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Show WESTERN AMERICAN salt lake volume two november 2, 1972 as delegate the places where the the Model Neighborhood News, we featured a two page spread dealing with the subject of citizen participation as it pertains to the Model Cities program. The reason for the special feature was an apparent lack of information money should go. Obviously, it just isn't happening that way." Bea Willis, Housing Task Force: "Model Cities is not a They are here to give good advice and guide the people. To answer the question, whether they allow among residents and subsequently, confusion as to their role in the program. This week we are publishing some of the reactions of residents and their feelings about the Model great deal of citizen a participation or not, depends on the willingness of the people to speak out and tell them what they want. More people should speak out. Cities program in general. Dorothy Pulley and Victor Delgado, People's Freeway agency paper, not a " . gathering information. How do obtain the necessary information?'' she asked. She questioned the typer of technical assistance that Model Cities planners were providing for residents. She stated she felt residents should have copies of CDA letters and any other information necessary to make valid decisions. Mrs. Pulley brought up the subject of evaluation, saying residents have done nothing on evaluation since we were informed it was too late to evaluate projects, yet we completed planning to fund or not fund projects with no evaluation of continuing programs.'' Citizens and Commissioners should work together throughout the planning process, she advised. Commissioner McClure sits on our Board, Commissioner instead of each group going their separate way. Mrs. Pulley concluded by urging publication of CDA letters and other valuable information in the Model Neighborhood News. will be pub(Ed. Note: CDA-10in lished next week's issue.) " . . . We, the people, have the right to make all the decisions' Bonnie Hartley, Social Services Task Force, said, Model Cities does not treat the citizens like puppets on a string, but rather like puppets on a tight chain. There's a lot of relationship commissioners. We should all get together and get this friction resolved. "Another thing. I've been on council for two years now. When a new program or project is brought up for us to vote on, we a are not the full given information on the pioject. All the sides aie not discussed. How do they expect us to vote on the proposed projects when we don't know the entire story. Good projects go down the drain because of The local govern- ''Naturally the local government has the final say, though. But remember, it's the people who elect the officials. People should be more careful when they go out and vote. Beth James, Chairman of the a lack of residents, government and the Model Cities agency. In short, we welcome your opinions, comments, criticisms and ideas. By throwing out some thoughts from the standpoint of HUD and the Model Cities agency, we created feed-bacfrom residents to help clarify the issue or at least bring some aspects of it out in the open. We hear a lot about the Model Cities program and we wanted to develop a forum where some of these thoughts could be shaied with other residents and staff people involved in this program. Feel free to send your k comments to the Model Neighborhood News, 383 East 1700 South, Salt Lake City, Utah 84115 or call us at 467-801- 4. Lets keep this dialogue going! Marna Johnson, Government ,Bonnie Hartley Task Force: ''Yes, there is some Force: There's no such thing as citizen's participation in Model Cities. It is bureaucratic and dictatorial. in some respects it does work and in others it does not. They seem to have the attitude Do it my way or else!" The only solution that see, is for more residents to get involved in the task forces and councils. I We have a serious problem right now in that many residents are more aware of the subtle chairman refuses to call such a meeting. This only creates a wider gap between government and the I final say on all decisions, and also the right to educated or trained enough to take total responsibility. The residents are dealing with highly educated people who know how to word things in a way that might sound agreeable to the people but in actuality is not. Crime and Delinquency Task manipulation going on that the citizens on the Coordinating Council just aren't aware of. People should really wake up as to what is going on, and become right to the with local officials . Dorothy Pulley type of close working responded with immediate and channel of communication between a This is mostly because the residents are not assistance," Mrs. Pulley said. She urged residents to encourage this projects, Commissioner Harrison worked to implement a summer recreation program in our area. I've called Commissioner Barker on Sundays and he's always staff, residents the establish manipulation. manipulations. "Perhaps, what we should do is get together with the National Citizen's Participation Council to get ideas as to how to make our groups more effective, and to find constructive ways to combat the manipulations. We, the people, have the right to make all the decisions, repeat, we have the Harmsen has helped with . ment has the final say." neighborhood paper.'' "I take issue with the statement that said citizens should be responsible for great deal of contention between the wishes of is a from residents in order to information." Center, took issue with the two page spread. Mrs. Pulley stated she felt such material made the newspaper "a Model Cities we organization. g the commissioners." "There week's issue of policy-makin- number eleven on the various programs. There are a few hang ups, but they will woik out." "Model Cities is in an awkward position. They have to keep the residents content as well Residents Speak Out On Model Cities Program In last free not for sale requesting a special Coordinating Council meeting to review and discuss what the Joint Board finalized as projects for funding, but the Council people." Patricia Ray, Crime and Delinquency Task Force: "Model Cities gives us a pretty good deal! They provide training programs for us to carry the job that they started to the end. We are able to go on evaluation teams where we can ask questions and offer criticisms on " residents are manipulated, need more . . . training." More training and educational programs are what we should have. These reactions of a few residents illustrate to some degree the amount of confusion that exists about the Model Cities program. Some agree the Joint Board of Commissioners has the final say over how funds are spent, others say the residents have the final authority. Some residents are positive their role is one of an advisor, others see themselves as policy-maker- s and administrators. The staff of the Model Neighborhood News after weeks of research and study compiled last week's look at citizen participation in the Model Cities program, not to anger some residents, but to try to shed some light on a very complex situation. We also published the special feature in an attempt to bring about reactions Public Invited to Informative Meeting Altrusa Club of Salt Lake City, Utah announces the monthly meeting to be held November 14, Hotel Utah. Speaker of the evening: Miss C. Alleen Ericksen. She will discuss Day Care Centers, Nursing Homes and Adult Centers and their services. Program planned by the International Relations Committee of the Altrusa Club. President Lucille llle, presiding. |