By Rhonda Spears Bell
January 22, 2007

The leadership of The United States Conference of Mayors, led by Conference President Trenton (NJ) Mayor Douglas H. Palmer, met with newly-elected House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in her Speaker’s Conference Room January 12 in a special strategy session. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss critical issues facing America’s cities and to forge new partnerships as Congress sets its legislative agenda.

Prior to the meeting with Pelosi, mayors worked January 11 in a special Washington leadership meeting crafting a new 10-point plan that would be presented to the Speaker the following day.

“As CEOs of the nation’s cities, mayors know all too well the challenges America’s families face. We are here to stand with Speaker Pelosi and the new Congressional leadership to forge new partnerships that will invest in families and cities in a way that creates jobs and safe communities, and provides an environment where families and children can thrive,” said Palmer. “We welcome the opportunity to work with this new Congress in a bi-partisan way as we move forward together to build a stronger America.”

Pelosi’s background gives her unique insight into the role of a mayor and the issues impacting cities since both her father and brother served as the mayor of Baltimore. “My father and brother were mayors, and I have great respect for what mayors do. Success of our country depends on the success of our cities. I want the cities to know that they have a friend in the Speaker’s Office,” Pelosi said.

The mayors shared with Pelosi their 10-point plan called “Strong Cities, Strong Families for a Strong America” that will be presented at The U.S. Conference of Mayors 75th Winter Meeting in Washington (DC), January 24-26. The plan, which reflects some of the policies that the Conference has adopted over the past few years, will be used as a guide as the mayors engage the 110th Congress, the Administration, and the 2008 presidential candidates.

The Speaker welcomed the policy recommendations and pledged to work with the mayors on these key points. Pelosi also noted two issues that she would particularly like to work with the mayors on and that fit well with her agenda – energy and children. “The American people need to know that what we do in public policy is relevant to their lives,” she added.

The mayors are calling for a block grant to provide funding directly to cities and urban counties for programs that improve community energy efficiency; develop and implement community strategies to reduce carbon emissions; develop and implement community and transportation energy conservation programs; encourage the development of new technologies and systems to decrease the nation’s dependence on foreign oil; and promotion and development of alternative/renewable energy sources.

The mayors are calling for a federal trust fund to provide flexible resources for the deployment of law enforcement personnel, support local innovations, fight domestic violence and fund technology that helps fight crime. Specifically, funding for COPS and the local block grant should be restored.

The mayors recommend that CDBG formula funding be doubled to $8 billion. This additional funding would address the delayed projects and activities that have resulted from cuts to CDBG, and further build on the proven record of an effective affordable housing and revitalization program.

The mayors support an affordable housing fund to be administered by the Government Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs), (not by HUD or state housing agencies) funded with at least five percent of their profits, with local government projects eligible to be assisted.

Operating Subsidies - The mayors support restoration of all public housing operating subsidies in FY 2007, including funding that was not part of the budget request but that is now needed because of utility costs previously not anticipated.

HOPE VI – The mayors support the restoration of HOPE VI to a funding level that returns the program to an effective national tool for public housing development.

The mayors are calling for tax incentives, bonds, and other measures to support local and state efforts, and stimulate private sector participation to improve infrastructure, including transportation, water, wastewater, brownfields, energy, telecommunications, schools and affordable housing options in America’s cities.

The mayors call for timely reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act, and full funding of its programs to ensure a significant investment in lifelong learning for every American citizen.

No Child Left Behind - It is critical that mayors be involved in every aspect of No Child Left Behind reauthorization, including discussions on full funding, teacher quality, performance standards, testing and evaluation, and methods of assessment and accountability.

Children’s Health Insurance – It is crucial that funding for programs such as Head Start, Early Head Start, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) be increased to their full authorization levels.

Summer Youth - The mayors are calling for a new summer youth employment initiative.

After'school Youth – Mayors are calling for an increased funding commitment directly allocated to cities for quality after'school programs.

Interoperable Communications - The mayors are calling for a well-funded, stand-alone, Federal emergency communications grant program to carry out initiatives to improve interoperable communications, including flexible direct grants to cities and their first responders.

Transit Security – The mayors are calling for a flexible Federal transit security initiative to improve security in the areas of communications, surveillance, detection systems, personnel and training, and not require a local or state match. Furthermore, security funds should go directly to the operator of that system or the jurisdiction providing the security.

Funding Mechanism – Mayors contend that improvements must be made in the grant application process and delivery mechanism for federal homeland security resources to make sure that the process is user-friendly, the funding quickly reaches cities, and that funding is flexible to meet local needs.

Mayors are calling for new legislation to strengthen the federal-local partnership and further restrict the ability of Congress to impose unfunded federal mandates on cities or preempt local authority.

More information on each legislative priority can be found on The U.S. Conference of Mayors website at usmayors.org.

Mayors who attended the special leadership meeting include: Conference President Trenton (NJ) Mayor Douglas H. Palmer, Akron (OH) Mayor Donald Plusquellic, Charleston (SC) Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Philadelphia (PA) Mayor John Street, Elizabeth (NJ) Mayor Christian Bollwage, North Little Rock (AR) Mayor Patrick Henry Hays, Stamford (CT) Mayor Dannel P. Malloy, Palatine (IL) Mayor Rita L. Mullins, Virginia Beach Mayor Meyera Oberndorf, Sugar Land (TX) Mayor David Wallace, Providence (RI) Mayor David Cicilline, Oklahoma City (OK) Mayor Mick Cornett, Rochester (NY) Mayor Robert Duffy, Piscataway (NJ) Mayor Brian Wahler, and Columbus (OH) Mayor Michael Coleman.