The State - News from June 22, 1989

The U.S. Conference of Mayors in Charleston, S.C., presented awards to 10 cities, including two in California, for making their communities more livable and for forging partnerships to provide affordable housing. Walnut Creek was cited for its efforts in expanding the arts. The city of 62,000 spends 8% of its annual budget on the arts and has 20 full-time arts staffers. The Northern California community also has proposed the construction of a $17-million regional arts center. Santa Barbara was honored for building 159 affordable housing units during the last year through a variety of programs--including Homes for People, a self-help group in which members must participate in housing construction.