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8/2/76 - National Urban League
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8/2/76 - National Urban League
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This file contains material relating to Community Development Block Grant Program.
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Carla A. Hills Speeches
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The original documents are located in Box 2, folder "8/2/76 - National Urban League" 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States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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
NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE
AUGUST 2, 1976
IT IS A SPECIAL HONOR FOR ME TO PARTICIPATE IN YOUR
BICENTENNIAL CONFERENCE WHOSE THEME IS "TOWARD: A NEW
BILL OF RIGHTS".
THE IDEAL OF AN EVER-NEW BILL OF RIGHTS WITH PLAIN
TALK ABOUT THE OBLIGATIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES IT IMPOSES
ON ALL OF US TO MAKE IT WORK FOR EVERY AMERICAN -- AND,
PARTICULARLY, FOR THOSE AMERICANS IN OUR CENTER CITIES -
IS A NOBLE BICENTENNIAL THEME.
IT WOULD BE NAIVE FOR ME TO STAND HERE BEFORE YOU ON
AUGUST 2ND, 1976 -- AND PRETEND THAT THIS AUDIENCE -- ALONG
WITH THE REST OF THE NATION -- IS NOT AT LEAST SOMEWHAT
DISTRACTED BY THE BALLOTING THAT WILL OCCUR EXACTLY THREE
MONTHS FROM TODAY,
I READILY CONFESS I HAVE A STRONG BIAS,
BUT, I AM HERE TO TALK PRAGMATICS, NOT POLITICS --
BECAUSE, THERE IS so MUCH WORK TO BE DONE, THE URGENT
NEEDS OF OUR CITIES DO NOT ALLOW ANY OF US THE LUXURY OF
A RECESS PENDING NOVEMBER'S DECISION.
GERAED
FORD LIBRARY &
-2-
IN TRUTH, THE INTRUSION OF POLITICS IN THIS CRITICAL
RECOVERY YEAR POSES A GREATER BURDEN ON ALL OF US -- AND
CALLS ON EACH OF US TO WORK HARDER TO HOLD ON TO THE GAINS
WE HAVE ALREADY ACHIEVED.
So, LET US START BY TAKING STOCK.
WHERE WERE WE A YEAR AGO? WHAT HAVE WE DONE ABOUT IT?
WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED? WHERE CAN WE GO?
NONE OF US WILL FORGET THAT IN AUGUST 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,
FOR SURELY, IF AMERICA WAS TO DO ANYTHING TO STEM THE
DETERIORATION AND DISINTEGRATION OF ITS URBAN CENTERS, IT
FIRST NEEDED A ROBUST ECONOMY TO SUPPORT THAT EFFORT,
FORD
-3-
URBAN TAX REVENUES WERE WAY DOWN, VOTERS WERE TURNING
DOWN BOND ISSUES AT A CHILLING 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
-- WITH THE "EXPERTS" SAGELY PREDICTING THAT WE COULDN'T
POSSIBLY MEET OUR GOAL OF RESERVING FUNDS FOR 400,000 FAMILIES
BEFORE THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR,
So, HERE WE ARE -- ONE YEAR LATER,
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, TAX REVENUES OF STATE AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS ARE MORE THAN 12 PERCENT ABOVE 1 A.ST YEAR'S LEVEL.
HUD's INVENTORY OF UNSOLD HOMES HAS BEEN REDUCED BY A THIRD,
WE HAVE ALREADY CONTRACTED TO ASSIST OVER 300,000 RENTAL UNITS,
AND WILL CLEARLY MEET OUR 400,000 GOAL BEFORE OCTOBER 1 --
WHEN FISCAL 1977 COMMENCES,
-4-
I'M NOT ABOUT TO STAND HERE AND TRY TO TELL THIS AUDIENCE,
THAT THE HARD-FOUGHT UPTURN IN THE NATIONAL ECONOMY HAS MADE
EVERYTHING COME UP ROSES FOR OUR INNER CITIES. BUT, YOU KNOW,
AND I KNOW, THAT THE POOR ARE ALWAYS "FIRST IN AND LAST OUT"
-- WHETHER THE DOWNWARD DIP IS A LOCAL OCCURRENCE OR A NATIONAL
PHENOMENON. THERE CAN BE OPPORTUNITY AND PROMISE FOR OUR POOR
IN A GROWING ECONOMY. THERE CAN BE NONE WHEN THE ECONOMY IS
DEPRESSED OR STAGNANT,
MORE THAN THAT THERE IS GREATER COMPASSION FOR THE
POOR IN A NATION THAT IS NOT STRAPPED BY INFLATION THAT ROBS
ALL TAXPAYERS OF THEIR CONFIDENCE AND CAPACITY FOR CONCERN,
WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED?
IN MY VIEW THE PRESIDENT NOT ONLY PROVED THE SOUNDENSS
OF HIS ECONOMIC COURSE. HE SET THE TONE FOR A NEW NATIONAL
AWARENESS, THAT AMERICA'S WISDOM DOES NOT RESIDE ENTIRELY IN
THE CORRIDORS OF CONGRESS OR WITH THE FEDERAL FORM MAKERS,
-- THAT THE COMMUNITIES ACROSS OUR DIVERSE LAND VERY OFTEN
CAN DEVISE BETTER SOLUTIONS FOR THEIR INDIVIDUAL PROBLEMS
THAN CAN CONGRESS WHICH DEVISES GENERAL SOLUTIONS THAT TOO
FREQUENTLY MISS THE MARK,
-5-
INDEED, THE PRESIDENT'S 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 HAS BECOME THE YEAR IN WHICH EVERY CANDIDATE FOR OFFICE
IS "RUNNING AGAINST WASHINGTON".
THERE IS NO QUESTION BUT THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
OVER THE PAST SEVERAL DECADES HAS FRUSTRATED BOTH THOSE WHO
HAVE GONE TO WASHINGTON TO HELP MANAGE IT AS WELL AS THOSE
WHO SEEK TO DEAL WITH IT.
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.
THE RIPPLE EFFECT OF GOVERNMENT GROWTH -- HAS HAD AN EVEN
GREATER IMPACT ON THE AMERICAN PEOPLE -- WHO, INCREASINGLY,
HAVE FOUND THEIR INDIVIDUAL DESTINIES TIED TO DECISIONS BEING
MADE FOR THEM IN THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS.
-6-
THE GREAT AMERICAN ESTABLISHMENT THAT IS WASHINGTON --
WITH ITS VAST ARRAY OF CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES AND SUB-
COMMITTEES; EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS, AGENCIES, COMMISSIONS;
TITLED AND UNTITLED BUREAUCRATS, PRESSURE GROUPS AND OFFICIAL
LOBBIES -- SOMEWHERE LOST TRACK OF THE FACT THAT PROGRAMS FOR
THE PEOPLE CAN ONLY BE JUDGED ON HOW WELL THEY SERVE THE
PEOPLE.
IT IS WHAT WE DO ABOUT THEIR NEEDS -- THAT MAKES THE
DIFFERENCE TO THE WELFARE FAMILY, THE UNEMPLOYED, THE MINORITY
BUSINESS FIRM TRYING TO SERVE ITS COMMUNITY UNDER DISCOURAGING
ODDS.
WE DO NOT ANSWER THE NEEDS OF THESE GOOD PEOPLE SIMPLY
BY LEGISLATING NEW PROGRAMS WITH FANCY TITLES AND HIGHFLOWN
STATEMENTS OF PURPOSE. NOR CAN WE DELIVER THE PROMISE OF
AMERICA JUST BY THROWING MONEY AT THEIR PROBLEMS,
-7-
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.
IT IS GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF HARD WORK AND A LOT MORE PEOPLE
ARE GOING TO HAVE TO CARE -- INSIDE AND OUTSIDE GOVERNMENT.
WHERE CAN WE GO?
SINCE THE START OF HIS ADMINISTRATION TWO YEARS AGO,
PRESIDENT FORD HAS HAD UNDER STUDY -- AND UNDER DISCUSSION
AT LOCAL FORUMS CONDUCTED PERSONALLY BY HIMSELF AND VICE
PRESIDENT ROCKEFELLER -- HOW TO IMPROVE THE DELIVERY OF
FEDERAL ASSISTANCE TO OUR URBAN CENTERS,
I TOOK PART IN A NUMBER OF THOSE FORUMS.
-8-
THE PRESIDENT'S CONCERN IS WELL-WARRANTED, IN SPITE OF
BILLIONS OF TREASURY DOLLARS SPENT ON URBAN PROBLEMS, MANY
OF OUR CITIES HAVE BEEN ON A DOWNWARD PATH FOR THE PAST TWO
DECADES,
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.
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 BOSTON, A DETROIT, OR A CLEVELAND.
-9-
TODAY, 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, IT IS LIKE ASKING Johns-Mansville,
FRIGIDAIRE AND ANACONDA COPPER -- EACH TO DESIGN AND EACH TO
SEND TO THE HOMEBUYER ITS PART OF A HOUSE,
THOSE WHO TALK ABOUT "MANAGING THE BUREAUCRACY" OR
"BRINGING WASHINGTON UNDER CONTROL" HAD BEST START WITH THAT
FACT-OF-LIFE IN MIND.
I HAVE REVIEWED 103 FEDERALLY FUNDED PROGRAMS WHICH IMPACT
OUR URBAN AREAS AND WHICH CARRY A PRICE TAG OF ROUGHLY $50
BILLION A YEAR. SIXTY-THREE OF THESE ARE GRANT PROGRAMS OF
WHICH ONLY 4 ARE BLOCK GRANTS AND 59 ARE CATEGORICALS. THE
REMAINING 40 ARE MISCELLANEOUS LOAN PROGRAMS.
SIGNIFICANTLY, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE ELIGIBLE, DIRECT
APPLICANTS IN BARELY ONE-FOURTH OF ALL THESE PROGRAMS.
ALL OTHER PROGRAM FUNDS ARE DISTRIBUTED TO THE STATES
OR TO SPECIAL-PURPOSE LOCAL AGENCIES,
-10-
VIRTUALLY ALL THE 59 CATEGORICAL PROGRAMS HAVE EXTENSIVE
-- OFTEN OVERLAPPING -- APPLICATION REVIEW REQUIREMENTS, WITH
FEW LIMITS ON REVIEW TIME AND NO ASSURANCE OF APPROVAL AT THE
LONG END OF THE FINAL LINE.
IF WE HOPE TO UNLOCK THIS COMPLEX AND FRUSTRATING PUZZLE,
WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO RE-EXAMINE THE OLD ASSUMPTIONS WE
CONTINUE TO MAKE, WHETHER BY HABIT, LONG-HELD CONVICTION, OR
SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY ARE COMFORTABLE.
RHETORIC, NOTWITHSTANDING, WE WILL NOT ACHIEVE THE AIMS
OF THAT NEW BILL OF RIGHTS TO WHICH THIS CONFERENCE IS
DEDICATED WITH PROGRAMS THAT KEEP PROVING THEIR INABILITY TO
HELP THE VERY PEOPLE FOR WHOM THEY WERE, PRESUMABLY, DESIGNED.
IT IS MY STRONG BELIEF, SUPPORTED BY A YEAR OF WHAT I
REGARD AS POSITIVE RESULTS, THAT OUR CITIES CAN, AND WILL,
MOVE FORWARD IF OUR FEDERAL ESTABLISHMENTS SHIFTS EMPHASIS
FROM CATEGORICAL THINKING TO BLOCK GRANT PLANNING.
I DO NOT SAY THAT WE SHOULD SCRUB ALL CATEGORICAL GRANT
PROGRAMS. SOME OF THEM ARE VITAL TO LEGITIMATE FEDERAL
CONCERNS, TAKE THE BUILDING OF REGIONAL AIRPORTS TO FACILITATE
NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION AND THE DELIVERY OF MAIL,
-11-
BUT, I BELIEVE THE BLOCK GRANT APPROACH WHICH RELEASES
FUNDS FROM WASHINGTON AND PUTS THEM IN THE HANDS AND AUTHORITY
OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT HAS THE BEST CHANCE OF WORKING TO THE
ULTIMATE ADVANTAGE OF ALL THE PEOPLE IN THAT LOCALITY.
IF THEY DO NOT WORK TO THE SATISFACTION OF THOSE CITIZENS
MOST DIRECTLY AFFECTED, IT CAN ONLY MEAN THAT OUR CITIZENS ARE
NEGLECTING ONE OF OUR GREAT RIGHTS: THE RIGHT TO REMEDY THE
SITUATION IN THE VOTING BOOTH.
FEDERAL BLOCK GRANTS CONSTITUTE A POSITIVE DEMONSTRATION
OF THE NATION'S TRUST IN HER PEOPLE -- A FUNDAMENTAL PRECEPT
OF DEMOCRACY.
IF WE LAMENT THE PASSAGE OF THIS POWER BACK TO LOCALLY
ELECTED CITY OFFICIALS BECAUSE WE QUESTION THEIR GOOD WILL OR
CAPACITY TO DO RIGHT BY ALL THE PEOPLE IN THAT LOCALITY, IT
INDICATES THAT WE DO NOT HAVE FAITH IN THE LOCAL ELECTORATE
TO CHOOSE SUCH AN ADMINISTRATION. THE ALTERNATIVE IS TO
CONTINUE THE MYTH, IN THE MINDS OF OUR MINORITIES AND OUR POOR,
THAT THE ONLY ONES WHO CARE ABOUT THEM -- AND WILL DO ANYTHING
FOR THEM -- ARE THE CHOSEN FEW WHO WIELD POWER FROM THE BANKS
OF THE POTOMAC,
-12-
BUT TODAY, WHEN 152 OF OUR CITIES AND TOWNS, INCLUDING
SOME OF OUR LARGEST CITIES BOAST BLACK MAYORS AND BLACKS
CONSTITUTE A POWERFUL VOTING FORCE IN MOST MAJOR CITIES --
NORTH AND SOUTH, I SUBMIT THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE YOU REPRESENT
WILL COME MORE QUICKLY INTO THE MAINSTREAM OF AMERICAN LIFE
THROUGH THE SENSITIVE STRUCTURE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT THAN THEY
EVER WOULD THROUGH THE HEAVY, SLOW-MOVING CATEGORICAL MACHINERY
OF WASHINGTON. THEY HAVE FAR MORE OPPORTUNITY AND POWER TO
AFFECT LOCAL DECISIONS THAN THEY HAVE IN WASHINGTON, WHERE MOST
DECISIONS ARE MADE ON THE BASIS OF NATIONAL AVERAGES RATHER
THAN ON THE REALISTIC NEEDS OF INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITIES.
I KNOW YOU HAVE HAD RESERVATIONS ABOUT SOME ASPECTS
OF HUD's COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM -- SOME OF
THEM JUSTIFIED, AND SOME OF THEM, FRANKLY, BASED ON YOUR OWN
EXPECTATIONS OF HOW MUCH, AND HOW FAST, OUR NEW AcT OF 1974
COULD ACHIEVE ALL ITS OBJECTIVES,
IT WAS INEVITABLE THAT SUCH A DRAMATICALLY INNOVATIVE
PROGRAM AS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS WOULD HAVE
START-UP PROBLEMS, BUT, I CAN HONESTLY SAY -- BASED BOTH
ON ACTUAL PROGRAM EXPERIENCE AND INTENSIVE REVIEW -- THAT
IT IS WORKING, AND WORKING WELL,
REGULATIONS HAVE BEEN REDUCED FROM THE 2,500 PAGES
COVERNING THE OLD CATEGORICAL PROGRAMS TO 30 PAGES,
-13-
BUT, MORE THAN THAT -- DESPITE YOUR INITIAL CONCERN --
FUNDING UNDER THE NEW PROGRAM WAS IMPRESSIVELY INCREASED,
NOT REDUCED. IN FACT, THE FUNDING LEVEL IN FISCAL '75 WAS
TWICE THE 1967 LEVEL OF THE CATEGORICAL PROGRAMS IT REPLACED,
I AM FRANKLY PROUD OF THE FACT THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION
ASKED CONGRESS FOR $3.2 BILLION FOR THE COMING FISCAL YEAR --
THE FULL LIMIT OF FUNDING ALLOWED IN THE '74 Act
ALSO, WE HAVE FUNDED MORE THAN TWICE AS MANY UNITS OF
GOVERNMENT -- WHILE THE "HOLD HARMLESS" CLAUSE HAS PROTECTED
OUR OLDER CITIES FROM REDUCTIONS IN VITAL FUNDING, Now, WE ARE
CONCENTRATING ON CREATIVE NEW WAYS TO DEVELOP A FUNDING FORMULA
THAT WILL RESPOND TO THE SPECIAL NEEDS OF OUR AGING COMMUNITIES.
IF WE ARE GOING TO "ABANDON" ANYTHING IN THE YEARS AHEAD,
WE HAD BETTER ABANDON THE OLD NOTION -- ADMITTEDLY FINANCED AND
FURTHERED OVER THE PAST SEVERAL DECADES BY GOVERNMENT-BACKED
MORTGAGED LOANS -- THAT THE WAY TO DEAL WITH AN OLD CITY
NEIGHBORHOOD IS TO THROW IT AWAY AND BUILD A NEW ONE IN THE
SUBURBS,
MANY OF THE COMPLAINTS LEVELED AT HUD's BLOCK GRANTS ARE,
BY LAW, BEYOND HUD's SPHERE OF INFLUENCE, WE ARE CURRENTLY
PROHIBITED FROM MAKING JUDGMENTS ON THE QUALITY OF LOCAL PROGRAM
CHOICES OR PRE-JUDGING THE GOOD WILL OR CAPACITY OF LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS TO COMPLY WITH THEIR LEGAL CERTIFICATIONS.
-14-
BUT, WE DO HAVE THE POWER OF REVIEW AND THE POWER TO REFUSE
THE NEXT YEAR'S FUNDING,
PREDICTABLY, WE DID FIND SOME PROGRAM WEAKNESSES IN THE
COURSE OF OUR FIRST YEAR FUNDING -- PARTICULARLY WITH RESPECT
TO EXPANDING HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES OF LOWER INCOME GROUPS.
WE MOVED TO CORRECT THESE DEFECTS BEFORE WE REVIEWED THE
SECOND YEAR'S APPLICATIONS. WE REQUIRED COMMUNITIES TO MEET
THE HOUSING NEEDS OF LOWER INCOME COMMUTERS WORKING WITHIN THE
JURISDICTION. ALSO, WE ALLOWED HOUSING CERTIFICATES ON A
METROPOLITAN-WIDE BASIS, WHENEVER POSSIBLE, THUS EXPANDING THE
LOCATION CHOICE OF ELIGIBLE FAMILIES, WE REQUIRED LOCALITIES
TO SET THREE-YEAR GOALS PROPORITONAL TO THE NEEDS OF LOWER
INCOME HOUSEHOLDS -- SMALL AND LARGE FAMILIES, THE ELDERLY AND
THE HANDICAPPED.
WE INSTRUCTED OUR HUD REVIEWERS TO CONSIDER LACK OF A
COMMITMENT IN MEETING HOUSING GOALS AS GROUNDS FOR REJECTION.
THE COMPLAINT ABOUT LACK OF SUFFICIENT COORDINATION BETWEEN
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING DOES NOT EMANATE FROM LACK OF
COMMITMENT TO THE OBJECTIVE, BUT FROM A LACK OF CLEAR UNDERSTANDING
BY ALL CONCERNED ABOUT HOW TO DO IT,
-15-
WE RECOGNIZE THIS PROBLEM AND WE ARE TRYING TO DO SOMETHING
ABOUT IT. NOT ONLY DO WE NOW REQUIRE A HOUSING ASSISTANCE PLAN
WITH EVERY APPLICATION, WE ARE PROVIDING GUIDANCE TO LOCAL
APPLICANTS IN MAKING HOUSING AN INTEGRAL OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT GOT IN HUD's WAY -- AND PERSISTS
EVEN NOW IN MANY CASES -- WAS THE OLD HABIT OF "CATEGORICAL"
THINKING ON THE PART OF MANY, IN HIS NOTEWORTHY -- AND SOMETIMES
SCARY -- BOOK, FUTURE SHOCK, ALVIN TOFFLER GIVES US A THOUGHTFUL
LOOK AT THE NEGATIVE ATTITUDE OF INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS TO CHANGE,
I'LL CONCEDE THAT IN INITIATING THE NEW BLOCK GRANT APPROACH
HUD DID NOT BEGIN TO APPRECIATE HOW DEEP-SET A MIND-SET CAN GET.
THIS WAS -- AND STILL IS -- A WHOLE NEW WAY OF DOING FEDERAL-LOCAL
BUSINESS, KEEP IN MIND THAT THE AUTHORIZING AcT WILL ONLY
CELEBRATE ITS SECOND BIRTHDAY ON THE 22ND OF THIS MONTH,
-16-
JUST GETTING THE FIRST YEAR FUNDING OUT IN LESS THAN A
YEAR WAS AN ACCOMPLISHMENT IN ITSELF. THE FORMAT WAS UNTRIED,
THE SMALL PRINT UNWRITTEN, AND THE LEAD TIME REQUIRED TO PUT
THE OPERATION IN MOTION MADE IT NECESSARY TO SQUEEZE
APPLICATIONS, APPLICATION REVIEW, APPROVALS AND FUNDING INTO
A VERY FEW SHORT MONTHS. SOME MISTAKES BY HUD AND THE
COMMUNITIES WERE BOUND TO OCCUR, BUT, WE DO HAVE THE WILL
AND THE DEMONSTRATED CAPACITY TO CORRECT THEM.
WE ARE JUST COMPLETING OUR SECOND ROUND OF APPLICATIONS,
AND WE CONTINUE TO BE ALERT TO LINGERING WEAKNESSES IN THE
PROGRAM,
THE ULTIMATE SUCCESS OF THE BLOCK GRANT CONCEPT DEPENDS
ON AN EVER-INCREASING INVOLVEMENT OF CITIZENS AND CITIZEN
GROUPS IN THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF DEVELOPING THEIR COMMUNITIES
AND IN MONITORING THE PROGRESS,
-17-
THIS IS A JOB FOR ALL CONCERNED CITIZENS, AND I COUNT
THE NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE HIGH ON THE LIST OF CONCERNED CITIZENS
IN OUR CITIES,
IT IS A SELF-DEFEATING TRAP TO SUPPOSE THAT WASHINGTON
CAN REALLY CONTROL ALL OF THE ABUSES THAT CAN SLIP THROUGH THE
CRACKS IN EVERY LOCAL JURISDICTION IN THIS COUNTRY OF THREE
AND ONE-HALF MILLION SQUARE MILES AND 215 MILLION PEOPLE,
THE ONLY SURE WATCHDOG ON THE HEARTH OF AMERICA IS THE ALERT
RESPONSE OF THE PEOPLE, THAT IS THE CLOUT THAT MAKES A TIGER
OF THE NEW BILL OF RIGHTS.
Your OWN BELIEF IN THE SYSTEM IS EVIDENCED BY YOUR
INCREASING PARTICIPATION IN ALL THE THINGS THAT MAKE CITIES,
AS A WHOLE, FUNCTION OR HALT, IN SOME MEASURE YOU HAVE BEEN
STIMULATED BY OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM,
You HAVE JOINED WITH US VOCALLY TO STRESS THE URGENCY OF LOCAL
PROBLEMS (AND ABUSES) IN THE CHAMBERS OF CITY HALLS,
-18-
YOUR ACTIONS OVER THIS PAST YEAR, JOINED BY THE ACTIONS
OF so MANY OTHER TRULY-INVOLVED CITIZENS ORGANIZATIONS --
COMPLAINTS, STUDIES, RECOMMENDATIONS AND EVEN AN OCCASIONAL
PAT ON THE BACK -- HAVE so STIMULATED THE PEOPLE OF HUD THAT,
IN SPITE OF ALL HEADACHES, WE DID MAKE OUR BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM
WORK,
IN FACT, OUR EXPERIENCE WITH THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM AT HUD HAS HELPED ME TO DEVELOP FOUR
PRINCIPLES TO USE AS OUR NEW PRESIDENTIAL COMMITTEE CONTINUES
TO RE-EXAMINE OTHER FEDERAL GRANT PROGRAMS.
FIRST, I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD PREFER BLOCK GRANTS TO
CATEGORICALS FOR ALL THE REASONS I HAVE STATED HERE, TODAY --
PARTICULARLY IN GIVING LOCAL PEOPLE MORE CONTROL OVER THE
RESOURCES THAT AFFECT THEIR LIVES.
SECOND, I SUGGEST THAT FUNDING -- ALSO FOR REASONS OUTLINED
HERE -- 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,
-19-
THIRD, I SUGGEST THAT CITIZEN PARTICIPATION BE A RULE
RATHER THAN AN EXCEPTION IN FEDERAL GRANT PROGRAMS. SUCH A
RULE WOULD APPLY NOT ONLY TO EXPLICIT PROGRAMS FOR THE POOR,
BUT TO ALL PROGRAMS WHICH AFFECT THEM.
AND, FINALLY -- I SUGGEST THAT WE SEEK TO ESTABLISH
MULTI-YEAR FUNDING so 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, MY ANTICIPATION
IS THAT OUR URBAN CONSTITUENCIES WOULD FARE A LOT BETTER IF
THESE BECAME THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF FUTURE FEDERAL PROGRAM
PLANNING,
THEY DARE US TO DROP OUR COMPLACENT BENT TO ADD MORE NEW
CATEGORICAL PROGRAMS THAT KEEP WINDING UP AS OBSTACLES TO THE
SOLUTIONS OF PROBLEMS THEY WERE INTENDED TO CORRECT.
-20-
THEY HELP PUT OUR PROGRAMS OUT THERE IN THE GLARING
SPOTLIGHT OF THE LOCAL ARENA WHERE THE PEOPLE THEMSELVES
CAN GET TO THEM -- AND DESIGN IMPROVEMENTS TO MEET CHANGING
SITUATIONS.
BUT MOST OF ALL, THEY HELP PUT THE RESPONSIBILITY RIGHT
WHERE IT BELONGS - UNDER THE PRESSURE AND THE CLOUT OF THE
PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE POWER TO "FIGHT CITY HALL" AT THE VERY
NEXT ELECTION DATE,
AND, I SUBMIT THAT THIS IS THE VEHICLE THAT WILL MOVE
OUR MINORITIES AND OUR POOR TOWARD YOUR GREAT OBJECTIVE:
"TOWARD: A NEW BILL OF RIGHTS".
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.