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6/30/76 - United States Conference of Mayors
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This file contains material relating to Community Development Block Grant Program, Committee on Urban Development and Neighborhood Revitalization.
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Carla A. Hills Speeches
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The original documents are located in Box 2, folder "6/30/76 - United States Conference of
Mayors" 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States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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 2 of the Carla A. Hills Speeches at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
FINAL
UNITED STATES CONFERENCE OF MAYORS
JUNE 30, 1976
ONE OF THE FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANT EVENTS IN MY NEW
LIFE AS SECRETARY OF HUD WAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS YOUR
CONFERENCE IN BOSTON, LAST JULY,
IT WAS ALSO ONE OF THE MOST PLEASURABLE BECAUSE, ASIDE
FROM YOUR WARM HOSPITALITY, I FOUND GREAT COMMON GROUND WITH
YOUR VIEW THAT THE ONLY WAY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS EVER
GOING TO HELP THE CITIES HELP THEMSELVES IS TO CONCENTRATE
ON THE THINGS THE CITIES THEMSELVES KNOW THEY NEED.
IT DOES NOT TAKE A GENIUS TO FIGURE OUT THAT THIS 200-
YEAR-OLD NATION -- WHICH HAS LONG SINCE PASSED FROM A RURAL
LAND MASS TO A NETWORK OF EVER-EXPANDING URBAN CENTERS --
WILL SURVIVE ITS THIRD CENTURY ONLY IF IT LEARNS HOW TO MAKE
ITS URBAN CENTERS SURVIVE AND THRIVE,
NOSTALGIA, NOTWITHSTANDING -- AND SURELY NO ONE CAN
BEGRUDGE AMERICA THIS YEAR'S PLEASANT TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE
-- WE ARE AN URBAN SOCIETY, LIKE IT OR NOT, AND THE SOLUTIONS
TO OUR NATIONAL PROBLEMS WILL BE FOUND ONLY IN THE SOLUTIONS
WE FIND TO RECYCLE OUR CITIES AND THE HOUSING AND PHYSICAL
RESOURCES THAT THEY CONTAIN,
GERALO a. FORD LIBRARY
-2-
TODAY I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE STOCK. WHERE WERE WE ONE
YEAR AGO? WHAT HAVE WE DONE ABOUT IT? WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED?
WHERE CAN WE GO?
WHEN I SPOKE TO YOU LAST YEAR, THE MAJOR UNDERLYING
QUESTION MARK TEMPERING ALL OF OUR DELIBERATIONS WAS THE
ABILITY OF OUR NATIONAL ECONOMY TO SUSTAIN THE FORWARD
MOMENTUM WHICH, AT THAT POINT, WAS ON THE CUSP OF A POSITIVE
TURN-AROUND FROM THE BLEAK AND DEPRESSING 12-MONTH PERIOD
OF A FRIGHTENING RECESSION COMPOUNDED BY UNCEASING INFLATION.
FROM YOUR STANDPOINT YOUR TAX REVENUES WERE WAY DOWN,
YOUR VOTERS WERE TURNING DOWN BOND ISSUES AT A TERRIFYING
RATE, NEW YORK AND OTHER CITIES WERE ON THE BRINK OF FINANCIAL
FAILURE, ONE OF HUD's MOST VISIBLE CONTRIBUTIONS SEEMED TO BE
51,000 ABANDONED HOMES, AND HUD's NEW RENTAL SUBSIDY PROGRAM
WAS BARELY OFF THE GROUND.
So HERE WE ARE -- ONE YEAR LATER,
-3-
THE NATION AND ITS ECONOMY SURVIVED -- IN SPITE OF THE
DOOMSAYERS -- AND THE DELICATE HEALTH OF THE ECONOMIC UPTURN,
WHICH WE WATCHED so FRETFULLY A YEAR AGO, HAS BECOME STRONGER
WITH EACH PASSING MONTH. FOR EXAMPLE, TAX REVENUES OF STATE
AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE NOW AT AN ANNUAL RATE OF $248 MILLION,
MORE THAN 12 PERCENT ABOVE LAST YEAR'S LEVEL. HUD's INVENTORY
OF UNSOLD HOMES HAS BEEN REDUCED BY A THIRD. AND WE HAVE
CONTRACTED TO ASSIST ALMOST 300,000 RENTAL UNITS.
PRESIDENT FORD PROVED THE SOUNDNESS OF HIS ECONOMIC COURSE,
AND HE SET THE TONE FOR A NEW NATIONAL AWARENESS, IN WHICH THE
PEOPLE- OF THIS COUNTRY HAVE ADOPTED HIS LONG-HELD VIEW THAT
AMERICA'S WISDOM DOES NOT RESIDE ENTIRELY IN THE CORRIDORS OF
CONGRESS OR WITH THE FEDERAL FORM MAKERS,
IN TRUTH, THE VERY APPROACH WHICH THE PRESIDENT HAS ESPOUSED
ALL ALONG -- HIS CONTINUING CRUSADE TO RETURN GOVERNMENT TO THE
GOVERNED AND TO TRANSFER POWER AWAY FROM THE PoToMac AND BACK TO
THE PEOPLE -- HAS so CAPTURED THE IMAGINATION OF OUR NATION IN
THIS BICENTENNIAL YEAR, THAT 1976 BECAME THE YEAR IN WHICH EVERY
CANDIDATE FOR OFFICE WAS "RUNNING AGAINST WASHINGTON" -- SURELY
A "GRAVE-TURNING" THOUGHT TO THE "FATHER OF OUR COUNTRY".
-4-
BUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS WHAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
HAVE MADE IT. IT HAS GROWN TO FIT THE EXPRESSED WILL OF THE
ELECTORATE, MANY OF ITS FUNCTIONS AND MANY OF ITS AGENCIES
HAVE SURVIVED THE VOTERS AND THE LEGISLATURES, WHICH PUT THEM
INTO BEING. MANY HAVE OUTLIVED THEIR USEFULNESS, YET CARRY
ON UNDER THE PROTECTION OF STRONG SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --
OR VOTING BLOCS -- OR SIMPLY BECAUSE NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE CARED.
IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS FRUSTRATED THOSE WHO HAVE
GONE TO WASHINGTON TO HELP MANAGE IT, THE RIPPLE EFFECT OF
ITS GROWTH -- PARTICULARLY OVER THE PAST SEVERAL DECADES --
HAS HAD AN EVEN GREATER IMPACT ON STATE AND LOCAL LEADERS WHO,
INCREASINGLY, HAVE FOUND THEIR DESTINIES TIED TO DECISIONS
BEING MADE FOR THEM IN THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS.
PERHAPS THE MOST VIVID WORD PICTURE OF THIS FRUSTRATION
WAS OFFERED BY UTAH'S SENATOR JAKE GARN WHO SAID THAT WHEN
HE WAS THE MAYOR OF SALT LAKE CITY HE FELT LESS LIKE THE CHIEF
ADMINISTRATOR OF AN IMPORTANT URBAN ENTITY THAN THE LOCAL
MANAGER FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
WELL, IT TOOK A LONG TIME, AND A LOT OF LEGISLATION TO
PUT THE NATION'S MAYORS IN THAT POSITION, AND IT IS NOT GOING
TO CHANGE OVER NIGHT, REGARDLESS OF CAMPAIGN RHETORIC,
-5-
PRESIDENT FORD, WHO SPENT 21 YEARS ON CAPITOL HILL
FIGHTING AGAINST THE FLOW OF YOUR POWER FROM CITY HALL TO
THE FEDERAL BUREAUCRACY, HAS BEEN USING THAT LONG EXPERIENCE,
IN HIS ROLE AS CHIEF EXECUTIVE, TO GIVE CONTROL BACK TO THE
CITIES. HIS FIGHT FOR RENEWAL OF REVENUE SHARING -- ONCE
AGAIN AGAINST THOSE IN CONGRESS WHO SEE ALL WISDOM IN THE
CONFINES OF WASHINGTON -- IS WELL KNOWN TO THIS AUDIENCE.
WE MUST FIND IT AT LEAST PECULIAR THAT THIS CONGRESS
WHICH HAS DEVISED so MANY MORE WAYS TO INCREASE THE FEDERAL
DEBT THROUGH MASSIVE SPENDING BILLS HAS BEEN so RECALCITRANT
ON THE ONE MAJOR SPENDING PROGRAM, ABOVE ALL OTHERS, THAT
IS CRUCIAL TO YOUR MOST URGENT NEEDS.
ONE MUST WONDER IF CONGRESS REALLY TRUSTS THE PEOPLE TO
MAKE THEIR OWN LOCAL DECISIONS,
WHATEVER THE ANSWER, IT IS CLEAR THAT THE REAL NEEDS OF
OUR CITIES, DURING THE PERIOD OF CONGRESSIONAL JOCKEYING ON
REVENUE SHARING, TOOK SECOND PLACE WITH THE MAJORITY OF YOUR
OWN SURROGATES ON CAPITOL HILL.
IT IS SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT,
-6-
THIS PAST YEAR WE HAVE TRIED TO RESPOND TO THE FRUSTRATIONS
OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN WHIPSAWED BY CONFLICTING FEDERAL PROGRAMS
AND HAMSTRUNG BY OVERLY COMPLEX REQUIREMENTS. No MATTER HOW
WELL-INTENTIONED A NEW PROGRAM OR PIECE OF LEGISLATION, IT CANNOT
ACHIEVE ITS INTENDED EFFECT UNLESS IT COMES IN BEHIND AN OVERALL
STRATEGY ORCHESTRATED BY LOCAL OFFICIALS TO REVITALIZE OUR URBAN
CENTERS.
THERE ARE AT LEAST ENOUGH OF US IN WASHINGTON NOW WHO
KNOW THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO DEVELOP A COORDINATED
URBAN STRATEGY FOR MILWAUKEE OR ANY OTHER CITY. To ATTEMPT
TO DO so IS RATHER LIKE ASKING FRIGIDAIRE, ANACONDA COOPER
AND GEORGIA-PACIFIC EACH TO DESIGN AND TO SEND TO THE HOMEBUYER
ITS PART OF A HOUSE,
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OVER THE YEARS DEVELOPED so MANY
SUPPLIERS WITH so M NY DIFFERENT SCHEDULES, RULES AND REGULATIONS
THAT IT HAD BECOME A PRACTICAL IMPOSSIBILITY TO DESIGN A PLAN
TO USE RESOURCES EFFICIENTLY. EVEN THE BEST EFFORTS OF LOCAL
OFFICIALS WERE TO SOME EXTENT FRUSTRATED BY THE REQUIREMENTS OF
FEDERAL CATEGORICAL PROGRAMS.
GERALD
-7-
AND so, WE HAVE ASKED OURSELVES, CONGRESS, AND MANY OF
YOU, AGAIN AND AGAIN: SHOULD WE NOT FIRST HAVE A DESIGN,
LOCALLY SPONSORED AND SUPPORTED, RATHER THAN THROW FEDERAL
FUNDS IN A RANDOM FASHION AT OUR CITIES?
AND IF WE HAVE A LOCAL DESIGN, IS IT REALISTIC TO PRETEND
THAT FEDERAL FUNDS ARE NOT NEEDED TO CARRY OUT THAT DESIGN?
THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION IS SURELY "NO" -- ONLY THE FEDERAL
TAX SYSTEM HAS THE CAPABILITY TO PROVIDE THE RESOURCES NEEDED
TO DO THE WORK WHICH MUST BE DONE.
AND IF WE PLACE OUR PRIMARY RELIANCE ON LOCAL DESIGN
AND FEDERAL FUNDING, IS THERE A FURTHER ROLE FOR HUD AND ITS
SISTER AGENCIES? HERE THE ANSWER IS "YES", THE FEDERAL ROLE
WILL CONTINUE TO BE AN IMPORTANT ONE -- TO SET NATIONAL
PRIORITIES, TO MONITOR LOCAL COMPLIANCE WITH BROAD FEDERAL
GUIDELINES, TO SPONSOR INNOVATIVE DEMONSTRATIONS, AND TO
SERVE AS THE FOCAL POINT FOR DISSEMINATING CREATIVE IDEAS.
IN THE AREAS WHICH FALL WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF MY
DEPARTMENT, I. AM PLEASED TO REPORT SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS IN
MOVING TOWARDS THE FEDERAL ROLE I HAVE DESCRIBED.
-8-
THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM, SIGNED
INTO LAW BY PRESIDENT FORD IN AUGUST OF 1974, HAS PLACED
DESIGN RESPONSIBILITY DIRECTLY ON LOCALLY ELECTED OFFICIALS
AND BLOCK GRANTS HAVE HELPED TO TURN LOCAL DESIGNS INTO
LOCAL ACHIEVEMENTS. WE HAVE ACHIEVED A DRAMATIC REDUCTION
IN FEDERAL RED TAPE, DESPITE INEVITABLE START-UP PROBLEMS,
WE CONSIDER THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT TO BE A
PROMISING BEGINNING IN THE EFFORT TO RE-CAST THE FEDERAL
ROLE IN DEALING WITH LOCAL URBAN PROBLEMS,
WE HAVE ALSO MADE NOTEWORTHY PROGRESS IN 1975 IN THE
AREA OF SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO URBAN PROBLEMS,
LAST WINTER WE SELECTED 23 CITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR
URBAN HOMESTEADING DEMONSTRATION, THESE CITIES ARE USING HUD
PROPERTIES AND SUBSIDIZED REHABILITATION LOANS IN COORDINATED
NEIGHBORHOOD PRESERVATION PROGRAMS. WE HAVE SUPPORTED THE
PENDING LEGISLATIVE EXPANSION OF THE FEDERAL HOMESTEADING
PROGRAM. AND, AS PART OF OUR MONITORING OF THIS PROGRAM WE
WILL PRODUCE -- BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR -- A COMPLETE
MANUAL ON HOMESTEADING.
-9-
HUD RECENTLY INITIATED IN BALTIMORE A PILOT PROGRAM TO
USE PUBLIC HOUSING FUNDS TO REHABILITATE SCATTER-SITE CITY
ACQUIRED SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSING, THE INFUSION OF FEDERAL FUNDS
CAN RETURN THESE ABANDONED PROPERTIES TO ACTIVE USE AT LOWER
COSTS THAN NEW CONSTRUCTION. THE DEMONSTRATION IS PROCEEDING
so WELL THAT IN A FEW WEEKS WE WILL SUBSTANTIALLY EXPAND THIS
PROGRAM.
HUD IS JOINTLY SPONSORING THE URBAN REINVESTMENT TASK
FORCE WITH THE BANK REGULATORY AGENCIES. THE TASK FORCE
BRINGS TOGETHER NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS, CITY OFFICIALS AND
LOCAL LENDERS COMMITTED TO A COORDINATED REINVESTMENT STRATEGY,
THERE ARE ALREADY 33 NEIGHBORHOOD PROJECTS IN OPERATION, 20
MORE IN ACTIVE DEVELOPMENT AND ANOTHER 10 IN PLANNING,
THIS YEAR, WE HAVE INCREASED THREE-FOLD THE INNOVATIVE
GRANT FUNDING DEVOTED TO NEIGHBORHOOD PRESERVATION, HUD HAS
RECEIVED OVER 300 PROPOSALS AND WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON
AUGUST 13. As WITH OUR OTHER DEMONSTRATIONS WE WILL EVALUATE
EACH GRANTEE'S PROGRAM TO PROVIDE OTHER COMMUNITIES WITH THE
BENEFITS OF THEIR EXPERIENCES.
-11-
WE HAVE LEARNED THAT CITIES NEED A LONG-RUN COMMITMENT
OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FUNDS IN ORDER TO UNDERTAKE BROAD
PRESERVATION STRATEGIES. ACCORDINGLY, WE WILL SEEK A MULTI-
YEAR RATHER THAN ANNUAL AUTHORIZATION FOR THE BLOCK GRANTS,
WE HAVE BECOME ACUTELY AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS POSED FOR
OLDER DECLINING CITIES BY THE PLANNED PHASE-OUT OF HOLD-
HARMLESS FUNDING IN OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. BUT,
WE ARE ALSO AWARE THAT HOLD-HARMLESS IS AN IMPRECISE WAY TO
TARGET FUNDS ON THOSE CITIES WITH PARTICULARLY PRESSING NEEDS.
WE ARE CAREFULLY STUDYING THE ALLOCATION FORMULA TO ASSURE
THAT OLDER DECLINING CITIES RECEIVE ASSISTANCE COMMENSURATE
TO THEIR NEEDS.
WE ALSO SOUGHT A WAY TO PROVIDE TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE TO
CITIES WHICH SUFFERED DISPROPORTIONATELY FROM THE RECESSION
BY SUPPORTING CONGRESSMAN GARRY BROWN'S BILL TO PROVIDE OVER
$1 BILLION IN SUPPLEMENTAL BLOCK GRANTS TO AREAS WITH HIGH
UNEMPLOYMENT. UNFORTUNATELY, THAT BIPARTISAN MEASURE WAS
STRIKEN FROM OUR AUTHORIZATION BILL IN CONFERENCE,
-12-
WE FOUND THAT THE MECHANISMS WE USED TO DEAL WITH FHA
INSURED BORROWERS AND HUD ACQUIRED PROPERTIES MUST CONSIDER
NEIGHBORHOOD IMPACTS. ACCORDINGLY, WE HAVE ADOPTED A NEW
MORTGAGE ASSIGNMENT POLICY TO KEEP DESERVING HOMEOWNERS IN
THEIR HOMES DURING PERIODS OF TEMPORARY FINANCIAL DISTRESS,
AND, I HAVE INSTRUCTED ALL OUR FIELD OFFICES TO OBTAIN LOCAL
INPUT IN DEVELOPING A PLAN FOR DISPOSING OF HUD-ACQUIRED
PROPERTIES.
REALIZING THAT OUR SITE-SELECTION CRITERIA FOR HUD-
ASSISTED REHABILITATION CAN CONSTRAIN NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT,
WE ARE. TAKING A HARD LOOK AT THE COMPETING SOCIAL GOALS THOSE
REQUIREMENTS INVOLVE,
AND, BECAUSE PRIVATE DISINVESTMENT IS A CRUCIAL FACTOR
IN NEIGHBORHOOD DECLINE, WE SUPPORTED THE RECENTLY ENACTED
LEGISLATION TO REQUIRE BANK DISCLOSURE OF THE LOCATION OF
THEIR LENDING ACTIVITIES. THE RESULTING INFORMATION SHOULD
NOT ONLY PROVIDE NEEDED INSIGHTS ON PRIVATE DISINVESTMENT
BUT ALSO AN EARLY WARNING SIGNAL FOR YOU TO USE IN ALLOCATING
LOCAL PUBLIC RESOURCES,
WHERE CAN WE GO FROM HERE?
-13-
BEFORE ALL ELSE WE MUST MAKE THE REST OF AMERICA UNDERSTAND
THAT WE ARE LITERALLY ENGAGED IN A WAR FOR THE SURVIVAL OF OUR
URBAN CENTERS, IF WE CANNOT RESURRECT THE GREAT MASSES OF WEALTH,
OF HISTORY, AND OF PRODUCTIVE CAPACITY THAT IS DETERIORATING IN
OUR CITIES, WE WILL NOT AS A NATION RETAIN THE VITALITY THAT HAS
FOR 200 YEARS MADE OURS THE CREATIVE SOCIETY THAT HAS LED THE
WORLD.
LAST YEAR IN BOSTON I SAID:
"No CHALLENGE DURING THE NEXT DECADE IS
GREATER THAN THE REVITALIZATION OF URBAN
AMERICA.'
I ONLY WISH I COULD FIND STRONGER WORDS TO SAY THE SAME THING
TO EVERY LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL LEGISLATOR, AND ADMINISTRATOR,
AND TO EVERY VOTER,
WE HAVE NO GREATER PROBLEM.
THE PROGRESS WE HAVE MADE SINCE LAST YEAR HAS NOT YET
ACHIEVED REAL MEANING IN HUMAN TERMS. BUT WE HAVE MADE PROGRESS,
IN OUR JOINT EFFORTS TO FIND A BETTER STRATEGY.
-14-
As LARGE AS HUD IS, THE WINNING STRATEGY MUST HAVE A
FAR BROADER FOCUS, To REDUCE A WELTER OF CONFLICTING AND
OVERLAPPING FEDERAL PROGRAMS INTO BUILDING BLOCKS WHICH
LOCAL OFFICIALS CAN TURN INTO CREATIVE DESIGNS, PRESIDENT
FORD HAS PROPOSED NEW BLOCK GRANT PROGRAMS FOR HEALTH,
EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SERVICES, THESE ARE NOT PROPOSALS TO
REDUCE FUNDING, RATHER THEY ARE PROPOSALS TO MAKE FUNDING
MORE USEFUL.
BUT BEYOND CONSOLIDATING AND SIMPLIFYING OUR PROGRAMS,
WE IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MUST ACHIEVE A NEW LEVEL OF
SENSITIVITY TO THE NEED FOR COORDINATION AMONG FEDERAL AGENCIES.
IN A MAJOR INITIATIVE TO SORT OUT THE PROBLEMS FACED BY
COMMUNITIES IN DEALING WITH FEDERAL PROGRAMS, THE PRESIDENT
YESTERDAY CREATED A CABINET LEVEL COMMITTEE ON URBAN DEVELOPMENT
AND NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION.
As HEAD OF THAT COMMITTEE, I INTEND TO DEVOTE A MAJOR
PORTION OF MY TIME AND ENERGY TO THE CHALLENGE THAT IT ENTAILS,
THE COMMITTEE'S AGENDA WILL BE MY PERSONAL AGENDA,
-15-
WE WILL CONDUCT A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF ALL MAJOR
FEDERAL PROGRAMS WHICH HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE CITIES AND
THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, WE WILL SEEK THE PERSPECTIVES OF LOCAL
OFFICIALS AND NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS ON THE FEDERAL PROGRAMS
WHICH AFFECT THEM. BECAUSE NO CITY CAN SOLVE ITS PROBLEMS
WITHOUT ADEQUATE RESOURCES, WE WILL ANALYZE THE PATTERNS
OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE DISINVESTMENT IN URBAN AREAS.
WE WILL ADDRESS A NUMBER OF VERY HARD QUESTIONS:
How CAN WE ENCOURAGE MIDDLE INCOME FAMILIES AND COMMERCIAL
ESTABLISHMENTS TO MOVE BACK INTO OUR CENTER CITIES?
How CAN WE ENCOURAGE THE COMMUNITIES IN A METROPOLITAN
AREA TO ASSUME SOME OF THE BURDENS OF REVITALIZING THE CENTER
CITIES?
AND, ON THE VERY PRACTICAL LEVEL, HOW CAN WE BEST TAILOR
OUR BLOCK GRANT AND OTHER PROGRAMS TO LOCAL FISCAL AND PLANNING
CYCLES?
-16-
THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, WHICH INCLUDE THE CABINET
OFFICERS AND OFFICE DIRECTORS WITH MAJOR RESPONSIBILITY FOR
PROGRAMS AFFECTING THE CITIES, WILL, IN A COORDINATED FASHION,
AFFECT CHANGES IN THEIR PROGRAMS TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR LOCAL
OFFICIALS TO PLAN AND IMPLEMENT THEM.
WE WILL PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE CONGRESS FOR
CHANGES IN FEDERAL POLICIES AND PROGRAMS IN ORDER TO PLACE
MAXIMUM DECISION-MAKING RESPONSIBILITY AT THE LOCAL LEVEL,
REMOVE LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE OBSTACLES TO EXERCISE OF
THIS RESPONSIBILITY, AND PROVIDE SUFFICIENT RESOURCES THROUGH
COORDINATED TAX AND GRANT PROGRAMS TO MAKE THAT RESPONSIBILITY
MEANINGFUL.
I SAID EARLIER THAT WE ARE LITERALLY ENGAGED IN A WAR
FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE RESOURCES OF OUR CITIES. IT WILL
BE A COSTLY WAR, How MUCH IT WILL COST AND WHO WILL PAY ARE
QUESTIONS WE MUST ADDRESS WHEN THE CORRECTIVE STRATEGY IS
BROADLY ACCEPTED AND THE LOCALLY CREATED DESIGNS FOR VICTORY
ARE IN PLACE,
WE DO KNOW THAT IT IS A WAR THAT MONEY ALONE WILL NOT
WIN AND A WAR THAT WILL SURELY BE LOST UNLESS IT IS SKILLFULLY
DIRECTED AND SUPPORTED ON THE LOCAL LEVEL.
-17-
WE COULD NOT WIN THE WAR OF THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE VILLAGES
WITH BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF AID, AND WE LOST THE FIRST ROUND
OF OUR FIGHT TO SAVE OUR CITIES EVEN THOUGH WE SPENT BILLIONS
OF DOLLARS ON PUBLIC HOUSING,
CITIES, WHOSE TAX BASES HAVE DANGEROUSLY ERODED, WHOSE
SCHOOLS ARE PRIMARILY MADE UP OF THE DISADVANTAGED, AND WHOSE
INDUSTRY IS LEAVING, ARE IN A DOWNWARD SPIRAL. To REVERSE
THAT SPIRAL REQUIRES NEW INCENTIVES TO ATTRACT BUSINESSES AND
TO ATTRACT A HETEROGENOUS MIX OF PEOPLE,
SUSPENSION OF PROPERTY TAXES, PRIVATE INVESTMENT INCENTIVES,
FEDERAL REVENUE SHARING, AND FEDERAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK
GRANTS -- WHICH BET ON LOCAL INITIATIVE ARE ALL WEAPONS THAT WELL
DIRECTED CITIES ARE USING,
Too MANY AMERICANS HAVE ABANDONED THE CITIES TO THEIR
PROBLEMS. RATHER THAN ATTACK DETERIORATING NEIGHBORHOODS,
INCREASING CRIME, SEGREGATED EDUCATION, AND JOBLESS MINORITIES
WITH OUR VOTES, OUR TAX DOLLARS, AND WITH ALL THE CREATIVITY
AND ENERGY THAT WE COULD MUSTER, WE HAVE TOO OFTEN OVER THE
YEARS CURSED THE INEPTITUDE OF OUR CITIES' LEADERS FROM THE
SANCTITY OF OUR SUBURBS,
GERALD
-18-
As INDIVIDUALS WE MUST TAKE OURSELVES BACK TO THE FIGHT
TO REHABILITATE THE STRUCTURES, THE GOVERNMENT, AND THE SCHOOLS
OF THE CITIES,
As GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WE MUST ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT TOOK
OUR CITIES A LONG TIME TO REACH THEIR PRESENT STATE OF AFFAIRS,
AND IT WILL TAKE A LONG TIME AND GREAT INGENUITY TO TURN THE
TREND -- BUT TURN IT CAN, OUR ADVERSITY CARRIES WITH IT THE
OPPORTUNITY TO RESTORE OUR URBAN CENTERS TO THEIR KEY ECONOMIC,
HISTORIC AND CULTURAL PLACE.
IT IS POPULAR TODAY TO BE CYNICAL ABOUT THE CAPACITY OF
WASHINGTON TO UNDERSTAND OUR PROBLEMS OR TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT
THEM. BUT AS REALISTS WE MUST KNOW THAT THE CLEANSING PROCESS
OF THE PAST TWO YEARS HAS TOUCHED ALL PARTS OF OUR SOCIETY,
THE MEASURE OF OUR SOCIETY IS THAT WE STILL HAVE CLEAR
CAPACITY AND WILL TO DEAL WITH CRISES AS THEY COME INTO VIEW.
I SEE THIS COUNTRY ENTERING ITS THIRD CENTURY WITH THE
STRONGEST ECONOMY AND THE STRONGEST DEMOCRACY THIS WORLD HAS
EVER KNOWN. WITH THE OLDEST CONTINUING GOVERNMENT IN THE
FREE WORLD, WE MORE THAN ANY OTHER NATION RETAIN THE WILL AND
THE CAPACITY TO CORRECT PAST MISTAKES,
GERALD
-19-
I AM VERY PROUD, AS A MEMBER OF HIS ADMINISTRATION, OF
THE ROLE PRESIDENT FORD HAS PLAYED IN RESTORING AMERICA'S
FAITH IN ITS OWN INSTITUTIONS; IN TURNING THE ECONOMY IN THE
RIGHT DIRECTION.
You MAYORS, BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE, KNOW THAT WE STILL
HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO,
WE ARE IN A WAR THAT ONLY CAN BE WON WITH ACTION, NOT
RHETORIC; WITH SOLID PROGRAMS, NOT EASY PROMISES; AND WITH
THE DEDICATION OF ALL AMERICANS, NOT JUST A FEW.
As A NATION, WHICH HAS LED THE ENTIRE FREE WORLD OUT OF
ITS ECONOMIC RECESSION, WE DO HAVE THE LEADERSHIP -- BOTH IN
WASHINGTON AND IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT -- TO DEAL EFFECTIVELY WITH
THE CRISES OF OUR CITIES.
IN FACT, I THINK IT IS IN PLACE -- PRESENT COMPANY INCLUDED.
2082