The United States Conference of Mayors
J. Thomas Cochran
Executive Director
1620 Eye Street, NW, Washington
DC 20006
Tel: +1 202 293-7330
Fax: +1 202 293-2352
Internet: www.usmayors.org


FRONT PAGE
SiteSearch
About us
Directories


US community grant eliminated
NC local government finance
US municipal bonds
Large US cities hardest hit by recession
Metro job growth in the US
Largest US cities
US local government
Top US eCities
Directory of US cities
Poverty in US cities
Business stress worldwide


City Mayors reports news from towns and cities around the world. Worldwide | Elections | North America | Latin America | Europe | Asia | Africa | Events |


Mayors from The Americas, Europe. Asia, Australia and Africa are competing for the annual World Mayor Award. More


City Mayors ranks the world’s largest as well as richest cities and urban areas. It also ranks the cities in individual countries, and provides a list of the capital cities of some 200 sovereign countries. More


City Mayors reports political events, analyses the issues and depicts the main players. More


City Mayors describes and explains the structures and workings of local government in Europe, The Americas, Asia, Australia and Africa. More


City Mayors profiles city leaders from around the world and questions them about their achievements, policies and aims. More


City Mayors deals with economic and investment issues affecting towns and cities. More


City Mayors reports on how business developments impact on cities and examines cooperation between cities and the private sector. More


City Mayors describes and explains financial issues affecting local government. More


City Mayors lists and features urban events, conferences and conventions aimed at urban decision makers and those with an interst in cities worldwide. More


City Mayors reports urban environmental developments and examines the challenges faced by cities worldwide. More


City Mayors reports on and discusses urban development issues in developed and developing countries. More


City Mayors reports on developments in urban society and behaviour and reviews relevant research. More


City Mayors deals with urban transport issues in developed and developing countries and features the world’s greatest metro systems. More


City Mayors examines education issues and policies affecting children and adults in urban areas. More


City Mayors investigates health issues affecting urban areas with an emphasis on health in cities in developing countries. More


City Mayors examines the importance of urban tourism to city economies. More


City Mayors examines the contributions history and culture make to urban society and environment. More


City Mayors describes the history, architecture and politics of the greatest city halls in the world. More


City Mayors invites readers to write short stories about people in cities around the world. More


City Mayors questions those who govern the world’s cities and talks to men and women who contribute to urban society and environment. More


City Mayors profiles national and international organisations representing cities as well as those dealing with urban issues. More


City Mayors reports on major national and international sporting events and their impact on cities. More


City Mayors lists cities and city organisations, profiles individual mayors and provides information on hundreds of urban events. More

This archived article was published 11 February 2005
US cities say elimination of block grant will
threaten economies in many communities
By Josh J Fecht

America’s leading municipal organizations condemned the decision the US government to eliminate the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). This grant is used by cities across the US to create jobs, increase economic development opportunities and expand home ownership. The elimination of the CDBG will have a devastating economic impact on cities, counties, and local communities of all sizes.

Under the new proposal, CDBG will be consolidated with 17 other programs into a new program, called Strengthening America’s Communities Grant Program, which has yet to be fully defined.

The US Conference of Mayors 2004/05 President and Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic said, “This new proposal is totally unacceptable and we are extremely disappointed that this tactic is being used as an excuse to eliminate CDBG and cut much needed resources to local communities.

“A key priority of this Administration is stimulating the domestic economy by creating jobs and expanding home ownership, and that is exactly what CDBG does. CDBG is good business and is the foundation of our nation’s communities,” he continued.

The business community also has a stake in the community development block grant program. In the financial year 2004, CDBG created or retained 90,637 jobs. Furthermore, for every one dollar of CDBG funding, approximately $2.79 in private funding was leveraged for economic development projects like shopping centers and grocery stores.

National League of Cities President and Washington, D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams said, “President Bush supports vigorous economic growth for this country. One of the best tools that the leaders of cities, counties and towns across America use to achieve those goals is the Community Development Block Grant program. When a community says, 'We need retail’ or ‘we need housing’ or ‘we need a sit-down restaurant,' it is CDBG funds that are used to empower neighborhoods.”

In Los Angeles, California, CDBG funds were used in the Chesterfield Square project in Southwest Los Angeles, which brought a major supermarket, a Home Depot, a major drug store and other stores and restaurants to this underserved community. This project alone created over 500 jobs and brought newfound pride to the community.

Another major component of CDBG is the ability to expand homeownership and provide affordable housing. In the 2004 financial year, the program assisted 168,938 households with their housing needs, which included homeownership assistance, construction of housing, rehabilitation of existing housing, and energy efficiency improvements. In Rochester, New York, where 65 per cent of the population is eligible to be served by the CDBG, more than 3,000 affordable housing units were rehabilitated or constructed over the past ten years.

“Federal funding for community development helps provide affordable housing, create jobs, further economic development and enables our citizens to improve their quality of life,” said Montgomery County (MD) Executive Douglas M. Duncan, representing the National Association of Counties. “Substantial cuts to this program, as a result of the Administration's budget proposal that will consolidate 18 development programs into two, will severely curb community development in the hundreds of counties across the country that receive direct funding,” he continued.

The coalition of mayors, county officials and business leaders contends that for the future of this nation, CDBG must not be eliminated, nor see any major cuts to the program. “CDBG is an effective program that helps millions of Americans by investing in our communities. We will take our message to Capitol Hill to fight for our federal and local government partnerships that have been successful for over three decades,” Plusquellic concluded.

Members of the coalition to fight the elimination of CDBG include: The U.S. Conference of Mayors, The National League of Cities, The National Association of Counties, the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO), National Community Development Association (NCDA), and Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC).
Donald L Plusquellic, Mayor of Akron, Ohio and former President of the US Conference of Mayors

The United States Conference of Mayors
The US Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of the nation’s 1,183 cities with populations of 30,000 or more. The primary roles of the Conference are to promote the development of effective national urban/suburban policy; strengthen federal-city relationships; provide mayors with leadership and management tools; and create a forum in which mayors can share ideas and information. Each city is represented in the Conference by its chief elected official, the mayor.

The primary roles of the Conference of Mayors are to:
• Promote the development of effective national urban/suburban policy;
• Strengthen federal-city relationships;
• Ensure that federal policy meets urban needs;
• Provide mayors with leadership and management tools; and
• Create a forum in which mayors can share ideas and information.

History
In 1932, 14 million people were unemployed, lines stretched for blocks in front of soup kitchens, homeowners were unable to pay taxes, veterans were selling apples on street corners, and the nation's cities were close to bankruptcy. Responding to the appeals of mayors, Congress created a $300 million federal assistance program for cities, marking the first time in the nation's history that federal relief was provided directly to cities. In a dramatic White House meeting, a committee of three prominent mayors convinced President Herbert Hoover to sign this desperately needed municipal assistance bill.

A few months later, on the eve of the inauguration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, in the Mayflower Hotel just a few blocks from the White House, the charter of the Conference of Mayors was written.