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Box 7, Folder 13, Document 16
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The . Urban C. oa lition / Federal Bar Building West | 1819 H Street, N.W. Washington, D. C. | 20006
Steering Committee Co-chairmen: Andrew Heiskell / A. Philip Randolph
March 1, 1968
NATIONAL COORDINATOR'S WEEKLY REPORT
LEGISLATION
During the week Senators Javits (R-NY) and Yarborough (D-Tex)
introduced a bill (S3013) to provide $150 million for summer
jobs and anti-poverty programs. They were joined by 19 co-
sponsors from both parties. The bill was referred to the
Senate Appropriations Committee, which held hearings on Wed-
nesday. Sponsors of the measure hope for early action.
Attached is a fact sheet dealing with the need for a supple-
mental appropriation for the Office of Economic Opportunity
and special summer jobs, education, and recreation programs.
LOCAL COALITIONS
Niagara Falls, New York, held an urban coalition organizational
meeting this week. Associate National Coordinator Elbert Ranson,
Jr., addressed the meeting to explain the national program and
review programs and activities of other local coalitions. The
participants, representative of all segments of the community,
pledged support to the new organization. Task forces were
established in six areas--housing, education, recreation, job
training, job development and communications and public support--
and an executive director was named. The executive, Lester
Niesz, is a retired consultant to the Carborundum Company and
is serving as an unpaid volunteer. Two other people offered
their assistance as volunteer staff members, the Hotel Niagara
agreed to donate office space, and a local furniture store is
lending office equipment.
COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC SUPPORT
Public Relations Directors of organizations represented on the
Steering Committee are urged to attend a meeting arranged espe-
cially for them in the Time-Life Building in New York City,
Friday, March 8. Invitations giving the time and other details
of the meeting have been sent to the individuals. John W. Gardner,
new executive head of the Urban Coalition, is scheduled to meet
with the group.
National Coordinators: John Feild / Ron M. Linton
Telephone 293-7530
Page Two
With regard to the second Administration decision, America's fifty
largest cities have already received, in the aggregate, $1.5 million
in planning grants for constructive summer programs. Comments by
representatives of local government and community agencies at the
recent national conference held by the President's Council on Youth
Opportunity clearly indicated that cut-backs in available federal
assistance are already aggrevating community frustrations and tensions.
In summary, community leaders in the country's largest cities are
now faced with the dual problem of dollar cut-backs in existing work-
ing programs and the financial inability to meet summer unrest with
soundly planned and thought out courses of action.
It is apparent that the federal funds now available are inadequate
to meet even minimal program needs in employment, education and
recreation, if urban areas are to avoid serious discontent and dis-
turbances this summer. The supplemental appropriation proposed
below would substantially meet known program needs if enacted soon
enough to be put to work before the summer commences.
The Proposal
To meet the basic needs requires a supplemental appropriation com-
bining the amount of last year's supplemental appropriation ($75
million) with a level of financial commitment based on the most
recent needs assessment for poverty programs.
An appropriate measure would acknowledge the reasonableness of the
Administration's fiscal '68 budget request for poverty programs,
restore NAB diverted funds to about-to-be-cut programs, and make
use of already expended planning dollars to improve the special
programs of last year.
Such a proposal would include:
1. $104 million to upgrade the current OEO appropriation to the
requested authorization level for fiscal '68 (pro-rated for the remain-
der of the fiscal year);
2. $100 million to replace funds diverted to the NAB program;
3. The $75 million special summer supplemental for a total
supplementary appropriation of $279 million.
This amount would ostensibly give OEO sufficient dollars to meet on-
going program needs and meet the minimum commitment of last year's
summer programs.
Steering Committee Co-chairmen: Andrew Heiskell / A. Philip Randolph
March 1, 1968
NATIONAL COORDINATOR'S WEEKLY REPORT
LEGISLATION
During the week Senators Javits (R-NY) and Yarborough (D-Tex)
introduced a bill (S3013) to provide $150 million for summer
jobs and anti-poverty programs. They were joined by 19 co-
sponsors from both parties. The bill was referred to the
Senate Appropriations Committee, which held hearings on Wed-
nesday. Sponsors of the measure hope for early action.
Attached is a fact sheet dealing with the need for a supple-
mental appropriation for the Office of Economic Opportunity
and special summer jobs, education, and recreation programs.
LOCAL COALITIONS
Niagara Falls, New York, held an urban coalition organizational
meeting this week. Associate National Coordinator Elbert Ranson,
Jr., addressed the meeting to explain the national program and
review programs and activities of other local coalitions. The
participants, representative of all segments of the community,
pledged support to the new organization. Task forces were
established in six areas--housing, education, recreation, job
training, job development and communications and public support--
and an executive director was named. The executive, Lester
Niesz, is a retired consultant to the Carborundum Company and
is serving as an unpaid volunteer. Two other people offered
their assistance as volunteer staff members, the Hotel Niagara
agreed to donate office space, and a local furniture store is
lending office equipment.
COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC SUPPORT
Public Relations Directors of organizations represented on the
Steering Committee are urged to attend a meeting arranged espe-
cially for them in the Time-Life Building in New York City,
Friday, March 8. Invitations giving the time and other details
of the meeting have been sent to the individuals. John W. Gardner,
new executive head of the Urban Coalition, is scheduled to meet
with the group.
National Coordinators: John Feild / Ron M. Linton
Telephone 293-7530
Page Two
With regard to the second Administration decision, America's fifty
largest cities have already received, in the aggregate, $1.5 million
in planning grants for constructive summer programs. Comments by
representatives of local government and community agencies at the
recent national conference held by the President's Council on Youth
Opportunity clearly indicated that cut-backs in available federal
assistance are already aggrevating community frustrations and tensions.
In summary, community leaders in the country's largest cities are
now faced with the dual problem of dollar cut-backs in existing work-
ing programs and the financial inability to meet summer unrest with
soundly planned and thought out courses of action.
It is apparent that the federal funds now available are inadequate
to meet even minimal program needs in employment, education and
recreation, if urban areas are to avoid serious discontent and dis-
turbances this summer. The supplemental appropriation proposed
below would substantially meet known program needs if enacted soon
enough to be put to work before the summer commences.
The Proposal
To meet the basic needs requires a supplemental appropriation com-
bining the amount of last year's supplemental appropriation ($75
million) with a level of financial commitment based on the most
recent needs assessment for poverty programs.
An appropriate measure would acknowledge the reasonableness of the
Administration's fiscal '68 budget request for poverty programs,
restore NAB diverted funds to about-to-be-cut programs, and make
use of already expended planning dollars to improve the special
programs of last year.
Such a proposal would include:
1. $104 million to upgrade the current OEO appropriation to the
requested authorization level for fiscal '68 (pro-rated for the remain-
der of the fiscal year);
2. $100 million to replace funds diverted to the NAB program;
3. The $75 million special summer supplemental for a total
supplementary appropriation of $279 million.
This amount would ostensibly give OEO sufficient dollars to meet on-
going program needs and meet the minimum commitment of last year's
summer programs.
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