Washington, DC
July 31, 2002

Conference President Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino convened the leadership of The Conference of Mayors in Boston this month and he continues to use his presidency to bring the nation to focus on the immediate basic issues that affect working families.

Mayors assembled established a short list of priorities for Congressional action. Housing, education (public schools) and workforce, homeland security (police monies and airport security), and Amtrak are immediate issues this fall. Mayor Menino has called mayors to Washington for Lobby Day on Thursday, September 26th.

As Mayor Menino points out, almost one year after September 11th, our police departments have spent time and money to deter and stop further terrorist threats and strikes. We have heard so much from Washington about getting the money down to the local level. If I hear the phrase from Congress and the Administration, we want to get these funds "down to where the rubber meets the road," I-m going to throw up. So many in Congress and the Administration believe that Governors have police departments. They want to give the money to Springfield for the Governor to distribute to Chicago, Palatine, Arlington Heights, DeKalb and Rockford. We will continue to work with Senator Hillary Clinton of New York and other Senators as she has been an advocate to make sure a block grant, like the one we called for last October at our Emergency Safety and Security Summit provides funds for our police departmMayors are inviting their police chiefs to join us on September 26th. We are working in Washington to ally with police organizations so that we will have police chiefs with us as we join and support Conference President Menino to push Congress to face and act on real issues affecting cities, large and small, suburban and urban.

Mayors are inviting their police chiefs to join us on September 26th. We are working in Washington to ally with police organizations so that we will have police chiefs with us as we join and support Conference President Menino to push Congress to face and act on real issues affecting cities, large and small, suburban and urban.

Menino Addresses U.S. Chamber Pasadena/Meetings Produce New Coalition

Following our Leadership Meeting in Boston, Conference President Menino flew to Pasadena where the U.S. Chamber of Commerce CEOs, and local chiefs were assembled. Tom Donohue, President and CEO of the U.S. Chamber, met with us before Mayor Menino's talk to discuss key issues the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the U.S. Chamber can coalesce together for bipartisan political action.

The meetings and Mayor Menino's address were both home runs. Our President carried our priorities forward to this very powerful group. Mr. Donohue, after our private meetings, announced there is common ground for working together on transportation, training our workforce and brownfield development. The Pasadena event is a beginning for what will prove to be most beneficial as we reach out to bring big business and small business to support mayors as we continue to work with Congress and the White House to make certain that federal money for key national and city challenges is sent to where it is needed.

September 11 - 2002-2003

In Boston our leadership charged us to connect with USA cities to provide information to the nation the many ways cities, so diverse, from every region will be commemorating the tragic anniversary of September 11th.

It was agreed that we should not attempt to prescribe or suggest what other cities do. Our job will be to find out what you are doing so we can let other mayors know and in the end present to the nation the diverse ways our cities are recognizing those who risked their lives and those who died last year. We will harvest the information and we need yours. Please begin now to prepare to provide us your city activities. Watch for my request on this information. We will provide an opportunity for electronic transmission, fax or hard copy.

A notice will be sent to you Monday, August 5.

Huge Increase Hispanic City Population/Census

We need to be very aware of the "new" Census Department. Recently I met with Census Director Charles Louis Kincannon. Under new census procedures, the census will be unloading almost monthly new data which tells you how your city and our nation is changing. There's hypergrowth in the Hispanic population here. The figures speak for themselves. You have to figure out how it affects you and believe me it does. Census 2000 statistics released this week show Hispanic increase by numbers followed by percentage growth from 1980: Raleigh, N.C., 72,580 new residents — 1,180 percent increase, Atlanta, 268,851 new residents — 995 percent increase, Greensboro, N.C., 62,210 new residents — 62 percent increase, Charlotte, N.C., 77,092 new residents — 962 percent increase, Orlando, Fla., 271,627 new residents — 859 percent increase, Las Vegas, 332,038 new residents — 753 percent increase, Nashville, 40,139 new residents — 630 percent increase, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., 271,652 new residents Ñ 578 percent increase, Sarasota, Fla, 38,682 new residents — 538 percent increase, Portland, Ore., 142,444 new residents — 437 percent increase, Greenville, S.C., 26,167 new residents — 397 percent increase, West Palm Beach, Fla., 140,675 new residents — 397 percent increase, Washington,DC, 432,003 new residents — 346 percent increase Indianapolis, 42,994 new residents —338 percent increase, Minneapolis- St. Paul, 99,121 new residents — 331 percent increase, Fort Worth, 309,851 new residents — 328 percent increase, Providence, RI, 93,858 new residents — 325 percent increase and Tulsa, 38,570 new residents — 303 percent increase.

Active Fall Planned-Rest

As we approach Labor Day, we hope all mayors have some time off with family, loved ones or just to be quiet and alone — whatever. Rest up because we have an action-packed Fall 2002 agenda. Conference President Menino needs your support and presence as we continue to move the mayors on the national and international scene and produce results for our people and our cities.