Washington, D.C. – On the heels of President Obama’s State of the Union Address (SOTU) and under the leadership of USCM Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, nearly 300 of the nation’s mayors will convene in Washington, D.C. at the Capital Hilton Hotel to engage with Administration officials, Congressional leaders business leaders to ensure the health and economic recovery of America’s cities. First Lady Michelle Obama will deliver remarks to the mayors on Thursday, January 21st at the top of the Plenary Session.
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel will participate in a panel discussion on Reducing Violence and Strengthening Policy/Community Trust at the top of the Opening Plenary Session on Wednesday, January 20 (Presidential Ballroom). This session also features USCM President Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, USCM Vice President New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, National Urban League President & CEO Marc Morial, and St. Louis Police Chief Colonel Dotson. Mayor Emanuel will also speak in the Jobs, Education and The Workforce Committee session on Wednesday, January 20 from 2:30pm to 3:30pm (South American B). These sessions support major tenets of the Mayors’ urban agenda – The 2016 Compact for a Better America: A Call to Action — which calls on the
Presidential candidates and Congress to INVEST in and PROTECT America’s cities and metro areas. Mayors will unveil and discuss their Compact in a press conference on Wednesday, immediately before the Opening Plenary Session at 11:15am to 12:00noon ET.
With more than 85% of people in the United States living in our nation’s cities and metro areas, mayors clearly understand how urban issues impact everyday Americans and are calling on candidates to focus on these issues. Mayors are convinced that despite their geographic location, cities large and small across over the country are plagued by the same challenges including crumbling infrastructure, community/police relations, job creation, education, affordable housing, immigration and trade.
