August 11, 2008

2008 National Urban League

USCM President Diaz Delivers Strong Message on Current Urban Problems in Cities

Presidential Hopefuls McCain, Obama Also Deliver Remarks

Conference of Mayors President Miami Mayor Manny A. Diaz spoke to a crowd of more than 1,000 participants attending the 2008 National Urban League National Conference in Orlando (FL). An ongoing theme during the conference included financial literacy and the role that the next U.S. President will play in the future of an increasingly diverse country on issues ranging from: education to transportation, to the national energy crisis and offshore oil drilling.

Diaz delivered remarks July 31. Republican Presidential presumptive nominee John McCain delivered a speech, followed by a 20-minute question and answer session August 1. Democratic Presidential hopeful Barack Obama delivered remarks August 2.

Strong Message on Crime, Poverty, Environment, Education, Economic Development

Below are exerpts from the speech delivered by Diaz:

“At the Conference of Mayors, we are proud of our shared history with the National Urban League. Working with great leaders like Whitney Young, Vernon Jordan and Ron Brown,

We have secured billions for cities, producing jobs and opportunities for millions of Americans to work their way from poverty to prosperity.

And of course today, you have one of the strongest leaders in America – Marc Morial. Marc, once a mayor, always a mayor. As president of the conference of mayors, Marc led us through one of America’s most difficult and darkest moments.

After 9/11, Marc called on America’s mayors to work together, to wipe away the tears from the pain and, in so doing, helped to lead and inspire other mayors and cities to move our country forward at a time when Washington seemed paralyzed and confused.

Is our economy a local problem? Or is it an American problem? These are not just Democrat or Republican problems, these are America’s problems. And yet, where is the federal government? Cuts to education, to housing, health, public safety, youth programs, economic development, job training, arts, infrastructure…

Government investment in our cities and in our people, all cut. When Washington does act, it is to clean up a mess that should never have happened in the first place. Just look at the recent housing bill signed by the president yesterday; a fix for a problem that mayors saw coming, a problem that would not have happened had those in Washington heard our cry for help.

For the first time in our history, we are in real danger of failing to give our children a better world than the one our parents left us. We are danger of raising a forgotten generation. Solutions are not coming from Washington. Solutions are coming from our cities, from our urban cores.

We drive the national economy. Metro areas are responsible for over 85 percent of all jobs, income and our gross domestic product. We address the issues that matter to people the most.

We provide the front line, the last hope that in cities, not all is lost. Cities are not the problem, cities are the solution. When faced with inaction on climate change, it was Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels who brought over 870 mayors together to implement the Kyoto protocol.

Mayors like Richard Daley of Chicago and Will Wynn of Austin are showing the nation that you can have economic development and an environmental conscience.”

America is the only country in the world that inspires a dream. It was a phrase coined in the early part of the last century during the great depression – a dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for all.

Mayors have never lost sight of that. The National Urban League has never lost sight of that.

And it does not matter if we are democrats, republicans, or independents. This is a defining moment for our country. We all have a great duty – to make our next president understand that an investment in America’s cities is an investment in America’s future.”

During the National Urban League meeting, Diaz attended private meetings with Senators Obama and McCain. Diaz continues to have strong relationships with both nominees. He continues to demand of both a national metro-urban agenda for our cities, and discussed with both presidential hopefuls, the 08 Mayors Action Forums that will be held in five cities on five topics before October 1. Both candidates are most supportive and promised to send representatives to each of the Forums.