Led by Miami Mayor and U.S. Conference of Mayors President Manny Diaz, Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin joins a delegation of American mayors meeting with White House Senior Advisors this morning at the Old Executive Office Building regarding the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Mayors have stressed that investing in MainStreet metropolitan economies, which comprise 90% of our gross domestic product and drive the national economy, is the most direct path to creating jobs and stimulating the business that can begin to reverse the current economic downturn. Mayors believe that the American people cannot afford delay and are urging Congress to quickly pass a recovery bill now.
Following the meeting with White House personnel, mayors will meet with House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi (CA) on Capitol Hill. Both meetings are closed to the press, but mayors will hold a news conference at the White House at 10:00 am. Mayor Franklin says it is important for mayors to share with the Obama Administration because, “Large and small cities are the heartbeat of our economy and can be part of the solution to the economic crisis if they have the mechanisms to keep existing jobs and create new ones."
WHO: Mayors include:
Miami (FL) Mayor Manny Diaz, USCM President
Trenton (NJ) Mayor Douglas H. Palmer
Akron (OH) Mayor Donald L. Plusquellic
Charleston (SC) Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr.
Albuquerque (NM) Mayor Martin J. Chavez
Tulsa (OK) Mayor Kathryn Taylor
Los Angeles (CA) Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa
Providence (RI) Mayor David Cicilline
Atlanta (GA) Mayor Shirley Franklin
Denver (CO) Mayor John Hickenlooper
Southfield (MI) Brenda Lawrence
Phoenix (AZ) Mayor Phil Gordon
District of Columbia Mayor Adrian Fenty
USCM CEO & Executive Director Tom Cochran
Attached are Mayor Franklin’s 2008 letters to Secretary Paulson, Chairman Rangel and Congressman Lewis. For more City of Atlanta financial information, please visit www.atlantaga.gov.
Mayor Franklin's Letter to Congressman John Lewis
Letter to Charles B. Rangel, Chairman of the Way and Means Committee - Washington. D.C.
Mayors Letter to U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Henry Paulson