Washington, D.C.
January 9, 2004

2004 is here; the year of the Olympics in Athens, the Democratic Convention in Boston, the Republican Convention in New York and the Presidential campaign between President Bush and the Democratic nominee on November 2, 2004.

Even before the events above, 2004 will bring us the Presidential primaries. First the Iowa Caucus, then on January 27, New Hampshire and then politics goes south to the real South, South Carolina. The Dean bashing will continue. The question, of course, will his fellow-Democrats kill him with everything being thrown at him including the kitchen sink? Or will he cry in the snow like Senator Muskie did? Or say he's been brainwashed like Republican Governor Romney did and kill his campaign?

As the late Vince Foster said before he died, "politics is a bloodsport" and it is at its height for the American people to enjoy in the midst of a Democratic primary like this one in '04. The tabloids, Fox News and all the talking heads will thoroughly enjoy it and will be so pleased to bring us the primary elections 24 hours a day.

On top of all the hoopla of Presidential politics — what and when and who did what and when — television will soon in 2004 bring into our homes, offices, hotel rooms, automobiles or wherever we watch or listen to TV, the icon of perfect, Martha Stewart, and her trial, the gruesome continued detailing of the death of Lacy Peterson and the trial of her accused husband Scott, and the trial that could be the trial to surpass even the O.J. trial, the trial of the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, which could overshadow any political happenings of 2004. We remember how the O.J. Simpson trial permeated our daily lives. Michael Jackson's trial will be bigger. China and most of Asia, along with Europe and Africa don't know much about the National Football League. O.J. wasn't a known figure to millions on the globe, but Michael Jackson is. He's like Elvis or one of the Beatles. Music is strong. The press will swarm from all over the world. The USA TV will feed it like a frenzy and USA citizens will be saturated with conversations about Michael Jackson, his sexual preference or the lack of any, etc. Television will enjoy so much bringing al this to you. And who knows, Britney Spears may decide to get married again, this time in Reno where annulments are also quickly ordered and served up like a Big Mac with fries.

The purpose of this 2004 preliminary picture is to put in perspective the challenge that the mayors face this year as we try to push a bipartisan '04 Metro Agenda to force all candidates to offer their recommendations as to how they can help and work with mayors to keep our cities and metro areas strong and safe. We don't want anyone to save us. The tin cup and the begging are gone. What mayors want are smart investments and smart tax incentives from the federal government to be used as we continue to forge public/private partnerships with businesses, large and small, in metro economies throughout the nation. Using the right tools of smart investments and tax initiatives, the jobs with adequate wages will be increased to cope with the jobless recovery syndrome we are now experiencing.

Being safe is more important than anything. Safe from the new threat of terrorism and suicide bombers in crowded areas or events and safe from everyday street crime. We are challenged on two fronts. New challenges since 9-11-2001 that call for new approaches and more money and the regular old brand of continued murder and violence because of guns, drugs, and the money that goes with each in the USA today.

As mayors come to our 72nd Winter Meeting on January 21-23, they will articulate their thoughts and ideas as to their hometown safety and their hometown economic security. Conference President Hempstead (NY) Mayor James A. Garner will release a

"Five Point '04 Metro Agenda." This blueprint has been developed with the help of our allies in the business community.

As we go through this challenging year we will do our best to get some of our issues into the Presidential campaign discussion with the hope that the persons who want to run our country will at least tell us what they plan to do to keep our metro areas of cities, large and small, safe from personal harm and secure from economic downturns that hurt our pocketbooks and drain our bank accounts.

It's about being safe. Its about making enough money to be comfortable but is also about the stress in our daily lives as we cope with childcare, health care, traffic congestion, and other obstacles that threaten what many think could make it an easier life. Mayors have been talking about these quality of life issues for years. Some relief could come to the American people if the Federal Government were smarter as they spend the money we sent to Washington. So many times, it's not spending more money in this or that area; it's how the money is spent. So many times its not about the Federal Government coming in like the cavalry to save us; its about the Federal Government staying out of the way by not imposing unfunded federal mandates that drain our budgets with no proof that spending extra money has helped to correct or improve the situation.

So, all the mayors and their allies in the business community are asking for is a dialogue on the real issues that the people who live in our cities are facing each day. Let us hope that somehow, even in a crowded televised field, of pop and the bloodsport of politics we can get our issues on the screen and into the discussion this year as we head toward election day, November 2. Today, it doesn't look promising but as the months dwindle on and as the campaign comes down to two persons with a few weeks left with close margins, they cannot ignore the real issues facing the American people and those people are ours because they live in our cities - urban/suburban and large and small throughout our nation.

Let us begin to put these issues up front and center as we come to Washington this month. Our winter meeting will be the beginning of our advocacy as we go forward through a tumultuous year. But we must begin now, this month, as all of you convene here for our Winter Meeting. President Garner will issue the call and it is most important that each of you take our agenda back into every region of the nation. We must do as we have in the past, come together with one bipartisan national voice and we can win. We can win the issues not just for the nation but also for the people in all cities, large and small.

I look forward to seeing you here in Washington January 21 for 72nd Annual Winter Meeting.