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THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION Monday, December 16, 1968 ,r .A Fight at All Levels Two groups in the vital area of housing heard good news last week in Atlanta, btit members immediately got off their laurels to continue their ,vork. ban Renewal, meantime, was hearing that for the first time in urban renewal history here housing construction exceeded the demolition rate. · The mayor's Housing Resources Commit- Lest this set off jubilation all over the tee was told that Mayor Ivan Allen Jr.'s place, Atlanta Housing Authority official Howfive-year goal of 16,800 units of low-cost housing surely would be met. ard Openshaw had a s01nber message, part of which was as follows: More than 3,000 have been completed, another 6,000 are under construction, and more than 7,000 are in the planning process. "In our affluent society, it is unthinkable that millions of Americans remain ill-housed; that affluent whites continue to flee to the suburbs, ]ea~,ing our urban core to the poor and blacks; that spreading slums and blight are leading us not to decay but destruction, while in many cities, officials remain insensitive to the plight of the people.". All wasn't optimism, however. "We're deluding ourselves," said attorney Archer D. Smith III, "if we take these figures and quit working . . . . We've got to be realistic and get behind the package zoning plan." The committee voted unanimously to seek Starkly put, yes, but a I summing of a again such a plan, which would zone for national concern. It is well that Atlanta sees low-cost housing simultaneously throughout the problem and is fighting it through comall sections of the city. Such an approach mittee, agency, and individual leadership. has been studied by the City Planning de- This is one of America's most important batpartment since last August. tles, and it must be engaged at all levels of The Citizens Advis0ry Committee for Ur- government. �