By Tom McClimon
June 28, 2010

Chairing his last meeting as Chair of the Standing Committee on Tourism, Arts, Parks, Entertainment and Sports, Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann led the committee members through a discussion of a record number of resolutions as well as a number of presentations that centered on the arts and sports programs.

Ed Foster-Simeon, President of the US Soccer Foundation, gave the mayors an update on the United States bid for the 2018 or 2022 FIFA World Cup bid. The mayors earlier had approved a resolution supporting the bid. Foster'simeon also gave the mayors an overview of programs available through the US Soccer Foundation to assist cities establish youth soccer programs. Jeffrey Miller and Martin Gold of the National Football League gave the mayors an update as to the status of the NFL-NFL Players collective bargaining agreement set to expire next year. Paul Caccamo, Executive Director of Up2Us, presented ideas on ways cities can support youth sports programs. Jay Dick, Director of State and Local Government Affairs for Americans for the Arts updated the mayors on their new arts index which measures the economic impact of the arts on communities.

• Ending Childhood Obesity within a Generation urges mayors to adopt and implement their recommendations of the White House Task Force on Childhood Obesity.

• Support for America's Zoos and Aquariums — calls on Congress to bolster America's public zoos and aquariums by ensuring their eligibility for future federal support and to support the education, conservation and community development missions of public zoos and aquariums.

• Federal Funding for the Arts, Humanities, and Museums — reaffirms the Conference's support of the National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities and the Office of Museum Services and calls for full federal funding of these agencies.

• National Arts Index for 2009 — urges mayors to invest in nonprofit arts organizations through their local arts agencies to generate business development, spur urban renewal, and attract tourists and residents to community arts activities.

• National Arts and Humanities Month — calls upon mayors to proclaim October 2010 as National Arts and Humanities Month and to participate in local arts celebrations.

• Jazz Day and Jazz Appreciation Month — urges mayors to build partnerships with their local jazz societies and to proclaim April 11, 2011 as Jazz Day and April as Jazz Appreciation Month.

• Support of the 2018/2022 FIFA World Cup Bid — supports the United States FIFA World Cup Bid Committee as it competes to host the 2018 or 2022 FIF World Cup.

• Supporting Sports-Based Youth Development as Catalyst for Social Change — recognizes that sports-based youth development programs provide quality empowerment opportunities for children and build healthy and safe cities.

• Investment in the Arts — calls upon mayors calls upon all mayors to establish culture and arts agencies and for the President of the United States to promote arts and culture as a means of stimulating the economy and building livable communities.

• Arts Education urges local school districts and administrators to maximize the use of federal education funds for the arts; and urges the establishment of a national artist corps.

• Designating September as National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month — urges Congress to designate September 2010, and every September henceforth, as National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month.

• Oppose Efforts to Limit Online Travel Companies Obligations to Collect and Remit Local Hotel Occupancy Taxes — opposes legislation that would grant online travel companies a tax emption that terminates obligations to pay hotel taxes to state and local governments.

• Supporting the Protection of Jobs and Businesses Throughout the United States Threatened by the Global Problem of Online Theft — supports efforts at the national, state and local levels to protect audiovisual works and the jobs and revenues that they generate.

• Creating Jobs Through Increased Travel to the United States — calls for the full implementation of the Travel Promotion Act and encourages the federal government to improve visa entry policies and programs.

• Recognition of National Travel and Tourism Week — recognizes as such the week beginning on the second Saturday in May each year.

• Supporting Meetings, Events, and Incentive Travel to Protect Local Economies — urges the federal government to adopt policies that promote business travel and meetings to help small businesses and save jobs.