Executive Director's Column

Last week, the long awaited new climate bill was announced. The energy block grants for cities and local governments are not included in this proposal. Once again, Washington goes backward and away from the federal-city partnership on climate protection and energy independence.
Last year mayors were encouraged with the partnership we developed with Senator Boxer and her people, and we were included in her bill.
But the announcement last week did not mention our energy block grants, which are the cornerstone and catalyst to mobilize over 1,000 mayors to act.
We are frustrated and perplexed that the bill announced last week does not include the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants. We have to ask the question… if the Senate leadership stood together with mayors last year on the capitol lawn, then what happened that now gives reason for mayors and local officials not to be included?
Today, within the Mayors Climate Protection Center of The United States Conference of Mayors, we have 1,036 mayors and cities looking for a partnership with the federal government on greenhouse gas reduction and greater energy independence.
The mayors of this nation are recognized around the globe for their outstanding work on this issue, throughout Europe, thanks to President Kautz's work, with the European Union and EuroCities and at the COP-15 in Copenhagen. In Asia, with our continuing partnership with the Japanese Association of City Mayors and, recently, at the Sixth Sino-American Summit in Chengdu with the mayors of China, we continue to share our best practices and common goals.
The fact is that the cities of America are leading the nation on this issue while many states and some in Washington fail to recognize the contribution that we continue to make.
Science tells us that the threat to our globe is caused by the actions of human beings. The mayors of the United States are number one at changing human behavior. Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants are tools that we need to forge the public/private initiatives as well as enlisting and involving the 85 percent of the American people who live in cities and their metro areas.
We believe there are many Senators who have not reversed their sentiment toward mayoral and city involvement. As mentioned, last year we were heralded for the progress of mayors and cities. Our activities have not decreased or subsided over the past year and we have enlisted many more cities within the United States Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Center.
This issue is a top priority of The United States Conference of Mayors. We will continue to use our grass-roots efforts to include within the current legislation the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants that are so important to our national efforts.
The bill today has a goal of reducing carbon pollution by 17 percent by 2020 and by 80 percent by 2050. Today we stand and speak out to say that the nation cannot meet these goals unless mayors, cities, and their metro regions are totally involved in this national effort.
In Washington, as with all major legislation, this is a work in progress. And, we look forward to engaging with Senate leaders to correct this situation and affirm the crucial role of mayors and other local officials in this effort.
The mayors want a partnership with Washington, the executive and legislative branches of the federal government. It seems that Washington doesn't want us. It is shortsighted and unrealistic to think the nation can meet our common goals toward climate protection and energy independence without mayors and local government.
We must keep up the fight to add our energy block grants to the proposed climate bill. Ask your Senators to push for mayors and cities and our block grants as we go forward. Remember again it is the people who count and 87 percent of the American people live in cities and their metro areas and majority hold climate protection and energy independence as a top priority.
The legislation announced last week will need your political attention once it is properly introduced.
We are working now to amend the bill so that we can include our energy block grants, which are so important to meet the tough goals Congress has set out for us to meet. They can't reach these goals unless mayors and our people who live in the metro areas are mobilized.
Let's come together by contacting our Senators and stressing the energy block grants to be included in this new legislation as we all go forward together.
The Miller Bill - H.R. 4812 - Local Jobs for America ActPresident Kautz, Vice President Villaraigosa and our leadership and members have been quite active in securing endorsements of 161 members of the House to support what mayors believe to be the first real jobs bill (H.R. 4812 Local Jobs for America Act). The Miller bill would provide $75 billion for direct funding to cities and counties for job retention and the rehiring of those laid off or for new jobs.
We are allied with the National League of Cities, The National Association of Counties, The National Urban League, and other powerful organizations on this priority legislation.
Coupled with funds for municipal jobs, included in the Miller bill is $23 billion for teachers.
The recent strategy is to attach this legislation to the supplemental appropriations bill that will continue to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
We are concerned that the Obama Administration has voiced their support in the form of a letter from Education Secretary Duncan supporting only the funds for teachers, police and firefighters. The Administration has not requested of Congress our funds for municipal jobs as contained in the Miller bill.
Conference President Kautz and Vice President Villaraigosa are actively involved to clarify and gain support of the municipal jobs portion of the Miller bill to make certain that in addition to funds for teachers, there will be funds for job retention, rehiring or hiring of municipal employees.
Shanghai Expo - USA Pavilion Opening - April 30Conference President Elizabeth Kautz, and Mayors Bob Foster of Long Beach, Bill Finch of Bridgeport, Elaine Walker of Bowling Green and I were invited by US Chinese Ambassador Jon Huntsman to stand with him, cut the ribbon and welcome the very first Chinese visitors as we opened the USA Pavilion of the 2010 Shanghai Expo.
President Kautz and mayors came to Shanghai after she presided over the Sixth Sino-American Mayors Summit in Changdu. The summit was a part of the very successful partnership we continue with the Chinese Association of Mayors.
Father Swears in SonIt was a special occasion for me to be with the Landrieu family earlier this month to witness former New Orleans Mayor Moon Landrieu, USCM President 1975 - 1976, swear in his son, Mitch Landrieu to be the next mayor of New Orleans. Also in attendance were all the former mayors including former USCM President Marc Morial.
Mayor Mitch Landrieu will be very active with us. He, along with our other dynamic new mayors, are bringing new energy, new faces and new ideas to our organization and President Kautz wants to put these new mayors to work for all of us.
Oklahoma CityThe 78th Annual Conference of Mayors will be in Oklahoma City soon! And that is where you, as a mayor, need to be.
President Elizabeth Kautz and Host Mayor Mick Cornett have worked hard to make this a meaningful, productive, and yes - enjoyable - fun meeting!
Register now. We need you in Oklahoma City.