Free Republic

The US Conference of Mayors kicked off their 83rd annual meeting this weekend and as part of the proceedings they named their new president for the coming year. The lucky winner was Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake. No, seriously. I’m not kidding. ... As noted in the local Baltimore coverage, there were some observers who were immediately skeptical regarding this selection. Given all of the recent… activity in Charm City, isn’t she a bit busy? There’s a big trial coming up involving some of her police officers, her State’s Attorney is taking on water like a submarine with a screen door...

U.S. mayors are adding their voices to those raising concerns about energy produced from Alberta's vast oilsands. The U.S. Conference of Mayors, meeting in Miami this week, has approved a resolution calling on its members to ban the use of energy from unconventional sources because of its impact on the environment. "We don't want to spend taxpayer dollars on fuels that make global warming worse," said Eugene, Ore., Mayor Kitty Piercy, who submitted the resolution.

WHAT: Mayors attending the 76th Winter Meeting of the United States Conference of Mayors will hold a Press Conference regarding the immediate need for Congress to secure our nation's borders and implement a practical and effective immigration policy. WHO: Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon and Sugar Land (TX) Mayor David Wallace, Co-Chairs of the Homeland Security Task Force on the US Conference of Mayors. Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, Chandler (AZ) Mayor Boyd Dunn and Tucson Mayor Bob Walkup WHY: Members of Congress are advising the Mayors that they will wait for the next congress and the next president to address these...

Contact: Rhonda Spears, 202-861-6766 or rspears@usmayors.org; Elena Temple, 202-861-6719 or etemple@usmayors.org, both of the United States Conference of Mayors WASHINGTON, June 24 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Following is a statement of the United States Conference of Mayors Executive Director Tom Cochran on Supreme Court ruling on City of New London Vs. Kelo case: "The United States Conference of Mayors policy states that the nation's mayors support the right of local governments to retain eminent domain to promote economic development in their individual cities. "City officials continue to act in a most judicious manner as they exercise fair and balanced judgment in...

THE DEMOCRATS BOSTON, June 28 - So much for party unity. First, John Kerry, the putative Democratic presidential nominee, decided Sunday not to attend the annual meeting of the nation's mayors here, refusing to cross a picket line of police union members feuding with Boston's mayor. Then, on Monday, Boston's mayor, Thomas M. Menino, who is not only a Democrat but also the host of the Democratic National Convention here in July, welcomed a stand-in for Mr. Kerry: Mitt Romney, the Republican governor of Massachusetts. Mr. Romney, not generally considered a friend to Democrats, seized the opportunity to praise Mr....