Local Projects Face Cuts Under President’s Proposal

 By John Voket

Liz Stocker would not do anything to discourage residents and local social service representatives from coming out to a public hearing next week to get ideas for community development and housing initiatives. But Newtown’s Community Development Director said this week that she is discouraged by a current Presidential proposal that, if enacted, would likely kill plans for a Senior Center expansion and the next phase of handicapped access projects Edmond Town Hall.

Ms Stocker said Tuesday that all the resources expended to solicit project ideas and prepare grant applications, including input gathered at next Monday’s public hearing, may be in vain if President George W. Bush’s implements his Strengthening America’s Communities Initiative (SACI).

According to the SACI website at the US Department of Commerce, the proposal would build on existing economic and community development efforts made possible through Community Development Block Grants. However, the President is proposing a new initiative to help strengthen America’s “transitioning” and “most needy” communities, while making better use of taxpayer dollars by reforming and restructuring many of the existing federal economic and community development programs.

“If I’m reading it correctly, and Newtown’s need [for future grant allocations] is based on the economic status of its entire population, we wouldn’t qualify for this program anymore,” she said.

First Selectman Herb Rosenthal was critical of the SACI proposal the moment he learned about it at a Connecticut Conference of Municipalities meeting earlier this year.

“Is this some kind of joke? He’s cutting 30 percent of the budget for these Small Cities Grants, reducing the distribution programs from 13 to one and calling it a plan to strengthen America’s cities,” Mr Rosenthal said of the proposal.

Contacted at his office in Washington, US Senator Christopher Dodd told The Bee Wednesday that he also takes issue with the spirit of the President’s idea.

“Cutting funding for a senior center and senior housing doesn’t strengthen America, it diminishes it,” Sen Dodd said.

According to the senator, SACI cuts vital efforts aimed at economic revitalization, affordable housing, and job training, which are critically important to communities in Connecticut and nationwide. And he vowed to fight to defeat the proposal.

“In essence, this proposal is nothing more than a ‘wolf in sheep’s clothing,’ and I intend to fight to restore these vitally important investments in our towns and cities,” the senator said.

Senator Joseph Liebermann and Rep Nancy Johnson failed to respond by press time to calls from The Bee requesting comments on SACI.

Ms Stocker said she was particularly concerned about Newtown’s qualifying for the three initiatives already on the table for grant consideration, and wanted to reassure anyone hoping to suggest a new project that the idea would be considered.

“If it is a qualified project aimed at assisting or benefiting low income populations, we’ll certainly consider it for funding,” she said.

However, Ms Stocker said she only had the limited information from the Department of Commerce website to go on when it comes to determining any qualifying criteria. “It’s impossible to know whether or not we will qualify under the new proposal, and there’s no new eligibility criteria issued yet,” she said.

“It’s clear they want to change eligibility and increase accountability. And only a certain percentage of the already reduced budget is earmarked for communities above the poverty line. Now if they compare per capita income figures from Newtown to similar-sized communities in the South or Midwest, there’s no chance we’ll get [the money],” she said.

Ms Stocker said that in the years since the Community Block Grant program was launched, Newtown has benefited significantly, securing funds for senior housing projects, improvements for individual homes, utility access for particular neighborhoods, even the first phase of improvements to bring Edmond Town Hall into conformity with guidelines in the Americans With Disabilities Act.

“Newtown has received millions of dollars in support for these specific projects over the years,” she said.

Currently, funding for the next phase of town hall ADA improvements, costs for an addition to or construction of a new senior center facility, and kitchen improvements for the oldest community senior housing units are in queue for approval in the next round of grants, which may be the first to come under new SACI rules.

Besides gathering ideas for possible future community development projects, Monday’s 7 pm hearing will also address any comments about ongoing or existing Block Grant projects. And since April is Fair Housing Month, and Ms Stocker is also the town’s fair housing officer, she plans to use the hearing to review and reestablish the community’s fair housing policies.

“I’ll be presenting the new fair housing marketing plan,” she said.

As part of the Fair Housing Month activities, Ms Stocker said her office is available to support any activities local banks, realtors, or mortgage companies may be conducting to promote Newtown as a community committed to fair housing practices and standards.

“The theme for 2005 is promoting ‘free choice’ and ‘nondiscriminatory activities,’ which is pretty much a standard here in Newtown,” she said. “Since I’ve been the FH officer, I’ve never had a single complaint.”

Members of the public and representatives of groups or agencies serving financially disadvantaged populations are invited to the hearing March 21 at the C.H. Booth Library at 7 pm. Anyone wishing to discuss a proposal, or to determine current qualifications, should contact Ms Stocker at 270-4271.