Grants vital: Community Development Block Grant program in danger

Thousands of communities across America, including many right here in Wayne County, have benefited from a federal grant program that President Donald Trump would eliminate.

The Community Development Block Grant program has helped improve the lives of millions of Americans, and we oppose Trump's proposal to cut it from the federal budget.

We don't like paying taxes any more than anyone else, and we certainly support efforts at making the federal government leaner. But we draw the line at cuts that would hurt the country, and without the CDBGs there would be many communities in America that would suffer.

The CDBG program is aimed at pumping money into communities that need a boost, whether it is in the form of better housing or more public projects, such as water and sewer systems or fire departments. The money is designated to help communities that cannot help themselves. To eliminate a program that has done so much good over the years would be a mistake. Trump and his budget team should reconsider the idea.

Published in Editorials on May 22, 2017 9:21 AM