Doral Mayor Bermudez Focuses on Job Creation and the Economy
Doral Mayor Bermudez Focuses on Job Creation and the Economy during U.S. Conference of Mayors Annual Meeting
During the Annual Meeting of The United States Conference of Mayors (USCM), Doral Mayor and President of the Miami Dade County League of Cities Juan Carlos Bermudez, participated in discussions and addressed issues important to Miami Dade County and the City of Doral, including Federal funding of public programs, immigration and job creation. Photo of City of Doral
Baltimore, MD – City of Doral Mayor Juan Carlos Bermudez joined over 200 of the nation’s mayors in Baltimore for the 79th Annual Meeting of The United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) where local economies and the need to create jobs topped the mayors’ agenda.
Mayor Bermudez is an active member of the United States Mayor’s Conference, serving on the Conference’s Advisory Board, as well as the International Affairs Committee and Transportation and Communications committee.
During the gathering, held from Friday, June 17 to Monday, June 20, mayors from all over the country came together to discuss public policy issues impacting cities. Job creation, transportation, homeland security, immigration and energy efficiency topped this year’s agenda. During the last day of the meeting, the mayors debated and voted on policy recommendations to present to the Obama Administration.
One of the resolutions approved was introduced by Mayor Bermudez, affirming policy in support of an increase to the cap on Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) public services expenditures from 15 to 25 percent.
“This legislation would give cities greater flexibility to serve their neediest residents during this time of economic uncertainty,” said Mayor Bermudez, who, as President of the Miami Dade County League of Cities, presented the resolution on behalf of cities in Miami Dade County.
In the midst of a fragile economic climate that has led to states passing budget woes onto cities, a central focus of the meeting was on job creation and preserving local services. On Monday, the Conference released an economic report projecting that by the end of the year, 75 metro areas will have double-digit unemployment rates, and 193 (53%) will have rates higher than 8%. View report here: http://www.usmayors.org/metroeconomies/2011.
“Close to 80 percent of the U.S. population lives in cities, and this is where we need to create jobs,” affirmed Bermudez. “We ask the Federal Government to work closely with cities to create jobs for our residents.”
Mayor Bermudez also took the opportunity to address United States Trade Representative (USTR), Ambassador Ron Kirk, regarding the progress of the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement in Congress. Mayor Bermudez relayed the importance of the agreement for the City of Doral and all of Miami Dade County.
The latest adopted resolutions and policy of the Conference can be found at www.usmayors.org.
On Sunday June 19, Mayor Bermudez was honored by the Latino Leaders Network during their “Tribute to Mayors Event” for his work to bring the diverse Doral community together.
Featured speakers at the Conference included House of Representatives Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, MD Governor Martin O’Malley, HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, and U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Tom Donohue.
City of Doral Mayor Juan Carlos Bermudez joined over 200 of the nation’s mayors in Baltimore for the 79th Annual Meeting of The United States Conference of Mayors (USCM). During the opening conference, incoming USCM President, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, outlined the purpose of the meeting, where local economies and the need to create jobs topped the mayors’ agenda. Photo of City of Doral.