By Ed Somers
June 19, 2006

Following an emotional video on her year as President of the Conference of Mayors, Long Beach Mayor Beverly O’Neill stressed the importance of mayoral leadership saying, “Mayors are the only ones in a position to make direct and positive changes in their cities.”

“Being mayor is about providing leadership, hope, and inspiration that every city can grow and improve and be bastions of opportunity for all people,” she added.

O’Neill said that “I am so proud of the work we all did this year on long-term issues such as energy, infrastructure, transportation, gangs, education, and so much more.”

“We continued to demonstrate that almost every creative and innovative idea that is being implemented, is being implemented in cities with leadership from mayors,” she added.

“And in the very first days and months after the Hurricanes, we would not let our fellow mayors go it alone, and did everything in our power to provide resources and aid to all the cities devastated by Katrina, Rita and Wilma,” O’Neill added.

O’Neill thanked all of the mayors for their work through the Conference. “The true strength of the organization lies in every mayor who responds to an action survey or legislative alert. Every mayor who sends a letter to their Congressional delegation, or better yet makes a personal call or visit. Every mayor who comes to meetings and shares best practices that benefit us all,” she said.

O’Neill, who will be leaving office as mayor in one month, said she is sad not to be able to serve as a Past President. “But I know that with wonderful leaders like Mike Guido and Doug Palmer, the Conference of Mayors will continue to succeed, grow, and do even better things for America’s cities, the nation, and the world,” she said.

In concluding, O’Neill said, “We face major challenges in our nation and in the world regarding the environment, public health, terrorism, poverty, and war. But we have within ourselves the power to address each and every one of these challenges. And we must do so.”