| Washington, D.C. - Akron Mayor Don
Plusquellic, past president of the USCM, and the nation's mayors, led by Conference
President and Long Beach, CA Mayor Beverly O'Neill, will gather in Las Vegas from June 2-6
for the 74th Annual Meeting of The United States Conference of Mayors (USCM), hosted by
Las Vegas Mayor Oscar B. Goodman. The mayors will discuss a variety of issues impacting
America's cities including record-level gas prices and rising fuel costs, poverty,
immigration, internet predators, Avian Flu, eminent domain, tasers, prisoner re-entry,
homeland security, homelessness, transportation, telecommunications, public education, and
the on-going fight to save the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG).
Key policy resolutions to be considered include immigration reform, expanding HUD's
definition of homelessness, opposing mandatory minimum sentences, and opposing drilling in
the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR).
Confirmed participants include Senator John McCain (AZ), New Mexico Governor Bill
Richardson, Beijing, China Mayor Wang Qishan, President of the China Association of Mayors
and host of the 2008 Summer Olympics, Paul Helmke, Incoming President of the Brady
Campaign to Prevent Handgun Violence, and R. David Paulison, Under-Secretary-Designate for
FEMA.
The 74th Annual Meeting of The U.S. Conference of Mayors will be held at the Paris
Hotel, June 2-6, 2006.
All press MUST register to gain access to the U.S. Conference of Mayors Annual Meeting
events. Advance registration is recommended. Press can pre-register online at
www.usmayors.org/74thAnnualMeeting, as well as, access the full agenda, press releases and
media advisories. On-site registration will also be accepted in the working press office
at the Paris Hotel in the Versailles 1 room located on the casino level.
Working press covering any part of the meeting will be required to show a valid press
identification with photograph. Only registered, credentialed members of the press will be
permitted access to meeting events.
Highlights of the meeting include:
(All events are at the Paris Hotel or Bally's Hotel unless otherwise noted)
Friday, June 2:
7:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. - (1425 Hassel Ave., Las Vegas)
Habitat for Humanity House Build/ National Arbor Day Foundation Tree Planting
All mayors are invited to the tenth year of the "Habitat House the Mayors
Built". Mayors will help frame a house, sponsored by Freddie Mac, for a Las Vegas
family. In celebration of the 30th anniversary of the National Arbor Day Foundation's
"Tree City" program, mayors will also be planting trees in conjunction with the
Habitat home build. The National Arbor Day Foundation is recognizing mayors whose cities
have been designated a "Tree City."
10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. - Vendome C, Casino Level, Paris Hotel
Community Policing Workshop - TASERs:
What Every Mayor Needs to Know
This workshop will attempt to provide information from all sides of the
debate about this new controversial technology used by law enforcement officers.
Moderator: Miami Mayor Manuel A. Diaz
Panelists:
- John Timoney, Miami Chief of Police
- Tom Smith, President, TASER International
- Scott Greenwood, National Board Member and Former General Council, American Civil
Liberties Union (ACLU) of Ohio
10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. - Director's, Casino Level, Bally's Hotel
Community Trees Task Force
This new task force will examine challenges facing local urban forestry programs, such as
the Asian long horn beetle, and will develop best practices of local community trees
programs.
Chair: Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann
10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. - Skyview 1, 26th Floor, Bally's Hotel
Hunger and Homelessness Task Force
In the last few years, over 200 communities across the nation have developed 10-Year Plans
to end chronic homelessness. This session will explore the elements of several outstanding
plans, and conclude with an overview of innovative approaches to end hunger in America.
Chair: San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom
Speakers:
- Philip F. Mangano, Exec. Dir., U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness
- Las Vegas Mayor Oscar B. Goodman
10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. - Skyview 2, 26th Floor, Bally's Hotel
Urban Water Council
This session will focus on the impact of Global Warming on community water resources.
Chair: Albuquerque Mayor Martin J. Chavez
12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. - Champagne Ballroom, Casino Level, Paris
Hotel
Health Luncheon
Mayoral Best Practices on Healthy Cities
Presentations:
- Dallas Mayor Laura Miller
- Trenton Mayor Douglas H. Palmer
Remarks:
- Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann
2:00 p.m. - Versailles 2, Casino Level, Paris Hotel
OPENING PRESS CONFERENCE
Overview of key issues to be discussed during the 74th Annual Meeting
- Long Beach Mayor Beverly O'Neill, President of USCM
- Dearborn Mayor Michael Guido, Vice President of USCM
- Trenton Mayor Douglas Palmer, Chair of the Advisory Board, USCM
- Las Vegas Mayor Oscar B. Goodman, Host
- And other key mayors
2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. - Vendome A, Casino Level, Paris Hotel
Poverty, Work and Opportunity
The Task Force on Poverty, Work and Opportunity has adopted two complimentary challenges
to create a national policy agenda for the Mayors and to build a well founded platform
from which Mayors from across the country will speak, with a unified voice, on a
"Real Opportunity Agenda" for America.
Presiding:
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa
Chair, Poverty, Work and Opportunity Task Force
Moderator:
Willie L. Brown, Jr., Former Mayor of San Francisco
Panelists:
- Jack Kemp, Former Member of Congress & Former Secretary of Housing and Urban
Development
- Bruce Katz, The Brookings Institute
2:30 p.m.-4:00 p.m. - Vendome B, Casino Level, Paris Hotel
Solving the Nation's Energy and Environmental Crisis
This interactive session will provide mayors with briefings from national experts on the
issues of climate change, rising gas prices, and energy costs. Find out what the experts
and Mayors are doing through innovative best practices to help alleviate the "pain at
the pump" and reduce the economic and environmental impact that high energy prices
have caused.
Presiding:
Long Beach Mayor Beverly O'Neill, President, USCM
Speakers:
- Dr. Heidi Cullen, Climate Expert, The Weather Channel
- Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO and Founding Chairman U.S. Green Building Council
- Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, One-Year Anniversary of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement
2:30 p.m.-4:00 p.m. - Vendome C,
Casino Level, Paris Hotel
Missing and Exploited Children: The Role of Mayors in Protecting our Youth
This interactive session will provide mayors an opportunity to hear from national experts
and share best practices about what can and is being done to help parents, families and
communities protect children from sexual exploitation and abduction.
Moderator:
Elizabeth, NJ Mayor J. Christian Bollwage
Chair, Criminal and Social Justice Committee
Panelists:
- Bob Miller, Former Governor of Nevada
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
- Herb Jones, Vice President, External Affairs
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
- Mark D. Epley, Senior Counsel to the Deputy Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice
- Sugar Land, TX Mayor David G. Wallace
Saturday, June 3:
8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. - Champagne
Ballroom, Casino Level, Paris Hotel
Mayors Business Council Plenary Breakfast
Doing Business In Las Vegas -America's Fastest Growing City
Las Vegas Mayor Oscar B. Goodman, Chair of the Mayors Business Council, and his dynamic
team share their strategies and best practices for establishing the business friendly
environment that makes Las Vegas the fastest growing and most profitable city in which to
work and do business.
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon - Concorde Ballroom B & C, Casino
Level, Paris Hotel
Opening Plenary Session
- USCM President Long Beach (CA) Mayor Beverly O'Neill
- Las Vegas Mayor Oscar B. Goodman, Host
- Beijing, China Mayor Wang Qishan, President, China Association of Mayors
12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. - Champagne Ballroom, Casino Level, Paris
Hotel
74th Annual Luncheon: City Livability Awards
This annual luncheon features the 27th Annual City Livability Awards honoring Mayors for
exemplary leadership and achievement in developing programs that enhance the livability of
America's cities.
- Speaker: Senator John McCain (AZ)
- Los Angeles Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa
Sunday, June 4:
8:00 a.m.-9:30 a.m. - Skyview 5, 26th
Floor, Bally's Hotel
Workshop: Pandemic Flu Preparedness: Are We Ready?
This session will continue our dialogue on local flu preparedness initiatives in light of
the Administration's recently released "National Strategy for Pandemic
Influenza."
Moderator:
Seattle Mayor, Greg Nickels
Remarks:
Dr. Richard M. Besser, Director, Coordinating Office for Terrorism Preparedness and
Emergency Response U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. - Skyview 2,
26th Floor, Bally's Hotel
Faith-Based and Community Initiatives Task Force
This session will discuss Successful Reentry: The Mayor's Role in Reintegrating Returning
Offenders Back into the Community.
Chair:
Philadelphia Mayor John F. Street
Vice-Chair:
Miami Mayor Manuel A. Diaz
Panelist:
Congressman Danny K. Davis (IL), Second Chance Legislation
8:00 a.m.-9:30 a.m. - Skyview 3, 26th Floor, Bally's Hotel
Homeland Security Task Force
Chair:
Sugar Land (TX) Mayor David G. Wallace
Remarks:
- George Foresman, Under Secretary for Preparedness U.S. Department of Homeland Security
- R. David Paulison, Under Secretary-Designate for FEMA U.S. Department of Homeland
Security
8:00 a.m.-9:30 a.m. - Skyview 1, 26th
Floor, Bally's Hotel
Vacant and Abandoned Properties Task Force
This task force meeting will provide mayors with a guidebook for tackling the problems of
abandoned properties. Mayors will also receive a "Best Practices" publication of
more than 20 city strategies on vacant and abandoned properties, and discuss with experts
how some of those best practices were developed and implemented.
Chair: Bridgeport Mayor John M. Fabrizi
10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. - Concorde Ballroom B & C, Casino
Level, Paris Hotel
Plenary Session
Speakers:
- New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson National Strategy to Reduce Congestion on America's
Transportation Network
- Secretary Norman Mineta , U.S. Department of Transportation
Monday, June 5:
8:00 a.m.-9:30 a.m. - Skyview 5, 26th Floor, Bally's Hotel
Cities for a Strong America Transportation Investment Workshop
This session provides the mayors with an opportunity to interact with key transportation
policy stakeholders on significant investment challenges in America's cities and suburbs.
Chair: Denver Mayor John W. Hickenlooper
8:00 a.m.-9:30 a.m. - Skyview 2, 26th Floor, Bally's Hotel
Council for the New American City
Chair: Detroit Mayor Kwame M. Kilpatrick
Remarks:
The State of U.S. Metro Economies: Strained Wages in a Growing Economy
- James Diffley, Senior Vice President for Regional and Economic Analysis, Global Insight,
Inc.
- Richmond (VA) Mayor L. Douglas Wilder
- Birmingham Mayor Bernard Kincaid
8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. - Skyview 6, 26th Floor, Bally's Hotel
Workshop: Using Eminent Domain to Promote Economic Development in the Post Kelo
Era
Panelists will discuss how cities are using eminent domain to promote economic development
as well as provide an update on Congressional and state legislation that would impose
severe restrictions on local use, in response to last year's Supreme Court's decision in
the City of New London v. Kelo.
Moderator:
Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett
Chair, Standing Committee on Urban Economic Policy
Presentations:
- Carmel (IN) James Brainard
- Riviera Beach Mayor Michael Brown
- Robert Dreher, Adjunct Professor, Georgetown Environmental Law and Policy Institute
8:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m. - Skyview 3, 26th Floor, Bally's Hotel
Sustainable Development Task Force
Chair: Redmond Mayor Rosemarie Ives
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon - Concorde Ballroom B & C, Casino
Level, Paris Hotel
Business Plenary Session
Speakers:
- Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, Energy Independence
- Paul Helmke, Incoming President, Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, Gun Violence
Prevention
Tuesday, June 6:
8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. - Champagne Ballroom 3&4, Casino Level,
Paris Hotel
Inaugural Breakfast Honoring the President-Elect of The U. S. Conference of Mayors
and Installation of New Officers
- Inaugural Address by USCM President-Elect, Dearborn (MI)
Mayor Michael A. Guido
WHO:
The United States Conference of Mayors
Long Beach (CA) Mayor Beverly O'Neill, U.S. Conference of Mayors
Dearborn (MI) Mayor Michael Guido, Vice-President, U.S. Conference of Mayors
Trenton (NJ) Mayor Douglas Palmer, Chair of the Advisory Board, U.S. Conference of Mayors
Las Vegas Mayor Oscar B. Goodman, Host
Tom Cochran, Executive Director, U.S. Conference of Mayors
WHAT:
74th Annual Meeting
WHEN:
Friday, June 2 - Tuesday, June 6, 2006
WHERE:
The Paris Las Vegas
3655 Las Vegas Blvd., South
Las Vegas, NV
(702) 946-7000
Contact:
Rhonda Spears Bell (rspears@usmayors.org)
301-651-2126 cell
Elena Temple (etemple@usmayors.org)
202-309-4906 cell
The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan
organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. There are 1,139 such cities in
the country today, each represented in the Conference by its chief elected official, the
Mayor.
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