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445 Mayor's Statement: "STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERAL POVERTY PROGRAM IN REDWOOD CITY Publicity has been given to the "War on Poverty" Community Action Program in this area which I believe needs clarification. I refer to newspaper articles which, if believed, would reclassify over one-half of Redwood City as a "Poverty Area." Investigation shows that the areas designated in the County of San Mateo as "Poverty Target Areas" were established as such in a report prepared for the Human Resources Commission and used by it in justifying its application to the Federal Office of Economic Opportunity for "War on Poverty" funds. The areas which were lumped together to form a "poverty area" consist of census tracts, the inhabitants of which are thought to have certain characteristics indicating the presence of poverty. That the unqualified use of census tracts to locate poverty can lead to absurd results is evident, for example, from the fact that tract number 76, which is the largest single "poverty" tract in Redwood City, consisting of more than three-fourths of the entire so-called "target" area, is "inhabited" mainly by industries and encompasses all of Redwood Shores, which is presently uninhabited. Perhaps more misleading is the inclusion of tracts 78 and 79, which lie mostly outside of Redwood City but are included under the heading of Redwood City. Finally, the designation of County "Community Action Area VI" as "East Redwood City" is, at best, a misnomer, since there is no such area, except in the realm of census designations. These examples merely serve to emphasize that to use census tracts to locate poverty areas is to paint with too broad a stroke. I would not take the time to discuss this matter were it not for the resultant harmful effects on the community and the poverty program itself of publicity which shows obviously non -poverty areas as poverty stricken. First, "poverty" is a word with emotional impact. To include within its scope home -owners and hard working citizens who have no need of welfare funds not the desire to participate in such programs is to do both them and the community a disservice. Second, to give voice to the erroneous view that over half of Redwood City is in need of Federal poverty assistance may discourage new industries, services, businesses, and residents from locating here and may have the inverse effect of assisting in perpetuating sub- standard conditions. To mistakenly label an area as underprivileged is certainly a negative approach to community spirit and pride. Third, the designation of an area clearly not in need of welfare assistance on a wide scale has a doubly harmful effect on the poverty program itself. It serves to divert funds and aid from those who are genuinely needy, and it undermines our confidence in the administration and usefulness of the program itself. We have every reason to be proud of Redwood City, its industry, growth, and the self-sufficiency of its citizens. This is not to deny that poverty may reach innocent victims in the area. Nor do we deny that such victims should receive aid and assistance to give them health and make them productive citizens. But we do take issue with those who would do more harm than good by presenting a distorted view of the economic welfare of the entire City. There is no reason to be ashamed of the fact that Redwood City shares in the wealth of the County, which, in the very words of the Human Resources Commission Report itself, is one of the "ten excep- tionally well-to-do 'suburban' residential counties in the United States." SIDNEY D. HERKNER, Mayor" Mayor Herkner asked that Warren Fox, Appraiser of firm C. Warren Fox and Associates, express his opinion as to affect of the "poverty area report" on Redwood City's property values. Mr. Fox expressed opinion this report similar to that of "blight areas" designated by the Federal Government and could foresee no lessening of property values because of this particular designation. Councilman Rosselli asked that Mayor Herkner, as Council's representative at Council of Mayors, be instructed to endorse the Resolution suggested by the City Administrator of San Carlos pertaining to the Junipero Serra Freeway realignment, seconded by Councilman Henderson and carried. (MINUTE ORDER #67-18) Councilman Bury asked that he be permitted to introduce girls present from Cadet Troop 1699 implementing their "Challenge of Active Citizenship" program by attendance at the Council meeting.