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Show rn&m TWgll dwi 'rntwiffifrurii g letters Editor: Citizen Veto: The city Note your article of Oct. 26, 1972 on Citizen Participation . . . please print this article in your paper. From Economic Opportunty Report, date June 5, 1972: said the then new Nixon administration message was groups have administration inherited right "to be "clear: the Model Cities program is not to be controlled by citizen groups. Control and getting down to work and solving some of the problems which I know exist in our community, we acquiescence before any soon wouldn't have any program particular facet of could go beyond the planning complaints. don't agree with the greatbureaucracyeither, but when they want to give a little of our want to help money back, decide how to spend it and not pick apart everybody in the city that I think is my enemy. It looks to me like the biggest enemy is the resident who wastes time complaining and running people down instead of working to make things better. don't care if they call me "an advisor" "a planner" or what, just so I can finally sit in on meetings to decide where the money should go. Residents stop fighting and fearing your fellow man - or you soon won't half-bake- Model Cities a a administration had "drastically" found that the Nixon corporations it would also monitor as the "major neighborhood representative." HUD and the city redesigned the consulted and to participate in the planning and carrying out of the program. Such a right - within the provisions of the act - is in fact programs to meet the required by HUD's own objectives, but without consulting AWC. The city eventually dropped the AWC in favor of a new purely advisory department's group called the Citizens administrative ouncements." pron- The court said HUD in instructions sent to cities 1967, spelled out Congress' intent to require full involvement in Advisory Committee. AWC sued of citizens of the affected the city and the Federal neighborhoods government, losing out twice in Federal District Court hearings. Finally, however, the Circuit Court on February 25, 1972, ordered that AWC be reinstated, and that the city and the new The Supreme Court, however, did not find the city's contentions compelling, and refused to hear the case, leaving Philadelphia to work with AWC and HUD, presumably, to give citizens' groups the right to participate in Model Cities decisions. "A Reader" Editor: policy-makin- "in planning and the g, execution of all program elements." City Appeals: Philadelphia appealed to the Supreme Court last March (EOR, March, 13), i want to say how much appreciate the fine newspaper look you publish each week. forward to reading it from front to back. You are doing a fine service to this community. I I mode) 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 News is made possible through a grant from the Urban Development. Publication of the newspaper is weekly with a distribution of with editorial offices located at 383 East 1700 South, Salt Lake City, Utah information 84115. Publication of the Model request or complaint on delivery of the newspaper, call 467-801- Commissioners 20,000 copies. For further or to register a 4. Produced by the Communications Service Center, Inc. I read the front page article two weeks ago, where some residents spoke but against the Model Neighborhood News. couldn't believe it. Here we have I Ralph Y. McClure, Chairman Phillip R. Blomquist Stephen Harmsen Conrad Harrison Jennings Phillips William E. Dunn V anything. A Westside Resident you have to print the really important news first, but try to find room for the poems, they are always so beautiful. a small newspaper which deals with the daily living of the average citizen, a newspaper which gives out more information on community programs and problems than all the other newspapers, radio and T. V. combined and someone has to pick it apart. suppose they think they could do a better job. I can't imagine how you cover all the meetings and events, how you talk to so many people and are so active in order to get so much news each week. The only time can remember that we didn't get I paper was last ing and that is wonder how understandable. n ksg i v I many people supposedly working for the people produce the same quality and quantity of work week after week. Not many. I'd say. I'm tired of people running down the hard work and effort of others and doing so little themselves. I just had to answer the woman who didn't like the hope you will newspaper. I continue to put out such newspaper. a good Mrs. Mary Sanchez and family I've been to a couple of Model Cities task force and an meetings don't think lobserver, and understand what it is all about. Here we have the federal government willing to share some as Coordinating I of our tax money with I us common folk and when we get together we spend most of the time running down the local politicians, the Model Cities staff, initiated the citizens' lobby movement in 1970. Tom Quinn, local chairman of j ? ' f the Common Cause movement, states that the potential for citizen impact on State legislative reform and modernization exciting and encouraging. "Here is an area where citizens can be active in repairing the instruments of is Pete Grundfossen, in Utah for legislative modernization, stresses that he feels Common Cause is, "one of the real and one of the bright hopes for effecting change in legislative and executive branches of national and state government." "The expense to the average citizen to participate in the national Common Cause lobby would make it prohibitive, since, in addition to the $15.00 a year membership fee, citizens must pay their expenses in Washington, D. C.," Grundfossen stated. "The list of those persons, men and women, who did become Faye Wilde candidates and who were elected Voting Not Enough I Editor: Joint Board of Commissioners have anything to say about miss your poetry section when it isn't included. realize I press conference at the Hotel Utah, and met with various citizens' groups throughout the day. Gardner, former secretary of Health, Education and Welfare, I I Marlene Marie Young, Editor and Community Information Specialist Distribution by Reliable Courier Kirk Terry, Staff Reporter Roger Taylor, Photographer Barbara Smith, Staff Reporter Laura Briggs, Staff Reporter I I Tha salt lake I Editor: Jack Reilly Dear Editor: our weekly i d -- I citizen's role to an advisory one. AWC, it said, does not "claim to and would operate some it stages." and illegally curtailed the possess a veto over proposals by the city or HUD. They contend, however, they have the right to be e a government. Unfortunately, this Urban a arbitrary approval rest with local responsibility philosophy in many areas of the country dedicated to extensive citizen control." The Circuit Court, however, non-prof- could bring and consulted and to participate in the planning and carrying out" of the Model Cities program. The case arose when the Department of Housing and Development rejected 1968 proposal from the city of Philadelphia for some Model Cities programs on the grounds that the North City Area-WidCouncil (AWC) helped to plan r argued that the AWC in effect sought veto power over HUD and the Mayor's office. It contended that nothing in the authorizing legislation for the Model Cities program required HUD to consult citizen groups. In fact, a HUD official had at about that time COURT REFUSES PHILADELPHIA MODEL CITIES CASE: The U. S. Supreme Court last Tuesday let stand a ruling by the 3rd U. S. Circuit Court which decreed that citizen participation HIGH i and each other (if someone doesn't agree with our ideas). If as much time was spent Program to a halt and require its citizens group "negotiate in good faith" with the AWC. a arguing, "If the decision of the court below is not reversed, every citizen participation unit by Laura Briggs not enough. The real action begins after the election, when the lobbyists and ''Voting is machines take over at the expense of the taxpayer. "Citizens must wake up to their power and understand that their obligation to themselves is political to force politicians to be accountable for their actions between elections. The seniority system in the U. S. Senate and the virtually unlimited powers of the feudal barons who head up committees the House of Representatives insure the perpetuation of a system whereby 90 of all decisions made that affect our lives and pocketbooks are made behind closed doors - in carefully controlled secrecy." The preceding statements by John W. Gardner were taken from important in recent day long session of meetings to promote Common Cause in Utah. Gardner, national chairman of the a non-partisa- n by referendum to lobby in Washington is indeed impressive, as far as background and stature of these volunteer public servants concerned." Gardner are announced Thursday, that Arvill Van Alstyne, Professor of Law at the University of Utah, is next on the list to serve on the Board of Directors. Grundfossen stated that the meetings of the local chapter of Common Cause are attended by a faithful group of dedicated men and women of strong, determined purpose. He invites anyone who is interested to contact him at 1786 South 1 2th East or call 467-964. There are lots of things to be done, in addition to becoming 1 part of a lobbying team, Grundfossen stated. He advised that the yearly membership fee for state membership to Common Cause is $10.00 for adults. There is a Young Citizens membership for those under 25 with the fee reduced to $7.50. Address of national 2100 M. Street, N. W., Washington, D. C., 20037. headquarters is : Inquiries and comments welcome. are of the funds are used for legislative and program activities and publication of a report from Two-third- s Washington and other informational materials citizens lobby populist distributed to movement, journeyed to Salt Lake City, Thursday, November 9, to speak at a fund raising dinner and before the University of Utah Law School. Garcfner also held a September, 1971, members. The other third is used to recruit new members - - since effectiveness as a lobby depends on membership growth. Present membership, to is 200,000. - |