The people's voice., 1959-09-18

Unnecessary for defense. And his wore
was enough.
Any time an anonymous Army off
cial can designate $40 to $40 million
expressway through a crowded city,
he's doing just fine by himself. He
needs no help from US.
Even more recently 1 have watched
the town trustees of small suburban
city wake up in dismay to find that
new loop highway without
their knowledge or consent-been
scheduled to cut their community in
two. When they finally raised Cain
about it, they were reassured by the
state that "this is just preliminary
nothing has happened yet
"YOU AMT BEEN HURT YET"
Which reminds me of the fellow
who hollered Don't shoot!" at the
man pointing a gun at him. Where
upon the other man demanded: "What
you hollering about? You amt been
hurt-yet"
AS reporter, have written num-
Der of stories about urban redevelop-
ment, and about highway planning
Nowhere in public life today have l
encountered such failure to recognize
the need for comprehensive local
planning as in this Federal Highway
Act. 1t does not require that interstate
or federally aided highways be located
as part of a comprehensive community
plan. Nor does it require communities
to develop workable program for
an overall transportation system.
Many local towns are too poor to
plan. Many others claim they can't
afford it. Others simply neglect it.
Whatever the reasons, believe the
state and federal governments have
an obligation to this nations urban
communities to help them work out
their own comprehensive plans into
which the new highways will fit.
CULT OF OFFICIAL SECRECY
Meanwhile, the cult of secrecy
which blights the official life of
Washington has been extended out
over the highways. Secrecy, COM
bined with the smoke screen of of
ficial gobbledygook, m k e it
mighty difficult for the average
citizen to find out what's happen
ing to him.
Not long ago l sat in conference
at which the noted public relations
Edward l.. Bernays, re-
counted his troubles. His firm had |
been hired by a city which did not |
want new expressway laid across
is middle like a Chinese wall. Mr..
3ernays said:
'Tt was most difficult to get at the
acts about procedure to pin
lown the responsibilities. 1t took us
weeks to isolate the interelationships
'etween the national and state people.
+ * The national and state engineers
we're working closely together, which
ormed an entente, making it diff
ult to get the public interest. 1t was
ifficult to get decision whether it
vas worth going underground, versus
he elevated highway. AS result, the
ity has had to develop its own pres
techniques.
While such cities are forced to de-
elop pressure-group tactics to keep
rom being split up, what can smaller
itizens' groups do? Z
l have recently watched strenuous !
,cal controversy in which the oppo-
ents of proposed interstate high
ray through three city parks have q,
cen assured that "the route is not !,
inned down yet" and that "any pro- ;
ests at this time are premature. Yet :
hen they tried to suggest rerouting =
mother portion, on which public hear :
lgs already had been held, they were :
I'D that no changes could be made :
because of the states investment in :,
1gineering studies and efforts"
In other words, if the public hear t
ng hasn't yet been held, you're n
premature. And after the public v
learing, you're too late. Il
Meanwhile, those of us who believe n