By Judy Sheahan
November 21, 2005

Conference President Long Beach Mayor Beverly O’Neill spoke before 5,000 participants at the Brownfields 2005 Annual Meeting held in Denver on November 2 - 4. O’Neill was joined by Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper and author Richard Florida.

O’Neill talked about the need for her “Cities for a Strong America” tour, the role that brownfields can play for cities in recreating their communities, and the need for strong partners from both the public and private sector.

O’Neill said, “The United States Conference of Mayors doesn’t approach Congress looking for handouts, but that doesn’t mean we don’t approach Congress looking for resources and ways to assist us in our efforts to do business more effectively and efficiently.”

According to O’Neill, the purpose of the “Cities for a Strong America” summits is to focus the nation’s attention on the importance of cities to the national economy, and to draw national attention to the need to invest in our cities so as to benefit the entire country.

“Our Metro Economy Reports proves, beyond a shadow of a doubt the impact that cities and counties, together, have on the well-being of our nation,” O’Neill said. “Cities, and the metropolitan areas they represent, play a major dynamic role in our nation’s economy, representing more than 80 percent of employment, income and production of products and services in the United States.” In 2003, U.S. Metro areas generated 84 percent of the nation’s employment 88.6 percent of the nation’s labor income and 85.4 percent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product.

“And brownfields redevelopment has played an integral part in that revitalization and the rebirth of many communities,” O’Neill said. “According to our 2004 annual “Recycling America’s Land Report” over 1,180 brownfields were redeveloped resulting in over 25,000 development jobs and 91,000 permanent jobs, totaling over 117,000 new jobs.”

“These types of examples can make our case to our state and federal government regarding the importance of providing resources and tools to our nation’s Metro Economies,” O’Neill said. “It is not a handout; it is a wise investment.”

O’Neill also acknowledged the devastating impact that hurricanes Katrina and Rita had on New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. “Those cities are facing thousands of acres that are contaminated which will complicate cleanup efforts for weeks, months, and maybe even years to come,” O’Neill said. “However, before the hurricane, New Orleans’ Metro Economy of $49 billion was a powerhouse for Louisiana, representing over 30 percent of the State’s Gross Product. The region must be rebuilt and the nation must help in that process. But the question remains – how will it be rebuilt?”

“In spite of this tragic devastation, we can try to see the potential opportunity,” O’Neill said. “What the Gulf Coast is facing is what many of you have had to face, although at a much smaller level, and that is the need to reinvent and rebuild your community.”

“Many of your communities were known for certain industries – steel, shipbuilding, textiles, or other types of manufacturing jobs that have vanished. In many of your communities, what you are left with is a mere shell of the city it once was. The challenge you face is what to do about it now,” O’Neill said.

O’Neill went on to describe Long Beach’s own transformation. Long Beach was long defined by the Navy and the aerospace industry. However, in the early 1990s, the Navy Hospital, Navy Station and the Naval Shipyard all were closed. At the same time McDonnell Douglas was laying off over 30,000 employees. In total Long Beach lost over 58,000 jobs with economic losses totaling $4 billion.

“We had hopes that we could leverage our historic strengths in tourism and international trade into a new more diversified economy that would carry our community into the 21st century,” O’Neill said. “We also had hopes that we could take advantage of the emerging technology boom and create a technology center for Southern California in Long Beach.”

Results have materialized with the former Navy shipyard now being one of the largest container terminals and the port continues to be the second busiest container port in the Western Hemisphere. In addition, Long Beach has expanded their Convention and Entertainment Center, they created the Aquarium of the Pacific, and convenient hotels are now within walking distance along with a growing arts district, which has brought a new dynamism to downtown.

These accomplishments were realized through public and private partnerships and help from the federal government. According to O’Neill, Long Beach didn’t ask for handouts but for investments. “I’m glad that people realized the opportunities that Long Beach possessed,” O’Neill said. “I would hope that all levels of government would see that potential in every community throughout the nation and to not turn its back when that community needs it most.”

“Your communities were and still are the backbone of this country,” O’Neill said. “Your industries and businesses helped fill the state and federal coffers, and we have the right to insist that now is the time to invest in our communities and give us the tools we need to strengthen America’s economy.”

For a complete transcript of the mayor’s speech, please see the Conference of Mayors website at usmayors.org/brownfields.