By Conference Staff
April 21, 2008

Conference President Trenton (NJ) Mayor Douglas H. Palmer addressed more than 200 New Jersey mayors at the 45th Annual Meeting of the New Jersey Conference of Mayors in Atlantic City, praising his colleagues, especially key members of the state’s Congressional delegation, for their support in making climate protection a national priority.

“One year ago, I had the honor to stand before you and report on the work of the nation’s mayors and talk about the Mayors 10-point Plan. What we achieved at the national level has so much to do with our partnership with all of you,” Palmer said, referencing the Conference’s success in securing enactment of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program.

“The energy block grant program, which was signed into law in December, was our top priority,” Palmer told nearly 500 attendees at the April 10 opening luncheon session.

“I want to give special thanks to Senator [Robert] Menendez, Congressman [Frank] Pallone and Senator [Frank] Lautenberg who played key roles in enacting and funding this new block grant program,” he said.

Palmer also recognized the leadership of New Jersey mayors in supporting the Conference’s Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. “So far, 89 New Jersey mayors have signed this agreement, more than any other state in the nation outside of California,” Palmer said.

Newly elected Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter spoke at the opening luncheon April 10, highlighting a number of key priorities for Philadelphia.

Outlining key priorities for his Administration, Nutter said, “On the day I was inaugurated, I signed an executive order directing the police commissioner to prepare a crime fighting strategy. We are now in the midst of implementing our plan. Elements of it include the identification of targeted enforcement zones, the deployment of more officers on the street, a return to basic policing tactics, the use of an aggressive but constitutional stop-and-frisk procedure and the installation of more video surveillance cameras.

“So far, the homicide rate is running about 25 percent below last year’s rate. We are still a long way from where we want to be, but I have pledged to make this city safer with the help of our many community-based organizations working in partnership with the police department.”

In the area of sustainability, Nutter said, “I want Philadelphia to become THE green city in America. Greening our existing and new structures is part of our vision. We will develop a new zoning code that incorporates best practices, we will invest more resources in Fairmount Park, we will soon have single'stream weekly recycling and we have begun to develop a litter prevention strategy.”

Nutter also addressed the issue of jobs and economic development. He said, “We have proposed to continue lowering the gross receipts portion of the business privilege tax with a schedule to eliminate this onerous tax in eight years. We’re also proposing the first ever reduction in the net income portion of that tax. But that is only part of our plan. We are proposing to increase funding to the city’s Cultural Fund in recognition of the importance of the arts and culture institutions in the city. And we’ve reorganized government by bringing planning and economic development under the oversight of a deputy mayor. We’ve also created an Office of Business Services to help businesses cut through the red tape.”

New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine addressed the session, where one year before he survived a near fatal automobile accident while returning to the capital after participating in the same event. Corzine focused his remarks on the state’s growing fiscal challenges, defending his plan to balance the budget through spending cuts without relying on new taxes.

“It’s time to take drastic transformative steps to change the course of our state’s fiscal direction,” he said.

Corzine’s opposition to new revenues forces greater reductions in current state spending commitments, including assistance to local governments. His proposal calls for a ten percent cut in all local government aid and the elimination of property tax relief payments to the state’s smallest cities. Signaling his willingness to work with the mayors to phase-in these cuts, he cautioned that “something else must be cut” and that alternative spending changes must be “reasonable and responsible.”

He reminded the mayors that the state’s budgetary imbalance has been building years for years and pointed out that current revenues are below last year’s levels.

Conference of Mayors Executive Director and CEO Tom Cochran provided several federal legislative updates for the New Jersey mayors, including outlining the Mayors’ 10 Point Plan, Strong Cities, Strong Families for a Strong America.

Cochran praised Palmer for his leadership on the energy block grant and other issues, and the New Jersey Conference of Mayors for their long partnership with The United States Conference of Mayors.

Cochran told the mayors that their help is needed on key priorities such as securing full funding the energy block grant, addressing the foreclosure issues and rebuilding and modernizing the nation’s infrastructure.

He also urged the mayors to attend the upcoming 76th U. S. Conference of Mayors Annual Conference in Miami June 20-24.

At the conclusion of the three-day conference, a new slate of officers for 2008-2009 was sworn in. Fanwood Borough Mayor Colleen M. Mahr was sworn in as President, taking the gavel from outgoing President Cape May Point Borough Mayor Malcom Fraser. Also assuming office were Somerville Borough Mayor Brian Gallagher as 1st Vice President and Piscataway Mayor Brian Wahler as 2nd Vice President. Notably, Wahler serves as Chair of The U. S. Conference of Mayors Membership Committee.