Executive Director's Column

April 8, 2011
Washington, DC

Conference President Elizabeth Kautz was back in Washington this week representing all of you as we conduct the regular business of the Conference under a cloud of uncertainty over key federal funded initiatives.

President Kautz and I joined with our partner, The Americans for the Arts, for Arts Advocacy Day. Funds for the National Endowment for the Arts are threatened in the current budget political climate. Congresswoman Louise Slaughter, our Congressional champion for the arts always cites the importance of what mayors are doing with the arts all over our country. She talks about people’s lives, their souls, and music.

She says no matter where you are if you hear the refrain of Amazing Grace, it stirs you, it calms you, it gives you peace. With all the screaming about budget cuts, it’s nice to hear Louise Slaughter’s voice. Everything about her gives us strength as the days and years go by in the fight to keep the National Endowment for the Arts alive. The economic, crime, and school statistics all prove that every dollar spent on the arts for young people gets the biggest bang for the buck and helps avoid the costs incurred and human damage that comes from violent gangs, drugs, and prison.

We are also most fortunate to have Rocco Landesman as our National Endowment Chief. His vision in reaching out and bringing the arts agenda into the established federal agencies like HUD and Transportation is a game changer. He is brilliant.

Two time Academy Award winner Kevin Spacey was with us on Capitol Hill. He was quite personal, he spoke about how actor Jack Lemmon affected his life and stressed that arts do make a difference. Alec Baldwin of 30 Rock fame, one of the most ardent arts supporters in show business always brings his wit and there is a serious political side to him that’s there. I asked him would he ever run for mayor of New York and he said he couldn’t afford to do so. Bob Lynch, President and CEO of the Americans for the Arts did a great job directing the lobbying day and ever so close to his side was one of the best lobbyists in show biz, Nina Ozlu Tunceli, and from our own team Tom McClimon is the point person for all we do with mayors and the arts; his leadership and counsel is vital. Together, The U.S. Conference of Mayors and Americans for the Arts will use our political energy to one day have a government that has what other civilized governments have, a Secretary and Federal Department for Arts and Culture. Meantime, let’s save Big Bird, protect the National Endowment and keep on fighting and using the strength we have to protect what we have and what we have won. We remain vigilant and we thank the mayors for their continued support of the arts.

As U.S.Mayor goes to press the federal government shutdown looms. It has nothing to do with the budget. It’s about abortion, National Public Radio, and greenhouse gasses. Let’s hope the grandstanding will end soon and we can truly make some adult and rational decisions for our cities and above all our people. Happy Spring! The cherry blossoms are blooming. God won’t let them shut them down. They keep on blooming and we do too. Thanks to all the mayors for your continued response and support for a fair budget and one that considers all sectors instead of zeroing in over all of the domestic priorities that are so important to you, your cities, and our people.

National Mayors Summit on City Design
Chicago, April 27 to 29

The first ever National Mayors Summit on City Design will take place in Chicago, April 27 to 29. We have the best designers coming to join with our mayors. It is a celebration of 25 years of The Mayors Institute on City Design and more important, it is a meeting to forge a new agenda for cities and design for this century. Also, we will honor “our mayor” Mayor Richard Daley of Chicago. In Chicago we salute him for what he has given to Chicago and to all of the mayors and cities of America. I look forward to seeing you in Chicago, April 27 to 29. Register now. Contact Carol Edwards at 202-293-7330 or cedwards@usmayors.org. See you in Chicago soon.