Balancing the benefits of Urban Revitalization

Low-income and other affordable housing continues to be as critical as it was in 1945, but today the challenge is exacerbated by the total increase in the number of African Americans and Latinos in the League's service area and their heavy concentration on the lower rungs of the economic ladder.  Recent federal policies have not only curtailed assistance in the area of housing, but also education, day care and community economic development.

In this atmosphere, the League must meet the challenge in seeking new and innovative ways to solve many of our continuing problems created by both economic and racial discrimination.  Our involvement in the Mount Laurel II settlements, which require all municipalities in the state of New Jersey to meet their fair share of low and moderate income housing, was indeed a creative way of ensuring choices for those in the low and moderate income brackets.  But this process must continually be monitored to insure compliance.  The League's extensive involvement with the New Brunswick school system and its comprehensive youth services program will assist in developing more youngsters to compete for opportunities in the high tech and service industries in our country.

In New Brunswick, the League continues to be involved in the city's revitalization to advocate that all those who live in the city receive full benefits of the Process.  Historically, urban dwellers, the poor and minorities have been victims of revitalization efforts.  It is the League's responsibility to develop viable strategies and methods to retain as many incumbent New Brunswick residents as possible, for no revitalization can claim success without all residents having an opportunity to reap its rewards.