My Address to the U.S. Conference of Mayors

Today I addressed close to 300 of my fellow mayors during the 77th Annual Meeting of the United States Conference of Mayors. The economic crisis and ways to come up with solutions to address the situation are foremost in all of our minds.
A year ago in the USCM annual meeting in Miami, mayors were the first to sound the alarm about this crisis. We saw that we were headed down a path towards economic disaster before any presidential candidate figured it out. We were first to call attention to the need to invest in our cities and our people.
Mayors were the first to connect these investments to the creation of millions of jobs, and described these investments as the best economic stimulus plan our nation could ever have.
These are the investments called for in our 10 Point Plan. They formed the Action Agendas developed during our five forums, the largest federal investment in our people in the history of our country. This is a defining moment in our history and in the history of this organization. The mayors’ agenda is now America’s agenda.
The USCM also faces an unprecedented situation now, a boycott of our annual meeting by the Obama Administration. This boycott is a terrible mistake. Today, when we are in the midst of the most serious economic crisis since the great depression, the importance of our partnership is more important than ever.

CLICK HERE to watch a video and read a transcript of my speech.

- Manny

Recovery Plan Includes Energy Grants for Cities

This week, the Obama Administration announced it will distribute $2.8 billion in Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants (EECBG) in the Recovery Package. These Block Grants will go to support jobs, cut energy bills, and increase energy independence.

The City of Miami will receive $4.7 million from these grants, which will be used according to the guidelines stipulated by the Administration.

The funding will support energy audits and energy efficiency retrofits in residential and commercial buildings, the development and implementation of advanced building codes and inspections, and the creation of financial incentive programs for energy efficiency improvements. Other activities eligible for use of grant funds include transportation programs that conserve energy, projects to reduce and capture methane and other greenhouse gas emissions from landfills, renewable energy installations on government buildings, energy efficient traffic signals and street lights, deployment of Combined Heat and Power and district heating and cooling systems, and others.

The Block Grants are a major investment in energy solutions that will strengthen America’s economy and create jobs at the local level.


Find out more about President Obama's recovery plan on the U.S. Conference of Mayors Website.


- Manny

Mayor Diaz on C-SPAN

Watch Mayor Diaz and other Mayors from the U.S. Conference of Mayors on C-SPAN discussing the Economic Stimulus Package.

White House Press Conference

Washington Journal

More Assistance Needed for Small Businesses

South Florida is home to approximately 77,000 small businesses, which are the heart of our local economy and create hundreds of thousands of jobs. We hear about the thousands of jobs lost in America's corporate giants due to the economic crisis, but the impact is exponential among the thousands of small businesses in small towns and metropolitan areas.
Many small companies all over South Florida have been forced to cut salaries and lay off employees. In fact, it is reasonable to project that, without some improvement in cash flow opportunities for small businesses within the next sixty days, there will be a projected loss of some 231,000 jobs in South Florida alone.
I recently met with the local small business community, each facing these challenges. They represent a group that has come together to form a Small Business Roundtable support network with a message to elected leaders from the cities to the congress, and the community, that there is a state of economic emergency for small businesses in South Florida.
Every member of the group has had a negative experience with lending institutions, and worries that without cash flow, their business will have to close. Their banks have refused to lend, credit lines from banks and credit card companies have been drastically decreased, and the ripple effects on the status of their credit and relationships with vendors, as they are faced with mounting obligations. As a result, cash flow shortage is the number one issue, need, and challenge with small businesses.
In times like these, the City of Miami has many resources available for small businesses. Today we opened the Minority Business Enterprise Center (MBEC™). Thanks to a partnership with the City, the MBEC™ recently made the City’s Manuel Artime Community Center in Little Havana their headquarters. The City is also providing them with a range of support services, including equipment, Internet and telephone support services. You can call 305.576.7888 for more information on the center.
We also work closely with ACCION USA, the largest micro-lender in the United States. ACCION USA opened an office in Miami in 2003 and has been providing business loans ranging from $500 to $50,000 to self-employed Miamians who are shut out from traditional sources of business credit. WE are working closely with the Small Business Administration to create new programs to help our businesses.
These emergency circumstances call for bold, incisive action and political will to meet the needs of thousands of small businesses, their owners, employees, and those institutions that resuscitate their lifeline.
As president of the U.S. conference of Mayors, I have called to the Federal Government for financial relief for small businesses to help them through this unprecedented economic downturn. I urge small business owners to contact their members of congress in Washington, D.C., and call for passage of the Economic Stimulus Package.
I also sent a letter to House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank (MA) and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel (NY) calling for financial relief for small business. Click HERE to read the letter.

The Importance of Broadband Deployment in Cities

Today the U.S. Conference of Mayors paid special attention for the need for easily available broadband internet connection in our cities.
The mayors were joined by Alberto Ibargüen, the President and CEO of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. The Knight Foundation in partnership with One Community formed the Knight Center on Digital Excellence, the first national non-profit resource center dedicated to helping communities create sustainable universal access programs.
I am personally grateful to the Knight Foundation for their partnership and investments in our community to help Miami become a globally competitive city.
Keep this in mind:
The United States is now #15 in the world in broadband deployment.
Korea, Japan, Canada, Spain, and Poland all surpass us in providing their citizens with access to the digital world. As a nation, we have to address our ability to compete in the global economy – a digital economy. In ten years, 70% of all jobs will require technology knowledge and skills.
Cities must address digital inclusion aggressively and consistently and we must take serious steps to create the technical infrastructure and a digitally capable workforce.
During the last several years, cities have entered into partnerships with the private sector to provide broadband wireless infrastructure in their communities.
But many of these attempts have largely failed because there have been challenges with the financial models -and that was before the economic crisis that we are now facing.
But there are good news. Now we have partners in Congress and in the new administration. The economic recovery plans of both the House and President Elect Obama address the need to provide wide broadband access to our citizens by proposing a $ 6 billion dollar investment in broadband and wireless services in under-served areas.
In Miami, we have worked for the last 6 years to provide both infrastructure and digital literacy programs. elevate Miami is a comprehensive, life-long approach focused on the accessibility and affordability of technology and training for youth, adults, senior citizens and small businesses.
The initiative encompasses ePark and eSenior Computer labs, the Rites of Passage Initiative with Public Schools and workforce training. With the support of the Knight Foundation, over time this program will put a computer in every home.
We have also been working with the Knight Center of Digital Excellence for the past year on a “Community Broadband” project that will bring together Miami’s government, business, education, healthcare, and non-profit organizations to create a plan to address Community Broadband – both in infrastructure as well as digital skills.
It is imperative that cities, private businesses and philanthropic institutions realize the importance of investing in creating digitally connected communities in order to remain globally competitive.

Find out more at http://knightcenter.org/

- Manny

Mayors Urge Passage of Economic Recovery Plan

The mayors of the country have gathered in Washington, D.C. for the 77th Winter Meeting of The U.S. Conference of Mayors to discuss national priorities and the proposed Obama Economic Recovery Plan, and to urge Congress to pass the plan as soon as possible.
We have come together in one of the most critical and difficult times in our nation’s history. Main Street’s economic crisis continues to worsen. The unemployment rate reached 7.2 percent in December and is climbing. Since the start of the recession in December 2007, the nation has lost 3.6 million jobs. Over 11 million American workers are now unemployed, and another 1.9 million are “marginally attached” to the labor force.
This is why we urge Congress to move quickly on President-elect Barack Obama’s call for a national economic recovery plan to immediately create jobs and make investments in the future economy.
This bill follows the goals outlined by President-elect Obama and authorizes $825 billion in spending to get our economy moving again.
This package is the first crucial step in a concerted effort to save and create 3 to 4 million jobs, jump start our economy and begin the process of transforming our nation for the 21st century.
Mayors are pleased to see significant funding for local programs with targeted investments and unprecedented accountability measures. The plan reflects an investment of $358 billion in our cities and communities.
Important conference tax policies have also been proposed, including energy tax incentives, municipal bonding capacity and the expansion of the earned income and child tax credits. It is also important to note that the new energy block grant, which we helped create less than two years ago, will be funded at $3.5 billion.
As President-elect Obama said at our meeting in June, cities are not the problem, cities are the solution. Mayors know how to create sustainable economies. We do it every day by investing in our people, our environment, our businesses and our infrastructure.
Over the last two months, USCM has produced a series of Main Street economic recovery reports that inventories local ready-to-go infrastructure projects that could be completed in two calendar years, showing how quickly cities could produce new jobs.
In the latest of Main Street Economic Recovery reports released today, 779 cities across the country report a total of 18,750 local infrastructure projects that could produce over 1 million jobs with a federal investment of $100 billion.
The American people are aligned with the mayors’ priorities.
A Zogby poll conducted for the conference and released today, found that 84% of respondents believe that infrastructure improvements are important to the health of the local economy.
In another significant finding, respondents trust local government over state government by a margin of three to one. And while only 37 percent of respondents believe the President-elect’s economic recovery plan will help “people like me,” a majority of respondents believe the plan will help create local jobs (55%) and help stimulate the local economy (54%)
This is why we must commit to secure passage of the President-elect’s Economic Recovery Plan. Let us commit to deliver on our projects with all deliberate speed, transparency and accountability.
Let us commit to the success of our new President.

Read more about our Winter Meeting at http://www.usmayors.org/.

- Manny

Congress: Support MainStreet Economic Recovery

President-elect Barack Obama issued a call to save or create 3 million jobs and to jumpstart our economy. The U.S. Conference of Mayors, which I preside, answered the President-elect’s call. We have released the MainStreet Economic Recovery plan, which would create over one million jobs during the next two years.
Mayors all over the country have sent their delegations in Congress letters urging them to support the USCM plan. Below please find the letter I sent to all Florida Representatives and Senators in Washington, D.C.

Florida Congressional Delegation
Washington, D.C.

Dear Representatives and Senators:

I write to you today to urge you to support in an economic recovery package that calls for investment in America’s Main Streets. America’s mayors strongly endorse President-Elect Obama’s call for a massive economic recovery package that creates/saves 3 million jobs over the next two years, and that invests in sustainable, energy-saving infrastructure. In today’s world, it is Mayors who lead the metro economies that drive the nation. These metro economies now account for 86 percent of national employment, 90 percent of labor income, and 90 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). Therefore, if we are going to reverse the current economic situation and create jobs, the quickest, most efficient way to do so is to invest in these “Main Street” economies.

The United States Conference of Mayors, an organization that I preside, has worked over the last several months to craft a MainStreet Economic Recovery that will create jobs now, improve the infrastructure that the private sector needs to succeed, help the small businesses of Main Street America, and have lasting economic and environmental benefits. Our plan focuses on existing programs such as the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG), Surface Transportation Program (STP), water and wastewater grants.

On December 19, the Conference of Mayors released its 3rd “Ready to Go” survey of 643 cities of all sizes in all regions of the country (www.usmayors.org). These cities have identified over 15,000 infrastructure projects as “ready to go.” These projects represent an infrastructure investment of almost $97 billion, capable of producing over 1.2 jobs in 2009 and 2010.

As Congress works with the President-Elect to craft an economic recovery program, let me try to address what might be concerns of those who may not understand cities and their capacity as public works engines.

Get the shovels in the dirt quickly. Cities are public works organizations. We are always building and rebuilding our infrastructure and community assets: sidewalks, community centers, gymnasiums, water systems, schools, roads (usually complete streets), a multitude of municipal buildings serving a multitude of purposes, and much, much more. We have on staff people who oversee contracts put out for bid and supervise construction of the widest array of public works projects. We also know how to use the design/build approach, an acceptable and efficient way of getting projects done more quickly than normal.

A process involving cities could easily be managed. The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program already exists and every year the federal government directly allocates funds to cities over 50,000 people. That database is available. For the economic stimulus, immediate communication with cities would easily be established. The guidelines could be stipulated and cities could start planning and be ready to spend the money immediately-- “use it or lose it” would apply. Just as with the CDBG system, a percentage of the money could be allocated to the state or to the Metropolitan Planning Organizations to be used for smaller communities. They would likewise be challenged to begin their projects immediately.

The need for American cities. There is no city in America that does not have a long list of infrastructure improvements and capital projects needs. Most cities have had their capital budgets stressed and their repair and maintenance budgets overwhelmed. Most cities have always planned for the future and have a substantial list of desired and community-backed improvements. To make an unprecedented investment in public infrastructure and not use this vehicle would be a wasted opportunity.

The economic downturn, the likes of which our country has not faced since the Great Depression, has created a lack of confidence in the American people. We need to restore their sense of hope. One way to accomplish this is to show them that in their local communities, projects are underway, jobs are being created. They will be witness to our investment, they will be able to benefit from it, they will know that things have started to turn around. Basically, to have all these monies go to state highway departments for road rebuilding or resurfacing, most of which will be invisible to neighborhoods, certainly in our cities, will not give the sense of hope and encouragement that our citizens need.

I stand ready to work with you to make sure that a Main Street Economic Recovery package creates/saves 3 million jobs, promotes energy independence, and rebuilds our great Nation.


Sincerely,

Manuel A. Diaz
Mayor

USCM Releases Third Report of Main Street Recovery Plan

The U.S. Conference of Mayors recently released the third installment of their Ready-to-Go Jobs Report that inventories infrastructure projects from cities around the country that could be started and completed in just two calendar years to create over a million jobs with help from federal dollars.

This report contains examples of the kinds of projects that, if funded through existing channels, would contribute significantly to the President-elect's stated goal of creating 2.5 million jobs to spur the national economy.

The USCM, an organization that I preside, represents over 1,300 mayors and their cities. The organization invited its members to submit what projects they could start right away and put people to work.

Investing in MainStreet metropolitan economies, which comprise 90% of our gross domestic product and drive the national economy, is the most direct path to creating jobs and stimulating the business that can begin to reverse the current economic downturn. Additionally, metro infrastructure projects can start quickly because the funding for them can come directly to their cities through existing funding channels such as the Community Development Block Grant.

The mayors of 641 cities of all sizes in all regions of the country reported a total of 15,221 local infrastructure projects are "ready to go." These projects represent an infrastructure investment of $96,638,419,313 that would be capable of producing an estimated 1,221,677 jobs in calendar years 2009 and 2010.

The USCM accepted each city’s project submittal, and each Mayor and City is responsible for its justification for putting these projects forward.

However, Mayors recognize that this list must go through a review process through which Congress and the new Administration will identify projects eligible for funding. During this process, the new Administration and Congress must create a selection criteria to decide which projects are feasible and would be of most benefit to the community.

To view the entire report and individual city results, please go to http://www.usmayors.org/.

- Manny

Annual Update on Hunger & Homelessness Released during Miami Cares Day

Photos by Jorge Perez/City of Miami

At this time of significant economic downturn, the issues of hunger and homelessness in America are more prevalent than ever. Cities are the front lines where these effects are first felt, which is why mayors have been proactive and have implemented local initiatives to combat hunger and homelessness in their communities. Miami Cares Day is a coordinated effort that our City has done for the past four years to address these very issues and take care of our most vulnerable residents.
The City of Miami Homeless Assistance Program, in conjunction with more than 20 community partners, provided free services today to more than 700 homeless individuals during the fourth annual Miami Cares Day on December 12. During the event, 513 meals were served and 118 homeless individuals were taken off the street in a single day, through shelter placement, residential treatment and relocation.
The U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) also released results of its 2008 Hunger and Homelessness Report at a press conference during the Miami Cares event.
The USCM report reveals that on average, cities reported a 12 percent increase in homelessness from 2007 to 2008, with 16 cities citing an increase in the number of homeless families. The lack of affordable housing, poverty and unemployment were cited as the primary causes of homelessness for families. For individuals, the top three causes cited were substance abuse, affordable housing and mental illness. The lack of affordable housing, poverty and unemployment were cited as the primary causes of homelessness for families.
Only Los Angeles, Phoenix, Cleveland and Miami saw a decline. Miami saw a 16% decline from last year, and a 66% decline from 2003, the year we adopted our 10 year plan to reduce homelessness.
This year’s survey included a special focus on the demand for government subsidized housing and the effect of the foreclosure crisis on homelessness. Twelve cities (63) percent reported an increase in homelessness because of the foreclosure crisis.
The report shows that requests for emergency food assistance went up in nearly every city surveyed with the demand outpacing the supply in 20 cities. The Miami Indoor Meal Program served 150,000 meals last year.

December 18 update:

Today I received impressive numbers detailing the positive impact we had on Miami's homeless during Miami Cares Day:

250 volunteers were able to provide 743 people with 92 shelter placements, 47 haircuts, 136 showers and new clothes, 18 long distance phone calls to family and friends, 14 family re-unifications, 12 substance abuse treatment placements, 59 people were provided medical services, 40 mental health screenings were administered, 15 veterans affairs consultations were given, 33 legal service consultations were given, 38 permanent housing applications were filled and filed, 49 food stamps applications were filled and filed, 475 gift bags were handed out, 86 HIV/Hepatitis tests were administered, 81 people were provided with optical services, 88 Florida I.D.'s were issued, 21 people people were given manicures/pedicures, and 118 people were provided with some form of housing.

Thank you to all of the volunteers who made this possible!

To read the entire USCM 2008 Hunger and Homelessness Report, please visit www.usmayors.org.

Follow this link to hear my NPR interview about the report and homelessness.

- Manny

A Call to Washington to Invest in Our Cities

Investing in MainStreet metropolitan economies, which comprise 90% of our gross domestic product and drive the national economy, is the most direct path to creating jobs and stimulating the business that can begin to reverse the current economic downturn. Yesterday I was joined by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, to renew our call for MainStreet Economic Recovery during a press conference on Capitol Hill, and to release the second report that inventories local ‘ready-to-go’ infrastructure projects – projects that could be started and completed in cities in just two calendar years -- if emergency federal funding were made available. We were also joined by House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charlie Rangel (NY).
Information on these projects has been submitted to the U.S. Conference of Mayors from hundreds of cities in all regions of the country and includes projects in ten different sectors including Community Development Block Grants, transit, highway infrastructure, green jobs, school modernization, public safety and public housing (see details at http://www.usmayors.org/).
Immediately following the press conference, we met with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in her office and then with Senate Majority Leader Reid and Assistant Senate Majority Leader Durbin to discuss the report and the MainStreet Economic Recovery plan.

Below are my remarks given during the press conference:

Main Street America’s economic crisis continues to worsen.

Since the start of the recession a year ago, our nation has lost nearly 2 million jobs. Over 10 million American workers are now unemployed.

These workers live and work in our cities, they live and work on Main Street.

Mayors also live and work on Main Street.

We see problems first and are the first to respond.

Mayors lead the metro economies, our nation’s economic engines, accounting for 86 percent of jobs, 90 percent of income and gross domestic product.

With a real sense of urgency, we met throughout the Summer to begin drafting our main street economic recovery plan.

Our plan calls for investments that will stimulate our economy by quickly creating jobs, fixing our aging infrastructure, increasing our global competitiveness and further reducing our carbon footprint.

In developing our plan, we asked our 1,200 member cities to provide us with a specific list of their 2009 and 2010 shovel-ready projects, their estimated cost and the number of jobs created.

To date, 427 cities of all sizes have responded. We have over 11,300 infrastructure projects “ready to go.”

They represent an investment of more than 73 billion dollars and will produce an estimated 848,000 jobs in 2009 and 2010.

These are real jobs, and a real return on taxpayer investment.

To reverse the current economic crisis, we must invest wisely. We must invest where we get the greatest return: in “Main Street.”

We are not here for a bailout. We are here to help build-out America, and put America back to work, and to strongly endorse President Elect Obama’s call for a long-term economic recovery plan that creates or saves 2.5 million jobs over the next two years, and that invests in a sustainable, energy-saving infrastructure.

We are prepared to work with President Elect Obama and our congressional leaders to measure our progress, to spend the dollars timely or lose them, and to account for the number of jobs created and the energy saved.

The conference will continue to collect information from our members and issue our next update during the first week of January.

- Manny