February 6, 2007

From the Mayor’s Desk

US Conference of Mayors develops 10-point agenda for 2007

By Daniel E. Furtado, Mayor
Special to the Times

The US Conference of Mayors recently held its 75th winter meeting in Washington, D.C., and released its goals for 2007.

The 10-point agenda summarizes what is called “Strong Cities, Strong Families for a Strong America” and is a reflection of the policy priorities developed by the conference’s standing committees and includes the following:

Climate change and global warming - Fund block grants to cities to fund programs that address this issue
Federal-local partnership on crime prevention – Establish a trust fund to provide flexible resources for addressing local efforts to fight crime

Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) – Restore CDBG funding cuts; these grants have been one of the most successful federal programs to address the critical issue of a shortage of affordable housing
Affordable housing fund – Strengthen the government sponsored Enterprises Regulator Program (Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac) and programs that serve to create affordable housing projects (not under HUD or state agencies)
Public housing – Restore cuts in current public housing subsidies, which would further impact housing availability for very low income persons

Infrastructure tax incentives and bonds – Efforts are needed at the federal level to support local, state and private sector efforts to improve infrastructure issues throughout the country [Although California has recently begun to address this issue with the successful passage of our state infrastructure bonds, serious problems also exist in other states]

Competitive work-force – Reauthori-zation of the Work-force Investment Act and funding for programs that en-courage lifelong learning to ensure a trained work force to ensure employability of American citizens
Children and youth – Support programs that provide for children’s health, after-school programs and youth summer employment

Homeland security – Fund interoperable communications development, improve transit security and improve and simplify the security grant application process

Unfunded mandates/preemptions – Strengthen the federal/local partnership and further restrict the ability of Congress to impose unfunded federal mandates or preempt local authority

The U.S. Conference of Mayors and the National League of Cities work to support cities in their basic responsibilities to meet local needs and responsibilities, and to ensure that every American’s fair share of federal tax dollars is returned to the local community for those services.