634 NATIONAL CIVIC REVIEW [December

Citizen Action . Kim Taylor, Editor

Ohio Task Force Studies Corrections

Report Suggests Change in ‘Incoherent’ System

T H E Ohio Citizens’ Task Force on Corrections was established by Gov-

ernor John J. Gilligan in February 1971. The committee has studied administration, institutional services and processes, cor- rectional law and inmate affairs, and made a preliminary report to the gov- ernor. The report contends that the cor- rections system is a series of incompatible activities unable to function coherently to achieve any goals.

The most publicized task force recom- mendation is to abolish mail censorship. They feel this will end the isolation of the prisons which contributes to public misunderstanding about correctional facil- ities and causes much inmate dissatisfac- tion. The other suggestions also appear in the September Ohio Cities and Villages. These include increased appropriations to the division of corrections to modernize existing facilities, training of security per- sonnel, pay on a higher scale, and re- organizing the administration of the department. The task force recommends that inmates be informed about the pro- cedures and considerations made by the parole boards, and that they be given more rights in facing the rules infractions boards operating within all the institu- tions. The task force also supports legis- lation to separate the division of correc- tions from the Department of Mental Hygiene and Correction.

The governor and the commissioners of correction have already acted on the suggestions. The salary scale will be raised, the administration will be re-

aligned, and the training academy will move near a university in hopes of involving the academic community in developing new programs. Some existing institutions will become specialized train- ing units, thus eliminating expensive duplication of functions. Finally an inde- pendent advocate will report inmate and personnel complaints to a citizens’ ad- visory board that will be appointed by the governor.

The task force hopes these efforts will involve experts and institutions through- out Ohio with the potential to help develop a unified criminal justice system for the state. Through its recommenda- tions and continuing study the task force will suggest how available manpower and leadership can unify and reorganize to up- grade the Ohio corrections system.

Chicago Citizen Group Works Against Pollution

Citizens Action Program (CAP) is an organization dedicated to ending pol- lution in Chicago. It is a small, highly organized group that was begun two years ago when Chicago experienced a week-long temperature inversion. Citi- zens appeared before the Illinois com- merce commission hearings to protest rate increases asked by Commonwealth Edison Company, which they blamed for the pollution. Although they had a long petition demanding that the rate hike be denied, it was approved. Then the group organized.

A metropolitan-wide steering commit- tee receives weekly reports from the community chapters. At weekly meetings all local activities are considered and policy decisions are made. The delegates to the central committee report to their community organizations where action is phMed.

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In its battle with Commonwealth Edi- son, CAP campaigned for use of low sulfur coal, new pollution equipment, a stronger air pollution ordinance and earlier retirement of old equipment. Ac- cording to the newsletter of the Conser- vation Foundation, CAP delegates met with medical, government and industry personnel. They confronted each group with facts and demanded an end to hazardous conditions. Politicians and company officials began to make demands on each other. Meanwhile CAP members collected proxies and at Commonwealth Edison’s 1970 annual meeting caused much concern in making the company’s position known.

The foundation reports that the com- bination of the publicity and demands on groups in a position to effect change pro- duced some significant results. Last year a stronger city ordinance was passed, Commonwealth Edison now uses low sul- ful coal, and the Illinois commerce com- mission in an unprecedented action con- ditioned the rate increase on a timetable for installation of pollution control equipment.

CAP has also waged a successful cam- paign against a waste treatment plant in the Garfield Ridge area of the city, result- ing in the Metropolitan Sanitary District instituting an industrial waste surcharge. ( I t was upheld against a challenge by 17 industries in the state supreme court). The group’s next target is U. S. Steel.

‘Tulsa Approach’ Works in Urban Renewal Project

An experimental approach to citizen participation in a Tulsa, Oklahoma, urban renewal project has demonstrated how popular involvement in neighborhood planning can effectively carry out urban renewal plans. The increased citizens’ role called the “Tulsa Approach” operated in the Neighborhood Development Pro- gram which began in July 1970. During

the first year the Tulsa Urban Renewal Authority (TURA) did not identify any land for acquisition, nor was a land use plan developed. Citizens’ planning groups selected leaders independent of any city or authority control. These representa- tives took control of planning in all development areas, so that all rehabilita- tion and acquisition were voluntary, ac- cording to a report in HUD Chollenge.

To avoid the usual neighborhood oppo- sition to a renewal project, TURA did not use any of its condemnation powers to force action or those voluntary deci- sions. The power of eminent domain has not been used during any phase of the project, so that residents have decided whether properties are to be renewed or left alone. Planning units in the Tulsa Neighborhood Development Program have been notified that those powers are available to facilitate their plans.

TURA and the Target Area Action Group, the citizen participation arm of Tulsa’s Model Cities program, sponsored training sessions in planning theory and application for the laymen. The program was designed to help them recognize blight conditions, to understand the poten- tial of urban renewal, and to analyze intelligently advice of consulting experts.

This approach to popular planning has reportedly eliminated most community hostility and skepticism toward urban re- newal. The residents assumed responsibil- ity for planing their environment and demanded high quality design and strict adherence to their proposed plans.

Fayetteville Citizens Start Citywide Recycling Project

The Fayetteville (Arkansas) Pollution Control Committee, a citizens’ committee of the city board of directors, has orga- nized a six-month voluntary recycling project. Residents are asked to separate aluminum and glass from regular gar- bage and take it to the warehouse donated by businesses and manned by students.

636 NATIONAL CIVIC REVIEW [December

There the glass and aluminum are sorted and stored until enough is accumulated for city trucks to take it to firms in neighboring cities for reprocessing. The money from the sale of the materials to these firms covers the transportation cost.

In the past several Fayetteville neigh- borhoods had initiated their own recycling projects, but collecting and transporting the materials proved too expensive for the small groups. As a result of that experience and the pollution control com- mittee’s study of the solid waste disposal problems, this larger-scale project was recommended. Citizen response in Fayette- ville has been enthusiastic and, according to Arkansas Miinicifialities, neighboring communities have asked the committee for help in initiating similar projects.

Birmingham Youth Forum Aids Community Betterment

Birmingham college students critical of city government and business organiza-

tions can now voice their dissatisfaction in the Youth Forum. The forum was estab- lished by the Birmingham Area Chamber of Commerce as a challenge to local stu- dents to commit themselves to change their complaints. Representing all col- leges and universities in the metropolitan area, the forum has sponsored a cleanup campaign, a drive to register 18-21-year- old voters, concerts and an orientation program for freshmen.

In February 1970, when the forum was first organized, the students consulted with public officials about specific pollu- tion, education, poverty and employment problems. Both were pleased with the exchange. Now the forum is moving to increase the dialogue with the business community. This can increase forum’s potential to inform civic and business leaders of the students’ position on speci- fic subjects and increase cooperation to initiate community projects and programs.

LOS ANGELES CHARTER (Continued from page 607)

It is much more difficult to win voter approval of a charter than to defeat such a document.

It is difficult to convince voters of the need for charter reform, even if it is needed, when the city government has a reputation of providing ser- vices efficiently and effectively.

The cry for more efficient city government as a case for charter reform does not in and of itself generate support adequate to assure a successful effort.

Little attention in charter reform movements is given to the particular needs and problems of minority groups.

Again i t must be pointed out that these observations taken from the Los Angeles experience may not be of practical importance to all cities in- terested in drafting new charters. But they have been offered here in the hope that cities which seek to develop new governmental structures and procedures to respond to the needs of their citizens will be aware of potential obstacles. I t is clear that the obstacles mentioned herein will continue to be important in Los Angeles as reform minded citizens begin to assess what “went wrong” in November and May, and renew their efforts to secure major charter changes in 1972.