Box 7, Folder 12, Document 2

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Box 7, Folder 12, Document 2

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THE URBAN COALITION ACTION COUNCIL

2100 M Street, N\W. * Washington, D.C. 20037
(202) 293-7625

JOHN W. GARDNER
Chairman

ANDREW HEISKELL
A. PHILIP RANDOLPH
Co-chairmen

LOWELL R. BECK
Executive Director

December 24, 1969

The Honorable Ivan Allen, Jr.
Mayor of the City of Atlanta
City Hall

Atlanta, Georgia 30303

Dear Ivan:

Several days ago the Senate voted 53 to 35 to allow foundation
funds to be used for voter registration programs, thus overriding
the Finance Committee's move to prohibit the use of tax-exempt
funds for this purpose. We had asked your help on this important
issue, and many of you responded.

Two weeks ago the federal anti-poverty program was threatened by

a move in the House of Representatives to channel all federal
anti-poverty funds and programs through state governors. This
amendment would have had a serious impact on many urban programs.
A delegation from our Policy Council called on Secretaries Finch
and Shultz, OEO Director Rumsfeld, and several members of Congress
to urge continuation of the present anti-poverty program.

In addition, telegrams signed by each Policy Council member attend-
ing last week's meeting were sent to President Nixon and each member
of Congress. Local coalitions were urged to support the campaign

to save OEFO. Many local coalition officials contacted their
Congressmen immediately.

These efforts capped the very effective work that many policy
Council members and their representatives, together with other
organizations, had been doing for several weeks. We are very
pleased to report that on December 12 the House rejected the
amendment which we opposed and voted to extend present OEO programs.

The last two weeks have shown us what can be done when many work
together to accomplish a common result. We are grateful to those
who took part in this effort.

Sincerely,

John We Gardner

Chairman

5>D

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