Need for National Urban Policy

1. What Pres. Obama Administration claims as “broad support” for Urban Policy Agenda through American Recovery & Reinvestment Act:

1) Increased funds to CDBG to broaden access to affordable housing2) Increase public housing funds3) Increase payments to owners of project based rental assistance

properties4) Increase funds to Neighborhood Stabilization Funds to purchase &

rehabilitate foreclosed homes5) Increase funds for Homelessness prevention to keep people in their

homes

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Need for National Urban Policy (cont.)

1. ARRA “broad support” (cont.)6) Expand educational opportunity for low-income students thru Title I

funds to K-12 in disadvantaged school systems7) Increase funds to strengthen workforce development training &

employ young people in summer8) Increase weatherization assistance programs to help low-income

consumers & train more workers for growing field9) Bolster nations transportation infrastructure and jumpstart high speed

rail to connect regions10) Provide broadband access to underserved areas

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Need for National Urban Policy (cont.)

2. Obama’s beliefs

Urban issues are interdependent

Urban revitalization plans should link housing, transportation, energy, labor, education & criminal justice policies

Important to “lift up & revitalize” urban areas holistically

Important to invest in community development

White House Office of Urban Affairs to conduct national “listening” tours to discuss urban issues & identify “best practices”

o Choice Neighborhoods (HUD program)o Promise Neighborhoods (Harlem Children’s Zone)

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Need for National Urban Policy (cont.)

3. What’s Needed?A. Prioritize Criminal Justice Reform (

www.whitehouse.gov/issues/civil_rights)B. Add money to nonprofits for Innovative Solutions

to Pressing Social Problems (www.whitehouse.gov/issues/service)

C. Prioritize job skill development for inner-city (www.whitehouse.gov/issues/poverty)

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Need for National Urban Policy (cont.)

4. What potential Alliances?

A. Right to The City (RTTC) Alliance Resolution

B. U.S. Social Forum (Detroit, June 22-26, 2010)

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