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For more information contact:
Cleveland City Council
Katherine Samsa, Communications Director
(216) 857-7362 |
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| News from the National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials: NBC-LEO Leaders Take Strong Message to Congress On Housing, Health and Public Safety |
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Washington, DC, January 29, 2008-- Efforts to strengthen and stabilize America’s housing finance system, increase federal action to reduce disparity and increase access to health care, and support federal programs aimed at crime intervention, prevention and law enforcement are among the top issues that members of the National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials (NBC-LEO) took to Congress today. Meeting with key Senate and House members and staff, the members of NBC-LEO underscored the significant impacts these efforts would have on their hometowns across America.
To be here in Washington D.C. today January 29, 2008 on the eve of Black History month where we are addressing issues with our National Leaders that are devastating our black communities across this great nation is phenomenal said NBC LEO’s past President Councilman Roosevelt Coats Cleveland, Ohio.
“We are pleased we could be here in Washington, DC, to make our voices heard and stress the importance of cities in determining the quality of life for this country, said NBC-LEO President James Mitchell, Charlotte, NC, Council Member. “During the past two days, we have been meeting with several top leaders in Congress including the Majority Whip, Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC), Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss), chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, and Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass), chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, among others. This is a great opportunity to send a strong message to our Congressional representatives about the legislative concerns of critical importance to us and to support NLC’s legislative agenda to benefit local governments. Our message is clear: We need action now!”
The two-day NBC-LEO Board of Directors meeting included lobbying prominent members of Congress, and a White House briefing. NBC-LEO officials, who were in Washington during the President’s State of the Union message, said that although they heard some proposals that could help their communities, there was much more to be done.
The President’s economic stimulus package is a first start, but city officials really need a long-term fix to address traffic congestion, growing homelessness, increased crime and reduced tax revenues that are a direct result of the housing finance crisis” Mitchell said.
NBC LEO’s past President Roosevelt Coats further stated that we need a Trust Fund that addresses issues for our city and town.
The White House briefing representative that was present asked where will the funding come from. Councilman Coats quickly stated perhaps the U.S. Department of Defense.
NBC-LEO President- Elect Daisy Lynum, Orlando, Fla., Commissioner, said that she is seeing more condominium foreclosures in her downtown area. “These are middle class folks, younger people who see no way out,” Lynum said. Phoenix, Ariz., Councilman Michael Johnson said that he is seeing more families in local shelters. “Once they are foreclosed upon, they can’t get credit and it becomes difficult to rent. They are going to our shelters.” Other members of the group said they were seeing more blight, trash and domestic violence as a result of the housing turmoil.
On health care issues, NBC-LEO 2nd Vice President Charleta Tavares, Columbus, Ohio, Council Member, said that access to health care isn’t enough. “We are seeing disparities regardless of income and education. According to a recent National Institutes of Medicine Study, African Americans aren’t getting appropriate and comparable care quickly enough in emergency rooms. It’s a quality of life issue.”
Beaumont, Texas, Councilman Audwin Samuel, NBC-LEO’s 1st Vice President led a contingent of members to Capitol Hill to discuss public safety issues. Nationally, we are seeing the first two year increase in violent crime in 15 years. But more enforcement isn’t enough. We need strong and effective programs in prevention, education and treatment to stop the revolving door in our criminal justice system.”
NBC-LEO has created a youth task force to assess the issues surrounding the increase in youth violence, particularly addressing a cradle-to-prison pipeline. Following a meeting with Congressman Thompson, Samuel said the congressman “enthusiastically supported our efforts for a holistic approach to social justice.”
The National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials (NBC-LEO) was established in 1970 as a constituency group of the National League of Cities (NLC) to advocate for the interests of African American local elected officials. Its mission is to provide African-American municipal officials and their colleagues with forums to share ideas, discussion groups to develop strategies for improving municipal governance, debates on policy issues, and programs that contribute to the success of America’s cities and towns. |
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Cleveland City Council
601 Lakeside Avenue
Room 220
Cleveland, OH 44114
(216) 664-2840
(216) 664-3837 fax
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