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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2017.05.10 - 22916MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION #17125 BY: Commissioners David E. S. Bowman, District #10; David Woodward, District #19; Helaine Zack, District #18; Janet Jackson, District #21; Gary McGillivray, District #20; Marcia Gershenson, District #13; and Nancy Quarles, District #17 IN RE: BOARD OF COMMISSIONRES - OPPOSITION TO PRESIDENT TRUMP'S PROPOSED ELIMINATION OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) THROUGH BUDGET CUTS TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT (HUD) To the Oakland County Board of Commissioners Chairperson, Ladies, and Gentlemen: WHEREAS for decades the United States has encouraged development that would make neighborhoods and cities more economically competitive and more amenable/desirable places to live and work; and WHEREAS the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 created the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to ensure the continuing efforts and support of community and economic development, assist low-income residents, and revitalize communities; and WHEREAS federal CDBG funds continue to be proven catalyst resources for local governments to revitalize deteriorating neighborhoods, promote economic development in communities, support and assist low-to-moderate income residents, and deliver vital human services to vulnerable citizens; and WHEREAS funding from CDBG supports the Home Investment Partnership Act (HOME) program with $1.2 billion that provides support for building, buying, and/or rehabilitating affordable housing for rent or homeownership or providing direct rental assistance to low-income people. HOME is the largest Federal block grant to state and local governments designed exclusively to create affordable housing for low- income households; and WHEREAS Governing Magazine reported in April 2017, that local officials across the nation describe the CDBG as "the heart, lungs, and backbone of cities and counties" by providing funding for projects to help lower-income residents and the economy; and WHEREAS in 2016, Oakland County was awarded $5,022,417 in CDBG funds for local community housing and revitalization projects and to help low-and-moderate income residents with home improvement loans; and WHEREAS according to the Urban Science report "Taking Stock of the Community Development Block Grant," HUD reported that between 2005 and 2013, CDBG funds created or retained 330,546 jobs, over 1.1 million people were assisted with homeownership and improvements, nationwide 33 million people benefited through public improvements, and over 105 million people were provided public services; and WHEREAS despite demonstrated local and nationwide success of the program by providing assistance to some of America's impoverished residents, as well as revitalization and economic growth to local communities, the CDBG has dwindled to $3 billion in funding from its initial robust $15 billion; and WHEREAS the Congressional Research Service reported in 2014 that between 1980 and 2015, communities eligible/entitled to CDBG funds had increased 86% even while funding for the program has declined 85% during the same time period; and WHEREAS President Trump has proposed the elimination of the CDBG, according to the U.S. Office of Management and Budget; and WHEREAS the elimination of CDBG program will harm our county's and local communities' abilities to revitalize declining housing and community conditions and remove safety-net services for our low income citizens. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners hereby opposes the inconceivable act of eliminating the CDBG that will harm our county and our local communities. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners encourages all organizations, private and public, to take action to protect the federal, state and local funding that provides support for housing, community and economic development, assist low-income residents, and revitalize our communities. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds is requested to forward copies of this adopted resolution to the President of the United States, the United States Congress, the Speaker of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the Michigan Congressional delegation, the Governor of the State of Michigan, the State Senate Majority and Minority Leaders, the State House Speaker and Minority Leader, the Oakland County delegation to the Distvict#18 COrnmission DAtrict #20 Cdm-missione District #17 uarles Michigan Legislature, the Michigan Association of Counties, all organizations in Oakland County that were recipients of CDBG funds in 2016, and the Oakland County Board of Commissioners legislative lobbyists. Chairperson, I move the adoption of the foregoing reso Commissioner Da-Vid E. S. Bowman District #10 Commissioner Hela' e Zack Cci-frrMissioner'gaM Woodward District #19 Commissioner Marcia Gersifenson District #13 Commissioner District # Commissioner District # Commissioner District # Commissioner District # Commissioner District # Commissioner District # Commissioner District # Commissioner District # Commissioner District # Commissioner District # Commissioner District # Commissioner District # Commissioner District # Commissioner Commissioner District # District # Resolution #17125 May 10, 2017 The Chairperson referred the resolution to the General Government Committee. There were no objections.