Six Mayors Gather to Discuss Potential for Cities' Infrastructure Renewal Under Next President

NYU Wagner, in partnership with the U.S. Conference of Mayors, convened a bipartisan discussion with six mayors from around the country, including New York's Bill de Blasio, on why infrastructure in U.S. cities is key to both economic security and public safety, and the potential for substantial investment in its renewal under the next U.S. President.

The afternoon panel discussion included U,S. Conference of Mayors President and Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett; NYC Mayor de Blasio; New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu; Columbia, S.C., Mayor Stephen Benjamin; Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake; and Albuquerque Mayor Richard J. Berry.

Former Pennsylvania Governor and ex-Philadelphia Mayor Ed Rendell presented Hillary Clinton's ideas and options for what he described as critical to the economic vitality of cities—the rebuilding of aging roads, bridges, transit systems and utility networks. The Trump campaign was invited to participate but did not send a representative to the hour-and-a-half long discussion at the SVA Theatre on W. 23rd St. in Manhattan.

The event was moderated by NY 1 political anchor Errol Louis, with welcoming remarks by USCM Executive Director Tom Cochran and NYU Wagner Dean Sherry Glied. It drew a virtually capacity crowd to the 276-seat auditorium.

"We're going to have to see help from the federal government, we need direct funding from Washington," remarked Mayor Cornett, adding: "This is a ticking time bomb that is not going away."