Washington, DC
April 27, 2006

At the New Jersey Conference of Mayors this past week, I had the opportunity to address their Board Dinner and address their luncheon where the new Governor of New Jersey, Jon Corzine, was the featured speaker.

It is very clear that the New Jersey mayors are most appreciative of the leadership of Trenton Mayor Doug Palmer on the gangs, guns and violence issue. The “gangs issue,” as we call it, has spread and it is now a threat to suburban America as it feeds on the sale of drug, turf battles and two most important features: guns and money. Mayor Palmer led a statewide New Jersey television show on the gangs, guns and violence issue. He also led another discussion in a special session and small town and medium sized cities stood to thank him for his leadership.

In December of last year Mayor Palmer led a gangs summit in Trenton. He had been inspired by our Mayors Gangs Summit that we sponsored in the Spring of 2005 in Washington.

Conference President Beverly O’Neill and I met with Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa when he was inaugurated and she asked him to host our second national summit on gangs in Los Angeles in March. It was most successful and the best practices report we issued was well received by mayors and police chiefs. The sharing of best practices in the small meetings is so important as mayors and police officials learned from one another as to what they are doing that is successful – that works.

In addition to the gangs initiatives, Boston Mayor Tom Menino brought the issue of illegal guns to our Winter Meeting where Elizabeth Mayor Chris Bollwage, Chair of our Criminal and Social Justice Committee, gave Mayor Menino the opportunity to give tremendous leadership to the question of illegal guns.

Since 1968, with the assassinations of New York Senator Robert Kennedy and the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, The U.S. Conference of Mayors has continued to not only raise this issue before the American people but also take the lead. In the early days we have lost members on this issue because of some mayors who were reluctant to get out there against the National Rifle Association. But over the last fifteen years, mayors and police chiefs have been working and sharing within our own networks.

Former Philadelphia Mayor Ed Rendell, now Governor of Pennsylvania, during his term led national summits on illegal guns. One most important summit was held in St. Louis where we had discussions with the gun manufacturers. And we all remember suing the gun manufacturers. Former New Orleans Mayor Marc Morial was the first to sue. Today, Congress is rather dormant on the issue of guns. California Senator Dianne Feinstein has been a leader in keeping guns off our streets.

Supporting the USCM history and position on illegal guns, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg this year is taking a strong stand in his city against guns as did Mayors Lindsay, Beame, Koch, and Dinkins. Mayor Bloomberg came to Washington this spring and castigated Congress for not taking action on this priority issue that has been a priority of our organization. We are most grateful for his leadership against illegal guns and we gave his presence and testimony prominent play in our newspaper U.S.Mayor in order to keep you informed of Mayor Bloomberg’s leadership against illegal guns.

This past week Mayors Menino and Bloomberg called mayors to New York to once again continue to raise the issue of so many illegal guns on our streets and in our nation. On national TV Mayor Bloomberg reminded us once again that guns are causing so many deaths, making it the second most public health death menace in the nation. When I saw him, it reminded where I had heard that statistic before. It was another Boston Mayor, Ray Flynn, who insisted in the early 1990s that we bring in the Centers for Disease Control and the Surgeon General into our Winter and Annual Meetings. Then New York City Mayor David Dinkins was there with Mayor Flynn. They were always there and we were there with them. Today Boston Mayor Menino and New York City Mayor Bloomberg are taking the lead again as did the other mayors before them. We offer them our assistance and our support as we will continue to bring the question of gangs, illegal guns and street crime up front and center at our 74th Annual Conference of Mayors in Las Vegas, June 2-6. And, of course, after the meeting we will continue to be active on this issue that is indeed a deadly menace for all of our cities and all of our mayors.

As we head toward the 74th Annual Meeting on June 2, there are other USCM events that are most important.

Under the leadership of Mayor Beverly O’Neill, we will have a TAPES Committee (Tourism, Arts, Parks, Entertainment and Sports) meeting in New Orleans, May 3-5. This is a part of our continuing support to the rebuilding and revitalization of New Orleans in the post-Katrina era. Miami Mayor Manny Diaz will be chairing the New Orleans sessions.

Then on May 10-11 we will hold one of the O’Neill “Cities for a Strong America” Summits on Energy/Environment. This one, hosted by Mayor Daley, is in Chicago. At issue is alternative fuels for automobiles and housing. There is great interest in this meeting due to the fact that there is an awakening in our nation by mayors and local groups that alternative sources of energy are available and must be developed for our nation. I am constantly amazed at what I learn from mayors about what they are doing to rid the nation from relying on Mid East oil to keep our country moving. Best practices abound; new coalitions with surprising partners are popping up in unusual places. We will show the nation that we will not wait for a national energy policy. We are in the process of building a coalition of forces to reform the way we think and what we do in the areas of energy and environment that will be most significant to our nation and the globe.

We will continue our partnership and join with the International Council of Shopping Centers in Las Vegas, May 21-22. Eighty-five percent of all the shopping center deals happen at this meeting. We will once again have our mayoral showcase for all mayors attending, recognizing our mayors are there to secure significant economic development that will improve the economic infrastructure of their cities.

And last but not least by any means – is the most important meeting for you as a mayor and that’s the Annual Meeting of The U.S. Conference of Mayors in Las Vegas, June 2-6. This is our first ever Annual Meeting in Las Vegas since we were created 74 years ago. Other groups have met here – the Governors, the County Officials and the National League of Cities. But this is a first for The U.S. Conference of Mayors and we are lucky to have as Host Mayor – Oscar Goodman. He is pulling out the stops to make the Las Vegas meeting one you must not miss. While Las Vegas is today the number one destination city in the world and the fastest growing city, Las Vegas is a city and Mayor Goodman and his city face the many challenges to provide services as most of you face. In addition to the glitz, glamour, and gambling, basic services must be provided. Mayor Goodman wants all of you to know that Las Vegas awaits your arrival for a great 74th Annual Meeting.

Please register now and plan to be with us. Las Vegas is the place you as a USA mayor should be June 2-6. We will be providing more details as to our substantive activities as we go forward. Sign up now. You won’t regret it! We need you in Las Vegas!