Cities get shortchanged in Bush’s spending plan

Lost in all the chatter about the economic stimulus package, the Democratic and Republican primary contests, the steriod scandal in professional baseball and even the New York Giants’ Super Bowl victory, has been the impact President Bush’s 2009 budget would have on cities and towns.

It’s fortunate that the Democratic controlled Congress has made it clear that the Republican president’s spending blueprint will not be rubber stamped.

According to National League of Cities President Cynthia McCollum, the budget “hits local governments hard,” reducing the Community Development Block Grant Program, and slashing funding for housing, energy efficiency, workforce development, and law enforcement initiatives.

“The cuts for workforce development assistance are especially troubling given the sudden and sharp downturn in the number of jobs in the workplace,” McCollum said.

The impact of such cuts will be greatest in cities like Youngstown and Warren, which have come to depend on federal funding to prevent their populations from having an even more difficult time than they’ve had since the demise of the steel industry more than three decades ago.

The NLC president has vowed to work closely with Congressional leaders to make sure that the cuts proposed in the president’s budget are reviewed carefully.

For instance, funds for programs that support law enforcement efforts would be slashed by 61 percent or $1 billion as part of a consolidation of 70 state and local law enforcement assistance programs into four grant programs, according to a story in Nation’s Cities Weekly.

Under consolidation, the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program and Bryne Justice Assistance Grants would be eliminated.

Homicides

This, at a moment when cities like Youngstown are trying to get a handle homicides and other such crimes that are destroying the very fabric of the communities.

Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams has launched a zero tolerance initiative to get the criminals off the streets and the COPS program is a valuable tool. However, the cuts proposed by Bush would undermine the city’s effort.

This is not the time for the federal government to be playing with the health, safety and welfare of cities that have been struggling to deal with the myriad problems that have long confronted them.

As for the Community Development Block Grant program, Bush is proposing a $1 billion cut in funding (30 percent) — from $3.9 billion to $2.9 billion.

Another program that has been a godsend to Youngstown and others is HOPE V1, which has enabled low- and moderate-income residents get decent housing. But if Bush has his way, HOPE V1 would disappear.

The president must not have his way — with the programs that have been the lifeblood of cities.

Congress must make it clear that they will not be sacrificed at the altar of the president’s misguided budget priorities.

For their part, Mayor Williams, Warren Mayor Michael O’Brien and their colleagues around the state and the nation should let Congress know that they aren’t going to go away.