DeKalb Alliance
for Economic Human Rights

LINC (Low Income Networking and Communications) Project

Email us!
vip_people@yahoo.com

VIP People
c/o Vincent Gervais
217 South 2nd Street #283
DeKalb, IL 60115
815-758-3479

First, I’d like to commend Peggy Carey, the independent consultant, the CDBG Citizen Advisory Committee, and the Community Development Department for all of the hard work they have done in preparing this draft of the Consolidated Plan for the years 2000-2004. Clearly, this has been an immense effort.

Having read and studied the plan in some detail, however, and because I share the concerns expressed here tonight by other members of the DeKalb County Alliance for Economic Human Rights, I want to make several comments about the process. 

On page 6 of Appendix E, in “the schedule for completion of the Consolidated Plan and other opportunities for public input,” the item listed for today, February 14th, is: “City Council: Public Hearing and Approval of the Plan.” Now I am well aware that the text of this draft needs to have been written as if it has already been submitted to HUD. Nevertheless, it is my understanding that an important part of the Council’s deliberative process is the procedural safeguard of a first and second reading. As Mr. Kapitan has taken pains to point out to me in the past, it is especially important for the Council to preserve this safeguard when matters of some complexity and potential controversy are under consideration.  Unless I am wrong, this is the first time that this draft is being presented—not to an advisory committee or to select citizens assembled for visioning workshops—but to the city as a whole. The Council’s procedures are designed to allow and encourage the input of all citizens as it ponders what action to take, and I would urge the Council to weigh carefully the fact that this draft is a complex document about a matter of great importance to all of us. Having said that, it is not at all clear to me from the information provided here that the HUD deadline for this application is February 15th or that the HUD-required start date for assistance is April 1st.  These are questions of fact. My concern is that the Council not be given the bum’s rush, as it were, and that its customary period of deliberation be allowed in order to incorporate all of the changes that the citizens of DeKalb deem necessary. 

A couple of comments about the results of the Needs Assessment as listed on page 28. First, this is based on the return of only 18 individual consumer surveys, strongly suggesting the need for a much more creative, aggressive and targeted approach to the collection of such important citizen input. This may be an area in which the Alliance can offer some assistance. Second, I would like to point out that the list as it appears on page 28 is significantly different from the compilation of actual responses on page 15 of Appendix E. I would suggest that draft be changed to more accurately reflect the responses that citizens actually made.

Finally, I would urge the Council to review the budget allocation for a community center listed on page 83. Some questions to consider: Is this the best use of limited funds? Aren’t other social service agencies in a better position to deliver these supports in existing facilities? Has there been citizen input or research to show that this will be an effective use of funds?
 

Return to        Table of Contents
Go to Part I    COMMENTS ON A GENERAL OVERVIEW OF THE PLAN
Go to Part II   COMMENTS ON ACQUISITION, DEMOLITION AND
                      THE GUARANTEE OF REPLACEMENT HOUSING
Go to  Part III COMMENTS ON READING AND RESEARCH PROCESSES
Go to  Part IV  COMMENTS ON THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN HOUSING 
                      POLICY, SUSTAINABLE WAGES & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Go toPart V    SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONT
 
 
 

March 16, 2000:
VIP People and DeKalb CAEHRs complete letter writing campaign assisting in the Call to Action.

February 14 2000:
VIP People and DeKalb Alliance present comments on CDBG Consolidated Plan regarding  housing issues in the city of DeKalb .

February 2-8 2000:
VIP People attend the EHRC Planning Meeting.

November 12-14 1999:
VIP People co-sponsored the
Poverty & Community Organizing: DeKalb Conference on Economic Human Rights

October 1999:
Participated in the
March of the Americas

October 28, 1999:
VIP People protested 
in solidarity with the
Chicago Coalition to
Protect  Public Housing 
March on City Hall