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Box 15, Folder 3, Document 67
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021126 EVDAA
202724 13013 MSCDV310370
RAAUIJHZ RUEVDFHOOO6 1182004-UUUU--RUEVDAA.
FM GEORGE CREEL DIR OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS DHUD WASH DC/HHFA/
TO RUEVDDAA/1/ REGL ADMIN DHUD ATLANTA GA ATTN: SPECIAL ASST FOR
« ~. PUBLIC AFFAIRS & ARA'S FOR MODEL CITIES
BT -
THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT WAS ISSUED BY SECRETARY ROMNEY TO NEWS
MEDIA AT 4:00 PM APRIL 28. ASSISTANT SECRETARY HYDE WILL BE
TELEPHONING EACH OF THE REGIONAL. ADMINISTRATORS TO DISCUSS
THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS STATEMENT WITHIN THE NEXT FEW DAYS.
"SECRETARY ROMNEY'S STATEMENT ON MODEL CITIES" —
THE MODEL CITIES PROGRAM IS AN AMBITIOUS EFFORT. IT SEEKS TO
COORDINATE A VAST ARRAY OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS, TO CONCENTRATE THEIR
IMPACT ON SPECIFIC DEPRESSED URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS, AND TO MAKE LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS STRONGER AND MORE FLEXIBLE. MY COMMITTEE ON MODEL CITIES
OF THE COUNCIL FOR URBAN AFFAIRS HAS BEEN INTENSIVELY EXAMING THE ,
PROGRAM. ITS STUDY HAS SHOWN THAT THE PROGRAM'S GOALS ARE SOUND,
BUT THAT THERE HAVE BEEN CRITICAL DEFICIENCIES IN ITS ADMINISTRATION
WHICH CALL FOR IMMEDIATE CORRECTION. AMONG THEM:
-~FEDERAL AGENCIES HAVE NO? BEEN SUFFICIENTLY RESPONSIVE
TO LOCAL PROPOSALS REFLECTING SPECIFIC LOCAL CONDITIONS.
-~IN DEVELOPING THEIR PROPOSALS, LOCAL AUTHORITIES HAVE
BEEN HINDERED BY UNCERTAINTY AS TO THE AMOUNTS OF FUNDS
THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE FROM THE FEDERAL DEPARTMENTS.
--FEW EFFECTIVE ATTEMPTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO SECURE THE
INVOLVEMENT OF STATE GOVERNMENTS.
-~-FEDERAL GUIDELINES HAVE FORCED CITIES TO SET "MODEL
NETGHBORHOOD" BOUNDARIES THAT OFTEN HAVE BEEN ARBITRARY,
AND ''HAL HAVE CREATED UNNECESSARY DIVISIONS AMONG MODEL
CITIES RESIDENTS.
THE PRESIDENT HAS APPROVED THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE URBAN AFFIARS
COUNCIL THAT THE MODEL CITIES PROGRAM BE REVISED IN THE FOLLOWING
IMPORTANT RESPECTS:
1. THE COUNCIL FOR URBAN AFFAIRS WILL ASSUME DIRECT RESPONSIBILITY
FOR INTER-DEPARTMENTAL POLICY AFFECTING MODEL CITIES.
2. SECRETARIES OF THE DEPARTMENTS INVOLVED WILL HAVE PERSONAL,
SUPERVISION OF THEIR DEPARTMENTS' FUNDING OF MODEL CITT ES |
PROPOSALS, AND WILL RESERVE PROGRAM FUNDS SPECIFICALLY FOR
THAT PURPOSE. THIS WILL ENSURE THE AVAILABILITY OF DEPART-
MENTAL FUNDS FOR MODEL CITIES, AND WILL GIVE LOCAL AUTHORITIES
A BETTER IDEA OF THE AMOUNT AND KIND OF FUNDS THEY CAN EXPECT
FROM THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS FOR THE. R MODEL CITIES PLANS.
PAGE TWO RUEVDFHOOO6 1182004
3.
ADMINISTRATION OF THE PROGRAM WILL BE FED INTO THE REORGANIZA-
‘TION OF THE REGIONAL FEDERAL OFFICES, NOW UNDERWAY. ONE EFFECT
\OF THIS WILL BE TO FACILITATE INTER-DEPARTMENTAL COORDINATION
AT THE REGIONAL LEVEL. IN THE PAST, VARIATIONS AMONG THE
FEDERAL OFFICES IN PROGRAM PROCUDURES, HEADQUARTERS LOCATIONS,
AND STRUCTURES OF AUTHORITY, HAVE HANDICAPPED WELL-INTENTIONED
FEDERAL OFFICIALS AND CONFUSED LOCAL OFFICIALS, THUS SERIOUSLY
COMPROMISING THE MODEL CITIES PROGRAM AT THE CITY LEVEL.
GREATER EFFORTS WILL BE MADE TO INVOLVE THE STATE GOVERNMENTS
IN THE MODEL CITIES PROGRAM. LACK’ OF STATE INVOLVEMENT HAS
PROVEN A CRITICAL DEFICIENCY BECAUSE MANY OF THE FEDERAL FUNDS
NEEDED FOR MODEL CITIES ARE ADMINISTERED THROUGH STATE
AGENCIES. OUR AIM WILL NOT BE TO ADD ANOTHER ADMINISTRATIVE
LAYER BETWEEN THE CITIES AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, BUT TO
MAKE BETTER USE OF THE STATES'RESOURCES, EXPERIENCE AND PERSPEC-
TIVE. MODEL CITIES IS INTENDED TO BE AND WILL REMAIN A LOCAL
GOVERNMENT PROGRAM CENTERED UPON THE MAYOR'S OFFICE WITH A
CONTINUED REQUIREMENT FOR ADEQUATE CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT.
THE 10% POPULATION RESTRICTION ON THE SIZE OF THE TARGET
NEIGHBORHOODS WILL BE DROPPED. THIS GUIDELINE HAS BEEN
ADMINISTERED HAPHAZARDLY IN THE PAST AND HAS HINDERED PROGRESS
AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. ELIMINATING THIS GUIDELINE DOES NOT MEAN
THAT THE PROGRAM WILL BE EXPANDED CITYWIDE WITHIN EACH CITY.
ITS PURPOSE WILL REMAIN THAT OF FOCUSING RESOURCES ON PARTICU~
LARLY POOR AND BLIGHTED NEIGHBORHOODS, BUT LOCAL OFFICIALS WILL
BE GIVEN GREATER LATITUDE IN DRAWING PROGRAM BOUNDARIES THAT
CONFORM TO LOCAL CONDITIONS,
PRIORITY CONSIDERATION WILL BE GIVEN TO THOSE CITIES THAT
SUCCESSFULLY ENLIST THE PARTICIPATION OF PRIVATE AND VOLUNTARY
ORGANIZATIONS IN THEIR MODEL CITIES PLANS. THE INCREASED
FLEXIBILITY IN ESTABLISHING PROGRAM BOUNDARIES WILL MAKE IT
EASIER FOR THESE ORGANIZATIONS TO CONTRIBUTE.
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WILL BE ASKED TO ESTABLISH CLEAR PRIORITIES
IN DEVELOPING THEIR MODEL CITIES PROPOSALS, AND TO STRIVE FOR
"COMPREHENSIVENESS" ONLY IN THE PROGRAMS' FIVE-YEAR PLANNING
CYCLE. MANY CITIES HAVE INTERPRETED MODEL CITIES LEGISLATION
AND ADMINISTRATIVE GUIDELINES REQUIRENG A‘LOCAL "COMPREHENSIVE"
PLAN OF ATTACH ON BLIGHT AND POVERTY IN THEIR TARGET NEIGHBOR-
HOOD AS REQUIRING PROPOSALS TO IMMEDIATELY ATTACK EVERY CON-
CEIVABLE PROBLEM WITHIN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS. THIS OBVIOUSLY
WOULD BE UNWORKABLE: WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS THAT CITY GOVERN-
MENTS SET CLEAR PRIORITIES FOR ATTACKING THEIR PROBLEMS SO THAT
THEY CAN MAKE RAPID AND SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS TOWARD SOLVING
THEIR MOST URGENT RATHER THAN DISSIPATING THEIR RESOURCES IN
A VAIN EFFORT TO SOLVE ALL. THIS ADMINSTRATION WILL COMPLETELY
SCRUTINIZE APPLICATIONS TO ELIMINATE UNWISE OR UNNECESSARY
PROPOSALS.
PAGE THREE RUEVDFHOOO6 118200
WITH THESE REVISION, I FEEL THAT : THE MODEL CITIES PROGRAM CAN HELP
US TO ACHIEVE TWO IMPORTANT GOALS--A MORE RATIONAL AND CREATIVE
FEDERAL-STATE-LOCAL SYSTEM, AND CITY GOVERNMENTS THAT ARE NONE
FLEXIBLE AND RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF THEIR CITIZENS. WE MUST
REALIZE THAT ELIMINATION OF BLIGHT AND POVERTY IN OUR CENTRAL
CITIES CANNOT BE ACCOMPLISED OVERNIGHT. IT WILL BE A HARD AND
OFTEN FRUSTRATING STRUGGLE, BUT MODEL CITIES DOES OFFER US THE
MEANS OF BETTER USING OUR PRESENT RESOURCES, AND THUS TAKING
AN IMPORTANT STEP IN THAT DIRECTION."
NNNN
121126 EVDAA
021126 EVDAA
202724 13013 MSCDV310370
RAAUIJHZ RUEVDFHOOO6 1182004-UUUU--RUEVDAA.
FM GEORGE CREEL DIR OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS DHUD WASH DC/HHFA/
TO RUEVDDAA/1/ REGL ADMIN DHUD ATLANTA GA ATTN: SPECIAL ASST FOR
« ~. PUBLIC AFFAIRS & ARA'S FOR MODEL CITIES
BT -
THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT WAS ISSUED BY SECRETARY ROMNEY TO NEWS
MEDIA AT 4:00 PM APRIL 28. ASSISTANT SECRETARY HYDE WILL BE
TELEPHONING EACH OF THE REGIONAL. ADMINISTRATORS TO DISCUSS
THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS STATEMENT WITHIN THE NEXT FEW DAYS.
"SECRETARY ROMNEY'S STATEMENT ON MODEL CITIES" —
THE MODEL CITIES PROGRAM IS AN AMBITIOUS EFFORT. IT SEEKS TO
COORDINATE A VAST ARRAY OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS, TO CONCENTRATE THEIR
IMPACT ON SPECIFIC DEPRESSED URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS, AND TO MAKE LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS STRONGER AND MORE FLEXIBLE. MY COMMITTEE ON MODEL CITIES
OF THE COUNCIL FOR URBAN AFFAIRS HAS BEEN INTENSIVELY EXAMING THE ,
PROGRAM. ITS STUDY HAS SHOWN THAT THE PROGRAM'S GOALS ARE SOUND,
BUT THAT THERE HAVE BEEN CRITICAL DEFICIENCIES IN ITS ADMINISTRATION
WHICH CALL FOR IMMEDIATE CORRECTION. AMONG THEM:
-~FEDERAL AGENCIES HAVE NO? BEEN SUFFICIENTLY RESPONSIVE
TO LOCAL PROPOSALS REFLECTING SPECIFIC LOCAL CONDITIONS.
-~IN DEVELOPING THEIR PROPOSALS, LOCAL AUTHORITIES HAVE
BEEN HINDERED BY UNCERTAINTY AS TO THE AMOUNTS OF FUNDS
THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE FROM THE FEDERAL DEPARTMENTS.
--FEW EFFECTIVE ATTEMPTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO SECURE THE
INVOLVEMENT OF STATE GOVERNMENTS.
-~-FEDERAL GUIDELINES HAVE FORCED CITIES TO SET "MODEL
NETGHBORHOOD" BOUNDARIES THAT OFTEN HAVE BEEN ARBITRARY,
AND ''HAL HAVE CREATED UNNECESSARY DIVISIONS AMONG MODEL
CITIES RESIDENTS.
THE PRESIDENT HAS APPROVED THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE URBAN AFFIARS
COUNCIL THAT THE MODEL CITIES PROGRAM BE REVISED IN THE FOLLOWING
IMPORTANT RESPECTS:
1. THE COUNCIL FOR URBAN AFFAIRS WILL ASSUME DIRECT RESPONSIBILITY
FOR INTER-DEPARTMENTAL POLICY AFFECTING MODEL CITIES.
2. SECRETARIES OF THE DEPARTMENTS INVOLVED WILL HAVE PERSONAL,
SUPERVISION OF THEIR DEPARTMENTS' FUNDING OF MODEL CITT ES |
PROPOSALS, AND WILL RESERVE PROGRAM FUNDS SPECIFICALLY FOR
THAT PURPOSE. THIS WILL ENSURE THE AVAILABILITY OF DEPART-
MENTAL FUNDS FOR MODEL CITIES, AND WILL GIVE LOCAL AUTHORITIES
A BETTER IDEA OF THE AMOUNT AND KIND OF FUNDS THEY CAN EXPECT
FROM THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS FOR THE. R MODEL CITIES PLANS.
PAGE TWO RUEVDFHOOO6 1182004
3.
ADMINISTRATION OF THE PROGRAM WILL BE FED INTO THE REORGANIZA-
‘TION OF THE REGIONAL FEDERAL OFFICES, NOW UNDERWAY. ONE EFFECT
\OF THIS WILL BE TO FACILITATE INTER-DEPARTMENTAL COORDINATION
AT THE REGIONAL LEVEL. IN THE PAST, VARIATIONS AMONG THE
FEDERAL OFFICES IN PROGRAM PROCUDURES, HEADQUARTERS LOCATIONS,
AND STRUCTURES OF AUTHORITY, HAVE HANDICAPPED WELL-INTENTIONED
FEDERAL OFFICIALS AND CONFUSED LOCAL OFFICIALS, THUS SERIOUSLY
COMPROMISING THE MODEL CITIES PROGRAM AT THE CITY LEVEL.
GREATER EFFORTS WILL BE MADE TO INVOLVE THE STATE GOVERNMENTS
IN THE MODEL CITIES PROGRAM. LACK’ OF STATE INVOLVEMENT HAS
PROVEN A CRITICAL DEFICIENCY BECAUSE MANY OF THE FEDERAL FUNDS
NEEDED FOR MODEL CITIES ARE ADMINISTERED THROUGH STATE
AGENCIES. OUR AIM WILL NOT BE TO ADD ANOTHER ADMINISTRATIVE
LAYER BETWEEN THE CITIES AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, BUT TO
MAKE BETTER USE OF THE STATES'RESOURCES, EXPERIENCE AND PERSPEC-
TIVE. MODEL CITIES IS INTENDED TO BE AND WILL REMAIN A LOCAL
GOVERNMENT PROGRAM CENTERED UPON THE MAYOR'S OFFICE WITH A
CONTINUED REQUIREMENT FOR ADEQUATE CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT.
THE 10% POPULATION RESTRICTION ON THE SIZE OF THE TARGET
NEIGHBORHOODS WILL BE DROPPED. THIS GUIDELINE HAS BEEN
ADMINISTERED HAPHAZARDLY IN THE PAST AND HAS HINDERED PROGRESS
AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. ELIMINATING THIS GUIDELINE DOES NOT MEAN
THAT THE PROGRAM WILL BE EXPANDED CITYWIDE WITHIN EACH CITY.
ITS PURPOSE WILL REMAIN THAT OF FOCUSING RESOURCES ON PARTICU~
LARLY POOR AND BLIGHTED NEIGHBORHOODS, BUT LOCAL OFFICIALS WILL
BE GIVEN GREATER LATITUDE IN DRAWING PROGRAM BOUNDARIES THAT
CONFORM TO LOCAL CONDITIONS,
PRIORITY CONSIDERATION WILL BE GIVEN TO THOSE CITIES THAT
SUCCESSFULLY ENLIST THE PARTICIPATION OF PRIVATE AND VOLUNTARY
ORGANIZATIONS IN THEIR MODEL CITIES PLANS. THE INCREASED
FLEXIBILITY IN ESTABLISHING PROGRAM BOUNDARIES WILL MAKE IT
EASIER FOR THESE ORGANIZATIONS TO CONTRIBUTE.
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WILL BE ASKED TO ESTABLISH CLEAR PRIORITIES
IN DEVELOPING THEIR MODEL CITIES PROPOSALS, AND TO STRIVE FOR
"COMPREHENSIVENESS" ONLY IN THE PROGRAMS' FIVE-YEAR PLANNING
CYCLE. MANY CITIES HAVE INTERPRETED MODEL CITIES LEGISLATION
AND ADMINISTRATIVE GUIDELINES REQUIRENG A‘LOCAL "COMPREHENSIVE"
PLAN OF ATTACH ON BLIGHT AND POVERTY IN THEIR TARGET NEIGHBOR-
HOOD AS REQUIRING PROPOSALS TO IMMEDIATELY ATTACK EVERY CON-
CEIVABLE PROBLEM WITHIN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS. THIS OBVIOUSLY
WOULD BE UNWORKABLE: WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS THAT CITY GOVERN-
MENTS SET CLEAR PRIORITIES FOR ATTACKING THEIR PROBLEMS SO THAT
THEY CAN MAKE RAPID AND SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS TOWARD SOLVING
THEIR MOST URGENT RATHER THAN DISSIPATING THEIR RESOURCES IN
A VAIN EFFORT TO SOLVE ALL. THIS ADMINSTRATION WILL COMPLETELY
SCRUTINIZE APPLICATIONS TO ELIMINATE UNWISE OR UNNECESSARY
PROPOSALS.
PAGE THREE RUEVDFHOOO6 118200
WITH THESE REVISION, I FEEL THAT : THE MODEL CITIES PROGRAM CAN HELP
US TO ACHIEVE TWO IMPORTANT GOALS--A MORE RATIONAL AND CREATIVE
FEDERAL-STATE-LOCAL SYSTEM, AND CITY GOVERNMENTS THAT ARE NONE
FLEXIBLE AND RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF THEIR CITIZENS. WE MUST
REALIZE THAT ELIMINATION OF BLIGHT AND POVERTY IN OUR CENTRAL
CITIES CANNOT BE ACCOMPLISED OVERNIGHT. IT WILL BE A HARD AND
OFTEN FRUSTRATING STRUGGLE, BUT MODEL CITIES DOES OFFER US THE
MEANS OF BETTER USING OUR PRESENT RESOURCES, AND THUS TAKING
AN IMPORTANT STEP IN THAT DIRECTION."
NNNN
121126 EVDAA
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