August 25, 2008

How About the Home Front?

The New York Times. By Bob Herbert, Published: August 15, 2008

Manny Diaz, the mayor of Miami and president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, has been harshly critical of the federal government’s failure to address the most serious needs of the nation’s cities and metropolitan areas. In a talk at the National Press Club early this month, he said that Washington had “lost its values, lost its principles,” and given up on investing in the cities and their people. “Washington,” he said, “has abandoned us.”

The Christian Science Monitor By Ron Scherer, Staff writer

The $4 billion in federal money will go for everything from rehab to foreclosure-prevention. Originally, the Bush administration opposed the $4 billion in block grants on grounds it would help lenders, not home-owners. Congress, however, was heavily lobbied by the US Conference of Mayors, including Miami Mayor Manny Diaz, conference president. “This piece was important to us at a time when we have declining revenues because of the economy and increasing foreclosures,” Mayor Diaz said in a phone interview.

NY needs $50 Billion of Clean Water Investments: government

Geuters, Thu Aug 14, 2008 1:45pm

New York’s governor is not alone in pushing Washington for more dollars. Miami Mayor Manny Diaz, the newly-elected president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, said in interview on Wednesday that the group will issue a report that shows the positive economic impact of water and the conference will present the next U.S. president with its findings and recommendations on infrastructure and other topics during the first 100 days of the new administration.

The mayors’ report says that every $1 spent on public water and sewer infrastructure investment increases gross domestic product by $6.35, through things such as job creation and the supplies that go into the construction.

Mayors Gather in NYC to Focus on Infrastructure Needs

ASCE SmartBrief, 08/14/2008

The U.S. Conference of Mayors is conducting an infrastructure conference in New York City today, seeking to focus political attention on roads, bridges, water systems and mass transit in urban areas. Policy advisers to both John McCain and Barack Obama will meet with the mayors to review their candidates’ infrastructure proposals. “We need a federal capital infrastructure program and a budget that goes with it,” said Miami Mayor Manny Diaz, the group’s newly elected president. Reuters (08/13)

High Gas Prices Help Cut Driving

NewsTalk 1310. Wednesday, August 13, 2008

“Americans are beginning to drive less and less,” Miami Mayor Manny Diaz, head of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, told Reuters. “America is beginning to change its habits, which I think is a good thing, and government investment ought to follow,” he said, referring to more money for public transportation projects.

However, the downside of less driving for the government is fewer dollars to pay for highway projects and public transportation, which is funded by an 18.4 cent-per-gallon gasoline tax and a 24.4 cent-per-gallon diesel fuel tax.

Mayors Across America Call for Infrastructure Support

The Epoch Times, By Helena Zhu. Epoch Times Staff Aug 15, 2008

Around a dozen mayors, including the Mayor of Miami, and President of the United States Conference of Mayors, Manny Diaz and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, called for improvement of the current transportation system in a way that is efficient and energy-conserving. After Mayor Diaz’s introduction, Mayor Bloomberg addressed reporters, stating, “We better make infrastructure investment a national priority; it is not something we as mayors can do on our own.”