The nation's mayors send their ideas for Obama

Fontana, CA
Pop. 188,498
Mark Nuaimi, mayor
1. Residents in my community and our region need the federal government to pass a targeted stimulus package that helps employment and housing. This stimulus package could include funding for transportation improvements (like the Cypress / I-10 overpass), flood control improvements, and provisions for tax credit financing to promote acquisition and rehabilitation of foreclosure housing.
2. The federal government should suspend onerous environmental review and streamline project delivery. NEPA should be suspended for a year to allow for expedited project delivery. The federal government should examine the costs of endangered species protection on communities like Fontana and our neighbors, where the protection of the Delhi Sands flower-loving fly has cost our communities tens of millions in direct costs and hundreds of millions of lost economic development.

Fremont, CA
Pop. 203,413
Bob Wasserman, mayor
1. Economy. Because of our sagging economy we have lost critical revenues that finance our already depleted public safety forces. We need jobs and retail growth in order to keep our residents shopping and working in their city.
2. Health care is a national need. In our area it is very expensive, and the poor have great difficulty accessing the system.

Glendora, CA
Pop. 49,415
Karen Davis, mayor
1. In California, we have a state budget deficit, with the state robbing from the cities to pay their bills. The president-elect needs to provide some economic stimulus to help stabilize our state budget which, will then help cities, and eventually citizens.
2. Additional federal funding for crumbling roads, antiquated water and sewer systems, and of course, additional funding and incentive for mass transit, i.e., the Gold Line commuter train.

Hollister, CA
Pop. 34,413
Doug Emerson, mayor
1. We have one of the highest foreclosure rates in California, so one program I would propose would be the following: Very low interest loans, probably second mortgages, to assist first-time homebuyers in the purchase of foreclosed or vacant properties. Our redevelopment agency has put this program in place, but with only $500,000 we are limited to helping only 10 families. The purchaser must have a 30-year fixed rate mortgage and we assist with a 1 percent second mortgage up to $50,000. If a similar program were available on a large scale, we could reduce the number of vacant properties and also provide home ownership for a large number of first-time homebuyers.
2. Some sort of incentive for small businesses to expand or some sort of incentive for small business start up. With unemployment rates at historically high levels, especially in San Benito County, we have a tremendous need to create jobs.

Laguna Beach, CA
Pop. 23,727
Jane Egly, mayor
1. Steps to get us out of Iraq.
2. Include in all plans actions to reduce our carbon footprint.

Manhattan Beach, CA
Pop. 33,852
Richard P. Montgomery, mayor
I had the good fortune to meet and speak with (for all of 30 seconds) then-Senator Obama at the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Miami three months ago. I asked him then what I will tell you now. My hope is that the next president will pay the state of California back the costs we have incurred due to illegal immigration. The costs paid by the state of California were for law enforcement, jail, hospital and schools. All of these "free" services were provided to illegal immigrants because of a failed federal immigration policy. Obama's answer to me (which was also heard by the mayor of Redondo Beach, Mike Gin) was, "you are absolutely right, the next president will have to address that problem".
2. Encourage cities to install solar panels on the roofs of public buildings and or install solar-powered streetlights. Then provide rebate money for their purchase and installation.

Murrieta, CA
Pop. 44,282
Rick Gibbs, mayor
1. Market stability affects everything from credit to the foreclosure crisis. Within Murrieta, there are 2,000 homes of 30,000 in default. Municipal employees' California pension funds have lost billions, and the city will have to increase employee match contribution rates. Murrieta residents have lost staggering sums in 401(k)'s and are afraid to make major purchases, such as cars, which are off 16 percent from last year. The President can restore confidence by seeking small but meaningful policy changes on Wall Street to decrease volatility.
2. Tax policy: I would ask that the president consider what the effects of raising taxes in a down economy will mean. California has more than ample empirical data that indicates attempts to tax our way out of recession do not work. The governor has just proposed raising California sales taxes as a temporary solution to deficits. Revenues will decrease in Murrieta and the state.

Pacific Grove, CA
Pop. 15,522
Dan Cort, mayor
Implement Power Purchase Agreements, which would mandate the utilization of the roofs of public buildings for the installation of solar panels. These buildings would essentially generate their own power. Utility companies such as PG&E are already mandated to buy this power. Investors would take advantage of the 35 percent tax credits to invest in the equipment and would be paid back with interest by income received by cities from utility companies. This would lower the cost of power for all cities, provide new industry for America in the production of solar panels, converters, and related equipment, and put America back on the green cutting edge of alternative energy. This plan would accomplish President-elect Obama's mission to create green jobs, decrease greenhouse gas emissions and assist our economy by reducing utility costs and foreign oil/energy dependence.

Port Hueneme, CA
Pop. 21,845
Jonathan Sharkey, mayor pro tem
1. The Center for Asymmetric Warfare is housed here at Naval Base Ventura County and is a underutilized asset. As we look at homeland security, it is apparent that cooperation and training must be shared across all levels of government. Port Hueneme is home to the only deep-water commercial port between Los Angeles and San Francisco as well as being the home of the Pacific Sea Bees. Ours and other ports must be prepared to respond should the unthinkable occur. Lives, material, and our economy are at stake.
2. Our city faces a continuing coastal erosion problem. During the past administration there has been discussion about "reforming" the Army Corps of Engineers. Some of the discussion has been about getting the Corps out of the coastal protection business and forcing the locals to fend for themselves. Due to the enormous costs involved, this would simply bankrupt virtually all of our coastal cities.

Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Pop. 41,145
Douglas W. Stern, mayor
We have no particular issues that we desire to have President Obama address as city issues. Instead, I desire him to address in a much more thoughtful way than has the present Administration the issues of (1) our economy and (2) our foreign affairs/wars. We must put an end to making decisions based on political ideology, and begin again to find real-world solutions based on quality analysis and thought. That is my desire as the mayor of one American city.

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