Washington, DC
December 6, 2002

Conference leadership participated in a conference call meeting with Health and Human Services (HHS) officials concerning the impending decision our federal government will make to vaccinate on a voluntary basis thousands of "first responder" city workers. Over the past several months there have been several reports about the debate with our federal government as to whether the vaccinations should be recommended to all Americans.

In the conference call we learned that the vaccinations for our first responders will start after the Christmas holiday.

Up until we asked for the conference call, mayors have been out of the loop concerning an issue that will touch all mayors and thousands of city police, fire and emergency personnel. First, we know something about human behavior in our cities and in times of crisis or uncertainly, citizens in a metropolitan area will follow their mayor if he or she gets on television and asks them to do something. The facts show that our mayors- awareness campaign against breast cancer and prostrate cancer, tests for these life-threatening diseases have greatly increased where mayors got involved. As to the smallpox vaccination, it is more difficult because there is a lingering uncomfortableness following the vaccination and experts predict one in a million will die. Further, as was pointed out, by Richmond, (CA) Mayor Irma Anderson, Chair of USCM Health Standing Committee, during our conference call, peCurrent surveys show many Americans want to be inoculated. And a large segment of our population with small children may wonder why the mayor is saying the police, health, and fire department personnel are being offered the vaccine and their young children are not being offered protection. When and if those questions come up, citizens will turn to their mayor and that is why I have wanted us in on the policy discussion.

Current surveys show many Americans want to be inoculated. And a large segment of our population with small children may wonder why the mayor is saying the police, health, and fire department personnel are being offered the vaccine and their young children are not being offered protection. When and if those questions come up, citizens will turn to their mayor and that is why I have wanted us in on the policy discussion.

It was acknowledged by the Administration officials that there are concerns within the administration's decision just to deal with the governors on this issue. It was also acknowledged by the Administration officials on the telephone conference call that there is a challenge in getting the funds allocated through the state governments and down to the city level where they are needed. And then there's the education issue — who tells someone and who is more effective in changing a person's mind to take the step to be inoculated?. Many believe the mayors need to be more in the loop on this issue.

Denver Mayor Wellington E. Webb recommended that we invite HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson to our Winter Meeting in January to further discuss the federal government's policy that will affect the constituencies of every mayor in the nation.

Akron Mayor Donald Plusquellic, Chair of our Advisory Board, did an excellent job chairing the conference call meeting with mayors and Dr. Jerome Hauer of HHS.

Palatine Mayor Rita Mullins also raised the question of the inoculation of spouses of the first responders. Presently the government does not plan to offer the vaccine to spouses of the city workers slated for inoculation.

There are so many issues still to be determined around this most important government policy but the Administration is now engaging us for more dialogue. We appreciate the openness of Dr. Jerome Hauer and the assistance of Regina Schofield, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs at HHS on this issue. We are following up to keep you informed because the press and media have carried conflicting stories and the government policy is not clear at this point. What we asked for in this telephone call is consultation on this important question of smallpox vaccinations and above all, notice of what the federal government plans to implement so we can support President Bush, Secretary Thompson and other Administration officials. Our goal is to go forward in assuring our citizens that the best minds — both the medical experts, the doctors and scientists, and the message/education experts, the mayors,Homeland Security Funding

Homeland Security Funding

Over the past week, Conference President Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino has reiterated and advocated our clear policy established at our October Safety and Security Summit in 2001 which calls for direct funding to cities for police monies to cover the cost incurred by cities as we provide for a national defense with local funds. As President Menino stated this week, along with mayors at the National press Club this past September on the 1st Anniversary of 9-11, cities are providing basic services of police and antiterrorist activities in this war against terrorism and cities need direct assistance from the federal government as we support President Bush to do our part in preventing more terrorist attacks killing innocent Americans. And we must all work on our message and public education efforts to help reduce the fear of terrorist activities which affects the personal mental health of adOver the past week there was some confusion concerning the Conference of Mayors position on direct federal-city funding of homeland security monies. The confusion came from a draft letter written by staff at The National Governors Association and circulated here in Washington. The gist of the letter was to state that signers would support giving the governors police monies to be distributed to the cities. The Conference of Mayors and the Major Cities Chiefs Association and the Police Executive Research Forum will continue to oppose all proposals that send all police monies for local police departments through the statehouses. The police function for our nation rests at the local level — the city and county level. That's the way it is in our country as contrasted in other nations where the police function is a national or state function. As the Johnny Mathis song goes "It's Not For Me To Let us hope that compromise on this issue will emerge as a new Congress convenes next month to continue its business of allocating local tax monies sent to Washington from our cities back to our cities where the police function resides in city halls and police departments throughout our nation.

Over the past week there was some confusion concerning the Conference of Mayors position on direct federal-city funding of homeland security monies. The confusion came from a draft letter written by staff at The National Governors Association and circulated here in Washington. The gist of the letter was to state that signers would support giving the governors police monies to be distributed to the cities. The Conference of Mayors and the Major Cities Chiefs Association and the Police Executive Research Forum will continue to oppose all proposals that send all police monies for local police departments through the statehouses. The police function for our nation rests at the local level — the city and county level. That's the way it is in our country as contrasted in other nations where the police function is a national or state function. As the Johnny Mathis song goes "It's Not For Me To Let us hope that compromise on this issue will emerge as a new Congress convenes next month to continue its business of allocating local tax monies sent to Washington from our cities back to our cities where the police function resides in city halls and police departments throughout our nation.

Let us hope that compromise on this issue will emerge as a new Congress convenes next month to continue its business of allocating local tax monies sent to Washington from our cities back to our cities where the police function resides in city halls and police departments throughout our nation.

Economic Woes - States Hit Hard

Over the past few weeks, story after story comes forth in our national media depicting the sad economic condition of state governments. There is even some discussion of federal involvement in providing some type of general assistance to state, county and city governments such as President Nixon advocated and supported in 1972 through his special and general revenue sharing programs. One initiative that came from the Nixon domestic policy is the very popular Community Development Block Grant Program at HUD (CDBG).

These landmark initiatives came about because some very thoughtful and understanding state, county, and city officials came together in person - politician to politician - to work toward a compromise for the common good. We need more direct involvement today with the state, county and local elected officials meeting with each other, eye to eye, in meetings so there can be a clear understanding of what state and local governments can do or not do and what the federal government should do or not do during this worsening economic condition that is making our national economy sicker as each week passes.

As a senior professional staff person, I think we have too much staff involved at this point. We need the electeds to come together to give us a clear vision for a bipartisan strategy as we face a new Congress and a President that needs a more comprehensive and clearer domestic agenda. As we did with President Nixon in 1972, we could repeat history and produce an economic agenda of smart investments and smart uses of the tax code that could serve our nation well at this time.

Today it's too many faxes, too many e-mails and too much non-elected staff involved and hardly any personal discussions or joint meetings with the elected leaders of the state and local government groups that we so desperately need. Until that coming together happens, we will continue to have confusion because in many instances the policies adopted by the national organizations are being lost in the draft letters, the e-mails, and the faxes of staff that are leaked to our members around the nation as well as to the media.

Happy Holidays 2002

From the headquarters staff and to all our mayors, your staff and loved ones, we wish you a most happy and joyous holiday. While our nation faces uncertain times with an impending war and economic challenges, we as a nation and you as a key part of the national leadership are resolved together that we will provide homeland security and economic security for our people. Have a good Holiday Season and as we look forward to seeing all of you next month January 22-24 here in Washington at our 71st Winter Meeting as we come together to present a balanced set of proposals mayors need as we go forward together in 2003.