October 18, 2004

Cedar Rapids mayor Paul D. Pate began a Presidency of the Iowa League of Cities September 24. Pate, as President, will be responsible during his 2004-2005 term for providing general and legislative guidance to the body made up of some 880 cities in Iowa.

Pate is Cedar Rapids 55th mayor, sworn into office January 2002. He is co-chair of the Conference of Mayors Task Force on Hunger and Homelessness. He also is a former Secretary of State of Iowa, and served six years as a state Senator.

Hartford Mayor Eddie A. Perez was in the middle of negotiations to keep within the Connecticut city's boundaries a television station (WSFB-TV), which had been looking for a new studio location. The New York Times in an October 6 article detailed the mayor's role in helping put together a land swap to keep the station in the state's capital city. City officials believe retention of the station is symbolic in the corporate and business center of the state.

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom ran for office last fall on the promise he'd end the homeless problem in his city. In the September issue of Governing Magazine, the "Urban Notebook" section says there are 15,000 people camped out on the streets. Newsom, after elected to succeed Willie Brown, convened a 33-member task force to advise him on how to deliver that promise. One of the "boldest" proposals: provide the city's 3,000 "chronically homeless" people with permanent housing that includes on-demand drug and alcohol treatment and medical care. The article notes that if a homeless person spends time in a hospital or jail, he can cost the city up to $61,000 a year. By placing that individual in supportive housing, the cost can be lowered to a range of $12,000 to $16,000 a year.

NJ Turnpike Exit 13A Exit Strategy

That a New Jersey Turnpike exit has inspired a municipal marketing campaign should come as no surprise to residents of the state where the question "What exit are you from?" is an old joke. That bit of self-deprecating humor stirred the struggling city of Elizabeth to use its exit, 13A, as the basis of a promotional campaign. An average of 60,000 vehicles goes through Exit 13A's tollbooths every day, and Mayor J. Christian Bollwage and the Greater Elizabeth Chamber of Commerce want those vehicles to slow down, turn off and spend the day shopping or the night in one of the area's hotels. The marketing campaign has spawned radio spots, a Web site (www.exit13a.com) and logo — "13A, Shop, Play, Stay" — touting an Ikea, the Jersey Gardens mall, a Loews cineplex, and hotels. The state and local businesses are funding the campaign, highlighting the area as an urban enterprise zone, meaning shoppers pay half the state's sales tax on their purchases. The tax money will be reinvested in the community.

New York City Mayor Bloomberg, Boston Mayor Menino Announce "Friendly Wager" on American League Championship Series

New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino today announced a "friendly wager" on the New York Yankees'Boston Red Sox American League Championship Series. The series played at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx.

"Ahh, the rites of fall — leaves changing, the Yankees in the World Series and New Yorkers noshing on great Boston food courtesy of the Red Sox," said Bloomberg. "The people at the Bowery Mission really enjoyed your clambake last year, and we look forward to the best Beantown has to offer again this year. Here are some New York delicacies from Katz's Delicatessen to get your mouth watering: two pounds each of pastrami, corned beef and brisket (I know how much Mayor Menino enjoys a good brisket), a dozen knishes, three loaves of jumbo seedless rye bread, two pounds of mustard and a bucket of sour pickles to go with your sour grapes. And for dessert, a couple of cheesecakes from world famous Juniors Restaurant in Brooklyn. But don't get your hopes up, the boys in the Bronx will make sure you never taste this food."

"We are on a roll. With last week's sweep of the Angels and a few days of practice and rest, the Red Sox are in good shape to take on the Yankees," Menino said. "With the pitching power of Curt Schilling, Keith Foulke, and Pedro Martinez; the hitting power of David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez, and Johnny Damon; and the defensive skills of Orlando Cabrera, Pokey Reese, and Gabe Kapler, a world championship is on its way to Red Sox nation this year. With the knowledge that we will be the series' victors, I have no hesitations about offering all of Boston's best to Mayor Bloomberg."

Menino offered up the following:

• An authentic New England Clam bake for four including lobsters, steamers, shrimp and clam chowder from Yankee Lobster;
• One case (10 lbs.) of Pearl Country Club õ lb. all beef natural casing frankfurters;
• One "You're a real winner" bouquet of balloons from Geneva Balloons;
• One case of Harpoon IPA;
• A case of Sam Adams Boston Lager;
• One case of Lobster Ravioli from Serino's in Hyde Park;
• "Congratulations, watch out next time" marble cake with white butter cream icing decorated with grey and blue pin stripes and Yankees logo from Dutchmaid Bakery in Dorchester;
• One case of coffee cake featuring red white and blue Patriot Coffee Cake from My Grandma's Coffee Cake in Hyde Park;
• Boston Cream Pie, the official dessert of the State of Massachusetts, from the Omni Parker House Hotel, where it was invented;
• Reverse the Curse Cookies from the Dancing Deer Baking Company in Roxbury;
• Two pounds of homemade milk chocolate baseballs from Phillips Candy in Dorchester;
• Two gallons of Boston homemade creamy ice cream from Ron's Ice Cream in Hyde Park;
• A dozen Boston Pretzels baked at the Boston Pretzel Bakery in Jamaica Plain. And Homemade angel hair pasta dinner fine linguini noodle served in "RED SOX" clam sauce from Spinelli's in East Boston.