State and Local Reporter - 08/01/2008 (Plain Text Version)

Bob Frost, Chair
Blue Springs, Missouri

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In this issue:
Builders Can Use New Tax Credit to Help Spur Home Sales
Learn How to Capitalize on Change at NAHB’s State and Local Government Affairs Conference
HBAs Use Myth Busters as Housing ‘Window of Opportunity’ Begins to Close
Get Hesitant Boomers To Buy Now!
Governor Races Likely to Impact Presidential Election
Housing Issues Dominate NACo Annual Conference
Tough Fiscal Conditions for States and Cities Seen in July
United States Conference of Mayors Appoints Miami Mayor Diaz as President
Connecticut Team Builds Home for Injured Iraqi War Veteran

United States Conference of Mayors Appoints Miami Mayor Diaz as President

Miami Mayor Manuel A. Diaz was recently sworn in as the 66th President of The United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) as the 76th Annual Meeting of the Mayors wrapped up at the Miami InterContinental Hotel, where mayors came together for four days to weigh in on domestic policy issues that impact urban America and metropolitan areas.

In his inaugural remarks, Mayor Diaz stressed the importance of the Mayors’ bi-partisan 10-Point Plan -- Strong Cities, Strong Families for a Strong America – that has been shared with Congress, the Administration and the presidential candidates.

These ten points address a wide range of issues, many relevant to the housing industry. They are:

1)      Energy
2)      Fighting Crime
3)      Community Development
4)      Housing
5)      Rebuilding and Modernizing America’s Infrastructure
6)      Competitive Workforce
7)      Children and at-risk youth
8)      Homeland Security
9)      Tourism and Arts
10) Unfunded Mandates/ Preemptions

Regarding housing, the USCM supports full funding of the public housing operating subsidies and of the public housing capital fund; restoration of HOPE VI to a funding level that returns the program to an effective national tool for public housing development; FHA reform and modernization. Mayors also call for comprehensive federal legislative and regulatory policies that would combat predatory abuses in the mortgage lending market.

An electronic brochure detailing the 10 point plan can be found online on the USCM website: http://www.usmayors.org/pressreleases/documents/10-PointPlan_1107.pdf

For more information on green building legislation, contact Carlos Gutierrez at 800-368-5242 x8242.