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r <br />One of the force’s significent findings is that the causes of urban decay are complex and no <br />quick-fix solutions exist Accordingly, the recommendations from this task force provide a basis <br />of on-going attention to address this complex issue. The task force realizes that the mere <br />production of a report will not solve the problem of urban decay. Rather, mechanisms must be <br />put in place to continually evaluate progress of the solution process and to recommend changes in <br />strategy or emphasis. Likewise, it is recognized that a significant part of this effort must be to <br />educate policy makers and managers in order to better equip them with the tools necessary to <br />accomplish this important effort. Finally, the effort must be collaboradve. Federal, state, regional <br />and local officials must work closely and cooperatively to address urban issues. <br />The committee would like to emphasize two findings from the Citizens League ’s report on <br />housing in the Metropolitan area. If these principles are ignored, any solutions poUcy makers craft <br />are doomed to fail. <br />1. Peat experience suggests that inner-city residena who do choose to relocate when <br />housing opportunities are made available in farther-out suburbs are likely to be those <br />who are ’best off of the current poor residents of the central cities and older suburbs. A <br />policy that focuses only on increasing the st^ply of low-cost suburban housing could <br />reiftforce the same pattern of suburbanization of the better-off that has led to our present <br />housing landscape. The difference would be that the central cities and older suburbs <br />could even be worse off because it would be the poorest and most disadvantaged <br />citizens who would be left in the core. <br />2. Housing has deeply symbolic meanings that have to do with family, identity, security, <br />values, personal progress and social success. Policies that ignore these meanings are <br />likely to be met with indifference. Policies that challenge these meanings are likely to be <br />met with opposition. Policy makers must be sensitive to citizens’ views. <br />The Task Force now presents a draft of its principles, findings and recommendations for review <br />and comment by AMM members. The task force will review the comments from the membership <br />before a final report is submitted to the AMM Board of Directors. <br />ISSUE IDENTIFICATION <br />f 1^ he task force has identified that a concentration of low income residents living in <br />I deteriorating housing in central city and suburban neighborhoods with increasing <br />-R or high crime rates and decreasing public and private investment is a significant problem <br />in the Metropolitan area. <br />EZ3 Urban Strategies Task Force Report