By Washington, DC
February 7, 2008

New Two Billion Dollar Energy and Environment Block Grant

Mayors came to our 76th Winter Meeting eager to learn about how the newly-passed $2 Billion Energy/Environment Block Grant would help their cities. We had heavy attendance in our special session on the initiative, and all of us recognize the work we have before us to secure the appropriations and send federal funds to states, counties and cities across the nation. Favorable reports were received from many mayors who visited the House and Senate members while they were in Washington.

Conference President Doug Palmer has declared that this Spring is the season to lobby hard to convince Congress they need to put the money where the press releases are. The Authorization Bill signed by President Bush last Fall creating the new block grant was a great victory but much work will be done to bring our federal money back home where it belongs.

As Congress gears up and starts the appropriation process, we will be ready to call upon you to use the power you have to convince your members to do the right thing for you, your city, and your people. Its another right step toward energy independence and helping our cities do their part to protect our climate and save our planet.

Next week, you will be contacted from my office. We will specifically ask you to contact your Members of the House and Senate asking for their support as we secure appropriations for the number one issue of our 10-Point Plan — the $2 Billion Energy and Environment Block Grant. Please help us. Let’s continue to win!

The home mortgage crisis hit us like a ton of bricks as we entered last Fall. Conference President Palmer has led the way on this challenge. Through the countless phone calls and meetings in October, November and December, President Palmer has vowed to work with the mortgage bankers, non-profits and faith-based groups to find local best practices designed to save people from losing their homes.

Some cities are going into court and that is their right. In Cleveland 12,000 homes are at stake, one tenth of all housing. Hence, one can understand the legal route some cities are pursuing. Baltimore is also going the legal route.

We know when there is a national crisis, President Bush indicates “concern” and the Congress announces it must “examine.” But mayors are getting hit everyday because the mayors are on the ground closest to where the people and the pain exists. Mayors have to act.

We are doing more than our part to alleviate this economic crisis that has loomed there with our earlier warnings of predatory lenders through the years. Now the chickens have come home to roost and its not pretty. Not all homes will be lost but so many will. We applaud Mayor Palmer’s leadership and other mayors on this issue.

The travel and tourism issue continues to rise, as a priority among our cities. President Palmer and Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann along with our partner, The Travel Business Roundtable led by Mr. Jonathan Tisch along with Mr. Bill Marriott, all bring together a great force. The power will be used to pressure Congress and The White House to remove obstacles hindering international business and leisure travel to our cities.

Further, this mighty coalition of public CEOs, mayors, and private CEOs are joined together calling for a cabinet level post in the next Administration to work with cities and business to recognize the importance of the travel and tourism industry to our nation’s economy and diplomacy.

Joined in the effort is Chicago Mayor Richard Daley who recognizes the importance of our goals and he also knows that our active support to bring the Olympics in 2016 to his city will benefit us all.

We will jointly create a forum and opportunities for the ‘08 Presidential Candidates to give us their views and support us in our effort.

Plenary speakers, workshops, task force meetings, press conferences abounded at our Winter Meeting. They were all well received and we thank all who came and contributed.

And while the business of our meeting was carried out and we learned so much, the 2008 primary and presidential sweepstakes hung over our meeting especially in the side conversations that often are more indicative of where the mayors’ minds are than some of the official sessions.

On the Democratic side, there is a split among our primary players within the Democratic Party. Some endorsed Senator Hillary Clinton early on and they are totally committed to her. Others, this Fall, have declared for Senator Barack Obama and they are energized.

In our Executive Committee, the question was raised as to why Mr. Obama has not ever appeared before the nation’s mayors. Charleston Mayor Joe Riley defended him and said he’d been real busy running for President and further assured all that Obama supports our agenda. Further it was stated by Obama mayors he would no doubt be with us in Miami at our 76th Annual Meeting. During the discussion, I informed the Committee that Senator Obama had sent a letter to me and our President, Mayor Doug Palmer, in which he thanked us for our 10-Point Plan and pledged his support.

There is no doubt either as to where Senator Clinton is with our agenda. She is totally committed.

So on the Democratic side, we haven’t been in this kind of shape in many years. Both Senators are embracing our 10-Point Plan and Metro 08 agenda.

Another aspect must be mentioned. The Obama mayors and the Clinton mayors like each other. While Super Tuesday proved that the quest for the nomination will continue, both groups will push our agenda forward even stronger with Senators Obama and Clinton.

And when it’s over, the mayors and the winning candidate will work together to bring a new kind of leadership from the Oval Office restoring a working, open, political partnership that will get things done to change the present course and provide solutions to the challenges the mayors face as they lead our metro economies and our cities.

On the Republican side, we must all remember that Senator McCain has always come to our Annual Meetings and over and over he has committed to work with us.

Soon, before you know it, one of these three Senators — Obama or Clinton and McCain will be just two people left facing each other. We will continue to push our agenda in front of them as the next stages of the ‘08 battle is waged. Where there is chaos, there is opportunity; where the battleground of voters are in our metro economies, we will be there to insert our priorities into their minds knowing that our 10-Point Plan has the support of the American people. And we have polls to prove it. Hence, we want more conversations as to what these Senators will do, if they are elected as President to implement our 10-Point Plan after the inauguration on January 20, 2009.

Conference President Palmer will continue to push our agenda forward. You should do the same. Together we will make a difference.

Thanks for your continued support as we promote the bipartisan agenda as a must for all Presidential candidates — to endorse and pledge to work with us in making our grounded and validated goals a reality. We can do it. We will do it. Let us continue.