By Kay Scrimger
July 14, 2008

Miami Mayor Manny Diaz hosted the third Mayors’ Hemispheric Forum in Miami, June 19-20, bringing together 23 mayors from 15 countries of Latin America, the Caribbean, Canada, and the United States.

The Hemispheric Forum is part of Diaz’ vision to revive the Inter-American dialogue "where it is most important — cities — the driving force of our global economy."

In Diaz’ words, "The basis of democracy begins with cities."

Diaz welcomed the participants to the Hemispheric Forum, saying, "Since taking office over six years ago, I have strived to strengthen the ties of unity and friendship that link the cities of the Hemisphere.

"To that effect, I initiated the Mayors’ Hemispheric Forum in 2006, when more than 30 city government leaders of the Americas met to address issues of mutual interest and exchange best practices through roundtable discussions.

"With the purpose of building on our initiative’s success, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley convened the 2007 Forum in his city, also providing an outstanding opportunity for open dialogue and productive interaction.

"I believe this forum will offer another excellent opportunity for every mayor to convey his or her vision and share concrete solutions to the most pressing challenges facing the Hemisphere."

The diverse and notable group of mayors shared successful models to reduce poverty and exchanged innovative ideas and best practices on a variety of other issues, including environmental sustainability and energy reform, infrastructure, digital literacy, and successful strategies for being competitive in the global economy.

The session on poverty reduction addressed critical relationships between education, health care, financial literacy, microfinance, and corporate social responsibility in the alleviation of urban poverty.

In the environmental sustainability and energy reform session mayors stressed the importance of inter-governmental cooperation and innovative practices. As the presenting mayors pointed out, climate change and new trends in alternative energy require a forward-thinking approach to ensuring the sustainability of enterprise.

The session on infrastructure focused on the imperative of long-term planning and creative financing models that have proven effective for mayors. Key components for discussion were the role of infrastructure in improving quality of life for citizens and the role of private investment.

Sponsored by Microsoft, the special joint session with the U.S. Conference of Mayors on digital literacy addressed the growing need to promote digital literacy in communities and ways of promoting prosperity throuth access to computers, the internet, and digital education.

The Hemispheric Forum was held in conjunction with the 76th Annual Meeting of The U.S. Conference of Mayors.

Conference of Mayors CEO and Executive Director Tom Cochran was introduced by Diaz at the breakfast session June 20. Cochran congratulated Diaz on the success of the Third Hemispheric Forum and greeted the mayors from Latin America, the Caribbean, Canada, and the United States who were taking part in the meeting.

At the conclusion of the 76th Conference of Mayors Annual Meeting in Miami, Diaz noted that he was pleased that the Conference passed four important policy resolutions related to hemispheric affairs. These included:

• Civil and Human Rights for the People of Venezuela;

• Support for the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement;

• Support for Continuing International Mayoral Cooperation, which specifically noted the efforts of mayors Diaz and Daley; and

• Commending the Mayors of the Americas’ Plan of Action for the Cities of the Americas and Statement of Principles, which recognized the importance of the work of the participants in the Third Hemispheric Forum.

This latter resolution states:

"Whereas, the mayors assembled committed themselves to continued dialogue and pledge to implement a Plan of Action of the Cities of Americas, based on the principle that it is the cities and metropolitan areas of the hemisphere that drive the economic and social growth of the Americas; and

"Whereas, the mayors outlined a comprehensive approach to sustainable city development in the hemisphere assisted by mayor-to-mayor information exchange on core areas of mutual interest, including Strengthening Municipal Administration; Promoting Democratic Practices; Public Safety and Security; Economic Growth and Development; and Environmental Conservation and Sustainability,

"Now, therefore be it resolved, that the U.S. Conference of Mayors commends the Mayors Hemispheric Forum and its accomplishments in restoring the Inter-American dialogue through informal mayor-to-mayor exchange of experiences, best practices and solutions, and promoting the vital role of cities in promoting social and economic growth, development, and opportunity."

Participants in the Mayors Hemispheric Forum were:

Canada: Toronto Mayor David Miller; Latin America and the Caribbean: Bogota, Colombia Mayor Samuel Moreno; Belmopan, Belize Mayor Simeon Lopez; Chacao-Caracas, Venezuela Mayor Leopoldo Lopez; Guatemala City, Guatemala Vice-Mayor Ricardo Quinonez; Kingston, Jamaica Mayor Desmond McKenzie; Lima, Peru Mayor Luis Castaneda Lossio; Managua, Nicaragua Mayor Dionisio Marenco; Medellin, Colombia Mayor Alonso Salazar Jaramillo; Monterrey, Mexico Mayor Adalberto Arturo Madero Quiroga; Port-au-Prince, Haiti Mayor Muscadin Jean-Yves Jason; Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago Mayor Murchison Brown; Quito, Ecuador Mayor Paco Moncayo Gallegos; San Pedro Garza Garcia, Mexico Mayor Fernando Margain Berlanga; Santiago de Chile, Chile Mayor Raul Alcaino Lihn; Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic Mayor Roberto Salcedo. Mexico City was also represented; and United States: Conference of Mayors Vice President Miami Mayor Manny Diaz, Host Mayor; Conference of Mayors President Trenton Mayor Douglas H. Palmer; Conference of Mayors Chair of the Advisory Board Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels; Chicago Conference of Mayors Past President Mayor Richard M. Daley; Austin Mayor Will Wynn; Doral Mayor Juan Carlos Bermudez; Los Angeles Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa; and Pembroke Pines Mayor Frank C. Ortis.

i Mayor Manny Diaz, Host Mayor; Conference of Mayors President Trenton Mayor Douglas H. Palmer; Conference of Mayors Chair of the Advisory Board Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels; Chicago Conference of Mayors Past President Mayor Richard M. Daley; Austin Mayor Will Wynn; Doral Mayor Juan Carlos Bermudez; Los Angeles Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa; and Pembroke Pines Mayor Frank C. Ortis.

Forum speakers also included Emilio Azcarraga, Chairman and CEO of Grupo Televisa, and Eduardo Castro-Wright, President and CEO of Wal-Mart Stores US.

Representatives of multilateral financial institutions, namely the Andean Development Corporation (CAF) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), also provided expertise and insights about financing development projects to the forum participants.