Washington, DC
July 23, 2004

Conference President Akron Mayor Donald L. Plusquellic continues to seek allies and build support for the Mayors '04 Metro Agenda. Since his inauguration in Boston as your 62nd President, he has joined with National League of Cities (NLC) President Charles Lyons in a special televised workshop/panel on workforce and education. He spoke to the National Association of Counties emphasizing the need for city and county officials to work together to push an agenda of common goals.

Plusquellic addressed the 2004 Annual Conference of The National Urban League (NUL) in Detroit. He preceded NUL President Marc Morial at his traditional evening keynote address. Plusquellic outlined his Mayors '04 Metro Agenda which stresses smart infrastructure investment for our metro cities and he continues his "Mayors Do America's Business" theme stating that mayors and business must be tied at the hip and at the table with mayors as we continue our campaign for strong metro economies which drives the national economy.

The National Urban League Annual Conference is one of the few organizations that captured both Presidential nominees of the Democratic and Republican Party for major addresses outlining their vision for urban and suburban America.

The appearance of Senator John Kerry (MA) one day, followed by President George W. Bush the next day, occurring two days before the Democratic National Convention, gave delegates an opportunity to listen, to get a clear look, and to size up the two champions as they fight it out for the biggest political prize in the world ... the Presidency of The United States.

Plusquellic and Morial continue to say to Kerry and President Bush that they must discuss the domestic issues facing mayors and urban leaguers in our cities. Plusquellic has met with Kerry twice since becoming your President. Morial openly challenged both Senator Kerry and President Bush to participate in a special debate on city issues. Morial says we are tired of the drive-by policy speeches of Presidential candidates with no follow through. Morial and Plusquellic are pushing a common '04 metro agenda and both of them are energized to do more than talk. Plusquellic is bringing his leadership mayors to Chicago next month to finalize the Mayors '04 Metro Agenda with a series of bipartisan political events to push both Presidential candidates to bring our issues into the national conversation and debate this fall as we march toward election day, November 2.

The Two Conventions - Boston and New York

This week all eyes are on Boston where Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino is hosting the first post-911 Democratic Convention. It is an awesome task, and he has had the additional challenge of a hostile police union that has put additional stress on him, his family and his city. We continue to salute him and know that he and Boston will come through as they always do.

Plusquellic and I, in your behalf, honor the Democratic mayors attending the Democratic Convention with a special luncheon on Tuesday, July 27. In addition, a number of mayors have been asked to address the Convention. Trenton Mayor Douglas H. Palmer, President of the Democratic Mayors is also hosting a number of events as well as a press conference with other mayors attending the Convention.

New York City - Bloomberg - GOP Convention

Mayors will join other local officials as New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg hosts the Republican National Convention. Republican mayors will be honored by Bloomberg at a special brunch at the one and only Gracie Mansion either Monday, August 30 or Tuesday, August 31. Contact Ed Somers at (202) 861-6706 for details.

It is most important that all mayors be involved in their respective political parties as we support Plusquellic as he builds support and gains ground as we all move toward the common goal of lifting the level of political discussion higher so we are in a better position of implementing our goals with either President Bush or Kerry after the balloons and buttons are gone and decisions are made affecting our people and all our cities.