U.S. Conference of Mayors President Burnsville, MN Mayor Elizabeth Kautz Responds to The State of The Union Address
On behalf of the nation's mayors, U.S. Conference of Mayors President Burnsville, MN Mayor Elizabeth Kautz released the following statement in response to President Obama's State of the Union Address:
"The nation's mayors are pleased tonight that President Obama's address focused on MainStreet America, job creation and people in this country who are suffering.
"As CEOs of the nation's cities, mayors know all too well the challenges America's families face. Everyday, mayors hear from residents who have lost their jobs and their homes -- people who are desperately afraid of what lies ahead.
"With unemployment in many cities in double-digits, mayors know this 'jobs emergency' demands decisive and swift action.
"We are encouraged by President Obama's discussion of transportation, small businesses and the new green industry as sources of job creation.
"Last week, over 200 mayors met in the White House with President Obama, Vice President Biden and the Administration's economic advisors to push our 2010 Metro Agenda for America that urges investments the very areas that the President has outlined.
"Investments in roads, bridges, rail and ports in cities – where the majority of the people in this country live -- will ease traffic congestion, reduce pollution and create jobs where they are needed most.
"Investments in small businesses will help MainStreet shop-owners with access to credit, help them to expand and enable them to hire more people in local communities.
"And investments in green jobs and clean energy will enable mayors to expand the innovation already begun through targeted funding in the Stimulus Plan to 'green' local communities. Mayors are leading the way in the United States in the green revolution with more than 1,000 cities already committed to protecting the climate and reducing carbon pollution, and mayors hope this green-job funding will continue in the long-term.
"The nation's mayors know that without a robust recovery in cities and metropolitan economies, there can be no national recovery. Simply put, the State of the Union is the State of America's cities and metropolitan areas.
"We stand ready to work with President Obama to implement his plan for MainStreet America, and we look forward to continuing to work in a bi-partisan manner with the Members of Congress to strengthen working families and build stronger cities."
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 city is represented in the Conference by its chief elected official, the mayor. More information about the Conference is available at usmayors.org.
Contacts:
U.S. Conference of Mayors
Elena Temple, 202-309-4906
etemple@usmayors.org
