Kemp Says He’s ‘a Big-L Liberal’ on Urban Issues

HUD Secretary-designate Jack Kemp told big-city mayors today that he will be an activist and an advocate for solving housing and other urban problems, calling himself “a big-L liberal” and “a bleeding heart conservative” on urban issues.

Kemp, addressing the U.S. Conference of Mayors, cited the problems posed by federal budget constraints but spoke enthusiastically about working with the mayors, whose complaints about cuts in federal aid to cities at a time when the number of homeless has been growing have been a constant refrain during the Reagan years.

“I’m going to throw the labels out. We’re going to throw out ideology,” said the former New York Republican congressman chosen by President-elect Bush to head the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

“I am going to be an activist. I’m going to be an advocate. The door is open. My mind is open.”