Washington, DC
June 28, 2012

One year ago, when Antonio Villaraigosa took the gavel as the 69th President of The United States Conference of Mayors, he warned that Washington was asleep. For 12 months since he became President, he has done his damnedest to awaken Washington for support for the tough issues mayors and our citizens face each day.

At no time in our history has a President of the Conference been seen more on national TV, cable, and network as well as our own social media. Mayor Villaraigosa had been driving Congress to pass transportation infrastructure legislation since the day he was inaugurated Mayor of Los Angeles in 2005. I was sitting in front of him in the audience when he called on Washington, his state government in Sacramento and his surrounding counties to help him improve the transportation needs of our people by reducing "traffic." When the transportation bill was stalled in Washington, DC this year, he never let up. Pushing his own "Fast Forward" legislation, with hundreds of mayors supporting him, he created a most unique coalition. At a time in history when there is absolute gridlock, Mayor Villaraigosa brought together the leaders who work against each other, to support bipartisan transportation legislation. Democratic Chairman Boxer of the Senate joined Republican Chairman Mica, along with Tom Donahue, CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, all came together to support his "Fast Forward" transportation initiative. This kind of unity in Washington around an American national priority is an aberration in the midst of the most partisan era of modern history.

Right up to the very minute he gave up the gavel in Orlando this month, Mayor Villaraigosa was continuing to push Washington to get off dead center and give us a bipartisan transportation bill. Since we left Orlando less than two weeks ago, Congress finally relented and have moved forward in a serious move to finish the bill.

Mayor Villaraigosa, in Orlando, thanked our Republican mayors who have stood with him, especially our next Republican President of the Conference, now Vice President Mesa Mayor Scott Smith. When Mayor Villaraigosa called Mayor Smith to show up and help us, the Mesa Mayor was there echoing the Conference policy and challenging Washington to produce bipartisan action on priority infrastructure investments, as Mayor Smith has said, "that we can't afford not to invest" in if we are to remain competitive in the 2012 global economy.

No doubt, as Mayor Villaraigosa leaves our Presidency, he will continue to be a strong voice for American cities. He is a leader with the fight inside of him in 2012 to continue as he Chairs the Democratic Convention and continues to, for another year in the job that he dearly loves, Mayor of Los Angeles.

While his partisan action now must take center stage, he is without a doubt the most charismatic Latino elected official in the USA. His experience as your President, your giving him the opportunity has no doubt helped him grow. Today, his natural national understanding has been strengthened. And the exposure he has given The US Conference of Mayors with his drive and zest on national TV has lifted us up for us to stand much higher.

He has been there for twelve months, every day, every week, and every month on National TV talking about our issues — jobs, immigration, education reform, marriage equality, the success of the CDBG program, healthcare, tourism, the arts, exports, ports, foreign investments, climate protection, bicycling, alternatives to gang violence, and yes, transportation. Washington may have been asleep on these issues but Antonio Villaraigosa did his part for all of us in keeping our issues alive, very alive. He has made a difference and without his ever presence on national TV, many of these issues would have died. And for that Mayor Villaraigosa, we thank you for your passion, the fight you gave and the fight you will continue to give for our cities.

When the gavel was passed by Mayor Villaraigosa to make Michael A. Nutter our 70th President in Orlando, our members knew that the national energy and passion for cities would continue. Since 2008, when Mayor Nutter was elected his participation and support of The Conference of Mayors has been appreciated and recognized by our members as he was moved and voted to quickly become our President.

Mayor Nutter now leads us through a national presidential election as mayor of Philadelphia, the largest city of a major swing/battleground state. Next month he has called for a Special Leadership Session in Philadelphia. In Philadelphia, Democratic and Republican mayors will come together with substance and strategy and develop a bipartisan action agenda as we continue to bring Washington back to reality in recognizing that it is in our cities, our metro areas, where the future growth is now and will continue to increase.

As President, Philadelphia Mayor Nutter and all mayors of American cities through our organization will continue to stand with 85 percent of Americans who, when polled, have faith and trust in their mayors and cities to get things done, to make things happen for a better America.

Philadelphia is America, red, yellow, black and white and a city that is on the rise with now, the President of the Conference of Mayors, Michael A. Nutter. One year from now, many people will see and hear about a Philadelphia that has emerged to be a world-class city.

And so we celebrate our new President, our friend, Mayor Nutter and we all know that this will be a dynamic and turbulent year. As President, he wants to hear from mayors and he wants all mayors to be involved in a consensus bipartisan plan of action as he as our President, backed up by Mesa Mayor Scott Smith our new Vice President and Second Vice President Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson.

In Philadelphia, and beyond, during the coming year we pledge our support to Mayor Nutter, to the City of Philadelphia, our new officers and to all our members. Together we work to keep our country strong. Clouds and storms hover over our Federal City and Washington wallows in its nothingness process — but our cities teem with energy and eagerness to be better, stronger, happier, and more compassionate with a decent job and a decent place to live. It's that simple. We know how to do it. We are doing it, every day. And with Mayor Nutter of Philadelphia and the nation's mayors we will continue to make the USA a nation of metro, human, and economic engines, the best place to live, work, play, pray, laugh and cry on our planet Earth.