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This file contains material relating to 1974 Housing and Community Development Act, Suburban Sprawl, ICMA awards to train city managers.
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9/29/75 - International City Management Association Conference, Seattle
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1133428
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9/29/75 - International City Management Association Conference, Seattle
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This file contains material relating to 1974 Housing and Community Development Act, Suburban Sprawl, ICMA awards to train city managers.
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Carla A. Hills Speeches
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1975-09-29
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The original documents are located in Box 1, folder "9/29/75 - International City
Management Association Conference, Seattle" 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States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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 #2:
INTERNATIONAL CITY MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON
SEPTEMBER 29, 1975
"A BETTER TOMORROW?"
`AT FIRST LOOK, YOUR CONFERENCE THEME SOUNDS LIKE A
SLOGAN FOR AN APPLIANCE FAIR, BUT, IT HAS THE SENSE TO
AVOID PROMISES AND THE COURAGE TO STATE A CHALLENGE. THE
QUESTION IS WHETHER, WITH TODAY'S ABUNDANT BAD NEWS, WE
HAVE THE COLLECTIVE WIT AND WILL TO IMPROVE,
EVERY ONE OF US HAS AN INDIVIDUAL IDEA ABOUT WHAT
WILL HELP MAKE TOMORROW BETTER. You ARE HERE TO FIND OUT
WHICH, IF ANY, OF THOSE "BETTER IDEAS" IS REALLY THE BEST
IDEA FOR YOUR CITY, THAT MEANS YOU WILL CONTINUE YOUR
DIALOGUE REGARDING THE IMPOUNDERABLES OF CITY MANAGEMENT,
BUT THIS TIME WITH A REAL COMMITMENT TO TACKLE THE "NUTS
AND BOLTS".
ROBBIE BURNS SAID: "THE BEST LAID PLANS OF MICE AND
MEN OFT GO ASTRAY." ONE OF THE MOST "OFT" CAUSES IS A
NUT OR BOLT THAT WAS OVERLOOKED IN THE ORIGINAL PLANNING
FORD & LIBRARY GERALD
-2-
I'D LIKE TO KEY THESE OPENING REMARKS TO THAT NOTE,
THAT ROBBIE BURNS QUOTE FITS BECAUSE THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT HAS LAID OUT A HOST OF WELL-MEANING PLANS FOR
OUR CITIES OVER THE PAST DECADE THAT HAVE "GONE ASTRAY"
WITH, A VENGEANCE.
TODAY, WITH THE BENEFIT OF CLAIRVOYANT HINDSIGHT,
WE CAN POINT OUT THE ERRORS IN THOSE MASTER SCHEMES OF
PAST YEARS.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE "LOOSE BOLT" IN THE PROLIFERATION
OF "PUBLIC HOUSING PROJECTS" WAS THE OVERLOOKED FACT THAT,
IF YOU HOUSE ONLY THE VERY POOR IN A LARGE HOUSING PROJECT,
YOU WILL CREATE A "GHETTO" NO MATTER WHERE YOU PLACE IT
OR HOW WELL YOU CONSTRUCT IT.
OUR CITIES HAVE ERECTED ANY NUMBER OF MONUMENTS TO
THIS KIND OF "PLANNING" -- ONE OF THE MOST DISASTEROUS
BEING THE PRUITT-IGOE PROJECT IN ST. LOUIS.
FORM
-3-
THE "MISSING NUT" IN THE OLD HOMEOWNERSHIP ASSISTANCE
PLAN WAS THE FAILURE TO RECOGNIZE THAT IF "IT TAKES A HEAP
O'LIVIN' TO MAKE A HOUSE A HOME" -- IT ALSO TAKES A HEAP
O'PAYIN'.
A MORTGAGE SUBSIDY IS A CRUEL JOKE FOR THE POOR FAMILY
WHO CAN'T MEET THE REQUIRED PAYMENTS.
Now, CAN WE DO BETTER? YES!
NOT BECAUSE WE ARE SMARTER, BUT BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT
MORE HISTORY GOING FOR US AND FAR FEWER CHOICES. WE HAVE,
AS A NATION, FINALLY REALIZED THAT THE RESOURCES OF BOUNTIFUL
AMERICA ARE PRECIOUSLY FINITE.
BUT IT IS NO LONGER ENOUGH OF A GOAL FOR US TO SAY WE
WILL NOT MAKE THE SAME MISTAKES AGAIN.
NEITHER OUR RESOURCES NOR THE STATE OF OUR ECONOMY IN
THIS TENSE WORLD GIVE US THE LUXURY OF MUDDLING THROUGH
ANOTHER SET OF UNWORKABLE PLANS FOR BETTER CITIES AND FOR
BETTER HOUSING IN SEARCH OF A BETTER TOMORROW,
-4-
LIKE IT OR NOT THE NEW FOCUS MUST BE ON PLANNING,
NOT ON MONEY, MONEY CAN AND WILL, OF COURSE, FOLLOW,
BUT NOT BLINDLY AND CERTAINLY NOT ENDLESSLY.
BUT EVEN BEFORE THE PLANNING BEGINS, WE MUST AGREE
ON BASIC PREMISES. LET ME SUGGEST A FEW.
FIRST, WE MUST ADMIT THAT THERE ARE TODAY 16 MILLION
FAMILIES OFFICIALLY CLASSIFIED AS "THE HOUSING POOR" --
WHICH IS GOVERNMENT SHORTHAND FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN SLUM
CONDITIONS.
THIS IS NOT JUST A BIG CITY PROBLEM; THIS IS A PROBLEM
OF THE SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZE CITIES, OF THE SUBURBS, AND
OF THE RURAL AREAS.
SECOND, WE CANNOT AFFORD TO RELY EXCLUSIVELY ON THE
"CLEAR AND BUILD" STRATEGY IN WHICH WE PLACED so MUCH
CONFIDENCE IN THE PAST, PRESERVATION AND RECYCLING OF
OUR EXISTING ASSETS MUST COME FIRST,
-5-
THIRD, WE HAVE FOUND BY EXPERIENCE THAT THE DESPERATELY
POOR SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD TO OWN THEIR OWN HOUSES, THE
INEXORABLE COSTS OF UPKEEP, TAXES, UTILITIES AND THE MORTGAGE
PUT OWNERSHIP BEYOND THE REACH OF THE TRUE POVERTY LEVEL.
FOURTH, MUCH OF THE PLANNING DONE BY GOVERNMENTS HAS
BEEN SHAMEFULLY WASTEFUL.
LET ME DWELL A BIT ON THIS LAST POINT.
PLANNING FAILURES HAVE OFTEN BEEN FAILURES BY THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT TO UNDERSTAND THE COMPLEXITY AND DIVERSITY OF LOCAL
PROBLEMS. As REPRESENTATIVES OF SMALLER CITIES, MANY OF YOU
HAVE BEEN FORCED TO WORK WITH PROGRAMS BETTER DESIGNED FOR BIG
CITIES,
BUT THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN LOCAL FAILURES. LOCAL GOVERNMENT
SHARES WITH WASHINGTON THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ENERGY WASTING
SPRAWL, FOR DESTROYING NEIGHBORHOODS THAT MIGHT HAVE SURVIVED,
AND FOR MASSING THE POOR INTO SOCIALLY DESTRUCTIVE CONCENTRATIONS.
FORD
-6-
IN THE DAY-TO-DAY COMPETITION FOR RESOURCES, MONEY
AND ENERGY HAVE TOO OFTEN BEEN EXHAUSTED IN SHORT-TERM
SOLUTIONS.
I DO NOT MINIMIZE ANY OF YOUR DAY-TO-DAY PROBLEMS,
MINE, CERTAINLY USE UP MOST OF MY DAY.
BUT ONE LESSON OF NEW YORK'S CURRENT FISCAL CRISIS
IS THAT WE CANNOT BE STATISIFED WITH ONLY SHORT-RUN SOLUTIONS.
THE SYMPTOMS IN YOUR CITY MAY NOT BE AS PAINFULLY OBVIOUS
AS THOSE IN NEW YORK, BUT YOU ARE HEARING THE WARNING WHISTLE.
IT RESOLVES NOTHING TO SAY THAT ALL CITIES ARE IN THE
SAME BOAT.
YOURS IS A PAROCHIAL CALLING, YOUR CONSTITUENTS AREN'T
ASKING YOU TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS OF THE NATION -- OR OF THE
WORLD -- JUST THEIRS,
FAIR ENOUGH, AND MY PRIORITY AS SECRETARY IS TO HELP
YOU DO JUST THAT.
-7-
I BELIEVE THAT WITH THE 1974 HOUSING AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT AcT, THERE IS A REAL POTENTIAL FOR A NEW ERA
IN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HUD AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
THE AcT PROVIDES FUNDS FOR RESPONSIBLE AND ENERGETIC
COMMUNITIES TO PLAN AND TO CARRY OUT THEIR HOUSING AND
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES.
FOR THE CITY MANAGER, THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND
THE 701 PLANNING ASSISTANCE GRANTS ARE PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT.
LAST WEEK THE HOUSE AND SENATE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE
VOTED TO MAKE $2.8 BILLION AVAILABLE FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
GRANTS.
UNDER THIS PROGRAM LOCAL COMMUNITIES DECIDE THEIR OWN
DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES AND DEVISE THE STRATEGIES THAT BEST
USE THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO THEM.
TODAY, NO CITY OFFICIAL CAN SAY HE'S INSTALLING A SEWER
--- INSTEAD OF DOING SOMETHING OF HIGHER URGENCY -- BECAUSE
ALL WASHINGTON IS HANDING OUT IS SEWER MONEY.
-8-
WE PERCEIVE OUR FIRST YEAR WITH THIS PROGRAM AS
ENORMOUSLY SUCCESSFUL. IN SPITE OF ABBREVIATED TIME-
FRAMES AND NEW PROCEDURES, 78 PERCENT OF LOCAL OFFICIALS
ASKED STATED THAT THESE BLOCK GRANTS SIGNIFICANTLY
INCREASED THEIR ABILITY TO RESPOND EFFECTIVELY TO LOCAL
PROBLEMS, AND 85 PERCENT RECOGNIZED AND WELCOMED A
DECREASE OF FEDERAL INTERVENTION IN THEIR DECISION-
MAKING PROCESSES.
As A CONDITION TO RECEIVING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
FUNDS, A CITY MUST SUBMIT A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ASSESSING
ITS NEEDS, RESOURCES, PRIORITIES AND GOALS.
IT MUST ALSO SET FORTH A PLAN FOR MEETING THE
IDENTIFIED HOUSING NEEDS OF ITS LOWER INCOME FAMILIES,
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO EMPHASIZE THAT THE BLOCK GRANT
PART OF THE '74 AcT ISN'T JUST A CONCEPT -- IT'S THE LAW.
"CREATIVITY" ISN'T MERELY ALLOWED -- IT'S PRACTICALLY
MANDATED.
-9-
AND, TWO KEY ELEMENTS OF ANY GOOD PLAN IS THE ABILITY
TO ANALYZE THE COST-EFFECTIVENESS OF THE EFFORTS BEING
TAKEN AND TO LEVERAGE THE FUNDS IN A WAY THAT ATTRACTS
OTHER PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INVESTMENT.
OVER 60 PERCENT OF THE $2.6 BILLION APPROPRIATED FOR
FEDERAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FUNDS THIS FIRST YEAR WERE
USED FOR THE PRESERVATION OF DECLINING AND BLIGHTED
NEIGHBORHOODS AND FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICES NECESSARY TO
SUPPORT THESE EFFORTS,
THIS STRIKES US AS A SENSIBLE ECONOMY,
THIS ALSO UNDERSCORES THE GREAT ADVANTAGE OF BLOCK
GRANTS -- A SPECIAL FORM OF REVENUE-SHARING -- OVER THE
OLD CATEGORICAL GRANTS.
By LEADING US AWAY FROM THINKING ABOUT CITY PROBLEMS
IN SEVEN ENUMERATED CATEGORIES, WE ARE DEVELOPING INNOVATIVE
AND COST-EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES FOR DEALING WITH REAL, NOT
ASSUMED PROBLEMS.
-10-
By INCREASING THE CITIES FLEXIBILITY TO ADDRESS
THEIR PROBLEMS, WE GREATLY INCREASE THEIR OPPORTUNITIES
FOR LEVERAGING THEIR FUNDS,
BOTH RESULTS STRETCH THE MONEY AND THE MINDS OF
CITY, PLANNERS,
BUT THE $75 MILLION THAT THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE
VOTED TO MAKE AVAILABLE THIS FISCAL YEAR FOR 701 PLANNING
GRANTS, WHICH CONSTITUTES A 50 PERCENT INCREASE OVER LAST
YEAR'S FUNDING, MAY IN MANY RESPECTS PROVE MORE IMPORTANT
TO YOU THAN THE $2.8 BILLION VOTED FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
GRANTS.
I KNOW THAT 701 FUNDING IS THE CITY MANAGER'S IDEA
OF PRACTICAL FEDERAL HELP. ONE OF MY CITY MANAGER FRIENDS
CALLS IT "HORSEPOWER FROM HEADQUARTERS".
IT PROVIDES MANAGERS WITH ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE WHEN
IT COUNTS MOST -- AT THE PLANNING STAGE.
FORD
LIBRARY
&
OSTATO
-11-
RECENT CHANGES IN THE LAW CAN ELIMINATE THE PROGRAM'S
PAST WEAKNESSES. Too OFTEN 701 MONIES WERE USED TO DEVELOP
PLANS THAT WERE NEVER IMPLEMENTED OR EVEN SERIOUSLY
CONSIDERED. THEY WERE PLACED IN PRETTY COVERS AND SHELVED
IN STATE OR LOCAL OFFICES OR IN WASHINGTON.
FROM NOW ON THE PLANS DEVELOPED SHOULD BE OFF THE
SHELF AND ON THE DESK -- THE MANAGER'S DESK -- AND OPEN.
THE LAW NOW CALLS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A COMPREHENSIVE
LAND USE PLAN, AS WELL AS AN ASSESSMENT OF HOUSING NEEDS
IN TERMS OF EXISTING AND PROSPECTIVE POPULATION GROWTH.
THE LAW ALSO REQUIRES SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN
SELF-EVIDENT FOR THE PAST DECADE: THE LAND USE ELEMENT
AND THE HOUSING ELEMENTS MUST BE CONSISTENT WITH ONE
ANOTHER.
THE BOUNDARIES OF YOUR CITY -- NO MATTER THE MILEAGE --
ARE FINITE. EVERY DECISION YOU MAKE TODAY WILL -- SOONER
OR LATER -- IMPACT ON THE LAND WITHIN THAT ENVIRON.
-12-
NOT JUST THE OBVIOUS DECISIONS -- LIKE BUILDING A
HOUSING PROJECT, AN INDUSTRIAL PARK, A HYDROELECTRIC
PLANT OR A SCHOOL COMPLEX,
BUT, INSIDIOUS SIDE ISSUES -- LIKE WHERE TO PUT
THE GARBAGE, HOW TO ROUTE THE SEWAGE, PARK THE CARS,
ABATE THE DECIBELS, AND PROVIDE POLICE AND OTHER PUBLIC
SERVANTS,
WE HAVE SEEN THE WASTEFUL, AND EVEN THE TRAGIC EFFECTS,
OF UNPLANNED AND HAPHAZARD LAND DEVELOPMENT. WE HAVE
ABANDONED EXISTING CITY HOUSING WITH ALL THE NECESSARY
STREETS, SEWERS, SCHOOLS AND TRANSPORTATION IN PLACE TO
BUILD WHOLE NEW SUBURBS WITHOUT ANY REAL THOUGHT,
HUD's STUDIES DEMONSTRATE STATISTICALLY THAT WHICH
WE MIGHT HAVE CONCLUDED INTELLIGENTLY A DECADE AGO THAT
THE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW SUBURBS CONSUMES HALF AGAIN AS
MUCH LAND, CAPITAL, AND ENERGY AND CREATES NEARLY HALF
AGAIN MORE AIR POLLUTION THAN THE RECYCLING OF EXISTING
ASSETS, No CITY TODAY CAN AFFORD SUCH WASTE.
-13-
THE CITY THAT LEAVES THESE POWERFUL FACTS OF LIFE
TO CHANCE NEED NOT ASK: "FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS."
ALL OF THIS IS NOT TO SAY THAT WE THINK THAT 701
IS GOING TO SOLVE THE CITIES' PROBLEMS OVERNIGHT OR ALL
BY ITSELF.
BUT WHAT 701 IS DESIGNED TO DO IS TO PULL TOGETHER
THE BEST MINDS AND THE BEST THINKING AT EVERY LEVEL OF
GOVERNMENT -- STATE, LOCAL AND FEDERAL.
I DO NOT MEAN TO SUGGEST BY THAT, THAT THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO INVADE CITY HALL. QUITE TO THE
CONTRARY.
THE OBJECT OF 701 IS TO ASSIST LOCAL PLANNERS TO
MAKE THEIR DECISION -- LOCALLY CONCEIVED, LOCALLY
PERCEIVED AND LOCALLY EXECUTED.
STILL, AS SIGNIFICANT AS THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
AND 701 PLANNING PROGRAMS ARE, THE FEDERAL BUDGET IS
FINITE. NOT ALL OF YOUR CITIES RECEIVED BLOCK GRANTS;
NOT ALL OF THEM RECEIVED PLANNING GRANTS; AND MOST OF
THE GRANTS WERE SMALLER THAN YOU WANTED.
-14-
THESE LIMITED RESOURCES CALL UPON YOUR MOST CREATIVE
POWERS AND OURS. LET ME SUGGEST SOME EXAMPLES WITH RESPECT
TO PLANNING GRANTS. WE HAVE BEGUN TO FOCUS ON CONSOLIDATED
APPLICATION FROM CONSORTIUMS OF CITIES OR FROM REGIONAL
COUNCILS OF GOVERNMENTS.
THAT MEANS SHARING OF EXPERTISE AND SERVICES; SHARING
EXPENSIVE ELECTRONIC DATA COSTS AND COMPUTER OUTPUTS;
COMBINING AND INTERCHANGING INFORMATION CONCERNING COMMON
PROBLEMS OF CITIES IN GIVEN REGIONAL AREAS,
THIS APPROACH OFFERS REAL PROMISE FOR STRETCHING THE
AVAILABLE DOLLARS,
To ILLUSTRATE, THE KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE AREAWIDE
PLANNING ORGANIZATION HAS USED 701 FUNDS TO PREPARE HOUSING
ASSISTANCE PLANS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WITHIN THEIR
JURISDICTION. AND, A NON-METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION
IN PENNSYLVANIA HAS DEVELOPED A BUILDING CODE INSPECTION
PROGRAM WITH A CENTRAL CADRE OF BUILDING INSPECTORS WHICH
NO ONE OF THE COMMUNITIES COULD HAVE ALONE AFFORDED,
-15-
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATORS SERVE SEVERAL LOCALITIES BY
RIDING CIRCUIT, PROVIDING MUCH NEEDED EXPERTISE IN KENTUCKY
AND GEORGIA, EVEN WITH LIMITED FEDERAL FUNDS. WE ARE
MAKING EFFORTS TO DISSEMINATE INNOVATIVE IDEAS SUCH AS
THESE,
WE ALSO SEEK TO ENCOURAGE THE EDUCATION OF CITY
MANAGERS.
THESE ARE CHALLENGING TIMES -- TIMES WHEN WE NEED
ALL THE TRAINED TALENT WE CAN GET -- MEN, WOMEN, MAJORITIES
AND MINORITIES -- INTO POSITIONS OF LEADERSHIP IN CITY
MANAGEMENT AND IN THE ICMA. LET ME CANDIDLY SAY: I WOULD
LIKE TO SEE A WOMAN AND A BLACK ON YOUR BOARD.
ONE WAY WE TRY TO EXPAND THE POOL OF TALENT IS BY
FUNDING THE ICMA AWARDS OF CONTRACTS TO UNIVERSITIES TO
DEVELOP NEW METHODS TO TRAIN CITY MANAGERS. THIS YEAR,
TEN HUD-FUNDED RESEARCH AND DEMONSTRATION CONTRACTS
TOTALLING $100,000 WILL BE JOINTLY ADMINISTERED BY
THE INTERNATIONAL CITY MANAGERS
ASSOCIATION AND THE NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS OF PUBLIC
AFFAIRS AND ADMINISTRATION
-16-
IT IS ONE OF THE PLEASURES AND PRIVILEGES OF MY
OFFICE -- PARTICULARLY AT THIS TIME AND PLACE -- TO
ANNOUNCE THE TEN WINNERS.
THEY ARE:
1.
THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE -- TRINITY UNIVERSITY
(OF TEXAS).
2.
LONG BEACH AND Los ANGELES, CALIFORNIA --
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY.
3.
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE -- MEMPHIS STATE UNIVERSITY.
4.
ALASKA CITY MANAGERS -- UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA.
5.
DELAWARE ASSOCIATION FOR PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
-- UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE.
6.
SOUTH CAROLINA AND GEORGIA MANAGERS -- UNIVERSITY
OF GEORGIA.
7.
KANSAS CITY MANAGERS -- UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS,
8.
MARYLAND MANAGERS -- UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND.
9.
NORTH TEXAS CITY MANAGERS -- UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS
AT ARLINGTON.
10.
WEST VIRGINIA MANAGERS -- WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY.
(
-17-
MR. RICHARD H. CUSTER TOLD ME THAT THE AWARDS WILL
BE COVERED IN DETAIL IN THE ICMA CONFERENCE DAILY NEWSLETTER.
I HAVE ALSO AUTHORIZED AN OFFICIAL RELEASE OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT
TO THE PUBLIC,
My SINCERE CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.