Chicago Mayor Daley Hosts Over One Hundred Municipal Leaders at Global Cities Forum in Mayors Agree to Resolution on Greater International Cooperation to End Gun Violence

By Kay Scrimger

Conference of Mayors Past Presi- dent Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley brought together more than a hundred mayors and local gov- ernment officials from all across the globe to the annual Richard J. Daley Global Cities Forum April 25-27, held in conjunction with the world orga- nization of United Cities and Local Governments. At a news conference with the vis- iting mayors, Daley said, “As we all know, creating worldwide partner- ships to help us share experiences and best practices with each other is a critical part of the work of any USCM Past President Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, front row center, joins mayors from the mayor. and from all over the world at the Sixth Annual Richard J. Daley Global Cities Forum in Chicago, April 27-28. “Especially in difficult economic The Forum is named to honor the memory of his late father, Richard J. Daley, mayor of Chicago from 1955 times such as these, it is critical for until his death in 1976, and a major figure in national politics. government, private industry, and foundations to work together in new ways to ensure the strength and vital- ity of our cities,” he said. Held at the University of at Duffy, Syracuse (NY) Mayor Stepha- “Rethinking Infrastructure in which, in turn, are creating economic Chicago, the Sixth Annual Richard J. nie A. Miner, Carbondale (IL) Mayor Time of Financial Challenge, opportunities for the city’s residents, Daley Global Cities Forum focused Brad Cole, Bluffton (IN) Mayor Ted Technological Change” such as Chicago’s major new work- on the theme, “New Partnerships for Ellis, and Channahon (IL) Village The 2010 Forum opened with force training partnership – Chicago a New Economy: Driving Innovation President Joe Cook. roundtable discussions on infrastruc- Career Tech – aimed over the long in Cities.” The Forum series is named International mayors included ture and public safety. term at helping about 30,000 unem- for Daley’s late father, Richard J. Paris (France) Mayor Bertrand Dela- Matthew Miszewski, Worldwide ployed Chicago middle class workers Daley, mayor of Chicago from 1955 noë, Mexico City (Mexico) Mayor Government General Manager of get retrained in technology. until his death in 1976, and a giant Marcelo Ebrard Casaubon, Johan- Microsoft, discussed Microsoft’s In discussing how Chicago has figure in national politics throughout nesburg (South Africa) Mayor Amos work in 172 countries to help cities brought about the “largest trans- his career. Masondo, Greater Amman Munici- “unleash the power of their data,” formation of public housing in the The goal of this year’s forum was pality (Jordan) Mayor Omar Maani, and to jump the “Doing Divide” – the world,” replacing the old high-rise to foster idea exchange among may- Peñalolén (Chile) Mayor Claudio difference between the “desire of a public housing buildings of the 1950’s ors on how public-private partnerships Orrego Larraín, Nairobi (Kenya) city to do something and the ability to structures that house families while help municipal leaders develop and Mayor Geoffrey Majiwa, Florence to do it.” nurturing community, Daley said, in deliver innovative programs and ser- (Italy) Mayor Matteo Renzi, Québec Sarah Dunn, University of Illi- our housing policy, “We must rebuild vices in challenging economic times. City (Canada) Mayor Régis Labeau- nois at Chicago School of Architec- souls.” Business leaders, key policymak- me, San José (Costa Rica) Mayor ture, discussed the “catalytic nature ers, leading scholars, and commen- Johnny Araya, Galway (Ireland) of infrastructure,” describing how “Making Our Cities Safe”: tators joined the mayors for a lively Mayor Declan McDonnell, Glasgow “water will be the new oil” in the Resolution on International discussion of issues that concerned (U.K.) Lord Provost Bob Winter, future and how innovative design of Cooperation to Address Richard J. Daley during his life and Montréal (Canada) Mayor Gérald water-based infrastructure can attract Challenges of Guns, Gun that continue to challenge govern- Tremblay, Brazzaville (Congo) jobs and resources. Violence ment leaders, policymakers, and Mayor Hugues Ngouélondélé, San “Every municipality must be on the The second panel opened conver- scholars today. Luis Potosí (Mexico) Mayor Victoria cutting edge of thinking about how sation between mayors on innovative In addition to Daley, U.S. may- Labastida, Kathmandu (Nepal) Chief to solve its problems and of looking partnerships designed to help reduce ors were Philadelphia (PA) Mayor Executive Officer Ganesh Rai, Wind- at the future,” Daley said in thanking crime and build stronger, safer com- Michael A. Nutter, Columbus (OH) sor (Canada) Mayor Eddie Francis, the panelists. munities. Mayor Michael B. Coleman, Okla- Olketuado (Kenya) Mayor Tarayia Daley offered examples of how Nutter pointed out how his city homa City (OK) Mayor Mick Cor- Kores, and many others. Chicago has created partnerships with nett, Rochester (NY) Mayor Robert J. the private and non-for-profit sectors, See Chicago on page 16

May 3, 2010 usmayors.org U .S . MAYOR Page 15 Chicago tighten gun control laws.” dent, PBS NewsHour, moderated the “I believe that is one of the keys to from page 15 Nutter agreed that international first panel, which included Motorola leadership – having a vision for the pressure on the U.S. government Co-CEO and CEO, Motorola Solu- future, supported by innovative poli- could show that mayors across the tions Greg Brown; Paris Mayor Ber- cies that will take you there.” has engaged with Temple University world recognize that this is not trand Delanoe, White House Chief of Conference of Mayors CEO and to design foot patrol patterns for his just an issue for cities in the United Staff , and Philadel- Executive Director Tom Cochran police department in troubled areas. States, but that is having an impact phia Mayor Michael Nutter. said, “Mayor Daley’s great annual He also discussed his city’s aggres- on the world. Emmanuel discussed innovative Global Cities Forum brings U.S. may- sive approach to reporting lost or sto- “Mayors are out front with regard public-private partnerships, such as ors together with their counterparts len weapons. “In my one hundredth to violence in their communities, espe- the infrastructure bank, with busi- from other countries and greatly day in office,” he said, “I was sued by cially gun violence,” he said. ness, community colleges, and in the strengthens mayoral relationships the National Rifle Association [NRA], After the discussion of gun vio- housing area. The infrastructure bank worldwide. a case now before the Pennsylvania lence, lax regulation and oversight will blend public and private dollars, “This network of municipal lead- Supreme Court. But in the meantime, of the gun industry in the U.S., more he said. ers, galvanized by the excellent as it works its way through the state than a dozen mayors agreed to a Woodruff asked about anger panels and the opportunity to share courts, our laws stay in effect.” resolution calling for a new level of within the American public. Nutter ideas about their own innovations, Ebrard posed the issue of the international cooperation among noted that he experiences less par- creates a critically-important synergy huge influx of weapons coming into themselves, their governments and tisanship at the city level and quoted for finding solutions to urban chal- his country from the United States other entities to address the chal- former New York City Mayor Fiorello lenges, both for today and for the and asked: “Is it possible to control lenges of guns and gun violence. LaGuardia, “There is no Democratic future.” the flow” across this huge border? or Republican way of sweeping the The Daley Forum has annually “In Mexico, we cannot bear arms,” Day Two: Richard J . Daley streets!” drawn more than 2,200 registrants he said. Global Cities Forum Public Daley summarized the forum, say- from the private, civic, and academ- Coleman said, “The U.S. public Symposium ing, “I believe the overall message ic communities. It is a collaboration does not fully comprehend the impact On day two, panels discussed today is that, despite the great chal- among Chicago Sister Cities Inter- of the U.S.’s leniency on guns. We innovation, generating new value lenges everyone is facing right now, national, the University of Illinois at need to have a statement of some from local assets, and stimulating cities are in a time of great opportu- Chicago, and the Daley family to sort [from this gathering of mayors] local economies through education nity to serve as creative engines for honor the legacy of Mayor Richard that mayors can use to apply exter- and job creation. growth and to provide ways to stimu- J. Daley. nal pressure on our government to Judy Woodruff, Senior Correspon- late our economies.

Oklahoma City: The Place to be in June 2010

Host Mayor Mick Cornett has planned a fantastic array of events that high- light the very best of Oklahoma City .

And USCM President Mayor Elizabeth B . Kautz is working to make sure that the conference is focused on ways to help mayor manage during the ongo-

ing fiscal crisis . USCM President Burnsville (MN) Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Mayor Elizabeth B. Kautz Cornett, Host

See You There! Title Sponsor America’s Natural Gas Alliance

Page 16 U .S . MAYOR usmayors.org May 3, 2010