NLC's Board of Directors took up a number of significant issues during its summer meeting last week in Riverside, Calif. Topping the agenda were immigration, the Gulf Oil spill disaster and strategies for effectively using social media. 

As the national debate on immigration gains momentum, NLC leaders discussed the value immigrants have brought to the country socially, culturally and economically and renewed its call for Congress and the Administration to act immediately to enact comprehensive immigration reform. The Board also voiced its opposition to Arizona's controversial immigration law.

"It is important the nation adopt an immigration policy that advances the highest and best interests of all residents," said NLC President Ronald O. Loveridge, mayor of  Riverside. "Immigration has supported our nation over many decades and has been a source for economic growth and innovation for our cities and the nation. The debate over the Arizona law underscores the urgent need to move forward now with comprehensive reform at the federal level."  

The Board reaffirmed the policy resolution NLC members adopted during the organization's annual business meeting last fall that included the following key principles:

• Providing greater border security and enforcement;
• Recognizing the human and civil rights of both citizens and non-citizens;
• Strengthening penalties against employers who knowingly employ undocumented workers; 
• Creating a program for the admission of temporary workers based upon the needs of the economy and over time qualifying for legal permanent residency;
• Providing adequate fiscal support for city and state governments that are disproportionately shouldering the costs of the current broken immigration system; and 
• Establishing a process whereby the 12 million undocumented immigrants currently living in the United State may earn legalized status through payment of appropriate fees and back taxes, background checks, absence of criminal or gang activity, consistent work history, meeting English and civics requirements, and "waiting their place in line."

Several years ago, the NLC Board of Directors decided to hold NLC's 2011 annual Congress of Cities conference in Phoenix. During the recent meeting, the Board reaffirmed the decision to go to Phoenix to stand with and show support for Arizona cities that are opposing ethnic and racial profiling.

In response to the continuing effects of the Deepwater Horizon BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the Board adopted a resolution urging the federal government to coordinate closely and share resources with local governments in all phases of the response to the spill, and focuses on ensuring cleanup for the Gulf region and accountability for those responsible.

"NLC calls on the United States government, through an agreement with BP, to provide additional resources for local cleanup efforts, economic losses and other financial assistance to local governments, ensuring that these resources are provided in a timely manner," the resolution states.

The resolution also states, "the federal government, along with the National Commission on the BP oil spill, must provide research, analysis and recommendations that ensure federal, state and local governments will have the plans, resources and capacity to address and respond to future man-made disasters."

The Board of Directors also held a strategy session on how NLC can utilize social media as part of its outreach efforts. Chris Kingsley of the University of Pennsylvania's Fels Institute presented his research on how cities are utilizing social media in their everyday communications efforts and led a discussion on the implementation and use of social media in NLC's outreach efforts to members, media and the public. 

The Board also received an update on NLC's collaboration with the White House on First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move Cities and Towns initiative, which engages mayors and other municipal leaders in the fight to eliminate childhood obesity. 

Finally, in addition to adopting the organization's fiscal year 2011 budget, the Board also endorsed ongoing efforts of the 2010 governance task force and the NLC staff, in consultation with NLC members, to strengthen opportunities for members to engage with NLC and to help the organization achieve its mission and aspirations on behalf of cities.