By Kay Scrimger
June 23, 2003

Conference President Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino opened the Second International Conference of Mayors and the 71st Annual Conference of Mayors at the Opening Session on June 6 in Denver.

"I want to extend a very special welcome to our international mayors," he said, " as well as to mayors from the United States."

We must "further the agenda of cities not only nationally but globally," he emphasized.

"Whether it is Boston, Denver, or Barcelona, as mayors we run the economic engines that drive our cities forward. It is hard to imagine any society that could be successful without strong and healthy cities.

"We in the United States have our own issues. At this Annual Meeting we will focus on homeland security and economic security. Our nation has lost millions of jobs, and the high tech industry is in decline. We have a lot of work to do in our country. We must assert the strong role cities play in our country and around the world.

"Other nations cherish their cities. We mayors think that strengthening cities is the most effective way to reinvigorate the economy. Today American cities are reaching beyond their boundaries to build new alliances with neighboring communities, forming regional partnerships and other forms of cooperation. Washington should reward communities that build regional partnerships," he said.

"I'd be interested in hearing from international mayors any models of regional cooperation which they have developed. We can learn from each other and will do so at this Second International Conference of Mayors.

"We must move away from partnerships where simple niceties are exchanged and nothing more and look to building strong economic bonds" between cities throughout the world, Mayor Menino said.