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The original documents are located in Box 1, folder "12/3/75 - National League of Cities,
Miami Beach" 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States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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
NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA
DECEMBER 3, 1975
IT SEEMS LIKE LIGHT YEARS AGO -- BUT IT WAS ONLY LAST
JULY THAT I SAW MANY OF YOU AT THE UNITED STATES CONFERENCE
OF MAYORS IN BOSTON.
IN THAT TIME, OUR CITIES HAVE AGED UNDER THE HEAVY
WEIGHT OF SCARY HEADLINES. BUT YOUR RECORD PRESENCE, HERE,
AS YOU PASS YOUR LEAGUE'S HALF-CENTURY MARK, SAYS SOMETHING
THAT THE DOOMSAYERS TOO OFTEN OVERLOOK:
THAT, SEEMINGLY "UNSURMOUNTABLE" PROBLEMS,
NOTWITHSTANDING, THE PEOPLE WHO KNOW
AMERICA'S CITIES BEST, STILL COUNT THE
CITY AS THIS NATION'S GREATEST HOPE FOR
THE FUTURE.
IN TRUTH, THE FORCES OF ENERGY, MOBILITY AND BECKONING
SPACE -- WHICH ONCE COMBINED TO DRIVE WEALTH AWAY FROM OUR
CITIES -- ARE NOW COMBINED IN REVERSE TO WELCOME A NEW ERA
OF URBAN OPPORTUNITY,
FORD & LIBRARY OERALD
-2-
YOUR FULL, AND INTELLIGENT, AGENDA FOR THIS IMPORTANT
51st YEAR CONFERENCE OF THE LEAGUE OF CITIES LEAVES LITTLE
DOUBT THAT YOU AREN'T OVERLOOKING ANY BETS IN PLANNING FOR
THE FUTURE. BUT, I SOMETIMES WONDER IF WE AREN'T so
CONDITIONED, BY HABIT, TO THE CONVENTIONAL THINKING OF THE
PAST, THAT WE FAIL TO GRASP THE BEST OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE
FUTURE,
SINCE ALL OF US HAVE BEEN SCHOOLED IN THE IDEA THAT "WE
CAN'T WIN TODAY'S BATTLES WITH YESTERDAY'S WEAPONS", IT'S
NATURAL FOR US TO BRISTLE IF OUR FORESIGHTEDNESS IS QUESTIONED.
BUT THE FACT REMAINS, IT'S A LOT MORE COMFORTABLE TO BE
CONVENTIONAL THAN IT IS TO ESPOUSE UNTRIED CONCEPTS.
WHEN I TALKED TO YOU UP IN BOSTON, I SPOKE OF MY AMAZEMENT
AT THE SHOCKING LEVEL OF WASTE THAT WE SEEM TO TOLERATE --
OUT OF SHEER HABIT -- IN OUR URBAN CENTERS.
Now -- WE CAN BLAME THE "SHAPE OF THINGS" IN OUR CITIES,
ON THE SIMPLE PASSAGE OF TIME.
-3-
"THE ATTRITION OF OLD AGE," -- ON BUILDINGS, STREETS,
PLUMBING AND UTILITIES -- IS A HANDY EXCUSE. BUT, IT
DOESN'T REALLY WASH WHEN WE LOOK AT THE STILL-VIABLE,
ANCIENT CITIES OF EUROPE.
NOR CAN WE LAY IT OFF ON OUR FRUGAL FOREBEARERS WHO BUILT
OUR CITIES. FOR MANY OF THE PROUD HOUSES WHICH THEY ERECTED
STAND, TODAY, AS SENTINELS OF TARNISHED GRANDEUR IN OUR
WASTED NEIGHBORHOODS.
FUTURE GENERATIONS WILL ALMOST SURELY TRACE THE LEGACY
OF URBAN DECLINE TO OUR GENERATION -- BUT, IF WE SUCCEED IN
THIS STRUGGLE THAT IS PECULIARLY OUR OWN, THEY COULD ALSO
TRACE TO US THE LEGACY OF SUCCESS,
BECAUSE, THE FACT IS THAT THE "TRADITION" OF PRODIGALITY
WHICH WE PERCEIVE AS AN AMERICAN "WAY OF LIFE" IS A NATIONAL
PHENOMENON THAT DATES BACK LESS YEARS THAN OUR MEDIAN AGE.
-4-
IN OUR OWN TIME, WE HAVE WITNESSED THE BIRTH AND MASSIVE
GROWTH OF OUT-MIGRATION THAT MOVED THE CITY'S WEALTH AND
VITALITY TO AN EVER-WIDENING RING OF SUBURBS.
You, PERHAPS MORE THAN ANY OTHER GROUP, HAVE BEEN
CAUGHT UP IN THE STARK REALITIES OF THIS GRIM REAPER WHICH,
LITERALLY, HAVE WIPED OUT WHOLE NEIGHBORHOODS BEFORE YOUR
VERY EYES,
IT IS SAID THAT A WEARY PEOPLE GET so ENURED TO A LONG
WAR THAT THEY NO LONGER EVEN TRY TO THINK AROUND IT.
THE SEIGE OF OUR NATION'S CITIES AT ITS WORST, SPANS
LESS THAN TWO DECADES - AND I JUST WONDER IF THE "HABIT" OF
THE WAR ISN'T so INGRAINED THAT IT IS BOTTLING UP SOME
NECESSARY INNOVATIVE THINKING ABOUT HOW TO END IT.
I ASK THAT RHETORICAL QUESTION - -- BECAUSE THE BULK OF
WHAT I READ ON THE SUBJECT OF OUR CITIES -- RECITES A SAD
LIST OF CITY PROBLEMS AND A DETAILED HISTORY OF HOW THEY GOT
THAT WAY.
-5-
YET, I KNOW FULL WELL -- THAT MANY OF YOU ARE WADING
INTO THESE PROBLEMS, AS THEY EXIST TODAY WITH SOLUTIONS
GEARED NOT ONLY TO RECLAIMING WHAT IS LOST, BUT TO ENSURING
THAT THE OLD CYCLE DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN.
WE KNOW THE PROBLEMS. I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF
THE OPPORTUNITIES.
WE START WITH THE NOT-VERY-SURPRISING PROPOSITION THAT
A CITY IS "PEOPLE" -- AND A HEALTHY CITY IS A CITY OF ALL
PEOPLE IN EVERY INCOME. STRATA, PROVIDING ENERGY, CREATIVITY,
PERSONAL INVOLVEMENT AND EARNING POWER,
WE CAN READILY CALCULATE THE INVESTMENT MONEY NEEDED TO
REPAIR, REHABILITATE OR REBUILD AN OLD URBAN NEIGHBORHOOD.
BUT THE GREATEST NEED OF ALL IS HUMAN RE-INVESTMENT.
ABOUT 20 PERCENT OF AMERICAN FAMILIES MOVE EACH YEAR.
-6-
You ALREADY KNOW WHICH END OF THE TAX-BEARING MIX HAS
REPLACED THE FAMILIES WHO HAVE MOVED OUT OF YOUR CITIES OVER
THE PAST TEN YEARS, MORE THAN THAT, THROUGH THOSE LEFT
BEHIND, YOU FELT THE FULL BRUNT OF THE 1973 UNEMPLOYMENT
SITUATION THAT DROVE UP THE DEMAND FOR PUBLIC SERVICES
DURING AN INFLATIONARY SPIRAL THAT WAS DRIVING UP THE COST
OF THOSE SERVICES,
TODAY, THE HIGH COST AND SKIMPY AVAILABILITY OF FUEL --
COUPLED WITH SCARCE LAND, STRICTER CODES AND SHEER COST OF
SUBURBAN CONSTRUCTION -- HAVE COMBINED TO PROVIDE OUR
CITIES WITH A NEW WEALTH OF HUMAN RE-INVESTMENT POTENTIAL.
IN TRUTH, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MORE THAN A DECADE,
PEOPLE OF MODERATE MEANS ARE FINDING MORE REASONS FOR MOVING
INTO THE CITY THAN FOR MOVING OUT OF IT,
THE CITY'S OPPORTUNITY TO ACCOMMODATE THEM - TO SAY
NOTHING OF HELPING THEM STRETCH DOLLARS WHILE ENHANCING THE
COMMUNITY COFFERS - IS SUMMED UP IN THIS APT OBSERVATION
FROM A RECENT ISSUE OF THE WASHINGTON POST. SAID WRITER
WOLF VONECKARDT:
-7-
"As THE COST OF NEW CONSTRUCTION KEEPS
RISING, CITIES ARE REDISCOVERING THEIR
VAST STOCK OF OLD AND NEGLECTED HOUSES
AND APARTMENT BUILDINGS, REHABILITATION
IS STILL EXPENSIVE BUT EVEN 'GUT
REHABILITATION' IS GENERALLY ONE-THIRD
LOWER THAN NEW CONSTRUCTION."
AND, WE KNOW THAT IT TAKES ALMOST 50 PERCENT LESS OF
EVERYTHING -- LAND, LABOR, MONEY, AND ENVIRONMENTAL DISRUPTION
-- TO REHABILITATE A CITY NEIGHBORHOOD THAN TO BUILD A NEW
SUBURB.
HOWEVER, WE ALSO KNOW FULL WELL THAT "COST" ALONE --
EVEN WITH THE PRESSURES OF INFLATION IS NOT ENOUGH TO
ATTRACT THE MIDDLE AND HIGHER INCOME FAMILIES IN THE KIND OF
NUMBERS THAT YOU NEED FOR YOUR SURVIVAL.
So, LET US LOOK AT CURRENT DEMOGRAPHIC TRENDS. TODAY,
50 PERCENT OF OUR TOTAL POPULATION LIVE IN ADULT-ORIENTED
HOUSEHOLDS, MORE THAN 80 PERCENT OF OUR NATIONAL POPULATION
GROWTH BETWEEN 1970 AND 1974 WAS IN SMALL FAMILIES -- VERY
OFTEN HEADED BY WOMEN.
-8-
CHARACTERISTICALLY, THESE HOUSEHOLDS COMPRISE SINGLES,
YOUNG MARRIEDS WITH FEW OR NO CHILDREN AND THE ELDERLY,
AND, THESE ARE THE FAMILIES WHOSE LIFE STYLES ARE MOST
SUITED TO THE VERY THINGS OUR CITIES HAVE TO OFFER -- SMALLER
HOUSING CONVENIENT TO JOBS, ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURAL
AMENITIES, RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND, VERY OFTEN, THE
CHARM OF OLDER HOUSES,
THEY ARE ALREADY MOVING BACK.
IN THE WASHINGTON AREA, FOR EXAMPLE, THE PRINCIPAL
INCREASE IN POPULATION HAS BEEN IN THE 25-35 YEAR AGE GROUP,
BUT WITH A SUBSTANTIAL DROP IN THE NUMBER OF SCHOOL-AGE
CHILDREN,
As FOR THEIR POTENTIAL IN STABILIZING THE FUTURE CITY
TAX BASE, THE NEW URBAN DWELLERS ARE IN THE MIDDLE-UPPER
INCOME RANGE -- AND, FOR THE MOST PART, COLLEGE GRADUATES
WHO WORK IN THE PROFESSIONS OR WHITE-COLAR BUSINESS POSITIONS,
-9-
THEIR COLLECTIVE AFFLUENCE AND EDUCATIONAL LEVELS ACCENT
THE CULTURAL AND INTELLECTUAL PURSUITS WHICH, IN TURN, ARE
MOST APTLY AVAILABLE IN THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT.
ALTHOUGH THE OUT-MIGRATION OF COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISE
HAD MATCHED THE CITIZEN FLIGHT TO THE OUTSKIRTS OF TOWN FOR
A NUMBER OF YEARS, THE RE-LOCATION OF "DOWNTOWN" OFFICES IS,
AGAIN, ON THE INCREASE -- ABETING THE RETURN OF THE PEOPLE
WHO MUST RUN THEM.
WE ALREADY HAVE SEEN THE SHIFT IN THE OCCUPATIONAL
DISTRIBUTION OF THE CITIES' LABOR FORCE TOWARDS PROFESSIONAL,
TECHNICAL AND MANAGERIAL SKILLS,
ALTHOUGH CITIES GAINED ONLY 4 PERCENT IN EMPLOYED
RESIDENTS OF ALL KINDS FROM 1960 TO 1970 -- 26 PERCENT OF
THEM WERE PROFESSIONAL, TECHNICAL OR MANAGERIAL PEOPLE.
AND, OF COURSE, YOUNG PEOPLE IN CLERICAL OR START-UP
JOBS HAVE NOT LOST THEIR ZEST FOR THE ATTRACTIONS AND
CONVENIENCE OF CITY LIVING.
-10-
TAKEN TOGETHER, THE STARS AND THE PLANETS ARE IN THE
RIGHT PLACE FOR THE NEW AGE OF TWENTIETH CENTURY CITY. WE
CANNOT AFFORD TO LET ANY OF OUR PAST HABITS ROB US OF THIS
GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY TO WIN BACK THESE POTENTIAL URBANITES,
You, YOURSELVES HAVE IDENTIFIED, IN YOUR AGENDA FOR
THIS CONFERENCE, THREE OF THE GREATEST CONCERNS IN THE
REVITALIZATION OF OUR CITIES: PERSONAL SAFETY, EASE OF
TRANSPORTATION AND QUALITY EDUCATION,
AND, THESE ARE THE CONCERNS YOU MUST ALLEVIATE TO TAKE
FULL ADVANTAGE OF THE NEW DEMOGRAPHIC TRENDS THAT RATE WITH
"COSTS" AS A QUILL OF URBAN OPPORTUNITY,
AND, THOSE ARE PRECISELY THE AREAS IN WHICH CITIES AND
STATES HAVE SPENT 60 PERCENT OF THEIR GENERAL REVENUE FUNDS.
IN SHORT, BY YOUR OWN RECKONING, YOU HAVE USED YOUR
GENERAL REVENUE FUNDS TO SWEETEN THE BAIT THAT WILL ATTRACT
THE PEOPLE-MIX NECESSARY TO REJUVENATE YOUR CITY,
-11-
BUT, I THINK THAT UNLESS ALL OF YOU GET A LOT MORE
INVOLVED IN WHAT'S NOT HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IN CONGRESS,
YOU'RE GOING TO GO BACKWARDS IN YOUR PLAN TO FORWARD THE FUTURE
OF YOUR CITIES.
As CONGRESSMAN MINETA TOLD YOU ON MONDAY, "THE MOOD
OF THE CONGRESS" AT THIS LATE DATE IN THE CURRENT SESSION
BODES NO GOOD FOR THE FUTURE OF REVENUE SHARING. IN FACT,
YOUR ODDS ARE LESS THAN 10 PERCENT THAT CONGRESS WILL RESPOND
THIS YEAR TO THE PRESIDENT'S REQUEST TO RENEW THE STATE AND
LOCAL FISCAL ASSISTANCE AcT WHICH EXPIRES DECEMBER 31, 1976.
THIS DELAYED CONSIDERATION IS PARTICULARLY GRAVE IN VIEW
OF THE FACT THAT MANY OF YOU FACE BUDGET DECISIONS FOR YOUR
FISCAL YEAR 1977 DURING THE FIRST HALF OF CALENDAR 1976.
AND, NEXT YEAR THE PROVISIONS OF THE BUDGET AND IMPOUNDMENT
CONTROL AcT WILL BE IN EFFECT -- WHICH WILL PRECLUDE CONSIDERATION
OF ANY SPENDING PROGRAM UNTIL AFTER THE ADOPTION OF THE
FIRST BUDGET RESOLUTION ON MAY 15, 1976.
-12-
WORSE THAN THE DANGEROUS TIMING IS THE FACT THAT AT
PRESENT YOU STAND A 50 PERCENT CHANCE OF LOSING THESE FUNDS
ALTOGETHER.
POLITICAL GAMESMANSHIP IS JEOPARDIZING THE MOST VALUABLE
DOMESTIC PROGRAM WE HAVE. ITS OPPONENTS HAVE ATTACKED THE
FORMULA FOR DISTRIBUTION; THE USE OR ALLEGED NON-USE OF THE
FUNDS; AND/OR THE LACK OF APPARENT APPRECIATION FOR THE
PROGRAM, AND, I FEAR, SOME FOES WOULD PREFER TO RETURN TO
CATEGORICAL AID WHERE GRANTSMANSHIP SEEMS TO OFFER MORE
POLITICAL ADVANTAGE,
ADMITTEDLY THE AcT HAS HAD SOME PROBLEMS AND PRESIDENT
FORD HAS RECOMMENDED CORRECTIONS, INCLUDING MEASURES TO TAKE
ACCOUNT OF INFLATION; TO STRENGTHEN CIVIL RIGHTS PROTECTIONS;
AND TO STRENGTHEN PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. YET, NO CRITIC HAS
ISOLATED A COMPELLING SINGLE REASON FOR SCUTTLING THIS VITAL
MEANS TO AID OUR CITIES, STILL, THE THREAT IS VERY REAL.
-13-
So, THE FIRST THING YOU HAVE TO DO IS TO FIGHT TO KEEP
YOUR GENERAL REVENUE SHARING FUNDS -- AND, I HAVE BEEN
AMAZED AT THE LACK OF COMMOTION FROM OUR CITIES,
I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU PLAN TO SEND GROUPS OF NLC
REPRESENTATIVES TO CAPITOL HILL FOLLOWING THIS CONFERENCE
TO TALK RATHER FORCEFULLY WITH YOUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES
ABOUT RENEWING THIS AcT, AND I HOPE THAT NOTHING I HAVE
SAID TODAY WILL DISCOURAGE YOU FROM THAT UNDERTAKING.
IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING SERVICES TO ATTRACT BACK YOUR
TAX-PAYING RESIDENTS, YOU MUST APPEAL TO THEIR SENSE OF
AESTHETICS.
WE KNOW THAT THESE POTENTIAL NEW URBAN DWELLERS GRAVITATE
TO HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS; NEIGHBORHOODS AROUND COLLEGES
AND UNIVERSITIES; NEIGHBORHOODS WITH UNUSUAL ARCHITECTURAL
STYLES; AND NEIGHBORHOODS NEAR PUBLIC SQUARES AND PARKS,
-14-
WE ALSO KNOW THAT THEY ARE OFTEN ATTRACTED BY THE
GREATER CONVENIENCES OF URBAN LIVING. LOCAL SHOPS NOT ONLY
ADD TO THE CHARACTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD BUT ALSO PROVIDE A
LIFE-EASE OFTEN LACKING IN THE SPREAD OF SUBURBIA.
IT SOUNDS A BIT CIRCULAR; MERCHANTS WILL LOCATE WHERE
THERE ARE CUSTOMERS AND CUSTOMERS WILL LOCATE WHERE THERE
ARE MERCHANTS, BUT, IT IS MORE GEOMETRIC THAN CIRCULAR,
FOR RESTORATION THRIVES IN THESE neighborhoods, AND ONCE
BEGUN, SPREADS TO CONTIGUOUS LESS REMARKABLE NEIGHBORHOODS,
OBVIOUSLY, CITIES ALONE DO NOT BEGIN TO HAVE THE FUNDS
TO RESTORE OR TO REBUILD THESE neighborhoods. MOST OF THE
CAPITAL INVESTED IN OUR URBAN AREAS IS AND ALWAYS WILL BE
PRIVATE,
BUT, YOUR LIMITED FUNDS CAN PROVIDE EFFECTIVE INCENTIVES
FOR PRIVATE IN-TOWN INVESTMENT. THEY CAN BE LEVERAGED INTO
A MASS THAT CAN REVITALIZE YOUR URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS,
-15-
TAKE THE GREAT LATITUDE LOCAL OFFICIALS ARE GIVEN WITH
RESPECT TO THE USE OF HUD COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FUNDS. IT
IS RECOGNIZED IN THE 1974 Act -- REALLY FOR THE FIRST TIME
- THAT EACH CITY IS DIFFERENT AND EACH NEIGHBORHOOD WITHIN
EACH CITY IS DIFFERENT; THAT THERE ARE NO ALL-PURPOSE FORMULAS
TO PRODUCE URBAN REVITALIZATION.
IN THE FIRST YEAR YOU EMPHASIZED PRESERVATION. OF THE
$2.6 BILLION IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ENTITLEMENT GRANTS,
CITIES BUDGETED OVER 60 PERCENT FOR URBAN PRESERVATION
ACTIVITIES.
BUT, THE IMPACT WAS STILL FAR LESS THAN THE POTENTIAL
- THE PRIMARY REASONS, AS SHOWN IN HUD STUDIES, BEING LACK
OF FOCUS AND INADEQUATE CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT.
IN VIEW OF THE RATIO OF NEED TO MEANS, YOU SIMPLY
CANNOT SHOOT FOR LESS THAN 100 PERCENT OF THE POTENTIAL.
YET, OF 140 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT APPLICANTS STUDIED, A
MAJORITY DID NOT EVEN DISCUSS PARTICIPATION IN CONTEMPLATED
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES WITH THE MAJOR LOCAL
PRIVATE INVESTORS, ONLY ONE AUGMENTED ITS COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT FUNDS WITH MONEYS FROM STATE OR OTHER LOCAL
GOVERNMENT SOURCES,
-16-
CITIES HAVE TREATED THE CITIZEN PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENT
OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM MERELY AS AN OBLIGATION
TO LISTEN - YET IT IS EQUALLY AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENCOURAGE
PRIVATE INVOLVEMENT.
OUR URBAN REINVESTMENT TASK FORCE ILLUSTRATES THAT
INVOLVEMENT OF LOCAL REAL ESTATE AND LENDING FIRMS IN
DEVELOPING PRESERVATION STRATEGIES ENCOURAGES PRIVATE
INVESTMENT.
THE CONSTRUCTION TRADES ALSO SHOULD BE INVOLVED. JUST
LAST APRIL, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HOMEBUILDERS JOURNAL
OBSERVED THAT REMODELING OFFERS THE BRIGHTEST NEW BUSINESS
PROSPECT FOR BUILDERS,
HARNESSING THE INITIATIVE AND DEDICATION OF PRIVATE
ENTERPRISE CAN AND WILL MAKE URBAN RENAISSANCE A REALITY,
RELATED TO LEVERAGING YOUR FUND THROUGH PRIVATE
PARTICIPATION, IS THE QUESTION OF HOW TO FOCUS YOUR PUBLIC
MONEYS - INCLUDING YOUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FUNDS,
-17-
You HAVE THE OPTION OF DISPERSING THEM IN A HIGHLY
VISIBLE MANNER OVER AS MUCH OF THE CITY AS POSSIBLE, WHICH
MAY HAVE FEW LASTING EFFECTS BECAUSE THE AMOUNT AVAILABLE
IS INADEQUATE TO MAKE A DECENT DENT,
OR, YOU CAN FOCUS YOUR FUNDS ON FEWER SELECTED
NEIGHBORHOODS OFTEN IN LESS VISIBLE FORMS, BUT IN A
CONCENTRATION SUFFICIENT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
AND, IF YOU DECIDE TO FOCUS YOUR FUNDS IN A FEW
NEIGHBORHOODS, YOU MUST DECIDE WHICH ONES: THE MOST
BLIGHTED, WHICH MAY MEAN MAJOR CLEARANCE AND REDEVELOPMENT
--- OR THOSE IN A TRANSITIONAL STATE, WHICH WILL PROVIDE
MORE REHABILITATED HOMES FOR FEWER DOLLARS,
MANY OF OUR OLD CATEGORICAL PROGRAMS REQUIRED YOU TO
FOCUS ON YOUR MOST SERIOUSLY DETERIORATED AREAS AND YOU
COLLIDED WITH THE PROBLEMS OF POVERTY, UNEMPLOYMENT, HIGH
CRIME RATES AND VANDALISM -- OFTEN TOO DIFFICULT TO BE
SOLVED WITH THE DOLLARS AVAILABLE.
-18-
URBAN BLIGHT, LIKE A CANCER, SPREADS so RAPIDLY IT
CAN EAT UP IMPROVEMENT PLACED IN ITS MIDST. AND, IT IS
DIFFICULT TO LURE BACK THE PEOPLE NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN
THE RESTORATION, WHEN YOU OFFER THEM AN ISLAND SURROUNDED
BY BLIGHT.
THOSE CITIES WITH SERIOUSLY ERODED TAX BASES MAY
BELIEVE THAT THEIR FIRST STEP IS TO ATTRACT A HETEROGENOUS
PEOPLE-MIX AND THAT THEIR FOCUS MUST BE ON NEIGHBORHOODS
JUST BEGINNING TO DETERIORATE. THIS BROADENS THEIR OPPORTUNITIES
FOR LEVERAGING FUNDS AND THEIR POTENTIAL FOR ATTRACTING
HIGHER TAXPAYERS. HERE THE STRATEGY IS ONE OF CONTAINMENT
WITH REAL SPILL-OVER POTENTIAL WHEN USED IN NEIGHBORHOODS
WITH UNUSUAL FEATURES,
CERTAINLY, LOCAL TREASURY LIMITS ARE DELICATELY FINITE
-- BUT, THEN, so ARE THE RESOURCES OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
-- SINCE, IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, ALL PUBLIC MONEYS COME FROM
THE PRIVATE TAXPAYER,
-19-
AND, CITIES HAVE ALREADY PROVED THAT ONE OF THE SURE
WAYS OF DEPLETING THEIR INCOMES IS TO TAX THEIR TAXPAYERS
RIGHT OUT OF TOWN. PATIENCE MAY YIELD MORE REAL DOLLARS
IN THE LONG HAUL,
SOME OF YOU HAVE EXHIBITED SUCH PATIENCE BY YOUR
WILLINGNESS TO POSTPONE TAX REVENUES AS AN INVESTMENT IN
THE FUTURE.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE KENTUCKY LEGISLATURE IS BEING ASKED
TO ALLOW A 5-YEAR MORATORIUM ON PROPERTY TAXES FOR RENOVATED
DWELLINGS, AND WHY NOT? WHAT IS THE 5-YEAR TAX POTENTIAL
OF A HOUSE THAT JUST SITS THERE AND ROTS?
WILMINGTON, HARTFORD AND BOSTON HAVE PROVIDED TAX
ABATEMENT ON RESTORATION WORK,
ST. LOUIS IS OFFERING ABATED TAXING ON NEW AND EXPANDING
BUSINESS WITHIN ITS METROPOLITAN BOUNDARIES.
-20-
AND, THERE ARE OTHER LEVERS OF INVENTION.
KANSAS CITY HAS SIMPLIFIED BUILDING CODES AND SOUGHT TO
ENHANCE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THOSE UNDERTAKING RESTORATION
AND LOCAL BUILDING INSPECTORS. SINCE 75 PERCENT OF URBAN
RESTORATIONS ARE MADE BY OWNER-OCCUPANTS, ANY REDUCTION IN
FRUSTRATING RED-TAPE SPEEDS RENEWAL AND SPREADS THE WORD.
SOME CITIES HAVE FOUND THAT WHERE THE PRIVATE LENDERS
HAVE RETREATED FROM LENDING IN A NEIGHBORHOOD, THEY CAN
INCREASE PRIVATE INVESTMENT INCENTIVES WITH INTEREST SUBSIDIES,
LOAN GUARANTEES, HIGH RISK LOAN POOLS OR SEED MONEY GRANTS.
Ask THE CITY PLANNERS IN CHICAGO, GALVESTON, PHILADELPHIA
AND PORTLAND.
THE POINT IS NOT THAT ANY ONE - OR EVEN ANY COMBINATION
OF THESE EXAMPLES - MIGHT TURN THE CORNER FOR YOUR CITY,
BUT, EACH OF THEM, IN TURN, PROVES THAT THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVE
TO "HABIT" THINKING,
21-
By THE SWIFT CLOCK THAT COUNTS THE DAYS IN THIS FOURTH
QUARTER OF THE 20TH CENTURY, IT TOOK OUR CITIES A LONG TIME
TO GET TO THEIR PRESENT PREDICAMENT.
ALL OF US PUT TOGETHER -- JOINED BY ALL OUR REALTORS,
LENDERS, BUILDERS, CONSUMERS AND INVESTORS - AREN'T GOING TO
REVERSE THIS GREAT, THREATENING MONSTER OVERNIGHT,
BUT, AS YOU HAVE SHOWN BY YOUR DELIBERATIONS AND
PLANNING HERE AT YOUR 51st ANNIVERSARY CONFERENCE -- THE JOB
CAN, AND WILL BE DONE WITH THE APPLICATION OF NEW THINKING
AND INVENTIVE IDEAS,
HAPPY 51st BIRTHDAY - AND I HOPE TO SEE YOU ON CAPITOL
HILL.