Declaration of state policy: Growing menace of blighted areas to public health, safety and welfare; benefits to inhabitants resulting from remedying conditions

It is further found and declared that: 1. The existence of blighted areas constitutes a serious and growing menace which is condemned as injurious and inimical to the public health, safety and welfare of the people of the communities in which they exist and of the people of the State. 2. Such blighted areas present difficulties and handicaps which are beyond remedy and control solely by regulatory processes in the exercise of the police power. 3. They contribute substantially and increasingly to the problems of, and necessitate excessive and disproportionate expenditures for, crime prevention, correction, prosecution and punishment, the treatment of juvenile delinquency, the preservation of the public health and safety, and the maintaining of adequate police, fire and accident protection and other public services and facilities. 4. This menace is becoming increasingly direct and substantial in its significance and effect. 5. The benefits which will result from the remedying of such conditions and the redevelopment of blighted areas will accrue to all the inhabitants and property owners of the communities in which they exist.