November 9, 2007

I have just returned from our Climate Protection Summit in Seattle and want so much to share that experience with you. I will give you some highlights. You will have to wait for our special edition next week when we are devoting a special issue of U.S.Mayor to present our readers a comprehensive report of this great USCM event. Needless to say, I am so proud of our leadership mayors, Palmer, Diaz and Nickels, and I am equally as proud of the great staff work of my green team, headed up by Kevin McCarty, our Director of The USCM Climate Protection Center.

Together, USA mayors within our organization are making history and indeed defining the moment in history. When we look back at this time, it will be indisputable that we stood and spoke and fought when others scoffed and stood silent on climate protection to save our planet.

The business community has joined with us in the formation of our USCM Climate Protection Council. Conference President Palmer’s vision involving the business community to be part of the solution is a sound one. We are finding that the business community, new and old, does want to join with mayors. President Palmer and I will continue to meet with them as we formulate a strategic plan for our future.

Thanks to Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, we were pleased to hear from former Vice President Al Gore, who recently was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts and leadership on climate protection.

It was good to have New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg tell us with candor what needs to be done on the carbon tax question. The refreshing thing about Mayor Bloomberg is that he tells you what he thinks. He doesn’t waffle. He has a clear opinion. Although he says he is not running for President, the speculation continues big time.

And what can you say about President Clinton. He is indeed remarkable as he travels in our own country and across the globe with our message. Thanks to the friendship and trust of Mayors Palmer, Diaz and Nickels and the friendship, partnership and trust I have had with President Clinton over the years, we were pleased to announce in Seattle a new partnership with The U.S. Conference of Mayors and the Clinton Foundation. This partnership will strengthen our Climate Protection Center as we go forward. Special thanks to Mr. Ira Magaziner, who worked with me prior to our announcement. No doubt, you will hear more from us as to how we may assist you and your city as we go forward.

We also thank Mayor Nickels and his Seattle team for hosting now our third summit on this issue.

We all worked hard to meet our own standard. There will be more on this issue, as mentioned, in a “special” edition of U.S.Mayor coming to you next week. We didn’t want to halfway report on our Summit. That’s why we are putting out a special edition next week. Look for it soon. Read it and you will see what is undeniably true – mayors are making a difference in 2007 as we head to 2008 and prepare for a new President to join us. We are leading the way on this issue. We must continue to lead. The Presidential candidates must follow us because it is too overwhelming. We have the people with us on this issue. The polls show it and Democratic and Republican candidates know that they must have bold initiatives to meet one of the biggest challenges in the history of our world. But we can’t wait for our new President. We are moving ahead. We just want him or her to catch up with us once he or she is sworn in on 1-20-09.

Stay tuned. And if you haven’t registered for our USCM Winter Meeting, January 23-25, 2008, here in Washington, do so now. It’s going to be another one you don’t want to miss. And it’s the place you need to be as we get closer to narrowing down the field of Presidential candidates to a precious few. By mid-February, we will have a clearer picture of the work that’s cut out for us. We want our 10-Point Plan elevated. We will have several months before us as Mayor Palmer leads us into Miami in June. It’s all about a new government. A new transition. A bold 100 days with a new President. It’s coming. We have to be ready. We thank Mayor Palmer as he leads and pushes us forward. We will and we must seize the power. And all of you are absolutely essential to our mission and our goal. Let us continue to fight for our cities and our people. Together, we will make the difference.