By Susan Jarvis
July 16, 2007

New York Senator and Presidential Candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton was greeted with applause as she addressed the Conference of Mayors’ 75th Annual Meeting June 23. Beginning by lauding the Mayors 10 Point Plan as a “real organizing tool” to outline and define city’s needs, Clinton emphasized that cities “deserve to have a strong partnership with the federal government.”

Recognizing and remembering the fallen firefighters in Charleston (SC), Clinton acknowledged the sacrifices first responders make to keep cities safe. Mayors are also on the front lines, continued Clinton, making the hard decisions about housing, education, re-investment in their cities. While those in Washington may push an unfunded mandate down the line, mayors “have to figure how to live with it.” Clinton recognized the “extraordinary responsibilities mayors confront today” having to implement solutions, often “without the appropriate resources.” Citing cuts to both CDBG and the COPS program, Clinton believes mayors are in an impossible position, having to make hard choices about the programs and services offered in their cities.

“In many ways, cities and mayors have been invisible to Washington. You hardly ever hear a discussion about an urban agenda,” continued Senator Clinton. “Too many Americans feel invisible” and it is the mayors who see them,” she said education, childcare and health insurance needs to be part of the national discussion. “We’re going to get back to taking care of Americans.” said Clinton, and “give mayors and cities tools to shape their own destiny, block by block and neighborhood by neighborhood. We need a plan, and you provided one in your ten point plan.”

Senator Clinton also commented on the recently passed Energy Bill. While there are no renewable energy standards and no tax package for clean renewable fuels, there are C.A.F.E. standards and some progress with bio fuels. Re-emphasizing her support for the Energy and Environment Block Grant, Clinton applauded the Mayors Center for Climate Protection and the initiative cities have taken on global warming. “There are 540 cities leading the way, developing a green print,” and focusing on global warming as both a “challenge and opportunity” to create green collar jobs.

Taking the opportunity to outline some of her other priorities, Clinton called the Community Development Block Grant “a good deal for America,” called for healthcare for all children before January 2008, and a more aggressive approach to stopping predatory lending. “Keep families safe by keeping neighborhoods safe,” continued Clinton, by restoring “full funding for the COPS program. This is a program that has worked.”

Speaking to the issues of education, Clinton promised to address the disparities that affect young men of color, focus on pre-K for all four year olds, explore mentor programs, skills training, and making college more affordable, all in an effort to “get our children safely to adulthood.” In conclusion, Senator Clinton thanked the mayors for their work and promised to be their partner as we “focus on solutions.”