By Eugene T. Lowe
April 11, 2011

The Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), celebrating its 30th Leadership Symposium and Gala, held a session on March 24 called “Addressing the Issues from the Front Lines: A Mayor's Roundtable.” Moderated by The Boston Foundation President Paul Grogan, the panelists included Conference of Mayors Past President Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino, St. Paul (MN) Mayor Christopher Coleman, Greenville (MS) Mayor Heather McTeer Hudson, and Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson.

The goal of the session was to have “mayors reflect on the hard choices they are each facing, the creative options they are pursuing and the challenge of ensuring stability in a fundamentally uncertain environment.” The discussion throughout the one and half hour exchange was lively and informative. Grogan started the event with the question: “What does it feel like to be you?” Johnson said that he didn't know he what he was getting into with respect to the challenges of crime, education, and state budget balancing. Menino said that after 18 years, he was still excited about being mayor and helping people everyday. Coleman said as one of the three larges cities in Minnesota, he felt an enormous challenge. Hudson said she felt humble, as people have put faith in mayors to do the right thing.

The mayors were asked to state and discuss briefly their top priority. All listed education in their response. Menino said his top priority was education. He appoints the school board, has brought about longer school days and has established new schools for non-English speaking students. Hudson listed several priorities, including education, infrastructure, and jobs. She said that the roads and streets in her city have not been attended to in 50 years. Johnson said that his priority was to stimulate jobs and provide education. Referencing the education task force he chairs at the Conference of Mayors, Johnson said, “You can't have a great city without great schools.” Coleman also said that education was important. He shared his idea of dividing his city into learning campuses.

Responding to moderator Grogan's question about being diverted from goals by immediate concerns, all mayors said that this was a reality in their jobs. Coleman said that the mortgage foreclosure crisis changed long term and comprehensive strategies that he had for his city. He added that threatened cuts to the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program are also constant challenges. Hudson said that energy concerns changed her plans. When she was elected to office, a $4 million budget problem had to be addressed along with an unforeseen gas problem. She also pointed out that a mayor must always be on the look out for the next thing that is going to happen. Johnson spoke about mayors not having control of some things. He cited the current situation where California is taking money away from cities; the state is attempting to balance its budget on the backs of cities. Menino said that the federal government must stop the nonsense of cutting programs like CDBG, which, he asserted, is a job creation program.

LISC is a national community development support organization that has worked with mayors, cities, local organizations and community leaders since 1979 providing resources to revitalize neighborhoods and improving the quality of life.