Mayor Richard Kidd Brings Forest Grove Concerns to Washington, DC.  Mayor Richard Kidd has been meeting this week with fellow municipal leaders and Members of Congress at the National League of Cities’ (NLC) Congressional City Conference in Washington, DC, on a range of important national and hometown issues affecting the citizens of Forest Grove.

Throughout the conference, top Congressional leadership and prominent political analysts have offered their views on what to expect from Congress and the ongoing presidential campaign.  In addition, workshops and leadership seminars are addressing such crucial issues facing cities as the effect on city finances due to the mortgage foreclosure crisis and the slowing economy, sustainability, the need to address crumbling infrastructure, rising gang violence, and immigrant services.

“We as city leaders know how important the relationship between federal and local government is to the health and well-being of our communities,” said NLC President and Madison, Alabama, Council Member Cynthia McColium.  “In this critical election year, this conference is a valuable opportunity for local leaders to let Congress and the presidential candidates know that changes made at the federal level can have profound impacts on our ability to provide services at the local level. Our message is clear: Regardless of the Outcome of the 2008 elections, the road to the White House runs through America’s cities.”  Conference speakers included House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif), along with other national leaders, including Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.), House Majority Whip James Clyhurn (D-SC), and House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank (D-Mass.) Other speakers include Mark Shields, political analyst, “The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer,” and Donna Brazile, CNN political analyst.

While at the conference, Mayor Richard Kidd  met with Sen. Ron Wyden, Sen. Gordon Smith, Rep. David Wu, and Rep. Earl Blumenauer to discuss transportation issues including Light Rail, Post Office, LNG pipeline and terminal, CDBG( Community Development Block Grant), EECBG (Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant), and other issues of concern to the National League of Cities.

 
The Congressional City Conference is the annual legislative meeting of the National League of Cities, designed to inform municipal leaders about federal policy issues while providing an opportunity for city leaders to bring local concerns to their federal elected officials in Washington, DC.   The National League of Cities is the nation’s oldest and largest organization devoted to strengthening and promoting cities as centers of opportunity, leadership and governance.  NLC is a resource and advocate for 19,000 cities, towns and villages, representing more than 218 million Americans.