By Ed Somers
July 1, 2002

During his inaugural remarks on Tuesday, June 18 in Madison, Conference President Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino commended the mayors gathered at the Annual Conference for their work, saying, "Over the past few days, America's mayors have come together to shape a bold domestic agenda for economic prosperity. It focuses on the cornerstone issues that impact working families in our communities every day."

Mayor Menino then stressed, "Today, I want to talk to you about how we move our agenda forward in the next twelve months — that's not I, it's we. We must all work together and build a broad coalition to move our goals forward."

Mayor Menino's priorities are captured in the slogan "Strong Families, Strong Cities" which he is using to define his year as President.

"We want housing that working people, seniors and needy Americans can afford. We want schools that attract families to cities, rather than driving them away. And we want human development initiatives that build strong families and strong cities," Menino said in summarizing this agenda.

"These are the fundamental issues that the people of our cities care about, and the issues that we, as mayors, have a duty to address. In each of these areas, we have accomplished a great deal in this meeting, and we have developed the first steps for moving forward as we return to our hometowns," he added.

For example, he listed actions taken in Madison such as adoption of a progressive and comprehensive housing agenda to address diverse housing needs which includes a tax credit to help more families become homeowners. In addition, he supports a National Housing Trust to build hundreds of thousands of new rental housing, the revitalization of public housing, encouragement of employer-assisted housing, and expansion of the range of housing options for seniors.

Menino then said, "Now, we will go forward to build a national grassroots effort through regional teams that will work together to lobby Congress and the public starting this summer. We challenged our Business Council and our other private sector partners to join us in this campaign. We will also reach out to organized labor, to develop a Labor Council that will team up with us. And we will invite everyone to join us this fall in Washington for a Lobby Day, which will press Congress to act, at long last, on our long neglected housing crisis."

On the issue of public schools, Menino praised the Conference of Mayors' new partnership with the Broad Foundation as announced in Madison, saying "Mayor Bloomberg's victory in assuming responsibility for New York City's school system is an act of leadership by a mayor who is not satisfied with the slow pace of education reform. And he is not alone! There are other mayors in New York State clamoring for the same authority and there are new mayors in Detroit and Cleveland looking to continue their progress. They should get that opportunity, and we will help them do it!"

"The day when mayors could avoid the issue of education is over... There are new mandates in the federal education legislation that may play havoc in some cities. So mayors must get in the game, and we will help you develop your playbook for real change. Our kids deserve no less," Menino added saying that the Conference will hold a special meeting on this issue in Cleveland in the fall.

Mayor Menino also spoke of the important new partnership with the Annie E. Casey Foundation on improving the lives of working families, saying that among the work products will be campaigns to increase participation in the Earned Income Tax Credit and the new Child Care Credit. "Let me tell you — any time government can put money back in family pockets, it's appreciated. Look for our first effort this fall," the mayor said.

mayor Menino then added, "Our focus on these issues does not mean we will lose sight of other critical issues such as the reauthorization of TEA-21, or the fight for sensible welfare reform. I want our policy committees to be 'action' committees, carrying our message to Washington and across the country that if you want the job done right, you must listen to, and involve our nation's local leaders."

He commended the mayors for the breadth of policy resolutions enacted in Madison saying, "We called for auctioning off some of our telecommunications spectrum, to raise billions for narrowing the digital divide. We again committed ourselves to fighting AIDS, cancer and lead poisoning. And we continued the fight for urban parks funding, through the leadership of our good friend, Mayor Victor Ashe."

Mayor Menino then discussed continuing concerns on homeland security saying, "We know that the war against

terrorism is not over. We

will commemorate the victims of September 11 by building safer and stronger cities. We continue to support the President and Governor Ridge in their efforts and we endorse their concept for reorganizing homeland security. We will also lobby hard to remove barriers to future economic development in our cities by asking Congress for quick action on the issue of anti-terrorism insurance."

The mayor stressed, "But it's time; in fact, it's past time for a federal local partnership that provides real re-

sources for homeland security. So we must have a flexible Homeland Security Block Grant that allows us to build our capacity to better protect our people." The message is clear, cities are on the frontlines; the resources need to be sent directly there. Let's urge Washington to get behind this simple concept with bi-partisan support. A Republican President originated the idea of local block grants thirty years ago. Today, a Democrat, Senator Clinton, carries our message forward. Now, it's time to act."