The nation's mayors send their ideas for Obama

Mount Olive, NJ
Pop. 24,193
David Scapicchio, mayor
The economy and taxes.

North Arlington, NJ
Pop. 15,181
Peter Massa, mayor
1. Put an end to the senseless war in Iraq and rechannel much needed funds to cash-strapped states and local governmenst for public safety and public works programs.
2. Develop incentives to keep good manufacturing jobs in the U.S. rather than trading them for cheap overseas labor.

New Mexico

Alamogordo, NM
Pop. 35,582
Steve Brockett, mayor
1. Located in the northernmost Chihuahua Desert, our most precious resource is water. Founded in 1898 due to the large amount of surface water that flows from the nearby Sacramento Mountains, we have suffered through drought conditions during the past two decades. Our conservation measures have reduced water demands by more than three million gallons per day. Earlier this decade we made the commitment to pump saline groundwater from a well field about 25 miles north, on federal land. The Environmental Impact Statement study continues. It is a long process, and I am compelled to believe it has to do more with bureaucratic job security than with the well-being of our city. President Obama needs to address this bureaucratic delay. He has good people in his country who might just run out of the wet stuff.
2. National energy policy. Sen. Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico has been working diligently to make this happen.

Clovis, NM
Pop. 32,667
Gayla Brumfield, mayor
1. Address our economic situation. We need to take care of the Housing Dilemma. Housing drives the economy in many ways and this part of the economy needs to be addressed immediately. Working with lenders to make sure loans are flowing and helping home owners to stay in their home is critical.
2. Infrastructure Needs. Concentrate on our infrastructure needs such as highways, bridges, and making sure water projects are approved for our betterment, instead of doing infrastructure work and/or water projects in other countries to the determent of our country.

Española, NM
Pop. 10,000
Joseph M. Maestas, mayor
1. Stimulate rural economic development through infrastructure investment, high speed broadband, and renewable energy development. Specifically, increase funding for transportation (bridges and highways) and centralized utility (water and wastewater) infrastructure. Also, a Northern New Mexico regional high-speed fiber backbone is needed to connect rural local and tribal government economies with the mainstream economy to compensate for the geographic isolation. Lastly, renewable energy development through collaboration with the Los Alamos National Lab’s new mission and Española’s Solar Energy Research Park & Academy.
2. Improve access to affordable, comprehensive, and quality health care in rural and low-income areas. Address policy areas that create disparities in care: workforce development, financing, and development of public health infrastructure (equipment, facilities, information technology).

Ruidoso, NM
Pop. 7,698
Lonnie R Nunley, mayor
1. The economy in of utmost importance to all of America. I have faith in America and our new president to overcome any adversity regardless of its complexity, and I have faith in the American people that they can also meet the challenge ahead and work with the new administration.
2. In regard to the three wars we are dealing with (war on terror, Afghanistan, and Iraq), we need to concentrate on getting out of Iraq in a reasonable time, stabilizing Afghanistan and winning the worldwide war on terror. I have a grandson in Afghanistan with the Army and so I have a personal interest in this issue.

New York

Binghamton, NY
Pop. 47,380
Matthew T. Ryan, mayor
I urge President-elect Obama to enact an economic stimulus package that addresses both municipal infrastructure and housing.
1. Infrastructure: The City of Binghamton faces critical infrastructure needs, but lacks the proper funding. For example, state and federal standards for sewage treatment have increased dramatically, but we haven’t received any funds to offset the now-higher costs. Consequently, we may have to raise local sewer rates by 60% this year.
2. Housing: Housing is the base for cities’ economic sustainability, and the Community Development Block Grant is the single greatest resource used by cities to improve their housing stock. However, CDBG has been cut 20% in the last five years. We now have New York State’s lowest homeownership rate, but more CDBG funding would help considerably.

Cohoes, NY
Pop. 15,521
John T. McDonald III, mayor
1. Health Care is a right, and the president needs to establish the baseline of health care that all Americans are entitled too. This does not mean that government moves to a single-payer system and runs the program. Government needs to lead with the parameters and guidelines and provide oversight, however the competitive marketplace needs to comply with those rules. In particular the President needs to examine the program benefit managers, who have played a role in managing plans but have also played a larger role in expanding costs.
2. The President needs to start the withdrawal from Iraq. The funding that is to be saved needs to be placed back into domestic agenda items such as transportation, roads/bridges especially in Upstate New York and water/sewer infrastructure (1960's pump stations and ancient water filtration plants) that are in total need of replacement.

Dobbs Ferry, NY
Pop. 10,622
Scott H. Seskin, mayor
1. Infrastructure. The Ashford Avenue Bridge, Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., maintains a critical conduit which separates East-West travel between the village and the other villages in Westchester County and more directly the Village of Ardsley. Ths juncture also serves as an entrance to the Saw Mill River Parkway. This bridge is "falling down" and is scheduled for replacement; the money is in jeopardy. The Chairman of the Planning Board/Engineer and I have suggested improvements to the bridge, which in addition to replacing it, would reduce traffic back-ups and improve quality of life by creating a ramp to a bike path directly below.
2. Environment. Dobbs Ferry is blessed with a magnificent Hudson River waterfront. Unfortunately, the Hudson River remains polluted despite the best efforts of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and Riverkeeper. Cleaning up the Hudson would provide a safe place to swim and fish, improving our economy and quality of life.

Hornell, NY
Pop. 10,000
Shawn D. Hogan, mayor
The economy is number one on anyone's list, however, in my mind this should include some type of assistance to state and local governments. There has been no specific urban policy in this country for many years. One of the most valuable programs that helped local governments was the Federal Revenue Sharing program put in place by Nixon; it did more to help small and medium and large cities than any other program. We need specific plans and bench marks in place to improve all the nation's cities. Should be a cabinet level position on Urban Policy.

MORE FROM

Section Front

Obama campaign head gets big book deal Officials turn down Franken request Joe the Plumber to become war correspondent Franken lead at 49 with absentees left to count Minn. Senate winner won't be known in 2008 First Read: 'Twas the seventh week of recount... Franken opens first lead in Minn. Senate race Mom of Palin daughter's boyfriend arrested Minn. court weighs rejected absentee ballots Minnesota panel reviews disputed ballots Section Front   Add headlines to your news reader: