The nation's mayors send their ideas for Obama

Birmingham, MI
Pop. 19,291
Don Carney, mayor
1. First is the automobile industry. From all indications that I have read or heard, the domestic automobile industry situation is becoming very serious, and some say it is already desperate. The federal government simply must act and act promptly. The consequences to this region if one of the big 3 fails will be devastating. Moreover, it is increasingly apparent that the consequences of a failure will affect the entire country, not just this region, and put the country into an enormous economic downturn.
2. The second issue is the mortgage housing issue. As residential foreclosures continue to rise, the problem of a nationwide further decline in real estate values is very real. The impact on municipal finance will be severe and will destroy much of our infrastructure and public's confidence in government.
There needs to be prompt action taken on both issues. At once.

New Baltimore, MI
Pop. 7,405
Thomas A. Goldenbogen, mayor
1. Funding of our roads, sidewalks and bridges is subject to the amount of gallons of gasoline sold! With the downturn in our economy in Michigan and in many other states we have see less gasoline purchased, while the construction materials for roads continues to escalate! We need the revenues that take care of roads to be addressed!
2. Encouragement from federal government to continue to invest in the maintenance of our water, waste water, and infrastructure in all our cities though continued planning and engineering grants as well as subsidized interest on loans!

Portage, MI
Pop. 44,897
Peter Strazdas, mayor
1. Fix our local roads and bridges.
2. Support local police and fire service. Public safety is the Number 1 issue in our communities.

Warren, MI
Pop. 140,000
James R. Fouts, mayor
Barack Obama needs to urge Congress to pass a domestic manufacturing Marshall Plan that includes waiving all federal corporate taxes for 10 years on any corporation that purchases an abandoned auto plant closed because of a merger of any of the Big Three auto companies. One condition is that each state waives all corporate state taxes for 10 years, and that the company purchasing the vacant property begins its manufacturing within six months of the purchase, hires a specific number of employees by a date certain, and does not include 'golden parachutes' or exotic trips for employees. The company making the purchase could apply for local tax incentives but must pay all local real and personal property taxes immediately after the purchase. This legislation would encourage corporations to purchase vacant facilities and create jobs at that facility. It would allow local governments to collect personal and real property taxes.

Minnesota

Bemidji, MN
Pop. 11,917
Richard Lehmann, mayor
1. As the "First City On the Mississippi" we have an obligation to protect the mighty river and all waters relating to it. As we send the river on its journey to New Orleans and the Gulf of Mexico we have a responsibility to make sure the water that leaves Northern Minnesota is clean and polution free. Therefore, I would like to see a program where communities such as ours have access to federal dollars for the infrastructure to extend municipal sewer and water services around Lake Bemidji. A project of this magnitude is very expensive and meets with a lot of resistance because of the cost of assessing property owners for the construction.
2. Federal government should take care of the local Indian reservation in the form of social services. This should not be on the shoulders of the local taxpayer just because we live in a county that had a reservation.

Columbia Heights, MN
Pop. 18,520
Gary Peterson, mayor
Economy. End the bickering between parties and start working together for the good of all of America.

Fergus Falls, MN
Pop. 13,471
Hal Leland, mayor-elect
1. Public safety is a primary concern in our city. Drug related crime has increased in our community and county and requires additional law enforcement personnel. Federal funding is needed to meet the needs.
2. Remove or rework the "No Student Left Behind" mandate without adequate funding. Our school district is in statutory operating debt and cannot provide the resources necessary to meet the provisions of the mandate. Provide more federal funding basic and special education. Not more unrealistic and unfunded requirements.

Golden Valley, MN
Pop. 20,281
Linda Loomis, mayor
1. The new president needs to address the burgeoning national debt. He owes to the young people that were a large part of his election. It is also an issue of national security.
2. This country needs to adopt a strong energy policy. This goes hand in hand with the national debt problem as a large amount of our country's debt is to purchase foreign oil. The United States' dependence on foreign oil puts this country in very precarious position economically, both in keeping our country's market working and in placing the security of our country in jeopardy.

Mississippi

Hattiesburg, MS
Pop. 44,779
Johnny L. Dupree, mayor
1. Neighborhood stabilization: Post-Katrina closure (families in homes with blue roofs and who are still in FEMA trailers). Address affordable housing for families living in flood plain areas and areas where homes were built before 1978 with children under 5 and are high risk for lead exposure. Environmental justice issues dealing with brownfields and contaminated properties. Hattiesburg is 125 years old and in need of Infrastructure improvements, e.g., lights, sidewalks, street, water, sewer, bridges.
2. Increased opportunity for job creation.

Missouri

Blue Springs, MO
Pop. 48,080
Carson Ross, mayor
Stop unfunded mandates by federal agencies to cities, e.g., EPA waste water treatment.

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