Fox Canyon Neighborhood Association, Inc.

Letter to President Bush -CDBG-

REJECT PLANS TO ELIMINATE OR CONSOLIDETE THE CDBG

FOX CANYON LETER TO PRESIDENT BUSH


March 11, 2005

President George W. Bush,
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

RE: The proposed “Strengthening America's Communities Initiative,” and the consolidation/elimination of CDBG from the Federal Budget, FYO6.

Dear President Bush:

Once again, let me introduce my neighborhood to you, as I did once before, last June 24, 2004. Fox Canyon is a tiny ‘hood nested in the pocket formed by Euclid and University Avenues, and bordered by five-finger canyons, natural habitat to foxes and unique flora and fauna, and also home to gone-awry urbanization [determined to kill, once beautiful, Auburn Creek], pollution, litter, gangs and rampant substance abuse. In Census Track 27.09, you will find an aging population, and equally, an old and delapidated housing stock [circa 1920], density, slum and crowed conditions, in addition to native and resently imported [from all over the world], inhabitants [some of which just jumped the border fence last night with Homeland Security in hot pursuit], and the challendged. The median income in my entire community is just $26,880, while the median purchase price of a house is a whooping $462,000, US Census 2000, track 27.09, www.census.gov

One of the ways in which the Fox Canyon community has been able to have the investment capital necessary to revitalize the neighborhood is via the Community Development Block Grants [CDBG]. CDBG has paid for all the improvements done to the neighborhood from sidewalks to street lights, directional and neighborhood signs to monies to pay for outside home improvements [like the “Let’s Paint the Hood’s Blight Out”], Graffiti cover up events, tree plantings and the prospect to acquire land desperately needed for a neighborhood park, in addition, to neighborhood clean ups and the removal of blight and crime. With the usage of CDBG, our community has enjoyed an increase in GOOD quality of life and real peace and quiet, as well.

The purpose behind founding the neighborhood association, as a public benefit 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, was to be able to ask for, get and handle our own CDBG applications and manage such monies granted, in public improvements, programs and projects, all by ourselves. As we know immediately what improvements are urgently needed in our own community and how to implement them, best. Without the availability of CDBG, our community will simply and surely regress. In a short sentence, we just can’t do without CDBG’s as they are structured today!

Therefore, Mr. President, humbly, I would like to petition, on behalf of the People of Fox Canyon, that you reject plans to eliminate or consolidate the CDBG. The CDBG shall be left alone as a separate and distinct program, as it exists today, with an INCREASED budget, but NO less than the present $4.355 billion.

Respectfully,

JOSE LOPEZ, PRESIDENT

CC:
Mr. Judd Gregg, Chair, Senate Budget Committee
Ms. Dianne Feinstein, U.S. Senator
Ms. Barbara Boxer, U.S. Senator
Mr. Jim Nussle [R-Iowa], Chair, House Budget Committee
Ms. Susan Davis, U.S. Congresswoman
Ms. Christine Kehoe, CA State Senator
Ms. Shirley Horton, CA Assemblywoman
Mr. Dick Murphy, City of San Diego Mayor
Mr. Jim Madaffer, Member of San Diego City Council, D7


DEAR FOX CANYON MEMBERS, RESIDENTS AND FRIENDS:

Each one of us in Fox Canyon, City Heights and everywhere in the nation, has directly benefited, at one time or another, from the Community Development Block Grants [CDBG] that has helped improved our community. The CDBG issue is of extreme importance [a matter of survival in slum, blighted and aggressive, crime rid suburbia] to US.

Please, help by writing, emailing or phoning your Elected Representatives to “REJECT PLANS TO ELIMINATE OR CONSOLIDETE THE CDBG”.

In all your correspondence please include the following marker: “I rise [write, phone, and/or e-mail] in support of Fox Canyon, and ask of you to reject plans to eliminate or consolidate the CDBG. The CDBG shall be left alone as a separate and distinct program, as it exists today, with an INCREASED budget, but NO less than the present $4.355 billion”.


PLEASE, DIRECT YOUR CORRESPONDENCE TO:

President George W. Bush,
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Phone Comments at: (202) 456-1111
www.whitehouse.gov [click on, 'President']
Email: president@whitehouse.gov vice.president@whitehouse.gov

Senator Judd Gregg, Chair, Senate Budget Committee
393 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-3324
E-mail: mailbox@gregg.senate.gov

Senator Dianne Feinstein
750 B Street, Suite 1030
San Diego, CA 92101
or
331 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
(619) 231-9712
Email via website: feinstein.senate.gov/email.html

Senator Barbara Boxer,
600 B Street, Suite 2240
San Diego, CA 92101
or
112 Hart Senate Office Building,
Washington DC 20510
(619) 239-3884
senator@boxer.senate.gov

Congressman Jim Nussle, Chair,
House Budget Committee
Room 303 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-1502

Congresswoman Susan Davis
4305 University Avenue, Suite 515
San Diego, CA 92105
[619] 280-5353
Email via website: www.house.gov/susandavis

TALKING POINTS for your correspondence

Discribe your PERSONAL EXPERIENCE with CDBG. As to how planting your street tree [pavement, sidewalks,painting the outside of your house, the street lights, the clean ups] benefited you directly, and how this accions improved the quality of your life, the functionallity and looks of the neighborhood, etc.

AND [WITH] OR:

American Planning Association
Campaign to Save the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program

COURTESY of KAREN BUCEY

___________________Talking Points__________________

• The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program is foundation of
revitalization and development in America's cities, towns, and neighborhoods. For 30 years, CDBG has been the primary federal resource for local community development. The program was lauded by administration officials just a year ago as "set[ting] the standard for all other block grant programs." It has proven to be a valuable and effective tool. The program simply isn't broken.

• CDBG is a vital resource for implementing the vision of citizens articulated in local plans. CDBG currently requires a planning process that is based on the notion that local citizens are best suited to determine local priorities and vision for the future. These plans employ significant citizen participation. CDBG provides the funding to realize these local visions based on local values. HUD described citizen participation and local determination of needs, strategies, and programs as "a hallmark of the program." Pointing to the many planned projects realized through CDBG, HUD celebrated the program's ability to "create a better standard of living for all of America's people."

• CDBG is a good investment of public resources. CDBG has a proven track record of attracting additional private sector funding. Over the 30-year history of the program, CDBG has leveraged nearly $324 billion in new, private investment, a return of three private dollars for every one public dollar.

• CDBG is a flexible and reliable source of funding. CDBG was designed to provide communities with a consistent and stable, yet flexible funding tool for locally-determined community development priorities. The dual formula used for CDBG ensures that the program covers communities large and small, from coast-to-coast while still targeting the neediest neighborhoods. Ninety-five percent of funds spent by grantees were spent for projects that primarily benefited low- and moderate-income neighborhoods.

• The proposed program would weaken America's communities. The administration's plan would eliminate CDBG's reliability and flexibility. The new program would be net 33 percent cut from existing programs. The administration has indicated that many, if not most, communities currently receiving funds would no longer be eligible. Communities with low poverty rates cumulatively would not receive funding despite obvious pockets of lingering poverty. If communities with overall poverty rates below the national average were dropped from the program as the proposal suggests, well over 400 communities currently eligible would no longer receive support — 38 percent of those eligible last year.

• Loss of local control — Administration's plan prefers more federal mandates. Those communities still eligible for funding would find their options for eligible projects sharply limited by new federal mandates, regardless of locally identified needs in plans. These communities would also be expected to receive funding only for a limited time. The proposal suggests that federally adopted benchmarks would determine eligibility and length of access.

• The administration's plan isn't "consolidation"; it's elimination. Under the proposal, CDBG would simply cease to exist. It would be replaced with a new program providing significantly less funding while restricting access and eligibility to the new program.

• CDBG promotes housing choice, affordability and homeownership. According to 2004 statistics, in that year CDBG rehabilitated 19,000 rental units and 112,000 owner-occupied, single-family homes. More than 11,000 households, overwhelmingly from low-income neighborhoods, became homeowners with aid from CDBG projects.

• CDBG improves the efficiency and effectiveness of local government programs. CDBG helps local government serve citizens better. In 2004, 13 million people received assistance through CDBG-funded projects. Funded services include child care, crime prevention, homelessness assistance, transportation services, and after-school enrichment. Nearly 1.6 million seniors were assisted through CDBG projects such as meals on wheels and adult day care. Cuts to CDBG represent a back door tax increase as local governments will be forced to find replacement revenue or eliminate these services.

• CDBG sustains and expands local employment. In 2004, CDBG helped create or retain 90,000 jobs. More than two-thirds of those jobs went to low- and moderate-income workers. An additional 85,000 people benefited from CDBG-funded job training in 2004. CDBG-fmanced revitalization often leads to job creation beyond the individual projects receiving direct support. A rehabilitated neighborhood contributes to a community's fiscal health in a variety of ways from an expanded tax base to reduced social service costs.

• CDBG supports the repair, modernization and security of critical infrastructure. Last year CDBG funded the improvement of 38,550 public facilities and infrastructure serving more than 9 million people. HUD estimates that nearly three-quarters of the residents directly benefiting from these repairs and enhancements are low- or moderate-income residents. CDBG infrastructure investments include roads; libraries; water and sewer systems; centers for children, seniors, and persons with disabilities, and police and fire stations. With other budget cuts proposed, CDBG is even more vital to the health and vitality of the nation's communities.

• It's about priorities. The real issue here is not just about a successful federal program. It's about our national priorities. Or, put another way, values. Montgomery County (MD) Executive Doug Duncan put it just right: "This isn't about some line item in a budget - it's about helping people realize their dreams and their potential." The President says this budget is about "tough choices." He is right about that. Unfortunately, this proposal is the wrong choice.
What should Congress do?

• Enact an FY06 budget and spending legislation that maintains CDBG funding at current levels.

• Maintain CDBG as a distinct program separate from other economic development initiatives providing flexible, reliable and direct funding to the nation's communities.

• Support existing requirements for planning and standards for funding access and eligibility.

Want more information on saving CDBG and preserving federal investment in America's communities? Contact APA at govtaffairs(q)planning.org and visit our CDBG online action center at www.planning.org/legislation.

Congresswoman Davis Fights Budget Proposal to Eliminate CDBG Fun

WHAT IS THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) PROGRAM?

The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program was enacted in 1974 by President Richard M. Nixon. It is one of the oldest programs in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD).

The CDBG program provides annual grants on a formula basis to many different types of grantees through programs like Entitlement Communities, State Administered CDBG, Section 108 Loan
Guarantee Program, HUD Administered Small Cities, Insular Areas, Disaster Recovery Assistance, and Colonias.

The CDBG program works to ensure decent affordable housing, provides services to the most vulnerable populations, creates jobs, and expands business opportunities. CDBG is an important tool in helping local governments tackle the most serious challenges facing their communities.

HUD determines the amount of each grant by a formula which uses several objective measures of community needs; including the extent of poverty, Population, housing overcrowding, age of housing and population growth in relationship to other metropolitan areas.

WHAT PROJECTS HAVE BEEN FUNDED WITH CDBG?

- In 2005, the City of San Diego's total CDBG entitlement was $18,260,000.
Graffiti removal is commonly funded with CDBG.

- A sampling of programs funded by CDBG in 2005 includes $50,000 for sidewalk improvements in Council District 3, $125,000 for the City Heights Community Development Corporation, and over $500,000 for neighborhood code enforcement and graffiti removal throughout San Diego.

WHAT CHANGES HAVE BEEN PROPOSED TO THE CDBG PROGRAM?

In its fiscal year 2006 budget, the Bush Administration has proposed iliminating the 18 existing programs in HUD's community planning and development program, including CDBG.

The Administration proposes consolidating the 18 programs into the "Strengthening America's Communities Initiative" grant program to be administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce. The new program would be given $3.7 billion, a net funding reduction of over 33 percent compared to the $5.7 billion in total funding Congress appropriated for the 18 existing programs in 2005. Although details of the Strengthening America's Communities Initiative have not been released yet, the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials believes that many activities eligible under CDBG would be ineligible under the new initiative and that many states and communities currently receiving funding would not be guaranteed an allocation.

WHAT NOW? WHERE DOES THE PROPOSAL GO FROM HERE?

The President's proposal to eliminate the CDBG program now heads to the Congress for its consideration as a part of the annual budget process.
Congresswoman Davis has sent a letter to the House Budget Committee Chairman and Ranking Member asking them not to implement the Administration's proposal and to fully fund CDBG in 2006.

The budget process will last until the fall. The fiscal year 2006 budget will begin on October 1, 2005.

Office of Congresswoman Susan A. Davis
4305 University Avenue • Suite 515 • San Diego, CA • 92105
(619) 280-5353 (phone) • (619) 280-5311 (fax) • http://www.house.gov/susandavis


SAMPLE LETTER:

Dear Senator Feinstein, Senator Boxer, and/or Congresswoman Davis:

I am writing to urge you to reject plans to eliminate or consolidate the Community Development Block Grant program (CDBG). As you consider the new budget and subsequent related legislation, maintain CDBG as a separate program with a funding level consistent with current amounts.

The President's budget recommends consolidating 18 different programs, including CDBG, into a new "Strengthening America's Communities Initiative." The new initiative would provide only a fraction of current funding ($3.71 billion vs. $4.67 billion last year for CDBG alone). In addition, the new program would likely place dramatic limits on access to and eligibility for funding.

My request for your support on this issue is not simply about saving a federal program. Rather, it is about maintaining a federal investment in the health of my community and local economy. CDBG creates jobs, provides affordable housing, builds and repairs critical infrastructure, eliminates blight, and leverages new private investment.

A look at HUD's statistics demonstrates the value of this federal investment. In 2004, CDBG supported the creation of 90,000 jobs, helped 11,000 households move into homeownership, rehabilitated 19,000 affordable rental units and 112,000 single-family homes, and build or repair 38,000 infrastructure projects. Historically, CDBG has generated three private sector dollars for every dollar of public investment.

The President is right when he says that the budget this year is about "tough choices." However, the decision to sacrifice a proven and effective tool that adds value and investment isn't a tough choice, it's the wrong choice. Please act to maintain CDBG as a separate program providing direct and flexible funding to communities.

Thank you for your service and consideration.

Sincerely,

Email us
FoxCanyonN@aol.com

Click on the hotlinks below and get in contact with:

The President
Senator Judd Gregg, Chair Senate Budget Committee
Senator Dianne Feinstein
Senator Barbara Boxer
Congresswoman Susan Davis
Contact APA
American Planning Association