Jun 23, 2008 12:49 pm US/Eastern
U.S. Mayor's Conference Wraps Up In Miami
Mayor Manny Diaz Will Inaugurated As President Of Conference
Final Workshop Will Focus On 2009 White House Transition
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
As the 76th Annual U.S. Conference of Mayors comes to a close in Miami, Florida Governor Charlie Crist will address those in attendance.
After a series of workshops Monday morning, a special luncheon was held. Gloria and Emilio Estefan were honored with a lifetime achievement award for their work in the arts – much of it rooted in Miami. Then Miami Mayor Manny Diaz was inaugurated as the new president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors.
"It's unbelievable," said Diaz, "a couple of nights ago we were on 8th Street in Little Havana where I started my dream and it was just special to have all these mayors from around America near my home where I started."
Governor Crist then addressed the luncheon crowd.
This year's discussions have focused on the efforts that can be taken to save the planet and finding ways to go 'green'. Following the awards luncheon, the mayors will meet for a final workshop that will focus on the 2009 White House transition.
Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama addressed the gathering on Saturday and former president Bill Clinton spoke on Sunday.
During Clinton's speech, the former president pressed the point that making a commitment to energy efficiency could boost the U.S. economy.
"I do not believe we can bring the economy back with $135 a barrel oil and $160 coal unless we all have a serious commitment to maximum energy efficiency, to maximum production of clean energy, to maximum commitments to building efficiencies, I just don' t think we can do it," Clinton told the gathering. "I think if we do it right it will be the major engine of growth and new jobs in America for at least a decade and therefore I think we all have something to do here."
Clinton urged city leaders to take advantage of a variety of loan programs to retrofit buildings in their communities. By doing so, greenhouse gas emissions would be cut without cutting into today's hard hit municipal budgets.
The former president also predicted that the country would see improved federal policies for emission reductions and energy efficiency standards next year.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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