Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Denton mayor joins more than 250 mayors in Washington, D.C.
DENTON — Denton Mayor Perry McNeill recently attended the 76th Winter Meeting of the United States Conference of Mayors, held January 23-25 in Washington, D. C. More than 250 of the nation's mayors, led by U.S. Conference of Mayors President Trenton, NJ Mayor Douglas H. Palmer, along with USCM Vice President Miami Mayor Manny Diaz, and USCM Advisory Board Chair Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, met to discuss issues of importance to U.S. Mayors. The main issues addressed at the conference were climate protection, the creation of green jobs, infrastructure, crime, the home mortgage foreclosure crisis and the economy.
Mayor McNeill has been appointed to the Environmental Committee and the Tourism, Arts and Sports Committee. These committees strategized on ways to get travel and tourism issues before the presidential candidates, discussed the reauthorization of the Brownfields Bill and the planning for water supplies in stressed environments. He was also an active participant in the Energy Policy Standing Committee where America's Climate Security Act of 2007 and issues in designing and implementing a Carbon Fee were discussed.
"As metropolitan economies continue to grow, issues such as climate protection, job creation, infrastructure, security and the economy become critical for local governments," said Mayor McNeill. "A strong partnership amongst cities and between cities and the federal government must exist so that the leadership and experience of America's mayors can be a resource as solutions are sought to address these and other issues."
Led by America's mayors, America's cities drive our national economy - the strongest national economy in the world. Metro economies now account for 85 percent of national employment, 87 percent of labor income, and 86 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). Of the largest 100 international economies in the world, 42 are US metro areas. Clearly, US metro areas are a dominant force in both the national and global economy. But our nation faces many great challenges, and mayors welcome the opportunity to confront these challenges. The Mayors' 10 Point Plan, Strong Cities, Strong Families, for a Strong America, is the Conference's legislative agenda that highlights priorities for cities and urban areas (www.usmayors.org to see plan).
The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. There are 1,139 such cities in the country today, each represented in the Conference by its chief elected official, the Mayor.
Source: City of Denton
