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OJJ~n But the purpose here is not to deal in praise or recriminations, but to suggest that the time has come to bring to the problem the best that we can offer in constructive thought and action. Problems of Larqe Metro Communities With rapid growth, the Denver Region is experiencing some of the serious economic, social, and environmental problems which have plagued the large urban areas of the United States. The Advisory Commission on Intergovern- mental Relations contends that sprawling urban communities have lost economic and social balance. Prior to World War II, the great cities of America encompassed ...within their boundaries, virtually all of the urban area's residential, com- mercial, and industrial development. Because they possessed social and economic unity, our municipalities were also generally characterized by fiscal balance. The municipality's 'deficit' areas -- the low-income residential areas -- were offset by the 'surplus" areas __ the high tax producing districts associ- ated with the central business area, the industrial section, and the high income residential neighborhoods. By far the most important social function performed by the great "balanced" municipalities was...that of keeping the public peace by moderating the competing demands of the various classes that com- prise the urban body politic. The Rise of the Lopsided Communities. In many of our metropol1tan areas the twin forces of urban expansion and social seg- regation have combined to burst the shell of the old 'balanced' community and in the process have profoundly altered the social and political character of the urban mu- nicipality. Whereas the old municipality was socially and economically balanced, the new municipalities are 'lopsided,' -9-