By Debra DeHaney-Howard
April 25, 2005

More than 350 mayors from across New Jersey gathered in Atlantic City April 13-15 for the New Jersey Conference of Mayors (NJCM) 42nd Annual Conference entitled, "The Constitutional ConventionÉMayors Leading the Way."

As a Trustee of The United States Conference of Mayors, Trenton Mayor Douglas H. Palmer spoke at the opening luncheon April 14, telling the New Jersey mayors that, "The Administration's budget would eliminate the Community Development Block Grant Program, a program that has provided funds directly to cities across the nation, including New Jersey cities." He noted that, in its place, "The administration would merge its funding with that from 17 other programs and transfer them to the Department of Commerce with a drastic funding cut."

Palmer called on the New Jersey mayors to join with the Conference of Mayors national campaign to save the Community Development Block Grant. He said, "The Conference of Mayors is 100 percent opposed to this proposal, and has formed a strong coalition with other government, nonprofit and business organizations to save CDBG and make sure it is funded at $4.7 billion."

In outlining other key priorities of the Conference of Mayors, Palmer said, "We continue to push on homeland security to make sure that needed resources reach our cities as they are sent through a state distribution system — a system we have strongly opposed. And, more needs to be done to make sure that our ports and transportation are safe as possible."

He also noted that, "The Conference of Mayors is very concerned about the elimination of state and local tax deductibility and are continuing to fight unfunded mandates." Palmer said, "Cities continue to face problems related to unfunded mandates — as we speak, we're fighting against liability protection for the producers of MTBE, a gasoline additive that polluted thousands of water systems, many here in New Jersey."

Palmer concluded his remarks by introducing Pennsylvania Governor Edward Rendell, the opening luncheon keynote speaker. In his introduction, Palmer said, "As mayor of Philadelphia, Governor Rendell was a strong leader within The U. S. Conference of Mayors, working on so many issues, including welfare reform, unfunded mandates, infrastructure investment, crime reduction, and gun safety."

At the conclusion of the three-day conference, the gavel was passed from Woodbine Mayor William Pikolycky to Palmer. NJCM members also elected Conference of Mayors Trustee Newark Mayor Sharpe James as Vice President.