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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT WASHINGTON, D. C. 20410 AU G 2 7 1969 OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR MODEL CITIES AND GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS IN REP L Y REFER TO: Hono~abl~ Ivan Allen, Jr. Mayor of Atlanta Atlanta, Georgia 30303 Dear Mayor Allen: As you know, this Administration believes that ultimate responsibility for the Model Cities program rests with local elected government. With the program activity increasing, nationwide and in individual cities, attention wi I I increasingly be directed to proposed projects and their conduct. In this connection, I would like to cal I your attention to the enclosed news article from the Washington Post of August 3, 1969. It deals with a federally funded project at the local level which, on its face, held out considerable promise. Unfortunately, as the report indicates, that promise was not fu If i I Ied. I ncomp Iete review at the p Ianni ng stage, and insufficient monitoring during the execution phase of the project, undoubtedly contributed to this result. Without crippling innovation and initiative, we must al I work to avoid the kind of situation out I ined in the enclosed article. Should asimilar situation arise in a project funded under the Mod el Cities contract, the local government would be held responsible in the manner detailed by the enclosed memorandum from the HUD Office of General Counsel. �I am sure that you share our concern that al I projects funded in connection with the Model Cities program in your community receive the most careful scrutiny possible during the planning stage, and an equally vigi I ant monitoring during the execution phase. Your continued deep interest and commitment to the program in your community wi I I be a crucial factor in this regard. Sincerely, Q..~ s.. Robert H. Bai da Deputy Assistant Secretary, fVCGR Enclosures �