APA's Policy Director Testifies on Saving America's Cities at Capitol Hill Meeting

On June 28, 2005, APA Policy Director Jeff Soule, FAICP, represented APA at a meeting on Capitol Hill led by Rep. Michael Turner (R-Ohio) and the Saving America's Cities Working Group and Advisory Committee. APA is among the working group's "third party partners" and is periodically called on to advise the group on effective programs and policies that invest in urban communities and promote their economic vitality.

APA's written statement and Soule's testimony urged the group to address five important elements of a federal agenda for our cities:

• brownfields
• grayfields and inner ring suburban redevelopment
• urban parks and recreation
• security planning and local code reform
• affordable housing

"APA has long urged Congress to address chronic funding shortfalls in the repair, maintenance, and improvement of infrastructure," said Soule.

"However, I also recognize the reality of our current fiscal environment with its inevitable limitations on available resources. This reality makes it important that we do a better job of targeting our resources. A growing number of states are successfully experimenting with 'fix it first' strategies that prioritize maintenance, repair and modernization. Federal policies could create further incentives for this approach."

APA's suggestions for urban investment programs closely follow the association's 2004 Policy Guide on Public Redevelopment.

Click here for APA's Policy Guide on Public Redevelopment

Click here to read Jeff Soule's testimony

Members of the working group and advisory committee were receptive to APA's recommendations, and notably pleased that several priorities were echoed in the testimony of other third party partners.

APA was among 20 groups present. Stakeholders included the Business Roundtable, National Trust for Historic Preservation, National Association of Home Builders, National Association of Counties, National Recreation and Parks Association, and the National Low Income Housing Coalition. Groups recommended congressional support for the Community Development Block Grant program (CDBG), the Community Renewal Act, regional economic initiatives, expanded rehabilitation and federal historic tax credits, and programs aimed at community safety.

Eight of the 23 Republican members of Congress who belong to the working group were present and spoke: Representatives Rob Bishop (Utah-01), Tom Davis (Va.-11), Phil English (Pa.-03), Nancy Johnson (Conn.-05), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (Fla.-18), Thelma Drake (Va.-02), Charlie Dent (Pa.-15) and Jeff Fortenberry (Neb.-01).

Many representatives have had experience working for city councils or have held other elected positions in their local governments, and so recognize the importance of local involvement and expertise in this area. Members also noted the value of certain federal programs and the need to take a holistic approach to improve affordable housing, aging infrastructure, economic vitality and overall community development initiatives.

Jack Kemp, former secretary of HUD and nine-term New York congressman from 1971 to 1989, is the Advisory Committee Chair. The other committee members are: District of Columbia Mayor Anthony Williams, Akron, Ohio, Mayor Donald Plusquellic, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, President & CEO of the National Urban League Marc H. Morial, and Cincinnati City Manager Valerie Lemmie.