MADISON, Wis., June 18 (UPI) -- The U.S. Conference of Mayors adjourned its annual meeting Tuesday, pledging to fight for "housing that working people, seniors and needy Americans can afford."
About 250 of the nation's mayors have been meeting since Friday, discussing such issues as homeland security and adopting a variety of resolutions dealing with housing, education reform and quality of life issues.
"Our meeting is adjourned, but our work goes on," conference President Thomas M. Menino of Boston said. He promised mayors would fight for "housing that working people, seniors and needy Americans can afford ... schools that attract families to cities, rather than drive them away ... and human development initiatives that build strong families and strong cities."
Menino said he would form a grassroots campaign to lobby Congress and the public on housing issues.
To demonstrate their commitment, the mayors even helped build a Habitat for Humanity house for the sixth straight year as they kicked off their annual meeting.
"Affordable housing is at the heart of any discussion of how we create livable cities, and it is among my highest priorities ...," Mayor Susan J.M. Bauman of Madison said.
"The nation's affordable housing crisis should be on everyone's radar screen right now, but it is not," Menino said at a recent forum.
"The Bush administration and Congress need to pay attention to the housing crisis and do something to relieve the financial hardship of the millions of Americans living in substandard housing, struggling to pay rent, or denied even the dream of owning a home of their own. We must work together to preserve the housing we have and produce the housing we need."
On other issues, the mayors:
-- Released a study that found metropolitan area economies accounted for 98 percent of new jobs in 2001;
-- Agreed transportation concerns must be addressed before nuclear waste is transported to a new repository at Yucca Mountain;
-- Called for auctioning off some of the telecommunications spectrum to raise funds to help narrow the digital divide, and
-- Committed themselves to the fight against AIDS, cancer, and lead poisoning.
