Published: 2 years 117 days ago
By Mayor Kevin Johnson: A whirlwind visit to Washington set up major dividends for Sacramento. Three areas of huge concern – jobs, education and flood protection – were pushed forward in meetings with President Obama and cabinet members as part of my work with the U.S. Conference of Mayors last week.
Politically speaking, it might have been the worst week in a year for President Obama, coinciding with the upset victory in the Massachusetts U.S. Senate race.
But the president wasted no time on political pity. He immediately focused his attention on the needs of people in cities across America, including the residents of Sacramento.
The focus must be on jobs creation, the President told the mayors. He said federal money must be used for workforce development in cities. And cities and suburbs must cooperate, he said.
“Strong cities are the building blocks for strong regions, and strong regions are essential for a strong America,” the president said.
President Obama echoed some ideas I have been pushing for the past year. As the president noted, these things aren’t necessarily complicated.
“There are some needs that are simple,” he said. “Access to good jobs, affordable housing, convenient transportation that connects both, quality schools and health services, safe streets and parks, and access to a fresh, healthy food supply.”
I met with U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and discussed strategies for improving our schools.
We focused on the need to increase the choices available to parents and students, and programs to evaluate classroom success. We also discussed the infusion of federal dollars under the President’s Race to the Top program.
I was honored to be placed in charge of the Task Force on Public Schools formed by the U.S. Mayors group, which represents about 80 percent of residents in our nation.
On flood prevention, I joined New Orleans Mayor C. Ray Nagin to demand reform in the federal response to domestic natural disasters.
Our goal is to speed up federal response and reform the insurance industry to make sure emergency victims get immediate help.
We will also push to improve emergency preparedness as we work with Congress and the President to enact reforms.
My week in Washington was extremely valuable. I was able to meet with our nation’s leaders and focus 100 percent on three areas of critical concern to Sacramento: jobs, education and flood protection.
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