The nation's mayors send their ideas for Obama

Murfreesboro, TN
Pop. 100,835
Tommy Bragg, mayor
I encourage President-Elect Obama and Congress to partner with cities in the area of sustainability. In 1987, the World Commission on Environment and Development defined sustainability as "meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." Sustainability requires attention to four interdependent elements: environmental stewardship, economic development, social equity, and financial viability. As one of the fastest growing cities in the Southeast, various city programs in the areas of land planning, public transportation, yard waste recycling and reclaimed water support our sustainability efforts. In a financially responsible manner, we encourage President Obama and Congress to assist local governments in sustainability efforts: investments in alterative fuel technologies, economic development initiatives for our downtowns and programs to assist us redevelop brownfields.

Nashville, TN
Pop. 607,413
Karl Dean, mayor
I am optimistic that President-Elect Obama will want to invest more in urban areas of the country. I heard him speak over the summer to a group of mayors, and I believe, especially given his experience in Chicago, that he understands the unique issues that face urban America. I’d like to see an urban policy developed that includes investing in our cities’ infrastructure, our roads, bridges, water systems. Not only is this needed, but it’s also a job generator, and would help stimulate our economy. I’d also like to see a focus on helping local governments develop mass transit, which again will help the economy, but will also help lower our dependency on foreign oil.

Red Bank, TN
Pop. 13,825
Joe Glasscock, mayor
1. If I had two 'wishes' post-election, my No. 1 would be that priority be given to national crises; i.e., education, unemployment, rather than fast-spending on undeveloped countries and space travel.
2. My No. 2 request would be that the president-elect work across party lines to ensure unification among all of us.

Texas

Bay City, TX
Pop. 18,667
Richard Knapik, mayor
Bay City is the county seat of Matagorda County located on the Gulf Coast. We are home to one of the Texas's nuclear powered electric generating stations. The South Texas Nuclear Operating Company was the first to file its Combined Operating License with the NRC in September 2007. My question is this, will you continue to support the incentives for the nuclear industry created by the Bush administration to spur the building of new nuclear reactors in our country?

Burleson, TX
Pop. 33,500
Ken Shetter, mayor
1. We should focus on building sustainable development infrastructure that will help get people out of cars and into alternate modes of transportation  --  light rail, commuter rail, and safe pedistrian routes to schools.
2. think President-Elect Obama's plan to improve access to higher education is a good start, and his focus on community college access is spot-on. However, merely providing tax credits won't be helpful to struggling parents or students. I would propose a system that offered zero-interest loans to those who wanted to attend community college directly after high school graduation. In Burleson, Texas, we have a new program called the Burleson Opportunity Fund which offers scholarships to community college to high school graduates. In the first year we made scholarships available to every applicant. This issue is about more than just educational opportunity  --  it is also about economic development and crime prevention.

Carrollton, TX
Pop. 109,576
Ronald F. Branson, mayor
1. Illegal immigration. This issue is a burden on a great many communities in our country. It is a drain on our public safety and related resources. It strains our school systems, hospitals, and public facilities. Identity theft runs rampant, and the number of license-less, insurance-less drivers is a horror. Our city has been approved for the Federal Homeland Security 287(g) program, but Federal funds need to be allocated to actually implement the approved resources. AMNESTY IS NOT THE ANSWER. Federal attention from a non-political viewpoint is urgent.
2. Stop mandates to local governments. Local citizens know what is best for them, and how to get the action they need from local officials. Maybe not so in large cities like Chicago and New York, but in mainstream America, it is an absolute truth. Items such as mandated collective bargaining for our public safety employees should be left to our citizens.

Del Rio, TX
Pop. 33,867
Efrain Valdez, mayor
I would like to see a look at the guest worker program like the Bracero Program that was very successful in the 1950s. This would be part of a complete immigration reform.

Waco, TX
Pop. 113,726
Virginia DuPuy, mayor
Build bipartisan (shared) leadership in solving the economic crisis, and strengthen the heart of our nation.

Weatherford, TX
Pop. 19,000
Dennis Hooks, mayor
Congested power lines and wind-generated electricity. The escalating cost of electricity affects my citizens daily. While wind energy is more efficient, the cost of delivering that power is astronomical.

Utah

South Ogden, UT
Pop. 14,377
George Garwood, mayor
1. Bring the country together. Remember, it is WE THE PEOPLE/ ONE NATION UNDER GOD.
2. The economy is so important to all of US as Americans.

Vermont

Rutland, VT
Pop. 17,292
Christopher C. Louras, mayor
1. Re-establish the WPA with the express purpose of rebuilding the antiquated public works infrastructure plaguing communities nationwide. Over half of Rutland City’s 90 miles of water mains are in excess of 100 years old. Their deteriorated condition affects public safety (through substandard firefighting capacity), public health (through potential catastrophic failure and contamination), and economic development efforts (because they cannot meet businesses’ needs). One specific main along U.S. Rte. 4 (one of the most developable tracts in Vermont) was cast and installed in 1858 by the men who three years later picked up their muskets to preserve the Union, and it is more a liability than an asset.
2. Work with Congress to restore Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant funding to pre-Bush levels. For communities like Rutland, drug-related violent crime has proved itself a truly interstate problem, requiring federal resources.

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: