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We urge that these points are thoroughly discussed and strongly considered as a final decision is being made concerning the Federal Budget for the next fiscal year.

to

Finally, we would like to comment on the concept of "Block Grants" to the State. It is our opinion that this approach may be extremely detrimental the Community. This approach could lead to "in-fighting" among the various social programs, as well as, a drastic decrease in the efforts to coordinate as each individual program attempts to maintain its own survival. We urge an approach that would, indeed, foster greater coordination, to the extent that the available dollars can be used to serve the greatest number of eligible

persons.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of NORTH, we would like to express our appreciation for the opportunity to provide input and to express our views.

Thank you.

Cc: William T. Samuels

In 1967, a handful of residents in the downtrodden remains of the area east of Broad Street, agreed to challenge the prevailing decay of their community.

Representatives of the local community council screened the area, selected its leadership and formed a 24 member Board of Directors. Forming the framework of the Hartranft Community Corporation, the board hired a staff and set about cutting red tape to deliver direly needed services to residents of all ages and ethnic groups. The Board actively monitors community concerns and directs a staff through an Executive Director. Members of the Board are long-time residents of the community.

Today, the Hartranft Community Corporation has three outreach action centers, a main office staff and two components serving the senior citizens and youth groups. Partially crowning their efforts was the Multi-Purpose Services Center completed in 1973.

Located at the junction of 8th,9th, Cumberland Streets and Germantown Avenue, it is one of a complex of buildings which has changed the formerly bleak appearance of the neighborhood.

Standing nearby, at Vandergrift Square are the Hartranft Community School, from which the corporation took its name, a stately Roman Catholic Church, St. Edwards' and a playground.

The Hartranft Community Corporation program is the link between failure and hope for many of the people. Its visibility should be high for the awareness of those in need. To thwart the dangers of decline, Hartranft Community Corporation symbolizes a place where the future is in the making.

The Multi-Purpose Services Center is a split level design with two wings; the service wing to the south overlooking Vandergrift Square and the northern wing adjoining Veteran's Playground for recreation. The building features a spacious auditorium, modern day care facilities, Multi-Purpose meeting rooms, adjacent off

street parking, and a swimming pool in the recreation wing. Tenants offering direct services to the community, i.e., Community Based Services of the Department of Public Welfare, School District of Philadelphia-Headstart and Adult Basic Education and City of Philadelphia Adult Probation Department are housed in the center.

Some other service agencies active in the area, include; Comprehensive Group Health Services, Ile-ife Black Humantarian Center, OPEN, Incorporated, Casa Pian, Neighborhood Action Bureau, Lighthouse, Concilio, Philadelphia Parent and Child Care Center, Onwards, Incorporated, Holy Cross King Center and the Salvation Army, each with its' own role through coordinated efforts. Hartranft Community Corporation needs the support of those who believe in the future of this community.

Dedicated to a continuing long-range program for community improvement in the North Philadelphia community, east of Broad Street, Hartranft is a non-profit community based organization, which provides those short-range social supports necessary to combat the poor and socio-economic conditions which affect target area neighborhoods, through component programs in youth, senior citizens, housing and information and referral, designed to service the residents of Hartranft. Membership in the organization is open to all persons living or working in the HCC area and there is no charge for our services.

Hartranft provides technical assistance to residents and other area organizations, enabling them to have increased participation in community development and other City of Philadelphia program activities.

Hartranft provides a means for the citizens to organize, to define community problems and to implement programs aimed at improving the quality of life; social and physical.

Hartranft acts as a coordinating body for many area activities and aids community residents in getting proper assistance from local agencies. In addition to establishing priorities of the area, based on community responses, lartranft also acts as a resource to smaller and less structured entities within the community in an effort to curb social ills.

Hartranft serves an impact area of 480 blocks with a population of approximately 40,000. The area is bounded by Broad Street, Front Street, Columbia Avenue and Allegheny Avenue.

URBAN CENTERS, WASHINGTON, D.C., AND THE

FEDERAL ROLE

TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 1981

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

COMMITTEE ON THE DISTRICT of Columbia,

Washington, D.C.

The committee met, pursuant to call, at 9 a.m., at the Museum of Science and Industry, 700 State Drive, Exposition Park, Los Angeles, Calif., Hon. Mervyn M. Dymally presiding.

Present: Representative Dymally.

Staff present: Donn G. Davis, senior staff assistant; Victor Frazer, staff counsel; and Margaret Wright, minority staff counsel. Mr. DYMALLY. The Committee on the District of Columbia is hereby called to order.

I regret to say that our chairman became ill and is unable to join us today.

It is indeed a privilege and a pleasure to welcome the witnesses at today's hearing before the full Committee on the District of Columbia.

We would also like to welcome those staff members who have come all the way from Washington, and the committee witnesses who have brought a wealth of knowledge, gained through experience in dealing with the problems confronting the Nation's cities, Los Angeles in particular, and the surrounding communities.

It is our intention to examine the problems of our cities, focusing on the problems of youth, unemployment, crime, housing, education, labor, and the resurgence of youth gangs. We will also attempt to assess what role the Federal Government should play in assisting American cities to find solutions for eradicating these destructive forces.

This hearing is the second in a series being held by the committee during the 97th Congress. It is our hope that we will be better able to confront these urgent problems in the context of the present administration's program.

We will ask the witnesses to submit their statements to the committee, and that will be made part of the record, and then we will summarize their statement to the committee and leave the maximum amount of time for questions and answers.

Later on we will be joined by Congressman Dixon, and, hopefully, Congressman Hawkins.

Our first witness today is Mr. James Bascue, deputy district attorney, county of Los Angeles.