It is hereby found and declared that there exists in certain municipalities blighted areas as herein defined which constitute a serious and growing menace, injurious and inimical to the public health, safety, morals and welfare of the residents of said municipalities; that the existence of such areas contributes an economic and social liability imposing onerous burdens which decrease the tax base and reduce tax revenues, substantially impairs or arrests sound urban growth, retards sound economic development, aggravates traffic problems and substantially impairs or arrests the elimination of traffic hazards and the improvement of traffic facilities; and that the prevention and elimination of blight is a matter of state policy and state concern; that the state and such municipalities shall not continue to be endangered by areas which are focal centers of disease, promote juvenile delinquency, and consume an excessive proportion of its revenue because of extra services required for police, fire, accident, hospitalization and other forms of public protection, services and facilities; that by such prevention and elimination, property values will be stabilized and tax burdens more equitably distributed, and the financial and capital resources of the state will be strengthened; that this menace can best be remedied by cooperative participation of private enterprise, municipal governing bodies and public agencies. It is further found and declared that certain blighted areas, or portions thereof, may require acquisition, clearance, and disposition subject to use restrictions, as provided in this article, since the prevailing conditions of decay may make impracticable the reclamation of the area by conservation or rehabilitation; that the conditions and evils hereinbefore enumerated may be eliminated, remedied or prevented; that the salvable blighted areas can be conserved and rehabilitated through appropriate public action as herein authorized, and the cooperation and voluntary action of the owners and tenants of property in such area. It is further found and declared that the powers conferred by this article are for public uses and purposes for which public money may be expended and the power of eminent domain and police power exercised; and it is hereby declared that it is a matter of legislative determination that the provisions of this article are enacted in the public interest.
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