U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) adopts a new Mayors for Peace resolution

At the close of its 80^th annual meeting in Orlando Florida, on June 16, 2012, the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) unanimously adopted a comprehensive new Mayors for Peace resolution Calling for U.S. Leadership in Global Elimination of Nuclear Weapons and Redirection of Nuclear Weapons Spending to Meet the Urgent Needs of Cities.

Among other things, the resolution states that “the continuing economic crisis is forcing mayors and cities to make ever deeper cuts in critical public services,” and takes note that “in 2011, the United States spent $711 billion on its military, 41% of the world total and twice as much as the next 14 countries combined, including China, Russia, six NATO allies and three major non-NATO allies.”

Stating that “President Obama submitted a plan to Congress in 2010 projecting  investments of well over $185 billion by 2020 to maintain and modernize U.S. nuclear weapons systems, including construction of new nuclear warhead production facilities and an array of new delivery systems, and subsequent annual budgets have provided for funding at this level,” and noting that “cuts to federal programs such as Community Block Development Grants (CDBGs) and the Home Investment Partnership program (HOME) have forced cities, local agencies and non-profits to lay off staff, reduce or eliminate services, delay infrastructure projects and reduce program benefits to low and moderate income families,” the USCM “calls on Congress to terminate funding for modernization of nuclear warheads, delivery systems, and production facilities, to slash spending on nuclear weapons well below Cold War levels, and to redirect those funds to meet the urgent needs of cities.”

The USCM also “calls on its members to raise public awareness about the ongoing dangers and costs of nuclear weapons by organizing public displays of the ‘5000 Member Milestone’ Hiroshima – Nagasaki poster exhibitions in their City Halls, and encourages its members to join Mayors for Peace Executive City Montreal’s ‘Minute of Silence – Moment of Peace’ global initiative by observing a minute of silence at 12 noon on September 21, 2012, the UN International Day of Peace, and posting photos and videos of events in their cities to a dedicated internet platform.” The USCM also “expresses its continuing support for Mayors for Peace.”

The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the national association of cities with populations over 30,000. Resolutions adopted at its annual meetings become official USCM policy.

The 18 sponsoring Mayors are: Donald Plusquellic, Akron, Ohio; Matthew Ryan, Binghamton New York; Satyendra Huja, Charlottesville, Virginia; Frank Cownie, Des Moines, Iowa; Kitty Piercy, Eugene, Oregon; William Gluba, Davenport, Iowa; Joy Cooper, Hallandale Beach, Florida; Mark Stodola, Little Rock, Arkansas; Paul Soglin, Madison, Wisconsin; Andre Pierre, North Miami, Florida; Jean Quan, Oakland, California; Jennifer Hosterman, Pleasanton, California; Michael Brennan, Portland, Maine; Gayle McLaughlin, Richmond, California; Ardell Brede, Rochester, Minnesota; Stephen Cassidy, San Leandro, California; Jeffrey Prang, West Hollywood, California; and James Baker, Wilmington, Delaware.

The full text of the resolution is available at: http://www.wslfweb.org/docs/2012USCMres.pdf. The official text is included in a document containing all resolutions adopted at the 2012 USCM annual meeting at: http://www.usmayors.org/80thAnnualMeeting/media/ADOPTEDRESOLUTIONS2012.pdf (the Mayors for Peace resolution is on p. 159).

For more information contact: Jackie Cabasso, North American Coordinator, Mayors for Peace, wslf@earthlink.net. See also: www.mayorsforpeace.org and www.2020visioncampaign.org.

-Courtesy of John Burroughs, Executive Director - Lawyers Committee on Nuclear Policy