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Congress of Cities Speakers Stress Partnerships, Look to the Future
by Cyndy Liedtke Hogan
 NLC President Kathleen M. Novak, mayor of Northglenn, Colo., in addressing the opening general session of NLC's Congress of Cities, talked about NLC's newfound growing partnership with the Obama Administration and Congress as the country works to recover from the economic crisis.
“One of the most important changes that I have seen this year has been the change in the way Washington and the nation view cities,” Novak said. “No longer are cities seen as a drain on our nation, instead they are viewed as the sources for inspiration and growth they’ve always been.
“More Americans now live in cities than at any point in our nation’s history,” Novak continued. “Cities are getting their just recognition for being both the economic and cultural leaders for the nation.”
Novak spoke of her and NLC's work during the past year on issues important to cities, partnering with the White House as well as members of Congress.
“For far too long, Washington also fought with cities or simply ignored them. But they’re speaking a different language from the White House today,” she said. “Now, I’m not declaring victory, because the end of the road is not yet in sight. We need to see the results of this relationship in the months and years to come.”
Novak thanked the many members of the Administration who came to San Antonio to speak to NLC members during the conference.
Michael Strautmanis, chief of staff to Valerie Jarrett, the senior advisor and assistant to the President for intergovernmental relations and public engagement, also spoke at the general session, highlighting the partnership between NLC and the White House.
“We need your help,” he said. “We cannot do this without you.”
Strautmanis, on behalf of the President, invited NLC to participate in a jobs summit to take place next month at the White House.
David Agnew, White House deputy director of Intergovernmental Affairs, attended the same general session and also spoke to the Board of Directors on ways NLC and the White House can work together.
In his acceptance speech as NLC’s new president, Ronald O. Loveridge, mayor of Riverside, Calif., also underscored the need for partnerships.
“Now is the time for city officials, all of us, to lead recovery and growth in our communities,” he said. “It is NLC’s time to ask Washington to stay focused on partnering with us to help our economy and our local budgets get back on track and to create good jobs. And in our cities and towns, it is time to cross boundaries, to lead in working with our many stake holders to make good things happen. It is time to collaborate and partner.”
In her Congress of Cities speech, Novak spoke about how NLC has been telling Washington that federal programs should be better coordinated across federal agencies because that’s how cities work.
“Our projects and initiatives often require that housing, transportation, economic development and environmental concerns all be integrated and coordinated,” she said.
She lauded the announcement of the “Sustainable Communities Partnership,” a multi-agency working group made up of high level officials from the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Transportation, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development designed to improve interagency coordination at the federal level involving housing, transportation and the environment.
The partnership theme also extends to Congress as NLC has worked with members of Congress on issues such as the Recovery Act. NLC also is actively engaged in discussions in the Senate on proposed legislation that would create a program to provide resources for local governments to better integrate transportation, land use and community development planning processes.
Along with these partnerships, Novak said city officials need to continue to work with all levels of government to plan and execute programs that improve the lives of citizens as cities face one of the greatest financial crises in decades.
Revenues will continue to remain low and the need for services will remain high, she said, and local officials need to ensure that their constituents understand the financial difficulties and constraints cities will be under for the time to come.
The old models no longer apply, Novak said. City officials must plan, execute and reexamine all at the same time.
“We have a role to play as city leaders working with state and federal government leaders on the basic building blocks for safe and healthy communities,” she said.
Novak ended her speech with a call to action for local officials to go home and seek out the leaders in their community whom they do not yet know.
“These other leaders are facing the same challenges you are facing,” she said. “Make a commitment to reach out to two or three of those individuals. Engage with them, speak with them, build relationships, exchange information and seek out new and innovative solutions.”
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