Ask the Scholar
Document scope · 1 page
Scholar
Ask about this object, its catalog metadata, its source description, or the page inventory.
For page-specific OCR and visual context, open one of the page chats.
Source Description
This file contains material relating to Committee on Urban Development and Neighborhood Revitialization, Community Development Block Grants.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
1133482
label
10/6/76 - Federal Reserve Bank Board
core
doc
dtoType
document
citationUrl
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
1133482
sourceUrl
contentType
document
title
10/6/76 - Federal Reserve Bank Board
description
This file contains material relating to Committee on Urban Development and Neighborhood Revitialization, Community Development Block Grants.
citationUrl
collections
Carla A. Hills Speeches
Speeches
subjects
Bureaucracy
Economics
Federal aid
Housing
Independent regulatory commissions
Intergovernmental relations
Local government
Revenue sharing
Urban policy
iiifBase
thumbnailUrl
largeImageUrl
imageCount
1
hasImages
yes
source
import
hasTranscription
no
Source extras
naId
1133482
coverageEndDate
day
6
logicalDate
1976-10-06
month
10
year
1976
coverageStartDate
day
6
logicalDate
1976-10-06
month
10
year
1976
levelOfDescription
fileUnit
recordType
description
ocrSource
nara-archive
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
document
url
mediaId
5010c69d6e39dbf1
ocrText
The original documents are located in Box 2, folder 10/6/76 - Federal Reserve Bank
Board" 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States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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
FEDERAL RESERVE BANK BOARD
OCTOBER 6, 1976
You HAVE INVITED ME TO TALK WITH YOU ABOUT THE CHANGING
NATURE OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS,
OURS, WE ARE OFTEN REMINDED, IS A THREE-TIERED SYSTEM OF
GOVERNMENT.
BUT, WE CANNOT DISCUSS THE CHANGING RELATIONSHIPS AMONG THE
THREE TIERS -- FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL -- WITHOUT CONSIDERING,
FIRST, THE CHANGING NATURE OF OUR NATIONAL ECONOMY, FOR, IN THE
FINAL ANALYSIS IT IS THE STATE OF OUR ECONOMY THAT DICTATES HOW
THAT RELATIONSHIP WILL WORK.
As PROFESSOR HAROLD HILL SAID, IN "THE MUSIC MAN":
"WE'VE GOT A GREAT BAND! SPLENDID UNIFORMS!
Now, IF WE COULD ONLY AFFORD INSTRUMENTS,
WE COULD TEACH THE BAND HOW TO PLAY."
So THE PRIMARY REQUISITE IS A STABLE, GROWING NATIONAL ECONOMY,
SUPPORTED BY COMMERCIAL EXPANSION AND PRODUCTIVE EMPLOYMENT -- so
WE CAN AFFORD THE INSTRUMENTS OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL PRODUCTIVITY.
FOR, AS ANY STUDENT OF THE URBAN CONDITION KNOWS, THE ECONOMIC
ILLS THAT BESET A NATION STRIKE FIRST AND HARDEST IN THE POOREST
CENTERS OF OUR LARGEST AND OLDEST CITIES. AND THOSE CENTERS FRALD ARE
GE
LIBRARY
THE LAST TO FEEL ANY VISTAGES OF NATIONAL ECONOMIC UPTURN.
-2-
INDEED, NONE OF US HERE WILL FORGET OUR RECENT ECONOMIC
HISTORY. WE ALL RECALL TOO WELL THAT IN 1975, THE MAJOR QUESTION-
MARK WAS WHETHER OUR NATIONAL ECONOMY WOULD SUSTAIN THE FORWARD
MOMENTUM WHICH WAS THEN ON THE CUSP OF A POSITIVE TURN-AROUND
-- FROM THE BLEAK AND DEPRESSING 12-MONTH PERIOD OF A TERRIFYING
RECESSION COMPOUNDED BY UNCEASING INFLATION.
INFLATION STOOD AT 12-14 PERCENT. THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
WAS ABOUT 9 PERCENT,
URBAN REVENUES WERE WAY DOWN. NEW YORK WAS ON THE BRINK
OF FINANCIAL FAILURE, INDUSTRY WAS DEPRESSED AND THE HOUSING
SECTOR WAS SUFFERING ITS WORST YEAR IN 3 DECADES,
HERE WE ARE, ONE YEAR LATER.
THE NATION AND ITS ECONOMY SURVIVED -- AND THE DELICATE
HEALTH OF THE ECONOMIC UPTURN, WHICH WE WATCHED so FRETFULLY
A YEAR AGO, HAS BECOME STRONGER AND STRONGER WITH EACH PASSING
MONTH,
IN ONE SHORT YEAR WE HAVE SEEN:
PERSONAL INCOME JUMP $83 BILLION; OUR GROSS NATIONAL
PRODUCT GROW BY $200 BILLION; TAX REVENUES OF STATE AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS ARE UP 11 PERCENT.
-3-
TODAY, THERE ARE 3 MILLION MORE AMERICANS WORKING THAN
ONE YEAR AGO -- IN SPITE OF A TREMENDOUS INFLUX OF WOMEN AND
YOUNG PEOPLE INTO THE LABOR MARKET. AND INFLATION HAS BEEN
MORE THAN CUT IN HALF.
WE HAVE COME THIS FAR, IN MY VIEW, NOT THROUGH THE MAGIC
OF A BIG FEDERAL GOVERNMENT "SAVE", BUT THROUGH THE STRONG AND
CONSISTENT GUIDING HAND OF A PRAGMATIC PRESIDENT -- ASSISTED
AND SUPPORTED BY PRIVATE ENTERPRISE.
PRESIDENT FORD HAS NOT ONLY PROVED THE SOUNDNESS OF HIS
ECONOMIC COURSE, HE HAS SET THE TONE FOR A NEW NATIONAL AWARENESS
THAT AMERICA'S WISDOM DOES NOT RESIDE ENTIRELY IN THE CORRIDORS
OF CONGRESS THAT OUR STATES AND OUR CITIES ACROSS OUR DIVERSE
LAND VERY OFTEN CAN DEVISE BETTER SOLUTIONS FOR THEIR INDIVIDUAL
PROBLEMS THAN CAN CONGRESS WHICH DEALS IN NATIONAL STATISTICS
AND DEVISES GRAND SOLUTIONS THAT TOO FREQUENTLY MISS THE MARK.
IN SHORT, PRESENT DISSATISFACTION WITH GOVERNMENT IS BASED
IN LARGE MEASURE ON THE ABSENCE OF SOUND AND COORDINATED
INTERGOVERNMENTAL ACTION.
THE GREAT AMERICAN ESTABLISHMENT THAT MEANS "WASHINGTON" TO
MOST PEOPLE -- WITH ITS VAST ARRAY OF CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES
AND SUBCOMMITTEES, PRESSURE GROUPS AND OFFICIAL LOBBIES --- HAS
SOMEWHERE LOST TRACK OF THE FACT THAT PROGRAMS FOR THE PEOPLE
CAN ONLY BE JUDGED ON HOW WELL THEY SERVE THE PEOPLE.
-4-
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN NOT ANSWER THE NEEDS OF THE
PEOPLE SIMPLY BY LEGISLATING NEW PROGRAMS WITH FANCY TITLES
AND HIGHFLOWN STATEMENTS OF PURPOSE. NOR CAN IT DELIVER THE
PROMISE OF AMERICA JUST BY THROWING MONEY AT PROBLEMS.
IT WORRIES ME THAT WE STILL HEAR CALLS FOR THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT TO SUBSIDIZE THE BUILDING OF 2.5 MILLION HOUSING
UNITS A YEAR.
PURSUANT TO THE HOUSING AcT OF 1968, THIS NATION SUBSIDIZED,
ANNUALLY, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE MARKET NEEDS OF PARTICULAR AREAS,
MORE THAN 2 MILLION HOUSING STARTS FOR THREE YEARS RUNNING -- AND
GENERATED A BURST OF HOUSING OVERPRODUCTION THAT WE ARE STILL
TRYING TO WORK OFF,
IN THE COURSE OF THIS PRODUCTION EXPLOSION OUR NATION
ABANDONED THOUSANDS OF SOUND, WELL-DESIGNED HOMES IN OUR CITIES
AND UNDER-UTILIZED ROADS, UTILITIES, AND SEWAGE SYSTEMS ALREADY
IN PLACE THERE, AS BUYERS HEEDED THE PIED PIPER CALL OF "NEW IS
BETTER". NEIGHBORHOODS WERE BLIGHTED WITH ROW UPON ROW OF
BOARDED-UP HOUSES,
-5-
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.
IT TOOK A LONG TIME, AND A LOT OF LEGISLATION TO CREATE THE
PRESENT TANGLE, AND IT IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE OVER NIGHT, REGARDLESS
OF CAMPAIGN RHETORIC.
SINCE THE START OF HIS ADMINISTRATION TWO YEARS AGO, PRESIDENT
FORD HAS TAKEN STEPS TO IMPROVE THE FOCUS AND DELIVERY OF FEDERAL
ASSISTANCE TO OUR STATES AND URBAN CENTERS,
ON JUNE 30TH, THE PRESIDENT APPOINTED A CABINET-LEVEL
COMMITTEE ON URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION,
WHICH I CHAIR, TO UNDERTAKE A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF ALL FEDERAL
PROGRAMS WHICH AFFECT OUR URBAN AREAS; TO CONSULT WITH LOCAL
OFFICIALS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS REGARDING HOW FEDERAL PROGRAMS
IMPACT ON COMMUNITIES, AND TO PROPOSE TO HIM STATUTORY AND
ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES FOR IMPROVEMENT,
OUR INITIAL REVIEW OF THE AMASSED DATA QUICKLY CONFIRMED
WHAT WE ALREADY SUSPECTED.
GERALD
-6-
OVER THE PAST HALF-CENTURY, SUCCEEDING CONGRESSES HAVE
ENACTED SO MANY SEPARATE CATEGORICAL PROGRAMS THAT IT DEFIES
THE INGENUITY OF ANYBODY TO DEVELOP A COORDINATED STRATEGY
FOR A CHICAGO, A Los ANGELES, A CLEVELAND, OR A PHILADELPHIA.
IN ADDITION, THERE ARE so MANY SUPPLIERS OF FEDERAL FUNDS
WITH so MANY DIFFERENT SCHEDULES, RULES, AND REGULATIONS THAT
IT IS A PRACTICAL IMPOSSIBILITY TO DESIGN AN EFFICIENT URBAN
PLAN IN OR OUT OF WASHINGTON THAT WILL GET THE MOST OUT OF THE
FEDERAL DOLLAR.
I HAVE REVIEWED 103 FEDERALLY-FUNDED PROGRAMS WHICH AFFECT
OUR URBAN AREAS AND WHICH CARRY A PRICE TAG OF ROUGHLY $50
BILLION A YEAR, SIXTY-THREE OF THESE ARE DIRECT GRANT PROGRAMS
-- OF WHICH ONLY 4 ARE BROAD BLOCK GRANT PROGRAMS WHICH GIVE
SUBSTANTIAL DISCRETION TO LOCAL OFFICIALS, THE OTHER 59 FUND
PROJECTS IN THE NARROW CATEGORIES FAVORED BY CONGRESS. THE
REMAINING 40 ARE MISCELLANEOUS LOAN PROGRAMS.
SIGNIFICANTLY, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE ELIGIBLE, DIRECT
APPLICANTS IN BARELY ONE-FOURTH OF ALL THESE PROGRAMS WHICH
PRIMARILY AFFECT LOCALITIES.
ALL OTHER PROGRAM FUNDS ARE DISTRIBUTED TO THE STATES
OR TO SPECIAL-PURPOSE LOCAL AGENCIES.
-7-
I DO NOT WISH TO FLATTER A LOCAL AUDIENCE BY POINTING
TO THE SUPERIORITY OF LOCAL LEADERSHIP OVER WASHINGTON PLANNERS
-- BUT I BELIEVE A BRIEF RECAP OF THE HUD EXPERIENCE ILLUSTRATES
THE ADVANTAGE TO THE CITY, TO THE STATE, TO THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT, AND, NOT LEAST OF ALL, TO THE TAXPAYERS, OF GIVING
BROAD DISCRETION WITH FEDERAL FUNDING.
BEFORE PRESIDENT FORD SIGNED THE NEW HOUSING AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT Act INTO LAW IN AUGUST, 1974, HUD HAD 7 CATEGORICAL
GRANT PROGRAMS THAT ARE NOW CONSOLIDATED UNDER OUR BLOCK GRANT
PROGRAM -- EACH HAD ITS OWN SET OF REQUIREMENTS, REGULATIONS,
AND TIMETABLES. WATER AND SEWERS; URBAN RENEWAL; OPEN SPACE FOR
PARK DEVELOPMENT -- ALL OF THEM WELL-MEANING BUT WITHOUT ANY
ALLOWANCE FOR GREATER COMMUNITY NEEDS THAT MIGHT LIE OUTSIDE OF
THE STRICT SPECIFICATIONS OF THE SPECIFIED 7 CATEGORIES,
THE RESULT WAS CONFUSION, FRUSTRATION AND INTERMINABLE
DELAYS -- OFTEN OUTLASTING LOCAL ADMINISTRATIONS, OR MISSING
THE MOMENT FOR EFFECTIVE CORRECTIVE ACTION.
To MAKE SENSE OUT OF THIS MORASS, THIS ADMINISTRATION
DEVELOPED THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM, UNDER
THE PROGRAM, LARGE CITIES AND URBAN COUNTIES RECEIVE UNFETTERED
FUNDS WHICH THEY SPEND, FOR THEIR LOCALITIES' MOST URGENT
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT NEEDS.
-8-
REGULATIONS HAVE BEEN CUT FROM 2600 PAGES TO ABOUT 30
PAGES; APPLICATIONS FROM 1400 PAGES TO ABOUT 50 PAGES; AND
REVIEW TIME FROM AN AVERAGE OF 26 MONTHS TO AN AVERAGE OF 45
DAYS. As COMPARED TO 1967, WE ARE NOW PROVIDING TWICE AS MUCH
FUNDING TO TWICE AS MANY UNITS OF GOVERNMENT -- AND WE ARE
DOING IT WITH FEWER HUD EMPLOYEES.
BUT, MOST IMPORTANT, WE ARE PROVIDING LOCAL COMMUNITIES
WITH VITALLY NEEDED FUNDS -- ON TIME AND IN TIME.
IT IS MY STRONG BELIEF THAT OUR CITIES CAN, AND WILL,
MOVE FORWARD IF THE FEDERAL ESTABLISHMENT SHIFTS EMPHASIS
FROM CATEGORICAL THINKING TO BLOCK GRANT PLANNING.
THEN FUNDING IS PUT BEYOND THE NARROW PERSPECTIVE OF
SOME "EXPERT" IN WASHINGTON, WHO CANNOT POSSIBLY GRASP THE
INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES OF THE THOUSAND UPON THOUSAND OF
LOCALITIES ACROSS OUR VAST COUNTRY,
THE EVIDENCE, IN FACT, IS so STRONG -- THAT I SUGGEST
THAT A FORWARD-LOOKING APPROACH TO FEDERAL GRANT PROGRAMS
SHOULD BUILD ON FOUR PRINCIPLES:
-9-
FIRST, WE SHOULD PREFER BLOCK GRANTS TO CATEGORICALS FOR
ALL THE REASONS I HAVE STATED HERE, TONIGHT -- PARTICULARLY IN
GIVING LOCAL PEOPLE MORE CONTROL OVER THE RESOURCES THAT AFFECT
THEIR LIVES,
SECOND, FUNDING SHOULD BE PROVIDED THROUGH THE ELECTED
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF STATES AND LOCALITIES BOTH TO
ASSURE COORDINATION IN THE USE OF AVAILABLE FUNDS AND
ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE PEOPLE AFFECTED.
THIRD, CITIZEN PARTICIPATION SHOULD BE A RULE RATHER THAN
AN EXCEPTION IN FEDERAL GRANT PROGRAMS, WHICH WILL INCREASE
GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTABILITY, THE CORNERSTONE OF OUR DEMOCRACY.
AND, FINALLY, MULTI-YEAR FUNDING SHOULD BE THE RULE, so
THAT OUR COMMUNITIES CAN INTELLIGENTLY PLAN INTO THE FUTURE
AND, AT THE SAME TIME, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF TIMELY OPPORTUNITIES
TO GET THE MOST EFFECTIVE RETURN ON THEIR AVAILABLE FUNDS.
I DO NOT CLAIM THAT THESE FOUR PRINCIPLES ARE THE BE-ALL
AND END-ALL FOR EVERY FEDERAL PROGRAM. BUT, I BELIEVE THAT
OUR CONSTITUENCIES WOULD FARE A LOT BETTER IF THESE BECAME
THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF FUTURE FEDERAL PROGRAM PLANNING.
-10-
THESE PRINCIPLES WILL ENHANCE THE SPECIAL CAPABILITIES
OF EACH LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT AND ENABLE EACH LEVEL TO BE MORE
RESPONSIVE AND EFFICIENT.
FOR, ALTHOUGH LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE THE BEST SITUATED TO
SOLVE LOCAL PROBLEMS, THEY ARE THE LEAST CAPABLE OF GENERATING
SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF REVENUE. EIGHTY-FIVE PERCENT OF LOCAL
REVENUES COME FROM PROPERTY TAXES, AND WE KNOW THAT OVER-
TAXATION OF PROPERTY ONLY SERVES TO HALT LAND DEVELOPMENT, OR
ENCOURAGE DISINVESTMENT.
AND, WHILE IT IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT HAS THE MOST
EFFICIENT MEANS OF GENERATING REVENUES AND SETTING NATIONAL
GOALS, IT IS THE STATE GOVERNMENT THAT BRINGS REGIONALISM TO
GOVERNMENTAL DECISION-MAKING, AND PROVIDES A SAFEGUARD AGAINST
INEQUITIES IN LOCAL RESOURCE ALLOCATION.
IN PLANNING FOR THIS NATION'S URBAN FUTURE WE CANNOT IGNORE
THE NEED TO INTEGRATE THE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC DESTINIES OF
OUR CITIES WITH THEIR SUBURBS. ONLY THE STATE CAN ACCOMPLISH
THAT NEEDED FEAT OF POLITICAL-PHYSICAL CONSOLIDATION.
-11-
THE STATE LEGISLATURE OF MINNESOTA, FOR EXAMPLE, MADE
POSSIBLE THE MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL METROPOLITAN COUNCIL, WHICH
IS CHARGED WITH THE COORDINATION OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS IN THE
TWIN-CITY AREA AND HAS SUBSTANTIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR FUNCTIONS
RANGING FROM THE PLACEMENT OF LOW-INCOME HOUSING TO THE LOCATION
OF SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTS,
AND IT IS BY MINNESOTA STATE LAW, THAT THE PROPERTY TAX
BENEFITS FROM NEW COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY IN THE METROPOLITAN
AREA ARE DISTRIBUTED AMONG ALL THE COMMUNITIES IN THAT LOCALITY.
By THE SAME REASONING, IT WAS THE STATE OF INDIANA WHICH
ENABLED INDIANAPOLIS AND MARION COUNTY TO ESTABLISH AN EFFICIENT,
AND INCOME-EQUITABLE, UNITARY GOVERNMENT.
WHERE WE HAVE ACHIEVED A REAL INTERGOVERNMENTAL PARTNERSHIP
-- AS WE HAVE IN SOME AREAS BASED UPON THE SHEER INGENUITY OF
PEOPLE AT EACH LEVEL -- WE HAVE SEEN EXCITING PROGRESS,
-12-
THAT THE WIND OF CHANGE IS BLOWING WAS CLEARLY APPARENT
AS OUR PRESIDENT'S COMMITTEE TRAVELLED TO OUR CITIES OVER THE
PAST SEVERAL MONTHS: IN BOSTON, AN ENERGIZED DOWNTOWN, SUPPORTED
BOTH BY A GOVERNMENT CENTER AND THE RECENTLY RENOVATED QUINCY
AND FANEUIL HALL MARKETS; IN BALTIMORE, A NEW CONVENTION CENTER
COMPLEX; IN ANNAPOLIS, THE RECLAMATION OF THE HARBOR MARKET;
IN NEW YORK, THE REBIRTH OF THE OLD FINANCIAL DISTRICT -- AND
HERE, IN PHILADELPHIA, INDEPENDENCE MALL.
WE ALSO SAW FLOURISHING NEIGHBORHOODS -- REHABILITATED
NEIGHBORHOODS FOR OUR LOW-AND-MODERATE INCOME CITIZENS; MIDDLE-
CLASS ETHNIC NEIGHBORHOODS SUCH AS STIRLING STREET IN BALTIMORE
AND MANCHESTER IN PITTSBURGH; AND WEALTHY NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE
GEORGETOWN IN WASHINGTON, BEACON HILL IN BOSTON, AND SOCIETY
HILL IN PHILADELPHIA -- EACH CONTRIBUTING TO THE ECONOMIC HEALTH
AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY OF ITS CITY,
IT IS SIGNIFICANT THAT THESE TRIUMPHS OF NEIGHBORHOOD
REVITALIZATION IN ALL PARTS OF THE COUNTRY -- COUPLED WITH
DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT MASTERPIECES -- HAVE IN COMMON ONE
ESSENTIAL INGREDIENT OF SUCCESS:
-13-
ALL OF THEM HAVE COME ABOUT THROUGH LOCAL INITIATIVE, LOCAL
PLANNING AND LOCAL INVESTMENT. IN EACH CASE, THE PRINCIPAL ROLE
OF THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN SUPPORTIVE, NOT
PRE-EMPTIVE.
AND BY THE NATURE OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS -- AS THEY
HAVE EXISTED IN THE PAST -- WHO WOULD SAY THAT ANY OF THEM MIGHT
NOT HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED SOONER AND LESS EXPENSIVELY IF THE FEDERAL
PRESENCE, EXCEPT IN FUNDING AND NATIONAL POLICY CONSIDERATIONS,
HAD BEEN FURTHER REDUCED?
NEVER HAVING HEARD THAT POINT PROTESTED BY ANY GROUP OF
CIVIC LEADERS -- AND, CERTAINLY BY NO INDUSTRY DOING BUSINESS
WITH WASHINGTON -- I SUBMIT THAT THESE LOCAL INITIATIVES WE
NOW CELEBRATE AS "BREAK-THROUGHS" CAN BECOME STANDARD PROCEDURE
FOR OUR CITIES IF PRINCIPLES SUCH AS I SUGGEST ARE ADOPTED TO
STRENGTHEN INTERGOVERNMENTAL CAPACITY TO DEAL EFFECTIVELY WITH
THE PROBLEMS OF OUR CITIES AS THEY EXIST TODAY.
IF WE PERSERVERE IN THE OLD MYTH THAT OUR CITIES CAN BE
RUN FROM WASHINGTON, ALL OF OUR CITIES, NOT JUST THE OLDER ONES,
FACE A VERY BLEAK TOMORROW,
AND "INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS" WILL BECOME JUST ANOTHER
GOVERNMENT PROJECT THAT FAILED -- EXPENSIVELY.
-14-
IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS WHAT WE SHOULD HOPE -- AND STRIVE
-- TO ACHIEVE IN OUR RELATIONSHIP IS A PARTNERSHIP -- JOINING
ALL THREE LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR, WITHOUT
WHOM NO PLAN DEVISED AT ANY LEVEL CAN POSSIBLY WORK,
YOUR PHILADELPHIA MORTGAGE PLAN IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF
"PARTNERSHIP PARTICIPATION" IN URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND NEIGHBORHOOD
REVITALIZATION.
YOUR CONSORTIUM OF BANKING, GOVERNMENT, FOUNDATION AND
COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP -- CONCENTRATING ON ONE OF THE ESSENTIAL
KEYS TO THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY OF DETERIORATING URBAN AREAS --
NOT ONLY SAYS SOMETHING FOR THE INDOMITABLE SPIRIT OF THIS
FINE OLD CITY, BUT IT PROVIDES OTHER CITIES WITH A NEEDED,
POSITIVE EXAMPLE THAT NEIGHBORHOOD RE-INVESTMENT DOES WORK,
AREA RESIDENTS MAY POINT WITH PARDONABLE PRIDE TO
PHILADELPHIA'S NEIGHBORING AND BEAUTIFUL MAIN LINE. BUT,
YOU HERE TONIGHT CAN POINT, WITH EVEN GREATER PRIDE TO
PHILADELPHIA'S BEAUTIFUL INNER-CITY "GREEN LINE".
THANK YOU,