The United States Conference of Mayors 67th Annual Meeting was officially kicked off by New Orleans Mayor Marc H. Morial, USCM Executive Director J. Thomas Cochran, and major corporate sponsors at a press conference following a breakfast at Commander’s Palace Thursday, June 10.

At the press conference major corporate sponsors stood with the mayors to express their support and commitment to cities. The meeting in New Orleans is an opportunity to showcase the City as a unique and exciting business environment and a successful laboratory of urban renewal initiatives. Mayor Morial said, "This annual meeting is a special event that brings together national and international leaders to address urban issues and share best practices. Over the next five days, New Orleans will be a laboratory of urban initiatives at work."

In addition to daily meetings and plenary sessions, the New Orleans Host Committee has scheduled events and tours to show off the best practices like CDBG redevelopment initiatives in Treme, arts and cultural tours around New Orleans, youth development events and Welfare-to-Work Programs.

The 67th Annual Meeting is made possible because many corporate sponsors and businesses provide donations and a variety of services. This year’s largest sponsors are Anheuser-Busch Companies, Bank of America, Fannie Mae, Philip Morris Companies, and Louisiana Coca-Cola Bottling Company.

At a press conference on Friday, June 11, immediately following the gun violence task force meeting, Gary Mayor Scott King and St. Louis Mayor Clarence Harmon stood with a dozen mayors to release a letter to Speaker Dennis Hastert (IL) urging approval of gun legislation. The letter, signed by over 100 mayors, asks the House to pass legislation that includes the provisions passed by the Senate and contains a plan to provide money for the development of so-called smart guns, which only the owner could use.

Many Republicans are trying to weaken the provisions regarding closing the gun show loophole. Hastert said he would not pressure GOP lawmakers on the issue. "It’s ridiculous," said King at the press conference. "We are asking for some leadership."

"We as mayors are united," New Orleans Mayor Marc Morial said. "And right now we are focusing in the immediate term on the U.S. House of Representatives. We are saying to Republicans and Democrats that we want a meaningful bill with teeth."

Mayors have been facing issues related to gun violence for years. But with the tragedy in Littleton, Colorado, suburban American has realized that it is not immune and, as a result is pushing for reform as well, mayors said.

"It’s not urban, it’s not suburban, it’s not rural," King said. "It’s everybody."

Later that day in a press conference, Mayors Corradini of Salt Lake City, Menino of Boston, King of Gary and Bauman of Madison called on mayors across the nation to get involved in their public schools.

"Every mayor has to get involved. With no opportunity there is no future for our children," said Menino. He pleaded with mayors to take either take direct control of their schools or use the bully pulpit.

Mayor Corradini spoke about the U. S. Conference of Mayors national action plan on school violence entitled School Violence and Kids 2 - 8 p.m. The action plan was developed with Attorney General Janet Reno and representatives of the entertainment and business communities. This is a comprehensive look at what needs to happen in order to help solve some of the problems that our schools face. "There is a need to get art, music and physical education back into the curriculum," said Corradini.

"We need to take over the issue," said Menino. "The buck has to stop." Mayors are CEO’s - it is important that they have a say.

Mayor King described his public school system in Gary, Indiana. "I have been sitting down with the School Board and Superintendent and through those meetings, we have a written partnership agreement," said King. "If it’s good, the mayors get credit, if it’s bad they get the blame."

Menino then announced a public-private partnership with a Silicon Valley company that provided 1,000 computers to impoverished families, and then provided the families with computer training.

On Saturday, June 12, USCM President Corradini, in a press briefing, offered reaction to the Conference’s National Conversation on School Violence held with Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder. The plenary session offered mayors an opportunity for interaction with the Deputy Attorney General on this vitally important topic that affects every mayor in the nation.

The American Farmland Trust together with the United States Conference of Mayors and the National Association of Counties announced at a news conference on Sunday, June 13 a historic partnership to protect farmland while revitalizing cities. The urban-rural coalition is planning a number of joint ventures including conducting farm-city forums between mayors and agricultural leaders to discuss public policies that will promote smarter land use decisions to include the reuse of brownfields.

"We have formed this partnership because we realize that many of the goals of both organizations compliment each other," said Mayor Deedee Corradini, President of the Conference of Mayors.

Ralph Grossi, President of the American Farmland Trust said, "The recycling of brownfields and protection of greenfields, can best be achieved through joining forces and working together."

During that same news conference, The United States Conference of Mayors together with Fannie Mae and Access Capital Strategies announced a new public/private initiative to increase community investment capital in cities and to increase the availability of affordable mortgage financing for low and moderate income American Families.

"We believe this unique joint process can achieve positive, concrete results in ever city in the country," said Salt Lake City Mayor Corradini, USCM President.

During the closing press conference on Tuesday, June 15, U.S. Conference President Wellington Webb of Denver thanked the City of New Orleans for hosting this record breaking 1999 Annual Meeting.

Mayor Webb said that the image of mayors across the country has changed from the tin cup image with mayors coming to Washington asking for a handout to becoming much more entrepreneurial "We are taking on the role of CEO’s," said Webb. "Cities are back, they are the engines for smart growth."

Mayor Webb then introduced the new Vice President of the Conference - Boise Mayor Brent Coles. Coles served on the task force on drugs. "Meth continues to be the scourge of our society," said Coles. He described a home in which the meth lab was actually in the bedroom of a three-year-old child. He appreciates the opportunity to make children the focus of the Conference.

Mayor Webb thought the Winter Meeting in Washington, DC would attract many of the presidential candidates who did not show up in New Orleans. "We can’t mandate that they show up, but we can demand that they respond to our document that will come out of our leadership meeting," said Webb.

Host Mayor Marc Morial explained that the Conference of Mayors is a bi-partisan, multi-partisan organization representing diverse cities and diverse mayors.