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rr The Urban Coalition I Federal Bar Building West/ 1819 H Street, N. w. Washington, D. c. / 20006 Steering Committee Co-chairmen : Andrew Heiskell/ A. Philip Randolph February 2, 1968 NATIONAL COORDINATORS WEEKLY REPORT John Feild, who has served as National Coalition, resumed February 1 his full as Director of the Community Relations States Conference of Mayors. John had Coalition since its formation. Co-Coordinator of the time responsibilities Service of the United been on loan to the Ron Linton will continue to serve as National Coordinator. Christopher Mould has been promoted to Deputy National Coordinator and Staff Director. Chris, who holds a Doctor of Law degree from the University of Chicago, has been Associate National Coordinator working with the Task Force on Local Coalitions. COUNCIL OF URBAN COALITIONS Mayors and other leadership representatives of 37 cities met in Washington last week and approved the concept of developing a Council of Urban Coalitions. Membership on the Council would be open to those cities which have formed Coalitions of their own. It would give a voice to the local groups in national discussions and would function as a part of The Urban Coalition. Further discussions through the Task Force on Local Coalitions are expected to lead to the formation of the Council this Spring. The Task Force membership was expanded as a result of the Washington meeting to include representives of urban coalitions in New York City; Plainfield, New Jersey; Gary, Indiana; and Fresno, California with the possibility of other additions subsequently. The expanded Task Force will meet on February 12th. LEGISLATIVE PRESS CONFERENCE Coalition Co-Chairman Andrew Heiskell held a press conference in Washington last week to emphasize the urgency of congressional action on urban problems. Participating with Mr. Heiskell in the press conference were : Arnold Aronson, Leadership Conference on Civil Rights; Joseph D. Keenan, International Brotherhood of El ectr ical Wo r kers ; Norman Hill, representing A. Philip Randolph ; May or James H. J. Tate of Philadelphia; and Christian He r te r, Jr., Chairman o f t he New York Coaliti on and Vice Pr eside n t o f Mo b il Oi l Company. National Ccordinafors: John Feild/ Ron M. Linton Telephone 293-1530 �-2- Mr. Heiskell's prepared statement mainly covered the points made in the legislative statement mailed to you two weeks ago. He emphasized the need to "assure a job for every citizen able and willing to work" and expressed support for the President's proposal in the State of the Union message to reimburse employers for additional costs involved in hiring and training the hard-core unemployed. He emphasized, however, that much more must be done, including government-generated employment programs. A copy of the Associated Press story of the press conference, as carried in the New York Times, is attached. NBC television news and 16 reporters covered the event. Also attached is the New York Times column about the Coalition statement by Tom Wicker. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE The new Executive Committee of the Steering Committee will hold its first meeting on February 9 in New York City. All but two members of the Executive Committee have been name d. The list is: Business: Joseph H. Allen, President, McGraw-Hill Publications; Fredrick J. Close, Chairman of the Board, Aluminum Company of America; J. Irwin Miller, Chairman of the Board, Cummins Engine Company; and The odore Schlesinger, President, Allied Stores Corpora tion. Labor: George Meany, President, AFL-CIO; and Walter Reuther, President, United Auto Workers. Church: Dr. Arthur Fl e mming, Presid e nt , National Council of Ch urches" Civil Ri g ht s : Arnold Arons on, Exe cut ive Se c re t a r y , Lead e rship Council on Ci vil Rights ; a nd Whitne y M. Young , Jr . , Executive Di re ctor , Nat ional Urba n Leagu e . Local Gove rnment : Mayor J o seph M. Barr of Pittsbu rgh; and Mayor J a mes H.J. Tate of Philadelphia. The Co - Chai r men o f The Urban Co a li tion , And rew He i skell and A. Phil ip Randolph, are ex officio members of t h e Exec u tive Committee. CORRECTION In the Minutes of the January 8th Steering Committee Meeting whi ch were mailed to you with the last weekly report, under the heading of Re port of the Committee on Budget and Finance and the Organizational Proposal, it was incorre ctly stated that "Staff support wo uld · requ ire approx imate ly $5, 000,00 0." This s hould have r e ad: "Staff support would require appr o x i mate ly $500, 000 . �