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The United States Conference of Mayors
Mayors' 10-Point Plan
Strong Cities. . .
Strong Families. . .
For a Strong America
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1. Energy and Environmental Block Grant
(Climate Change)
Mayors from across the nation, working through The U.S. Conference of Mayors, are leading
the nation in taking action on the critical issue of global warming. Local governments are in a unique
position to implement and coordinate local action that will lead to significant and real reductions in
energy use and its impact on global warming.
When our federal government refused to take action on the issue of Climate Change,over 350
cities pledged their commitment to the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement to call attention to
the global warming crisis and to begin development of local programs to reduce carbon emissions.
This community-based, grass roots effort is key to a successful national strategy to reduce our energy
dependence, decrease carbon emissions, and improve the environment.
The U.S. Conference of Mayors proposes creation of an Energy and Environmental Block
Grant, modeled after the highly successful Community Development Block Grant, to provide
funding directly to cities and urban counties for programs that 1)improve community energy
efficiency; 2) develop and implement community strategies to reduce carbon emissions,
including but not limited to achieving "carbon free" buildings by 2030; 3) develop and
implement community and transportation energy conservation programs; 4) encourage the
development of new technologies and systems to decrease our dependence on foreign oil; and 5)
promotion and development of alternative/renewable energy sources. Funds could also be used to
support local non-profit organizations to meet the objectives of the program. The Block Grant would
be distributed under a formula based on population and other factors, modeled after CDBG, and
include measurable objectives.
Initial funding for the Block Grant could come from (in part or in whole) from revenues
derived from the proposed repeal of the 2004 tax cuts for the oil and gas industry and royalty payment
from off-shore oil and gas leases.
Eligible activities under the Block Grant would include, but not be limited to, development of
comprehensive energy, environment, and climate protection strategic plans, weatherization programs,
energy efficiency audits, alternative fuel infrastructure, incentives for energy efficiency technologies,
promotion of public transit, methane recovery programs, conversion of alternative fuel fleets, public
education,brownfields redevelopment, land-use policies etc.
2. Federal-Local Partnership on Crime Prevention
(Violent Crime Rising, Federal Resources Cut, Trust Fund Needed)
For a growing number of cities across the United States, violent crime is accelerating at an
alarming pace. The FBI's Uniform Crime Report for 2005 showed the largest single year percent
increase in violent crime in 14 years. This trend continued in 2006 according to a Police Executive
Research Forum survey of 55 law enforcement agencies, with many cities seeing double-digit
increases in murder, assault and robbery rates.
Mayors and police chiefs have identified a number of contributing factors for this rise in crime
including a growing culture of violence among youth, gangs, a proliferation of illegal guns, drug
activity, the re-entry of ex-offenders, and social problems related to school truancy and a lack of jobs.
Funding for major Department of Justice law enforcement programs has been slashed in recent years,
with the COPS hiring program (once funded at almost $1.5 billion) and Local Law Enforcement Block
Grant program(once funded at approximately$523 million) both being eliminated.
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To address these issues, the nation's mayors are calling for a new crime initiative to restore the
federal-local partnership on hometown security. As was done under the 1994 Crime Bill, mayors
are calling for a federal trust fund to provide flexible resources for the deployment of law
enforcement personnel, support local innovations, fight domestic violence, and fund technology
that helps fight crime. Specifically, funding for COPS and the local block grant should be
restored, and mayors fully support strong accountability standards tied to these grants. In
addition, resources are needed help promote crime prevention and provide positive alternatives
for youth, and address the need to provide alternatives for the more than 600,000 ex-offenders
who are coming back into cities each year.
3. Community Development Block Grants
(Successful Results, Threatened, Double Resources)
For 32 years, the Community Development Block Grant program has served as a vital resource
to help cities, counties, and states meet their unique community development, affordable housing, and
economic development needs. Since its enactment in 1974, the program has been, and continues to be,
a critical affordable housing and neighborhood revitalization tool for communities. While providing
essential services to citizens nationwide, CDBG also improves local economies. According to HUD,
in FY04 alone, CDBG provided funds for thousands of activities, assisting over 23 million persons and
households. CDBG funds a broad spectrum of activities, including: expanding homeownership
opportunities, elimination of slums and blight, improved infrastructure such as roads, water and sewer
systems, libraries, fire stations, community centers, adult day care and after school care for children,
homeless facilities, employment training, transportation services, crime awareness, business and job
creation. In fact, according to HUD, more than 78,000 jobs were created by CDBG in FY04 alone.
But over the last several years, CDBG formula grants have been significantly reduced. The
program was also targeted for elimination at HUD, and transferred to the Department of Commerce
along with 17 other programs at a greatly reduced funding level. In FY 2006, the program was cut by
10 percent, and in FY2005, the cut was 5 percent, resulting in a 15 percent cut in two years. A survey
released in March, 2006, by the Conference of Mayors and 20 other organizations found that the
reduced formula allocations has had a substantial negative effect on entitlement communities and
states.
The nation's mayors recommend that CDBG formula funding be doubled to $8 billion.
This additional funding would address the delayed projects and activities which have come
about because of cuts to CDBG, and further build on the proven record of an effective
affordable housing and revitalization program.
4. Affordable Housing Fund
Last October, the House passed H.R. 1461, the "Federal Housing Finance Reform Act of
2006,"creating a strong, world-class regulator for the Government Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs),
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The legislation would also create a new affordable housing fund with
the GSEs contributing initially 3.5 percent increasing to five percent of their after-tax earnings for
projects in underserved areas.
The nation's mayors support an affordable housing fund to be administered by the GSEs,
(not by HUD or state housing agencies) funded by at least 5 percent of their profits, with local
government projects eligible to be assisted.
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5. Public Housing
Operating Subsidies
On December 28, HUD sent a memo to public housing agencies informing
them that they would have to operate with 76 cents for every dollar needed for their operations. This
memo. announcing a 24 percent cut, did not take into account an already existing problem: HUD's
budget request was $300 million or more below what the public housing agencies actually needed.
When the Continuing Resolution expires on February 15, the situation could actually get worse with
Congress holding spending to the FY 2006 level. This would result in an even lower funding level for
operating subsidies.
The nation's mayors support restoration of all public housing operating subsidies in FY
2007, including funding that was not part of the budget request but that is now needed because
of utility costs previously not anticipated.
HOPE VI
HOPE VI for severely distressed public housing has been targeted for elimination over the
past several years, but has survived through nominal congressional appropriations. The nation's
mayors support the restoration of HOPE VI to a funding level that returns the program to an
effective national tool for public housing development.
6. Infrastructure Tax Incentives and Bonds
(Transportation, Water, Wastewater,Brownfields,Energy, Telecommunications, Schools,
Affordable Housing)
Congested highways, crowded schools, transit demand exceeding resources, aging water
facilities and a crumbling energy infrastructure are urgent reminders of the infrastructure crisis that is
jeopardizing America's prosperity. From transit to energy, this critical infrastructure has been
neglected for far too long by the Federal government and it is now deteriorating at an alarming rate.
And, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers' 2005 Report Card for America's
Infrastructure, the nation's overall infrastructure received a D grade with the Report Card calling
for$1.6 trillion to alleviate our nation's infrastructure needs.
To address this growing infrastructure threat, the nation's mayors are calling for tax
incentives, bonds, and other measures to support local and state efforts, and stimulate private
sector participation, to improve infrastructure including transportation, water, wastewater,
brownfields, energy, telecommunications,schools and affordable housing options in America's
cities. These tax incentives and bonds would help create hundreds of thousands of family-wage
jobs and revitalize our critical infrastructure across the country at the same time.
7. Competitive Workforce
In this time of global competition, America's economic health depends on the development of
a skilled workforce with the knowledge and ability to adapt to an ever-changing economy. Baby
boomers are retiring at increasing rates, and the next generation of workers does not have the required
post-secondary degree attainment nor the necessary technical skills to replace them. More
importantly, and more alarmingly, our emerging workforce is increasingly disconnected from
educational pathways and the world of work. High school dropout rates in some cities are as high as
50 percent, and the youth unemployment rate is at its highest level in decades.
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The U.S. Conference of Mayors believes that it is crucial to support a sustained commitment to
local workforce development programs that produce measurable results to ensure our continued
competitiveness in the 2151 century global economy. As such, the nation's mayors call for timely
reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act, and full funding of its programs to ensure a
significant investment in lifelong learning for every American citizen. In addition, resources are
needed to help train and provide employment opportunities for the more than 600,000 ex-
offenders Mo are coming back into cities every year.
8. Children and Youth
No Child Left Behind
Mayors know that better schools make better cities. As they work to more effectively align
city policies and programs that affect children and families, mayors are taking on an increasingly
stronger leadership role on issues related to public schools. As such, it is critical that mayors be
involved in every aspect of No Child Left Behind reauthorization, including discussions on full
funding, teacher quality, performance standards,testing and evaluation, and methods of
assessment and accountability.
Children's Health Insurance
Mayors recognize that student achievement is inextricably linked to early childhood programs,
health and nutrition, social service supports and parental involvement. As such, it is crucial that
funding for programs such as Head Start, Early Head Start, the Children's Health Insurance
Program (CHIPS) be increased to their full authorization levels.
Summer Youth
And, to further address these issues, the nation's mayors are calling for a new summer
youth employment initiative to provide funding directly to cities and urban counties for programs
that 1) offer educational work experiences that provide linkage between job skills and classroom
learning standards; 2) provide skills training and education strategies to young people as part of a local
workforce development system that aligns with the labor market demands of local economies; and 3)
establish opportunities for skills development and career exposure to young people.
After-School Youth
Mayors also call for an increased funding commitment directly allocated to cities for
quality after-school programs. Most specifically, it is crucial to strengthen and fully-fund the 215`
Century Learning Centers and other after-school programming.
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9. Homeland Security
(9-11 Commission Recommendations Not Completed)
While significant progress has been made on homeland security since 9/11, more can and
should be done to make sure that our nation's first responders are prepared to prevent, respond and
recover from either attacks or natural disasters. We must continue the emphasis on key issues related
to airport, port, rail, transit, and border security.
Interoperable Communications
First, a major concern is the limited funding to assist cities and their first responders to achieve
full communications interoperability. The Office of Management and Budget estimated
interoperability solutions would cost more than $15 billion, but since 2003, the Department of
Homeland Security has only awarded $2.9 billion in funding for state and local interoperable
communications efforts. The nation's mayors are calling on a well-funded, stand-alone, Federal
emergency communications grant program to carry out initiatives to improve interoperable
communications,including flexible direct grants to cities and their first responders.
Transit Security
Second, with more than 7.8 billion trips taken on public transit in the first nine months of 2006,
securing this critical infrastructure and protecting riders from terrorist attacks must be a major priority.
Congress has allocated only $386 million to transit security through Fiscal Year 2006, yet according to
the American Public Transportation Association, transit agencies have identified $6 billion in security
needs. The nation's mayors are calling for a flexible Federal transit security initiative to
improve security in the areas of communications, surveillance, detection systems, personnel and
training. As we have done with aviation, securing public transit is a Federal responsibility and
should not require a local or state match. Furthermore, security funds should go directly to the
operator of that system or the jurisdiction providing the security.
Funding Mechanism
Third, we must continue to make improvements in the grant application process and
delivery mechanism for federal homeland security resources to make sure that the process is
user friendly, the funding quickly reaches cities, and that funding is flexible to meet local needs.
10. Unfunded Mandates
The passage of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 was a positive step towards
restricting the ability of Congress to impose new, costly unfunded mandates on state and local
governments, or preempt their ability to fund critical local programs. However, the issue of unfunded
federal mandates remains a major problem. For example, members of Congress continue to propose
legislation that would preempt local governments in areas such as internet access fee collection and
wireless telecommunications services.
Therefore, mayors call for new legislation to strengthen the federal-local partnership and
further restrict the ability of Congress to impose unfunded federal mandates or preempt local
authority.
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The United States Conference of Mayors
1620 Eye Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20006
(202) 293-7330
www.usmayors.org
Tom Cochran
Executive Director