Hispanic Enterprise - June/July 2008 - (Page 16)

Q &A AMERICA’S MAYOR LOCAL CONCERNS SHOULD BE A TOP PRIORITY OF GOVERNMENT, SAYS MIAMI MAYOR MANNY DIAZ By Doreen Hemlock W hen Miami Mayor Manny Diaz became president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors in June, he became the ﬁrst Hispanic since the 1980s and one of the few independents and immigrants ever to hold the post. Born in Cuba and raised in Miami, the 53-year-old lawyer spoke with Hispanic Enterprise on the challenges ahead as he assumes the leadership of an organization representing the concerns of mayors of 1,139 cities throughout the country. HE: How did you get involved with the U.S. Conference of Mayors? MD: When I was running for mayor, I used to do a lot of research and looked at what was being done in other cities, the best practices, to see what I might want to implement in Miami. The Conference website was a tremendous tool and resource. So, when I got elected, I thought I’d join all these other mayors I’d been reading about. I chose to step up and take a leadership position. I was welcomed with open arms. HE: What are your priorities as president of the group? MD: Two years ago, when I was third in line, [the group’s leadership] decided to work on a three-year program leading up to the 2008 elections. We developed the 10-point plan to focus on our principal issues, to make sure the presidential candidates were aware of them, dealing with them, and hopefully, embracing them. Our ﬁrst issue is the environment and energy block grants. There are over 850 mayors now that have signed the Climate Protection Agreement (aiming to meet Kyoto Protocol targets to trim greenhouse gas emissions 7 percent below 1990 levels by 2012.) We’ve had a great deal of difﬁculty with this administration getting them to focus on the issue. We’re seeking maybe $10 billion in energy block grants over ﬁve years. The money would come directly to cities and counties for proposals with the goal of energy efﬁciency, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and creating green jobs. HE: Why have cities had trouble obtaining federal funds? MD:This administration has a policy of pushing down responsibilities and obligations to the local level and at the same time, not funding them. It has a philosophy that the federal government should not be involved in issues like crime, that crime is a local problem. Well, it’s not: [crime] is a national problem, the environment is a national problem. Hopefully, whoever the next president is next January will have a different philosophy. HE: Still, money will be a problem for a new president, with the economy slow, the war in Iraq and the huge deﬁcit. How do you get attention for cities? MD: Cities provide more than 85 percent of jobs and economic output in this country. We’re the economic engine. We need a partnership with Washington, not to be on opposite sides. Funds are there. It’s a question of what you prioritize. Our greatest challenge is making sure the next president is on board with the urban agenda and will work with the Congress to get these issues implemented. HE: Why do you think Washington should listen to the concerns of local mayors? MD:While people in Washington debate the issues philosophically, we at the local level deal with it practically every single day. Mayors are on the front line.We see things before others do and deal with them ﬁrst. We need a strong partnership with Washington, not to be on opposite sides. Because as cities grow and prosper, so does our country. HISPANIC ENTERPRISE 16 June/July 2008

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Hispanic Enterprise - June/July 2008

Hispanic Enterprise - June/July 2008 Contents Briefcase: BIZBUZZ: Business Briefs Briefcase: Dynamic Trends Briefcase: Q&A Briefcase: Trendsetters BizLife: BizTech BizLife: Travel Feature: Target: Hispanics Cover Story: A Legend in His Own Time Feature: Top 25 Franchises Success & Motivation: The Talent Scout Education: Success by Degrees Finance & Investing: A Tough Sell Social Events: Emerge Dallas Politics & Government: The Accidental Americans Managing: Deconstructing Networking

Hispanic Enterprise - June/July 2008

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