By Elena Temple
May 21, 2007

U.S. Conference of Mayors President Trenton (NJ) Mayor Douglas H. Palmer received the President’s award at the National Conference of Black Mayors (NCBM) Annual Convention in Baton Rouge (LA). Palmer was bestowed the honor by NCMB President Robert L. Bowser, mayor of East Orange (NJ), at the President’s Luncheon held May 4 at the Baton Rouge River Center. Palmer also accepted the President’s Award on behalf of Sharpe James, New Jersey State Senator and former mayor of Newark (NJ), who could not be in attendance.

During his acceptance remarks, Palmer commented that, “Mayors are where the rubber meets the road. Our constituents know us and recognize us everywhere we go. We have to deal with every kind of challenge of imaginable. As a result, mayors are always in a position to lead. We have to package that and use it to press Congress.”

United Sates Senator Mary Landrieu (LA), who was the keynote speaker at the President’s luncheon, touted the importance of the Conference of Mayors’ 10 Point Plan and legislative agenda. Landrieu expressed her support for the Plan and explained that the top priority of the Conference, a federal Energy and Environment Block Grant, would enable cities along the Gulf of Mexico to expand initiatives to protect coastal wetlands and thus provide better protection against hurricanes.

Throughout the Convention, mayors and other notable community leaders heard from presidential hopefuls, including Senator Hillary Clinton, former Senator John Edwards, Senator Barack Obama and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson.

The theme for this year’s NCBM was “Leadership Is,” which reflects the organizations commitment to empowering the mayors who represent communities of color with the accurate information, practical skills and applicable resources they need to better serve their constituents.