A PROGRAM FOR THE CITIES

In an eloquent summary of its "principles, goals and commitments," the newly formed Urban Coalition of 1,200 business, labor, religious, civil rights and local government leaders last week in Washington set forth a bold and comprehensive program to alleviate the desperate plight of U.S. cities. Excerpts:

WE believe the tangible effects of the urban riots in terms of death, injury and property damage, horrifying though they are, are less to be feared than the intangible damage to men's minds. We believe that our thoughts and actions should be directed to the deep-rooted problems of the cities. We believe the American people and the Congress must reorder national priorities, with a commitment of resources equal to the magnitude of the problems--additional civil rights legislation, antipoverty, housing, and job-training programs.

This convocation calls upon the nation to end once and for all the shame of poverty amid general affluence. Private industry must greatly accelerate its efforts to recruit, train, and hire the hard-core unemployed. When the private sector is unable to provide employment to those who are both able and willing to work, then in a free society the government must of necessity assume the responsibility and act as the employer of last resort or must assure adequate income levels.

Emergency Work Program

This convocation calls upon the Federal Government to develop an emergency work program to provide jobs and new training opportunities for the unemployed and underemployed consistent with the following principles: > Cooperation of government and of private industry to assure that meaningful work is available. > Concentration on the backlog of employment needs in parks, streets, slums, countryside, schools, colleges, libraries and hospitals. The program should have as its first goal putting at least 1,000,000 of the unemployed into productive work at the earliest possible moment. > The program must provide meaningful jobs--not dead-end, make-work projects.

Private Employment, Assistance & Investment, All representatives of the private sector in this urban coalition decisively commit themselves to assist the deprived to achieve full participation in the economy as self-supporting citizens. We propose to initiate an allout attack on unemployment through the following steps: > In cooperation with government, to move systematically and directly into the ghettos and barrios to seek out the unemployed and underemployed and enlist them. We will re-evaluate our current testing procedures and employment standards so as to modify or eliminate those practices and requirements that unnecessarily bar many persons from gainful employment or union membership.

> To create a closer relationship between private employers and public training and emergency employment programs to widen career opportunities. To this end, we will proceed immediately to promote "Earn and Learn Centers," in depressed urban areas . . . the joint venture of business, labor and local government.

> To develop means by which major private investment may be attracted to deteriorating neighborhoods.

Housing, Reconstruction & Education

This convocation calls upon the nation to take bold and immediate action to fulfill the national need for a d cent home and a suitable living environment for every American family with guarantees of equal access to all housing, new and existing. The goal of rehabilitation and construction: at least a million housing units for lower-income families annually.

This convocation calls upon the nation to create educational programs that will equip all young Americans for full and productive participation in our society to their full potential.

This convocation calls upon local government, business, labor, religious and civil rights groups to create counterpart local coalitions to support and supplement this declaration of principles.

This convocation calls upon all Americans to apply the same determination to these programs that they have to past emergencies. We are confident that, given this commitment, our society has the ingenuity to allocate its resources and devise the techniques necessary to rebuild cities and still meet our other national obligations without impairing our financial integrity. Out of past emergencies, we have drawn strength and progress. The task we set for ourselves will not be easy, but the needs are massive and the hour is late. We pledge ourselves to this goal for as long as it takes to accomplish it. We ask the help of the Congress and the nation.

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