The nation's mayors send their ideas for Obama

Springdale, AR
Pop. 65,000
Jerre M. Van Hoose, mayor
A program to create jobs for construction workers that are out of work because of the economic slow down. This program would put people to work, while improving much-needed infrastructure in rapidly growing cities such as ours. For instance, our state Department of Transportation has completed the design on a $500 million dollar U.S. 412 bypass, which would greatly help our area. There are funds available for right-of-way acquisition, but not for construction. Here is an opportunity to put people to work quickly.

Texarkana, AR
Pop. 30,000
Horace G. Shipp, mayor
1. The current federal transportation plan (SAFETEA-LU) is actually a 2005 re-authorization of a 1995 plan. The current plan expires Sept. 30, 2009. Many feel the U.S. transportation network is in crisis, and that Congress must develop and approve a new, fully-funded plan that addresses every facet of transportation. China annually spends 9 percent of GDP on transportation; India, 6; the U.S., 2. We are regressing in the areas of maintaining as well as creating new transportation infrastructure. We must turn this around and do it soon. What will you do to place transportation matters and related legislation at the forefront of our national priorities? 2. As a mayor of a small town with many low-to-moderate-income families, we have seen the annual funding level for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) decrease by about 35 percent over the past 6-8 years. Yet our needs in these neighborhoods have continued to grow.

Arizona

Avondale, AZ
Pop. 76,000
Marie Lopez Rogers, mayor
My top priority for Avondale, AZ, is to see a return of jobs lost as a result of the economic downturn. For too long Arizona’s economy has relied on construction, housing and banking for jobs. Arizona must diversify its job base. Bring back small manufacturing and call center operations and allow workers to support their families. Provide states the necessary financial aid for education and job training.
Secondly, I’d like swift action to resolve the foreclosure crisis. Avondale has the highest foreclosure rates in Maricopa County. The banks must be forced to use the bailout money to help families trapped in adjustable-rate mortgages. For investor-owned properties, fast track the foreclosure process and put properties back on the market for families to purchase through homebuyer assistance programs. Our communities need help now!

Nogales, AZ
Pop. 20,878
Octavio Garcia-Von Borstel, mayor
I ask the president-elect to widen the Port of Entry connecting our border city of Nogales, Arizona with Mexico. Let me be clear, we completely support increased security measures on our border. However, due to the more detailed approach, every day legal commuting from Mexico into our city has slowed to a crawl because the walkway is simply not wide enough to process the legal crossings fast enough. The City of Nogales depends on local downtown business taxes, which are fueled greatly by legal visitors from Mexico. If those legal visitors cannot get through the Port of Entry in a timely fashion, our businesses and community will suffer greatly. We ask to widen the Port of Entry to allow more access for legal visitors, while maintaining its current level of security.

Page, AZ
Pop. 6,809
William S. Justice, mayor
1. Water: We receive our water from Lake Powell. Our allotment came from an action of Congress when the dam was built for Lake Powell and the community incorporated. Arizona is a lower Colorado River water user, and our water comes from the upper basin. We basically have great difficulty when it comes to water issues, as we as a rule feel we haven't any representation with this issue.
2. Economic Stimulus: Our community is a tourist destination which relies on the tourist dollar to support our economic well-being. If people don't travel here due to the hardships associated with the obvious recession our nation is in, we will be in serious trouble financially.

Phoenix, AZ
Pop. 1,321,045
Phil Gordon, mayor
1. Due to federal neglect, the Phoenix Police Department has arrested or tuned over to ICE more than 15,000 illegal immigrants in just two years. Phoenix is paying $2 million a year in booking costs. But here’s a bigger cost: Phoenix Police Officer Nick Erfle was killed by a man who had been arrested before and deported to Mexico by our federal government. Because Congress and the President have yet to find the time to secure our borders, this man had no problem re-entering the country, and robbing our community of a hero.
2. As head of the U.S. Conference of Mayors task force on immigration reform. I will be recommending increased border security and enforcement; create a workable guest-worker program for unfilled jobs; elimination of obstacles to citizenship or legal status for the 10-12 million undocumented residents living in the shadows; protection of the human and civil rights of detained citizens and non-citizens.

Sahuarita, AZ
Pop. 3,242
Lynne Skelton, mayor
It is our desire to have the president lead the country back into a stable and prosperous economy. Restoring and providing the consistent sense of confidence in our ability to get back on our feet.
1. The federal government should aggressively address the development of renewable energy, investing in manufacturing and job training programs for clean technologies. Fund innovation in research, develop and design solutions to real-world challenges.
2. Realistic immigration reform that can be enforced without causing economic or human trauma. Economic and social policy is directly related to immigration policy creating a strong local, state and national need for reform. Instead of attempting to keep millions out, identify and find an orderly way for a smaller number of immigrants thereby meeting the needs of shared prosperity.

California

Beverly Hills, CA
Pop. 33,784
Barry Brucker, mayor
Our Country sent a clear message that change is needed and you are the leader to implement it. What specific plans do you foresee within your first 100 days in office to shore up our sagging economy and universal health care system? Our country is spending Billions of dollars on the Iraq war. Given that few other countries have participated or care to contribute, is it not time for us to find an exit strategy that could be within the 16 months that you proposed on the campaign trail. Those billions of dollars spent on guns and bullets should be re-directed to providing US job security, green jobs, universal health care and bolstering our education system. Can we expect a 90 percent exit from Iraq within your first year in office?

Brentwood, CA
Pop. 23,445
Robert (Bob) Taylor, mayor
I would like to see immediately an economic package. Also the future progress involving national security. We are a young community, and the foreclosure rate is quite high, and there is much concern about displacement of families. With so much economic turmoil, the prospects of a national security attack would gravely impact the future growth of young progressive cities.

Calabasas, CA
Pop. 20,033
Mary Sue Maurer, mayor
1. A couple years ago, the City of Calabasas boldly passed a law protecting the public from exposure to secondhand smoke. It is my hope that the Obama administration will finally break free of the tobacco industry's extraordinary influence in Washington and pass long-overdue legislation to protect the health of all Americans. This can be accomplished by giving the FDA regulatory oversight of tobacco products and their marketing.
2. Another priority should be fulfilling the government's promise to provide 40 percent of special education costs. Great advances have been made in the diagnosis of autism and other childhood disabilities, but funding to educate these children remains less than half of what was promised. This is financially impacting school districts across the country, and, tragically, it fuels public resentment toward special education students and their families.

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