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Show Page 3 new house or anything concrete out of it, but I've learned so much Model Cities Faces Possible Untimely Death According to recent reports in the news media, it looks like the death knell has been sounded for the Model Cities program. If the reporting has been accurate, President Nixon has recommended to the Congress that the Model Cities program not be funded for another fiscal year. Locally, this means that the Model Cities program would conclude operations 14 months from now on April 30, 1974. The local program is due to be funded for the third action year beginning May 1, 1 1973and ending April 30, 97 4. The President's recommendations would apply to fiscal year 1974. In an interview with Model Cities director, Pete Grundfossen, regarding the reports from Washington, he said that it would be essential for agency personnel to concern themselves with attempting to locate other funding sources to finance the fifty-threprojects established by e Model Cities. "It was our plan to look for these sources from now to the end of the fifth action year, now we'll have to do it in 14 months instead of 36 months,'' Grundfossen added. Some 500 jobs have been generated through Model Cities funded agencies which will be in jeopardy if the program is cut. about identifying problems, planning solutions and in group couldn't put a participatiing decision-makin- I g, price tag on that." Grundfossen said he felt the greatest benefits from the program will have been the involvement of residents of the model neighborhood working with the Commissioners to plan service programs for the benefit There the possibility that Congress would not accept the President's recommendation but Grundfossen does not see this as is likely. He said that assuming that the end of the program is in sight, agency personnel would be involved in an orderly phase-out- . No staff additions will be made as people quit, nor are any lay-off- of themselves and their neighbors. "Citizen participation is a great concept. Model Cities has provided a greenhouse in which it could be tended and could grow and flourish," he continued. The legacy of citizen participation that will be left by Model Cities will no doubt continue through other channels s at this time, and will provide further Grundfossen said. When asked how he felt personally about the possible elimination of the program, he said, "I feel awful about it. had a very strong belief in the Model Cities program when came here a year ago and that has grown during that time." Grundfossen feels that the program needed the full five years as originally planned to really bring all the potential "pay-off- s to realization. "The work that was begun by a group of Redwood and Westside residents in 1968 and the community improvement as those residents who've been involved in the decision-makinwill never again be able to sit back and let government do it alone. Residents have looked into City Hall and the school district offices and other places of importance and have found that their ideas were saleable and that officals would listen to them. This will surely continue after Model Cities is gone. Grundfossen said he felt another important item which came out of the Model Cities program was an improved flow of information. anticipated I I 1969 now will short-circuited- ," be he said. in g "Residents repeatedly A tremendous amount of planning has gone into the total comment that they get more program and many services have been delivered through projects. There is no way to determine the exact number of people that have been helped through the Model Cities program, for as one resident stated, "No, didn't get a neighborhoods from the Model Neighborhood News than from any other source," he said. Evaluating of projects has been initiated on a regular basis by Model Cities and this has resulted in better service delivery. I information about their "I'm deeply concerned about the future of the blighted area of this city - the area we call the model neighborhood and the inner cities of large metropolitan areas across the country because the government seems to be taking a course of turning its financial attention away from those problems, Grundfossen emphasized. wouldn't be so bad if the President had said that local governments must solve their own problems even if it meant raising local taxes and then had gone on to cut the defense budget so that federal taxes could be reduced. Local officials could have then felt more comfortable to increase local taxes but that's not what is happening, he added, instead federal spending for defense programs will be increased and the federal budget He said it will once again have an of funds. "It will be very difficult for local officials to replace the projects started by Model Cities without increasing local taxes. I'm afraid that as a result of the School Visits Scheduled In accordance model neighborhood news The Model Neighborhood News is a publication of the Salt Neighborhood Lake Model Cities Agency under the supervision of the Joint Board Department of Housing and of City and County with editorial offices located at 383 East 1700 South, Salt Lake City, Utah 84115. Publication of the Model Commissioners News is made possible through a grant from the Urban Development. Publication of the newspaper is weekly with a distribution of 20,000 copies. For further or to register a request or complaint on delivery of the newspaper, call 467-801information Produced by the Communications Service Center, Inc. Marlene Marie Young, Editor and Community Information Specialist Distribution by Reliable Courier Tim Funk, Staff Reporter Barbara Smith, Staff Reporter Laura Briggs, Staff Reporter Ralph Y. McClure, Chairman Pete Kutulas Stephen Harmsen C on rad Harrison Jennings Phillips William E. Dunn Dr. t I in ? meeting with school staff, students, parents and the community at large, the following schedule denotes the dates he will be available at Salt Lake City schools in Precinct 1 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. The meetings will be informal and anyone interested is invited to attend. Feb. 7 Newman Elementary - Feb. 15 Elementary Feb. 21 - Rose Park - West High School Feb. 28 - Franklin - Back man over-expenditu- re increased defense budget, revenue sharing, which is so highly acclaimed, will not come in large enough quantities to do a significant job toward reversing the blight cycle so clearly in effect in Salt Lake City and elsewhere," Grundfossen Elementary March 7 Elementary March 14 - Onequa Elementary March 21 - Washington. Elementary , , March 28 - Horace Mann Jr. High April 4 Jackson Elementary April 11 - Northwest Jr. High April 18 - Matheson Center -- 4-- H concluded. Residents continue to call and ask what they can do to voice their opinions of the Model Cities program and we can only suggest that they write letters to their Congressmen if they have strong feelings about maintaining the program. Advising local officials as to those projects they deem essential would also perhaps be a constructive form of action. Program Renews Efforts m Salt Lake City and County got off to a flying start Thursday evening with a staff council meeting. This was the first official function for the new volunteer council presidency; 4-- H in ? j ! j - jj Darlene Ingersol, Vice President, Vardie Ann Bunker, Secretary I H 4-- i . j and Ginger Hatch, Advisor. These women along with community supervisors in other areas, and aided by the professional 4-staff discussed this year's national theme, "A New Day, A New Way." The calendar of coming events was discussed and many good recommendations were made to increase involvement and effectiveness of the 4-- program, A buffet was served and everyone departed with a determination to follow the motto by making "Their Best Better." Also in attendance was Vaughn Park and Judy Walk, the new volunteer teen council leaders, with Joyce Olsen and Kent Schmidt, charter members, is for all boys and girls from ages USU Extension provides all the educational supplies. All a club needs to do is choose a volunteer leader and activity and, have fun the 4-way. Stop by the office at 444 S. 300 West or call 328-574for more information. : , Gardner, President, $ I j j I j ; , J r j ( ? ; ' j J j ' I j , I 4-- 9-1- Joint Board of Commissioners with Eugene Garcia's interest Barbara salt lake r 9. ' j . ( , H ! 5 I |