Washington, DC
May 30, 2003

The Governors Have Your Money

Congress approved and President George W. Bush signed into law his tax bill which provides $20 billion going out to the states. Half of the money will go for reimbursement of Medicaid; the other half — $10 billion — can be spent as the governor wants to spend it. On page 3, opposite page, you can see the chart which give you the amount that is headed to your governor and your state house. The nation's mayors worked hard to include in this legislation fiscal relief coming directly to cities. We bargained for and won $4 billion for cities and counties but as you know, our portion for direct city funding was cut out at the last minute and now all of the $20 billion dollars goes to the governors. It was the intent of Congress that $10 billion of this money is to be used for immediate fiscal relief and we trust it will be used for that purpose. Cities today are feeling the pain of sharp state budget cuts and worsened economic conditions brought on by the downturn of our nation's economy.

Our concern is that even before the money gets to your state houses, governors are already announcing how they are going to use the money, and press reports indicate that governors are saying they will hold the money back for their "rainy day" fund or put the money in reserve for various state determined purposes. We need to remind the governors that this money must be used for fiscal relief now.

It's raining cats and dogs with state budget cuts falling down on cities and counties now and we don't need money being held back for any "rainy day" fund. Ten billion dollars of this money can be used as governors and state governments choose. The governors have complete freedom to give you the fiscal relief. You need the money to ease your pain and don't you let them tell you otherwise. This is your money. Go after it. Conference President Thomas M. Menino and the nation's mayors and our staff worked hard and did our best to make the argument for this money. The National League of Cities and the National Association of Counties were united with us. Victory and success slipped through our fingers in the middle of the night. It's now up to you to make your needs known to your governor as you know how to do it. Remind the governors that you have been hit hard by federally mandated homeland security costs, downturn of tourism and business travel and other worsened economic conditions. Don't let them hold this money back. We must convince them to let our money be spent for what it was intended — immediate fiscal relief. We will be discussing this matter as we gather in Denver at our 71st Annual Meeting and hopefully our discussions will help you as you develop strategies back in your home state to secure these funds for your cities.

Welcome To Denver — Your 71st

As we gather for our 71st Annual Meeting, we are most thankful for the leadership and energy that has been given by our outgoing President Boston Mayor Tom Menino. He has carried forth our campaign of homeland security and economic security. And while we have had some victories, a few setbacks, his vision has given us strength to carry on. And so, we thank you Mayor Menino.

You have presided over two Annual Meetings and we know we can count on you to be an active leader and participant as we continue our campaign under our incoming President, Hempstead Mayor James A. Garner.

Mayor Garner will take the gavel on Tuesday morning at his Presidential Inaugural Breakfast. He will at that time announce his new team of mayors and he will provide us a blueprint of his strategic plan that will take us through the next year. We congratulate Mayor Garner who has been a long time active leader within our organization. He will move forward with the total support of those mayors who have worked with him and the newer mayors that are most active. We all recognize that we are entering another Presidential election period in our nation and we must, as a bipartisan organization, develop a plan of action recommendations to President Bush and the Democratic candidates for President. Mayor Garner will help us in this effort because he has demonstrated the necessity for us to bring both national parties closer together on what mayors believe they need as we partner with the federal government on key priorities that seriously affect our nation at this critical time in history.

Webb Luncheon/Webb Building/Distinguished Public Service Award

On Sunday, June 8 — at a special luncheon, Conference President Menino will present Denver Mayor Wellington E. Webb the Distinguished Public Service Award of The Conference of Mayors. It is the highest award we present. Mayor Webb's contribution to his city, county, state and nation will be highlighted in a special film — Webb — The Man and His City at Sunday's luncheon. This event will take place in the Wellington E. Webb Municipal Office Building, a magnificent structure built by Denver and named in honor of him.

Sunday Morning/Official Photo — "I Have A Dream" Sculpture/City Park

On Sunday morning at a special breakfast in City park, the official mayoral photograph of the 71st Annual Meeting will be made at the "I Have A Dream" Monument in City Park. Mayors will witness a spectacular sculpture of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., recently unveiled by Mayor Webb.

The Monument is a tribute to Dr. King who began in 1955 with the Montgomery Bus Boycott until his assassination in 1968. He became and still is today the most renowned leader of the American Civil Rights movement.

Holding the Dr. King Sculpture aloft are four sculptures of individuals that influenced his mind — his writings, thoughts and nonviolent political action during his life with us on earth. First, is Mr. Frederick Douglass — a former slave and great political figure of the 19th Century, he was an abolitionist journalist, outstanding orator and diplomat. Second, is Mahatma Gandhi — who led India's struggle to free itself of colonialism. Mr. Gandhi's political teaching of nonviolence and how it could be used for social and political change greatly influenced the thoughts, actions and writings of Dr. King. Third, is Rosa Parks — Mayor Webb has said _"Without Rosa Parks, there would have been no civil rights movement." Her arrest in 1955 for refusing to Join with us on Sunday morning. It will be a special event and we want all mayors to be included in the official photograph that will be taken at this City Park sculpture site.

Join with us on Sunday morning. It will be a special event and we want all mayors to be included in the official photograph that will be taken at this City Park sculpture site.

Welcome USA and World Mayors

We welcome all mayors to our 71st Annual Meeting. We especially welcome our international mayors who have come from afar to join with USA mayors to participate in our 2nd International Conference of Mayors and to learn and share best practices.

We thank Mayor Webb for his great leadership in hosting our Annual Meeting which will be most meaningful, productive and we guarantee — enjoyable!

If I can be of any service to you while you are in Denver, please let me know. It is most important as we leave Denver that we have your strong participation and active membership as we work together for economic security and homeland security for all Americans in the days ahead.

Again — Welcome to Denver — to the 2nd International Conference of Mayors and your 71st Annual Meeting of The United States Conference of Mayors!