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CITY HALL ATLANTA, GA. 30303
October 19, 1967 Tel. 522-4463 Area Code 404
IVAN ALLEN, JR., MAYOR
R. EARL LANDERS, Administrative Assistant
MRS. ANN M, MOSES, Executive Secretary
DAN E. SWEAT, JR., Director of Governmental Liaison
Mr. A. H. Sterne, Jr.
President
Atlanta Chamber of Commerce
P. O. Box 4418
Atlanta, Georgia 30302
Dear Billy:
Iam sure that you are aware of the movement at the national
level to develop a strong coalition of urban interests in an effort
to exert more influence in national programs and priorities for
the benefit of our cities,
Representatives of business, labor, civil rights, religion, education
and Mayors of urban cities have joined together in an Urban Coalition
to provide coordinated machinery for getting the story of our big
city problems across to the nation,
Iam attaching some information materials on the Urban Coalition.
These will explain the background and goals of the national Steering
Committee,
It has been recognized from the beginning that in order to be
effective,local counter-part coalitions must be developed in all
parts of the country to support these goals, It is my belief that for
years Atlanta has been able to grow and prosper through an effective
and informal coalition relationship of business and government and
with the support of the other areas of interest which are a part
of the national coalition effort. I believe, however, that we need
to recognize a little more formally the coalitions which keep our
city moving and also to develop a local coalition relationship with
the national Urban Coalition,
Mr.Sterne
Page Two
October 19, 1967 Mh ruptiem
gil not
It is my thinking that an initial step would be for us t Ko together
the top representatives of these key interest groups fo form a local
coalition steering committee and invite the participation by other
organized groups. The initial steering committee cjould be composed
of the Mayor, as chief elected official of the city, the President
of the Chamber of Commerce, the President of the’ Atlanta Labor
Council, the President of the Council of Churches, the Co-Chairman
of the Summit Leadership Conference, the Superintendent of public
education, and the Chairman of the Citizens Central Advisory
Council, who is the elected representative of participants in the
Economic Opportunity program,
I have drafted a statement which might be considered by this group
which recognizes the need for a local coalition and endorses the
declaration of principles of the national coalition. A copy of the
principles of the national coalition is also attached for your
consideration,
By recognizing the existence of a coalition we will be able to better
communicate urban problems and focus maximum resources upon
their solutions.
In order that we might consider this proposal I have invited the 7 ,
following pe ople to meet with me in my office at City Hall on (1 Ld pads,
nef x at _/D fm, "”
i
Mr. A. H. Sterne, President
Atlanta Chamber of Commerce
Rev. Samuel Williams
Co-Chairman
Summit Leadership Conference
Mr. Robert J. Butler, President
Atlanta Labor Council
Mr. Sterne
Page Three
October 19, 1967
Rev. Bevel Jones, President
Christian Council of Metropolitan
Atlanta, Inc.
Dr. John W. Letson
Superintendent
Atlanta Public Schools
Mr. Erwin Stevens, President
Citizens Central Advisory Council
Economic Opportunity Atlanta, Inc.
Sincerely yours,
Ivan Allen, Jr.
Mayor