Box 7, Folder 9, Document 2

Box 7, Folder 9, Document 2

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CITY HALL ATLANTA, GA. 30303
October ll, 1967 Tel. 522-4463 Area Code 404

IVAN ALLEN, JR., MAYOR

R. EARL LANDERS, Administrative Assistant
MRS. ANN M. MOSES, Executive Secretary
DAN E. SWEAT, JR., Director of Governmental Liaison

MEMORANDUM

To: Mayor Ivan Allen, Jr.
From: Dan Sweat

Subject: Report on Urban Coalition Meeting,
October 9, New York City

The meeting of the Steering Committee of the National Urban
Coalition developed into quite a stalemate on the question of

whether or not public policy positions should be taken by the

group.

Most Mayors present - Lindsay, Cavanagh, Graham and
perhaps Naftalin, as well as some Civil Rights, Education
and Religion representatives felt the urgent necessity for

the Coalition to communicate a policy position to the Congress
on such pressing matters as the Welfare Amendments,
Poverty Bill, etc.

Business representatives, noteably Frederick Close and Gerald
Phillippe, felt any policy statements issued as a Coalition on
controversial legislation would jeopardize anticipated support
for the Coalition by Business.

They were greatly upset by the Coalition's statement on the
Clark-Javits Amendment to the Poverty Bill.

After a two hour debate the committee voted to adopt a policy
which states: ''The Coalition shall take public policy positions
except where a substantial or intense disagreement emerges."
Mayor Allen
Page Two
October 1l, 1967

What this all amounted to was a stalemate on the question of
whether or not the Coalition, as an organization, will lobby
for urban legislation.

I feel that it is imperative for the Congress to have an idea of
the thinking of a group as potentially powerful as the Urban
Coalition, but can understand the problem of the business
representatives, who really cannot speak for any business
except their own,

The Committee adopted a budget of $100, 000 for the period
August 1, 1967 - January 31, 1968. (Copy attached. )

It also heard reports from the Task Forces on Local Coalitions,
Communication, Reconstruction and Urban Housing, Equal
Opportunity in Housing, Educational Disparities, Private
Employment, and Legislation.

The Private Employment Task Force noted it planned to
consider setting up pilot meetings in three cities, including
Atlanta to consider methods for establishing private business
coalitions.

The next meeting of the Coalition is scheduled for December 18,
possibly in Detroit.

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