| An informal association formed to
strategize about how to best represent Ohio’s cities is gathering in Akron today with
an agenda focusing on homeland security issues and their impact on urban areas. The Big
Cities’ Mayors |
| meeting is being held at the John S. Knight
Center in downtown Akron where the mayors of six Ohio cities are gathering to sign a
memorandum of understanding on mutual aid. Included
in the meeting with Mayor Don Plusquellic are: Mayor Jane Campbell of Cleveland, |
 |
Akron and Mayor Don
Plusquellic host Ohio's Big Cities' Mayors organization at the John S. Knight Center.
Next to Mayor Plusquellic: Toledo Mayor Jack Ford, Cleveland Mayor Jane Campbell, Dayton
Mayor Rhine McLin, Columbus Mayor Mike Coleman and Cincinnati Mayor Charlie Luken. |
|
| Columbus Mayor Mike Coleman,
Mayor Charlie Luken of Cincinnati, Rhine McLin, the mayor of Dayton and Mayor Jack Ford
from Toledo. |
"The Big Cities’ Mayors’ goal is to be a
force in Columbus with the Ohio General Assembly, which has long been championing the
cause of suburbs over cities," said Mayor Don Plusquellic. "Our urban centers
are hubs for jobs, entertainment, recreation, infrastructure and important public safety
services that are also used by our suburban neighbors. Without strong cities, the suburbs
will not survive," continued Plusquellic.
This is the third meeting of this organization. The mayors met informally last summer
at the annual meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Madison, Wisconsin. The group
then assembled in Columbus in October when the mayors sent to the legislature an outline
of issues that deeply concerned them.
Today the agenda focuses on homeland security. The mayors are combining all of their
skills and talents in the area of public safety to create a mutual aid pact that would
allow them to move easily from one city to another in the event of a mass casualty or
disaster or terrorist attack. Only Ohio’s cities are equipped with
advanced-training units and sophisticated equipment to perform any specialty functions
such as hazardous materials cleanup, deep excavation and explosives detection and
destruction.
At 11:15 this morning, Mayors Plusquellic, Campbell, Coleman, Luken, McLin and Ford
gathered at a news conference for the signing of the memorandum of understanding on mutual
aid.
"This will now give cities the peace of mind in knowing that regardless of whether
funding comes in time from the federal level to assist with homeland security, Ohio’s
major urban areas will be able to assist and protect one another in this important
emergency response procedure," said Mayor Plusquellic.
The Big Cities’ Mayors meeting concludes this afternoon.
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