OCR Text |
Show V the city-count- beat y organizing the schedule. one that' the when and "if revenue mayor said, and But beyond sharing does come" he will certain "a citizen's participation component is officially recognized. Several recommendations for such an official citizens participation group havs been made by Salt Lake, Commissi oner James Barker and former Mlodel Cities director Pete Grundfossen, among others. The mayor sa vs no his not just poor people or minorities, n but rather "a of the commun t tv." The mayor does not see any one Mayor Seeks More Local Responsibility For Programs Mayor E. J. "Jake" Garn told the Neighborhood News in a recent interview that he has "long been disturbed by the of the Federal bureaucracy Government with its multiplicity of programs, miles of red tape, and high administration costs. He says while he agrees with the general principle of the programs, he favors the phasing out of Model Cities and CAP "and having money come in the form of revenue sharing. The Mayor thinks "there is not enough accomplished" under the categorical grant programs which aim at specific problem areas. "There is so much money that never filters down to the poor" testifies the Mayor. Dwelling on the Federal approach to social programs for a moment, the mayor indicated some things of which he doesn't approve. He said established programs could not be tailored to meet the specific needs of an area. We've had the Denver Office applying the Regional same guidelines to separate states." A "national blueprint," says the mayor, is not adequate when the needs of Ogden and Salt Lake are "si miliar but different." More local responsibility for programs is what the mayor seeks. He said in expressing his displeasure over one program, "the HUD office in Denver is not responsible to anybody. Mayor Garn is quick to add that he is "not against Federal revenues." The Federal money being spent locally, he says, has to be earned locally and the people here have a right to it. The Community Revenue Development Special Sharing concept put forth by the Nixon Administration is the answer the mayor sees for "filling the gap left by the impending fund cuts. Mayor Garn says he is disturbed'' because his "criticisms" of programs are class or misunderstood." represented, said the mayor the e He , added that if there five year, experimental, cutback." the either." All citizens would have to be Lions-Club-typ- Grundfossen continued: "Allow me to say that I am saddened also by the early and untimely loss of the Model Cities program to Salt Lake. As originally conceived it was to be a wasteful they will get are component would not be dominated by the poor or what he called "the middle Model Cities program, programs in the long run. If they faction He said d. over-represente- want to was of I'm certainly not against poor. . I'm against the means delivery." Model Cities Director sees for this is that the administrative staff needed to run many of the present programs will no longer be necessary. "What to do from March, 1973 to July, 1974" is the main concern the mayor has over the program phase out. He says it was understanding that categorical funds would not be cut until special revenue funds became his available. spite of this, he is hopeful some funds will be forthcoming to fill the gap. He mentioned the In Neighborhood Youth Corp (NYC) had been approved for funding nationally and he supposed the local funding level for the program would at least match what it has been in the past. In Last week we announced the resignation of Pete Grundiossen, Model Cities director. His was resignation accepted by the Board of Commission ers on Joint Wednesday, April 4, The following letter to Mayor EE. J. Jake Garn and the Board outlines his reason for resigning and his feelings about the Model Cities program. "I am resigning on such sHort notice because the position I am moving to (Director of the Salt Lake County Government Study Commission is less than one should get top priority, he said. When asked about the future of citizen participation now that funding for local citizens groups has been reduced or ended, the mayor was slightly peeved. He said long before special programs ever set up formal citizens groups that "three times a week people could have a say" in City Commission meetings. "We run an open meeting, we have no agenda, anyone with anything to say may do so. The Study Commission is extremely anxious to proceed with its work. feel free to make this short notice request for some prior notification of a person's intent to appear helps in need for greater citizen participation in governmental decision making, has been clearly established. The neighborhood councils should be anchor points for this participation. Also, I believe there is an excellent chance the Neighborhood News will survive beyond Model Cities because it has provided an informational service heretofore unavailable. "Additionally, of course, a number of specific projects, which are of such merit that they will continue indefinitely, have been begun or reinforced with Model Cities planning and dollars. Tactical Squads, Community Childhood Education are only a few of the most obvious. The letter concluded: Credit for all of this development must be shared beneficial. These programs Commission anytime. But he said "Nonetheless, the short life of Model Cities has broadened, even changed the community's view of citizen participation. The Home Repair and Early Letter Commission) citizens to appear before the prove all its points. Representation, Emergency Explains Resignation Mayor Garn endorses many of the individual programs such as the NYC which he considers The mayor encourages demonstration program. As with any experimental project aborted at midterm, it could not possibly Schools, Juvenile Legal This approach to funding "will save a great deal of money" says the mayor. One reason he 2 and eventual elimination of the comes. Management training for that purpose has been underway for some time." Will there be as much money from revenue sharing as there was before? The mayor thinks there will probably be more. He adds, "Cities that handle new funds properly will get more money for endorsement now but he insists that such a component "rtaust be truly representative, including cross-sectio- Page Cities programs he Model hoped it was the establishment of strong citizen participation. Will Salt Lake City be able to administer the revenue sharing funds when it gets them? Mayor Garn was glad to answer. "Salt Lake has been especially gearing up for the advent of revenue sharing. We will be capable of handling it when it make one recommendation h,as thing to come out of the CAP is of urgent community interest and because the working life-spa- n cl the year. I release from my responsibilities as Director because the future course of the program is so established and clearly so obviously diminished, now, from what we had planned and hoped for fourteen months ago when took the job. "I also feel free to make this request because the program will be left in the very capable hands of Mel Darton. He has been of great value to me personally and trust to all of you and the entire program. I recommend that you I him Director at the next meeting of the Joint Board." The letter continued: "I accepted the Model Cities position then in the same spirit as name as am accepting the Study I Commission Directorship now: in the spirit of giving community and gaining challenge and personal growth. expected the job to be arduous and difficult service I and I was not disappointed in that expectation. "But the rewards of growth and service have vastly outweighed the wounds of discomfiture. Working with the City and County Commissioners groups and as individuals has been enriching. wish to take this because it has been a community effort from the very beginning. But I want to express here a particular thanks to the hundreds of citizens who contributed thousands of hours to planning, evaluating and replanning each of the projects simply because they wanted to make their community a better one." Grundfossen was employed by the University of Utah and was a member of the Utah State Legislature prior to his assuming the position at Model Cities. If you want to receive as I opportunity to thank the Commissioners for their assistance in helping build the program, and for the personal courtesies they have paid me. "I also want to pay tribute to the excellent Model Cities staff, which I largely inherited. I found on the staff a wealth of resources the community. They gave unstintingly and devotedly of their time in behalf of the Model for Cities am Programs and concepts. I truly saddened by the premature but now necessary dismantling of this fine organization." Regarding the phasing-ou- t Neighborhood News each week, Call 2 467-801- 4 Week Special Men's Suits $1 .25 (Knits Extra) Pahl Cleaning Co. 1017 So. Main |