Rocky blames Bush for cut in fed $$

As Mayor Rocky Anderson set forth his recommendations for how Salt Lake City should spend about $4.7 million in federal money next year, he laid the blame for many of the shortfalls on a familiar target: President Bush and the war in Iraq.

Anderson on Tuesday night presented the City Council with his suggestions on how to divvy up the city's yearly supply of money granted by Congress for community projects. The bulk of that money comes in the form of community development block grants (CDBG), which have consistently been cut by Bush's budgets.

"While the federal administration is abdicating its responsibilities to the nation's cities, it is spending massive amounts of money to occupy Iraq," Anderson said. "The invasion and occupation of Iraq, a war of aggression prosecuted by the Bush administration in defiance of international law, has cost over $400 billion, with additional costs accruing at the rate of $2 billion per week."

CDBG money goes to programs ranging from work on streets and parks to social services for the homeless, the mentally ill, the elderly and children.

While many programs would, under Anderson's proposed allocations, get all or most of the money they requested, many others will get only a fraction of what they asked for, if anything. In total, the city received more than $7 million in requests for CDBG money, so almost $2.5 million had to be cut.

Anderson said funding decisions were based in part on the size of the population served by any given request, and also by an organization's history of using its federal funds in a timely way.

"These organizations work every day to provide for the basic needs and well-being of our residents and strengthen the bonds that hold our community together," Anderson said. "From homeless shelters to youth programs, from community health centers to English language instruction, our nonprofit programs are essential to the rich, diverse tapestry of our community — meeting essential needs, enriching lives and allowing our residents to live their lives with greater dignity."

Among the projects that will have to wait, if the mayor's proposals are accepted by the council, are three west-side street-design and construction projects. A cluster of streets in the Glendale neighborhood are in need of improvements such as resurfacing, sidewalk repairs and storm-drain improvements.

Some $361,000 requested for work on Euclid Avenue, Bell Avenue, Burbank Avenue, Mission Road and Dale Avenue would be denied by the mayor's proposal. However, Anderson recommends $680,000 for similar repairs on Redwood Drive, a street in the same neighborhood.