Mayors to U.S.: Help!

About 50 mayors from around the country are gathered this week in Philadelphia for the U.S. Conference of Mayors summer meeting.  Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, now president of the group, led a news conference Thursday of about 20 mayors calling for national investment in infrastructure. The assembled mayors touted a new report by IHS Global Insight which essentially says cities are important job-creators, they’ll be growing, and they’ll need serious investment in roads, bridges, water pipes and other infrastructure.

No mayor matched Frank Ortis of Pembroke Pines, Florida, in enthusiasm.

“Our cities need help, and we’re going to lead that way,” Ortis said. “This U.S. Conference of Mayors is going to lead that way. We’re done asking the federal government. We want action. We’re going to go to the Hill, saying we want action, we want to be able to put our people to work!” The mayors didn’t promote any specific infrastructure legislation. Nutter said he hopes the issue will be discussed in the presidential and congressional races this fall.