The nation's mayors send their ideas for Obama

Jonesboro, GA
Pop. 3,829
Luther Maddox, mayor
1. The oil issue and our dependence on foreign oil, when our Alaska oil is shipped to the Far East, thus increasing our dependence on governments that do not even like us. Declare a windfall tax on the oil companies and dedicate the proceeds to building new refineries and drilling for more oil.
2. Stop the flood of American jobs going to other countries. Jobs for Americans will mean a strong economy. Establish a tariff on imported goods to reflect the duties that are charged on American products that are allowed into foreign countries. Make it fair trade, not a one-sided free trade.

Sugar Hill, GA
Pop. 11,399
Gary Pirkle, mayor
1. Fix the budget deficit by reducing spending, not increasing taxes. Consider import tariffs.
2. Correct the tax code to reward American companies that work in America. Do not reward offshoring jobs and corporate offices to avoid taxes.

Toccoa, GA
Pop. 9,323
AJ Pavliscsak, mayor
The first thing President-elect Barack Obama (Pebo) should do is get a grip on National Security. While most of the country apparently doesn't remember; we are at war on two fronts, i.e. Iraq and Afghanistan: there are terrorists living among us here in America. Our troops can't fight these wars with one hand tied behind their back following the edicts of panty-waist politicians.
Pebo's next priority should be to get the economy back on track by taking immediate action to provide for low-interest loans for small businesses, provide employment tax incentives for hiring, provide additional tax incentives for business expansion projects and implement a tariff on all imported goods that were shipped offshore for assembly and returned to the continental US for sale, all the while working to reduce the out of control National Debt. Eventually, it will be the greed on Wall Street and the debt that brings it all down.

Tybee Island, GA
Pop. 3,392
Jason Buelterman, mayor
1. Support for infrastructure projects, especially in light of state and federal environmental regulations which amount basically to unfunded mandates.
2. Funds for bridge replacement. Put all those laid-off auto workers to work like in the 1930s.

Hawaii

Honolulu, HI
Pop. 910,000
Mufi Hannemann, mayor
On behalf of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, I have asked the president-elect to place a high federal priority on promoting tourism to the United States and a relaxation of the federal visa waiver program, understanding of course that there needs to be a balance between national security and tourism to the U.S. An increase in tourism would not only provide an economic boost to Honolulu and Hawaii, but for many cities in many states across the country. I have recommended that there be established a cabinet-level secretary of tourism position. Additionally, I would like to see an increase in federal funding for rail mass transit. Rail transit provides economic, environmental and social benefits for cities.

Idaho

Post Falls, ID
Pop. 17,247
Clay Larkin, mayor
1. Number one for us is getting the financial mess in DC straightened out, including tightening the purse strings of the $700 billion bailout (no perks,bonuses, etc., for the higher ups) .
2. Number two would be the National Transportation Plan, of which little was discussed by anyone during the campaign. This would include the federal government loosening the strings attached to federally funded infrastructure projects, as it lengthens out time on a project; time is our worst enemy!

Illinois

Barrington, IL
Pop. 10,168
Karen Darch, village president
1. We urge President Obama to keep his campaign promise to force the nation’s freight railroads to take more seriously their corporate responsibility to the communities they operate in by changing federal rail law. Our town is learning a hard lesson that the freight railroads are allowed to do as they please with the expectation that taxpayers will have the burden of finding funds to fix the negative impacts their operations create. This can’t continue.
2. We would like to see President Obama’s commitment to change extend to federal agencies like the Surface Transportation Board that controls rail operations and mergers. Rather than serving the public interest, the STB is serving the railroads. The mission and mandate of the STB needs to be revamped by requiring that it take a balanced decision-making approach between the needs of impacted communities and freight railroads.

Belvidere, IL
Pop. 20,820
Fred Brereton, mayor
1. Mass transit & Amtrak capital funding: $247 million for the Chicago-Elgin-Belvidere-Rockford-Galena-Dubuque route via Amtrak-Metra-UP as the regional choice for commuter and inter-city rail service. An operating plan is proposed where two of the three trains operate as shuttle trains and terminate in Elgin, providing a cross-platform transfer to a scheduled inbound Metra train.
2. Public safety capital funding: $13.5 million for the renovation and expansion of a Belvidere Police Department/Boone County Sheriff Department jointly owned Public Safety Building. The current facility was built in 1975, and its use has been extended beyond expected life span for one of the fastest growing counties in the state of Illinois.

Carpentersville, IL
Pop. 37,000
Bill Sarto, village president
1. There are approximately 170 vacant or foreclosed homes in Carpentersville. Additionally, there are numerous homes in need of significant repair. A program of sufficient magnitude that would provide very-low-interest loans for municipalities to acquire and renovate or demolish abandoned or foreclosed homes, or homes that are in need of major repair, would be helpful to our community. This should be a program separate and apart from the CDBG Program.
2. A program which would provide funding for infrastructure improvements, public property maintenance, and community beautification projects, perhaps similar to the WPA or the CCC, would help the village of Carpentersville by offering jobs to unemployed persons and allowing our village to address numerous capital improvement and property maintenance needs. We also are a village that is divided by the Fox River. We have only one bridge in our village of 37,000 residents.

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: