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' THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION Monday, December 16, 1968 ,r .A Fig1it 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 work. ban Renewal, meantime, was hearing that for the first time in urban renewal history here housing construction exceeded the demolitfon rate. · The mayor's Housing Resources Committee was told that Mayor Ivan Allen Jr.'s five-year goal of 16,800 units of low-cost housing surely would be met. Lest this set off jubilation over the place, Atlanta Housing Authority official Howard Openshaw had a somber 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. 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 again such a plan, which would zone for low-cost housing simultaneously throughout all sections of the city. Such an approach has been studied by the City Planning department since last August. "In our affluent society, it is unthinkable that millions of Americans remain ill-housed; that affluent whites continue to flee to the suburbs, leaving 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 lo the plight of the people.. The Citizens Advis0ry Committee for Ur- all Starkly pu t, yes, but a I summing of a national concern. It is well that Atlanta sees the problem and is fighting it through committee, agency, and individual leadership. This is one of America's most important battles, and it must be engaged at all levels of government. �