, 1976
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT
FROM:
JIM CANNON
SUBJECT:
Administration Position on Legislation
Establishing a National Commission on
Neighborhoods
Secretary Hills requests your decision on whether or
not to support a proposal by Senators Proxmire and
Garn, and Representative Ashley, to establish a
P
National Commission on Neighborhoods (Tab A).
The
proposed two-year Commission would to some extent
duplicate the review of Federal programs assigned to
the President's Committee on Urban Development and
Neighborhood Revitalization. The proposed Commission
would also look into investment patterns, local zoning,
tax policies and many other matters affecting neighbor-
hood growth.
Background
When Secretary Hills brought the legislation up in the
first meeting of the President's Committee on June 21,
you indicated your opposition in general to national
commissions and said you saw no need for this one
in particular. As result of this stand, Secretary
Hills declined testimony before the Senate.
Shortly before the Republican Convention, Lud Ashley,
Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Housing and
Community Development, introduced legislation identical
to the Proxmire-Garn bill. Hearings have been set for
September 9, 1976.
Secretary Hills spoke to you on August 13, 1976 in
your office and recommended you support the Congressional
proposal for these reasons:
1.
It is likely to be passed at this session;
2.
Opposition would be contrary to the
Administration's stated concern for urban
neighborhoods; and
GERALD FORD
may-
Nughba hood
Matherhood is sue
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
has
August 27, 1976
How rept heavy
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MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT
quite Whely & ww
FROM:
JIM CANNON
pass win equin wann
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SUBJECT:
Administration Position on Legislationw
Establishing a National Commission on only
Neighborhoods
8L up
Secretary Hills requests your decision on whether or
not to support a proposal by Senators Proxmire and
P
Garn, and Representative Ashley, to establish a
National Commission on Neighborhoods (Tab A). The
proposed two-year Commission would to some extent
State and
duplicate the review of Federal programs assigned to
the President's Committee on Urban Development and
local policy
Neighborhood Revitalization. The proposed Commission
programs and
would also look into investment patterns, local zoning,
tax policies and many other matters affecting neighbor-
laws as well
hood growth.
as
Background
When Secretary Hills brought the legislation up in the
first meeting of the President's Committee on June 21,
you indicated your opposition in general to national
commissions and said you saw no need for this one
in particular. As result of this stand, Secretary
Hills declined testimony before the Senate.
Shortly before the Republican Convention, Lud Ashley,
Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Housing and
Community Development, introduced legislation identical
to the Proxmire-Garn bill. Hearings have been set for
September 9, 1976.
Secretary Hills spoke to you on August 13, 1976 in
your office and recommended you support the Congressional
proposal for these reasons:
1.
It is likely to be passed at this session;
2.
Opposition would be contrary to the
:
FORD
Administration's stated concern for urban
neighborhoods; and
GERALD
AMERICA
four is too Namon
3.
The Commission would compliment & many of
the activities of the President's Com-
mittee.
Since your meeting with Secretary Hills, the Republican
Platform calls for an expansion of your Committee to
include representatives of state and local governments
and the private sector -- which the proposed legislation
specifically calls for.
RECOMMENDATION
Secretary Hills recommends approval.
Securtary Hells to
/ / Option 1: Support the legislation to establish
a National Commission on Neighborhoods.
Secutain Hills to
/ / Option 2:
Oppose legislation to establish a
National Commission on Neighborhoods.
secure this to
optran 3:- 3: Aurio text fujury on The bill.
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GERALD R. FORD
3.
The Commission would compl e/ment many of
the activities of the President's Com-
mittee.
National
consention
Since your meeting with Secretary Hills, the Republican
adopter a
Platform callactor an expansion of your Committee to
include representatives of state and local governments
and the private sector -- which the proposed legislation
specifically calls for.
RECOMMENDATION Secretary Hills recommends approval. max Fundenda faces I
Security Hills to
concur.
/ / Option 1: Support the legislation to establish
a National Commission on Neighborhoods.
section Hills to
/ / Option 2: Oppose legislation to establish a
National Commission on Neighborhoods.
option 3.
Congressonal Situation
GERALD R FORD
Outle dreath
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
August 26, 1976
MEMORANDUM FOR:
THE PRESIDENT
FROM:
JIM CANNON
SUBJECT:
Administration Position on Legislation
Establishing a National Commission on
Neighborhoods
Secretary Hills requests your decision on whether or not to
support a proposal by Senators Proxmire and Garn establishing
a National Commission on Neighborhoods (Tab A). The two-
year Commission would in effect duplicate the review of
Federal programs affecting neighborhoods assigned to the
President's Commission on Urban Development and Neighborhood
Revitalization as well as delve into investment patterns,
local zoning, tax policies and many other matters affecting
neighborhood growth.
Background
When Secretary Hills brought the legislation up in the
first meeting of the President's Commission on June 21,
you indicated your opposition in general to national com-
missions and said you saw no need for this one in particular.
As a result of this stand, Secretary Hills declined testimony
before the Senate.
Shortly before the Republican Convention, Lud Ashley,
Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Community
Development, introduced legislation identical to the Proxmire-
Garn bill. Hearings have been set for September 9, 1976.
Secretary Hills spoke to you at the Convention about the
advisability of supporting the establishment of the Commission
because it would likely be passed this session, opposition
would be incongruous with the Administration's stated concern
for urban neighborhoods, and the Commission would complement
many of the activities of the President's Committee.
&
FORD
GERALD
2
Recommendation
It appears that there is better than a 50-50 chance that the
Ashley hearings will spark passage in this session of the
legislation in both Houses to establish a National Commission
on Neighborhoods. Given the Administration's and Republican
Party's advocacy of neighborhood revitalization, it would
seem contradictory for your Administration to overtly oppose
the Commission. I recommend, therefore, that Administration
testimony should concur with the legislation's purpose, to
carry out a complete review of neighborhood issues, but
indicate that the President's Committee is working on many
of these problems. We should also question the need for
establishing a temporary bureaucracy at a cost of $2 million
to accomplish this task at a time when Federal deficit
spending is at an all-time high.
Decision
Support establishment of a National
Commission.
Oppose establishment of a National
Commission.
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
September 7, 1976
MEMORANDUM FOR:
JIM CANNON
FROM:
LYNN MAY
hym a
SUBJECT:
President's Committee on Urban Development
and Neighborhood Revitalization
Steve McConahey and I met recently with Assistant Secretary
Charles Orlebeke and other members of Secretary Hill's
staff, who are working with the President's Committee. The
purpose of the meeting was to assess the progress of the
Committee's work, particularly the results of the recent
visits by Cabinet officers to selected cities, and to gain
some background on Secretary Hills' request for a meeting of
the Committee with the President and the New Coalition.
Orlebeke indicated that while the visits did not produce any
new revelations concerning urban policy, they did provide an
anecdotal background for the Committee's deliberations and
underlined the Administration's concerns for the difficulties
many cities are in. He pointed out that Secretary Hills had
requested Committee members to visit at least one additional
city in the near future (Tab A).
In regard to the analytical work of the Committee, Orlebeke
revealed that he planned to send Secretary Hills a preliminary
report, with recommendations by September 10, 1976. We all
agreed that this document should be closely held and some
additional discussion would be necessary before the manner
of delivery to the President was resolved.
Steve indicated that the usefulness of a meeting among the
Committee, the New Coalition, and the President was dependent
on the specificity of the Committee's findings and recommendations.
He explained that he would be reluctant to recommend a
meeting involving the President unless something substantive
would be discussed. Orlebeke agreed and indicated he would
discuss the meeting further with the Secretary.
FORD j LIBRARY CERALD
090714
Page 2
COMMENTS
It is becoming apparent that the Committee's work will likely
result in recommendations for changes in Federal delivery
programs, most likely in the form of more block grant programs.
While this will not be immediately translatable to solutions of
the rent, mortgage and services problems facing many urban
dwellers, it will, coupled with support for a more comprehen-
sive National Commission on Neighborhoods and possible signa-
ture of legislation containing counter-cyclical assistance,
furnish the Administration with a modest, but positive set
of actions toward resolving urban problems.
RECOMMENDATION
Steve and I recommend that you accept Secretary Hills request
for a visit to a target city to meet with city officials and
neighborhood leaders in the next few weeks. Secretaries Hills,
Richardson, Usery, Mathews and Coleman have already gone on at
least one visit. Steve recommends St. Louis.
APPROVE
DISAPPROVE
1
Lynn I just son't
thunk I will have
the time Jun
H
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF MOUSING *
CC: May
THE SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
OPMENT any
WASHINGTON, D. C.. 20410
August 27, 1976
MEMORANDUM FOR: Honorable James M. Cannon
Executive Director
Domestic Council
The White House
I am pleased to report to you on the Committee's
progress to date.
Members of this Committee have visited nine cities,
walked through many urban neighborhoods, and met with
city officials and neighborhood group leaders to learn
their perspectives on Federal programs in their communities.
Committee members have traveled to Baltimore, Boston,
Chicago, Cleveland, Hartford, New Orleans, Newark, Pittsburgh,
and San Diego.
I hope that each member of this Committee can visit
at least one city in the coming weeks. Please communicate
your city preferences to Mr. Leonard A. Zax, at 755-6810.
Mr. Zax will help schedule the visit, suggest an agenda
for the meetings and receive your report on each visit.
We agreed at our last meeting to prepare an interim
report to the President by October 1. With the assistance
of our Liaison Committee and several smaller working groups,
I plan to circulate a draft interim report on September 15.
I intend to schedule a meeting of the President's
Committee to discuss the draft interim report and other
Committee work during the week of September 20.
Carla A. Hills
FORD & GENALD LIBRARY
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
DATE: September 27, 1976
TO:
JIM CANNON
FROM: JIM CAVANAUGH JAC CU
SUBJ: Bob Goldwin Memo of
September 21, 1976
FYI X
ACTION
GERALD R. FORD LIBRARY CC ; Quenn
092808
CC: neighbortoreds Quern
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
September 21, 1976
MEMORANDUM TO JIM CAVANAUGH
1976 SEP 28 AM 6 59
FROM:
BOB GOLDWIN Bob
I received a letter from Michael Novak, the Professor-Columnist-
Ethnic Group Leader, offering to give us advice on proposals to strengthen
the family and renew neighborhoods. A copy of the letter is attached.
This memorandum is an account of the phone conversation we had today.
Novak made a number of "small, concrete proposals" which he said
would be well received by those ethnic groups for whom family and
neighborhood are major concerns.
1. Under the present tax law, Novak says, a working mother can
deduct the cost of child care if she leaves the child with a stranger,
but not if she leaves the child with a relative. But many of the white
ethnics who live in ethnic neighborhoods in proximity to their relatives,
entrust their children to relatives, and not to strangers. It would
appeal to them if they could pay a relative, for instance a grandmother,
for child care and deduct the cost just as they would if they left the
child with strangers. He said that this proposal is known in some
circles as a "grandmother clause."
2. Economic concerns get confused with race issues when a neighbor-
hood is changing. Much of the tendency for home owners to move out of a
changing neighborhood, selling at a loss, is interpreted as unwillingness
to live near blacks, but more often it is the result of blockbusting,
response to the fear that if they don't sell now the price of their
property will go down and they will lose more money than they can
afford. Novak proposes a mortgage insurance scheme for homes in
neighborhoods that are integrating, to guarantee the investment in the
home. This proposal has the support of the Polish American Congress,
whose headquarters is in Chicago but they also have an office in Washington.
Novak claims that it would be possible to preserve neighborhoods and
that many people would stay even though blacks and other new groups
moved in, but that without this kind of investment guarantee, people
sell quickly because they are afraid that holding on will leave them
with a greatly devalued property. This anti-blockbusting measure would
be effective in preserving urban neighborhoods.
3. Redlining is a practice employed by many lending institutions
of just drawing a line through certain changing neighborhoods, which
means that loans are no longer available for buying or improving property.
Novak proposes an anti-redlining approach which would require that
lending institutions invest a certain percentage of the money in savings
accounts in the neighborhoods that are the source of the funds. In most
FORD & LIBRARY DERALD
ethnic neighborhoods, saving accounts are the principle investment, and
yet in many cases the savings and loan associations that get their money
from a neighborhood will refuse to make loans in that neighborhood.
This new provision should be limited to urban neighborhoods as a way of
preserving the neighborhood and yet promoting integration. The instability
that results from blockbusting and redlining has the result that some
lower income ethnic families have moved five or six times, buying and
selling, and losing money each time.
4. I asked Novak how important to ethnics is the income tax
deduction on home mortgage interest payments. He said that not all
ethnic groups tend to be home owners-for instance, Irish Catholics and
Jews tend to be renters rather than home owners. But many groups are
determined home owners and the income tax deduction provisions are vital
to them. For many of them, who are always wage employees and never
make a business investment, buying a home is their only investment and
their only chance to get ahead on the basis of a capital investment.
It is the most important economic decision they make in their lives,
and the interest deduction is a vital element of it. I told Novak
that Carter had said of such deductions that they "would be among
those that I would like to do away with." He said he had not heard
that but thought it would have a devastating effect on ethnic groups
and, in fact, on all present and prospective home buyers. He agreed
that this provision is the most effective way that the government
encourages home ownership and that home ownership is the backbone of
efforts to improve family life and sustain stable neighborhoods. (I
enclose a memorandum on this subject that I sent to Dick on August 5
and the attachment of an editorial on the subject from the Milwaukee
Journal.) Novak also said that the income tax provision is important
to neighborhoods because without it people would be discouraged from
buying up deteriorating property and restoring it which revives
neighborhoods and improves the national stock of housing.
5. He said there is a side matter and is not sure how the link
can be made, but in neighborhoods of home owners, there is a lot of
youth employment for work around the homes. Blacks are not in the
habit of home owning, being primarily renters, and they do not
hire their own young in the same way that the young are hired to
help out around the house in ethnic neighborhoods where there is a
much higher level of home ownership.
Novak then turned to discussion of unemployment and said that
he thought the President is not sufficiently exploiting the tremendous
increase in new jobs since he became President. He referred to the
Wall Street Journal figures of yesterday and also the column by
Jerry ter Horst which show that in the first year of the Ford
Administration new jobs went up one and a half million and in the
second year almost three million. He also said that the most
significant figure is that the rate of unemployment for heads of
households is 4.5 percent, which is low and which explains why people
are not upset over the job situation. I told him that all of this
was familiar to us and I think the only advice out of it is that
&
FORD
we have not yet made enough of a point of these figures and their
significance.
GERALD
His last point is one that I report without fully agreeing that
we ought to say anything about it. Novak says that the President should
call for a study of the implications of the way government figures are
kept and reported, especially the way we report the catagory "white."
By reporting on the basis of race or color, we tend to polarize the
nation; and the catagory "white" is too broad because it fails to
make ethnic and regional distinctions. For instance, when we report
college attendance by white and black, we report white college attendance
as 43% and black college attendance as 35%. But within those figures we
see that Jews have more than 80% college attendance and East European
Catholics about 20%-that is, less than blacks. West Indian blacks have
a college attendance figure that is higher than most white groups except,
perhaps, Jews. What would happen, Novak asks, if unemployment figures
and income figures were broken down in the same way? He said that in
Thomas Sowell's book, Race and Economics, there is a chart of per capita
income by ethnic groups. Out of 138 groups, the top ten include Chinese,
Japanese, Korean, West Indian blacks, Lebanese, Jews, and Greeks. This
analysis makes it possible to deny that America discriminates economically
on the basis of color or national origin.
LISEARY GERALD FORD
September 17, 1976
Karen
Dr. Robert Goldwin
Special Consultant to the President
The White House
170 Old Executive Office
Washington D.C. 20005
Dear Bob:
I finally found the source for the statistics
on busing that I cited last year. They were reported
by Gallup on September 8, 1973: only 4% of whites and
9% of blacks supported busing. I found the reference
in a new book published by Cornell University Press,
The WH
Disaster by Decree, by Professor Graglia of the
University of Texas Law School. It is a book the
has a copy.
White House ought to know about.
If there is any help I can give you on speeches
or ideas, please let me know. Although I am a life-
long democrat, I am not fond of our present candidate,
and I have decided to concentrate on drawing attention
in both campaigns to the issues that most concern me:
family and neighborhood renewal. There are a number of
small, concrete proposals which the President could
make, and which would add vigor and practicality to
his message.
Warmest wishes,
me
Michael Novak
MN/RG
MICHAEL NOVAK FIVE SNUG COVE LANE BAYVILLE, N.Y. 11709 (516) 628-8825
GLRMLO FORD
August 5, 1976
FOR:
RICHARD CHENEY
FROM:
ROBERT GOLDWIN
Jimmy Carter has presented us with a beautiful issue, family
life and home ownership, which I think we should exploit without
delay. The affected constituency ranges from blue collar workers
all the way up the income scale, everyone who owns a home or
aspires to improve his family's situation.
Carter called for strengthening family life just the other
day, and at the same time called for elimination of the tax
deduction on mortgage interest as part of that reform. This
proposal is not clear in detail, but whether it is to be a
subsidy or restricted deduction, it will inevitably make it
harder for middle-class (which starts pretty low) families to
am their onn home.
Millions and millions of parents have planned their family's
lives and futures in reliance on the mortgage-interest tax
deduction. The tax deduction has long been the most basic founda-
tion of home ownership and accounts for the fact that over 60% of
American families own their own homes. They count on it. They
decend on it. There could be no more effective way to destroy
the faith of the people in their government than to take back this
basis of home ownership. It would be an outrageous betrayal.
If some evil genius were challenged to think up the single
most effective blow to family life in America, he could not do
worse than this scheme to cripple home conership.
Add to this the effect on jobs in the home construction
industry, and we can see that Mr. Carter's next step would have
to be a massive public-jobs program for the people thrown out
of work by this proposal.
GERMED FORD
Some items in this folder were not digitized because it contains copyrighted
materials. Please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library for access to
these materials.
Demo. Campaign: Comment
C-10
Carter and Home Ownership
Democratic presidential nomi- ship, Carter scrambles back on
nee Jimmy Carter sometimes
board with an alternative
may look as if he is rocking the
suggestion. Instead of mortgage
Milwaukee Journal, 7/31/76
FORD & QERALO LIBRARY