Hillary Clinton's Urban Agenda

In this year's Democratic primary we are blessed with the most diverse and talented assembly of presidential candidates ever in the history of our country. But as a mayor who has for nearly two decades witnessed both the potential of our cities and the squandered promise when our federal government turns its back on urban America, the choice of who to support was always clear - Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Within a talented field, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton's vision, passion and experience lifts her far above the rest. I am impressed by her longstanding commitment to fighting for children and families, beginning over three decades ago with Marian Wright Edelman at the Children's Defense Fund. I believe America sorely needs her bold plan to provide quality, affordable healthcare to every single American. And I am inspired by her commitment to create a green economy with millions of high-paying green-collar jobs.

But the one thing that gives me so much confidence in Senator Clinton and her campaign has received next to no attention in this campaign. That is her commitment to America's cities.

As I like to say, Senator Clinton is not afraid to use the C-word. On the campaign trail, in front of urban and rural audiences alike, Senator Clinton has presented a coherent, cogent and value-oriented vision for bringing America's cities into the 21st century. She calls it "Leave No City Behind"--a great metaphor for the kind of true federal-local partnerships we need in this country again.

In the 1990s, we in Trenton saw the potential of true partnership. From effective public housing to empowerment zones to summer job and workforce development programs, we were firing on all cylinders, creating jobs, reducing crime and strengthening our neighborhoods. Over the past seven years, we've moved in the opposite direction. President Bush has replaced partnerships with a your-on-your-own approach that has sapped our cities of the resources we need to keep our streets safe and our economies thriving.

Senator Clinton understands what it will take to get our cities back and track and establish true federal-state partnerships that work. She doesn't just talk the talk of leaving no city behind; she is walking the walk with a set of specific, detailed ideas that deserve far more attention among voters trying to decide who to support at the polls.

Hillary has established three big goals when it comes to our cities: renewing our human resources by investing in our people; rebuilding our crumbling physical infrastructure; and encouraging more economic opportunity and investment in our cities. She has laid out detailed policy proposals to address these complex and inter-related challenges. And I am convinced that as President, she knows what it takes to get them done.

A Youth Opportunity Agenda

When it comes to investing in our people, I commend Hillary for shining a spotlight on an issue that too often gets ignored in our political discourse - the struggle of young men of color who are out of school and out of work.

Hillary and I share a deep commitment to providing new opportunities for these young men, and starting a new conversation about their potential. This is a conversation that leaders in our community--from Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums to the Urban League and the U.S. Conference of Mayors--have been advancing. And it is a conversation that as President, Hillary will lead with the American public.

As Hillary said in an impassioned speech to the Urban League in July, "I reject a conversation about 1.4 million young men as a threat, as a headache, or as a lost cause...That is not who these young men are...It is time for America to begin a conversation about 1.4 million future workers, entrepreneurs, tax-payers, community leaders, business executives.... about 1.4 million future husbands and fathers and role models.... about 1.4 million boys who have the God-given potential to grow into strong, proud, loving, decent, productive, accomplished men with our help and support."

And she matched these words with actions, laying out an innovative, comprehensive Youth Opportunity Agenda to bring new hope and opportunity to young people in our inner cities. Her agenda includes smart cost-effective investments like $10 billion in universal pre-k and expanding nurse-home visits for first-time mothers. It highlights innovative approaches like early mentoring and internship programs to keep at risk youth on track. And it takes on the tough issues that too few politicians are willing to prioritize, like second-chance job training, community based re-entry support to close the prison revolving door, and combating ongoing racial and sex discrimination in the labor market. As a mayor who struggles with the challenges of getting illegal guns off the streets, and finding ways to bring ex-offenders back into our communities, I appreciate Senator Clinton's willingness to get specific on these issues. I look forward to partnering with her to make progress on these issues when she is President.

In addition, earlier this month Hillary announced a bold plan to cut the African American and Hispanic dropout rates in half over the next decade. Almost one-half of all African American and Hispanic young people don't finish high school on time. Many never do. Hillary's plan would invest more than $1 billion on innovation solutions, like early college high schools which give people a fast track to college and multiple pathways through high schools that help young people who thrive in personalized learning environments. Once again, on a vital issue that will rarely capture headlines, Senator Clinton is laying out serious, credible solutions that will benefit young people and urban communities.

Rebuilding Our Cities

When it comes to rebuilding our urban infrastructure, Senator Clinton has been no less ambitious. Inner cities across our country are crumbling; housing, mass transit and roads are not being maintained or improved. Senator Clinton has proposed a number of initiatives to address this growing problem. She supports the creation of an urban infrastructure bank to help drive investment in our urban building projects. She is working to ensure a continuing national commitment to affordable housing in urban neighborhoods.

And as part of her energy plan, Hillary has proposed an ambitious green collar job training initiative, which would seek to train more than a million workers in our inner cities to rebuild and retro-fit buildings. In Trenton, we recently launched a Green Initiative to expand green collar career opportunities in our communities. This strategy has incredible potential to not only improve our urban infrastructure but create new economic vitality in Trenton and across the country. With Senator Clinton, we will have a true partner on creating a green economy in the White House.

In addition, Senator Clinton has endorsed the U.S. Conference of Mayors Ten-Point Agenda called "Strong Cities, Strong Families for a Strong America," which provides a framework to rebuild our cities. She supports innovative ideas like creating a new energy and environment block grant program, which would help repair infrastructure improve public transportation, create jobs and clean our environment.

Encouraging Economic Opportunity

Finally, Hillary is committed to encouraging more economic opportunity and investment in our cities. She would start by strengthening CDBG and encouraging more banks and financial institutions to operate in our cities. She would expand microfinance programs and ensure that the Small Business Administration and contracting opportunities once again look to our urban core and putting people back to work.

I know she will be committed to bringing investment to our cities because I know what she's done for over a decade as First Lady and Senator. In the White House, Senator Clinton strongly supported the New Market Tax Credit and the Empowerment Zones/Renewal Communities programs, which seek to give mayors and community leaders the tools they needed top to catalyze business growth in low-income areas. As Senator, she has fought the Bush Administration's effort to cut the NMTC program, and is currently co-sponsoring legislation to extend the program through 2013. In 2004, Hillary successfully pushed legislation to increase the size of New York's "Renewal Communities," in order to encourage private sector equity investment in cities like Rochester, NY. She has also consistently opposed President Bush's efforts to gut the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, which provides crucial support to financial institutions that serve low-income urban communities.

Finally, Hillary has been a tireless advocate of micro-enterprise development, which we know can be a vital tool to help particularly women and minorities start businesses and generate wealth in their communities. In the White House, Hillary helped launch a grant program to help train micro-entrepreneurs, and developed a Presidential awards program to honor excellence in micro-enterprise development. As Senator, Hillary is pushing efforts to expand the Small Business Administration's (SBA) Microloan Program. She has also worked with the Buffalo Area Microentrepreneurs to increase awareness among women about micro business loans.

The Strength and Experience our Cities Need

History will record this election as a pivotal moment for our country. And at this uncertain and tumultuous juncture, I believe that Hillary Clinton posses the unique blend of experience, commitment, compassion, and vision to lead us proudly into the 21st Century. I encourage voters to take a closer look at Senator Clinton agenda to Leave No City Behind. I believe that, after seven years of federal neglect, her vision will help us rebuild vibrant partnerships that ensure our cities and the people who live in them can once again thrive.

And I believe that Hillary has the ability to inspire millions of new voters in our cities across the country to get engaged and inspired by the political process. It's a shame that 5-year-olds can't vote in this election, because Hillary has no bigger fan than my daughter Laila. While visiting Trenton to attend the National Conference of Democratic Mayors, Laila was supposed to give Hillary flowers but instead as a then two year old, she handed Hillary her cheerios. Since that time, Senator Clinton and my daughter have corresponded. On her backpack there is a bumper sticker that reads "I Can Be President." Hillary will give this inspiration to millions of little girls around the U.S. and the world, and will ensure that their moms and dads are inspired just the same.

Comments

[MadAppraiser]

Senator Clinton is articulate, and intelligent but the structural vagueness of your article does little to convince me that you, or the senator have a coherent comprehension of inner city problem causes in metropolitan urban centers. Invest again in inner city leadership that leads to more Mercedes, BMW"S, and Jaguars with the inner city in a perpetual state of economic deprivation! After roughly 45 to 50 years of unparalleled oratory, marches, praying, singing, dancing, and protests the inner city is no closer to creating an economic base, which will permit employment of inner city residents with professional degrees and designations. Politicians, lawyers, celebrities, and community leaders come and go but the American inner city rarely receives meaningful guidance to elevate the inner city from a non-profit status to a commerce status!

American politicians, corporations, and inner city leaders have historically failed to demonstrate that they understand the marketplace mechanisms of inclusion, and exclusion in terms of inner city income production. Until meaningful inner city income production is addressed the myriad of socioeconomic, educational, violence, and law enforcement issues will remain in the community. Income production is the defining platform that defines community vitality or economic despair! Until political and inner city leaders address inner city resident"s income production in the inner city everyone is involved in barbershop conversation!

[mawrm]

Brother Palmer, welcome to HuffPost! I see it's your first post and it is perhaps the best and most thoughtful endorsement of Hillary Clinton I think we've seen so far of her campaign. Best of luck!

[melanie]

Great endorsement, Mayor! I've noticed Hillary's emphasis on our forgotten cities for months. Even just properly funding COPS, which we know Bush has severly underfunded. Also, in her environmental plans, she has emphasized creating green collar jobs in our cities, which ofcourse not only could use them, but see the most polution. Really appreciate your support, Mayor.

[Economics]

One of the main issues not addressed in this article regarding Urban America and Clinton policies is the Drug War. My fear is that President Hillary will continue to incarcerate instead of rehabilitate. This growing prison industrial complex is destroying families by taking away parents and putting children in prisons as adults, ending any second chance to have a good job or education. Further this Drug War is creating violence in our cities in a parallel fashion to the violence which existed surrounding the distribution of liquor during prohibition. This sin of a public policy has been embraced by Clinton.

[nellie]

I appreciate your endorsement, but what I read here are promises, not policy.

The one policy issue I know a little bit about is Hillary's health care plan. I have recently learned that a mandate is necessary in order to move us toward single payer health care. I was formally opposed to Clinton's plan because I thought the mandate was in place to placate the insurance companies, but I have found it is actually a progressive strategy.

I'd like to hear more of this kind of analysis. Any candidate can make promises—and it's easy to make a good impression when you know what promises your audience wants to hear.

I want to hear policy analysis.

[ChristopherLib]

A terrific endorsement of Hillary, and as someone who has been a supporter of hers for a few months I find it very enlightening to read her real plans for Urban environments. She has a true vision, real detailed policy preposals, for helping inner city communities that the Bush Administration has ignored. It seems like there is not an area she is lacking, from healthcare, to education, to rebuilding our image abroad. In a Democratic field that like you said Mr Palmer is exceptionally strong I trully believe as you do that Hillary stands above the rest.

[Vixen0932]

good post...thanks for the information regarding the real policy that Sen. Clinton has for changing the problems in our cities

[Purple Girl]

To solve the urban problems we must eliminate Urbanization.
Key solution- Rapid Mass Transit.
Get humans out of the overpoplulated areas. Numerous studies have been reported regarding overpopulation and the adverse effects of intellectual, emotional and physical ell beings of various species.
Here's another area the Auto industry can take blame for. why are we not utilizing more efficient,economical and environmentally sound technology for transportation. Why do we insist on housing humans in areas that can not even support the population.
There are actually small towns dying that could use the influx of population to support local economies.
Why don't we offer more opportunities and options in out lying areas of metropolitan cities.
Why don't we promote zero commute work situations, more small businesses, agriculture?
Nothing will improve the urban situation until we realize that set up is from over a century ago and is no longer the answer, but the problem.

[Beatitudes]

Oh, where oh where is New Orleans in the candidate's rebuilding proposals? A little girl waits there too. From The Beatitudes by Lyn LeJeune:

"I went around the crucifix and entered the chapel. It was midday and a tourist group was standing near the alter listening to a young woman wearing the habit of a nun in training. Her voice was low and respectful as only a novice"s can be. I approached the relic room where those who suffered disease, deformities, injuries, or sickness of the spirit, came to pray and leave proof of their tribulations. Crutches, old shoes, ragged clothes, items that could only be identified upon close inspection. Here in New Orleans in 1867 the yellow fever killed thousands, so this little church was dedicated to St. Roch who had ministered to plague victims in Europe centuries ago. St. Roch"s Chapel is also well known as a place where, during the yellow plague and other brutal times, voodoo queens came to ask for guidance and beg the Christian forces for help. Illumined orbs of various sizes, usually no bigger than a hand, appear and float slowly in space and are considered timeless, accumulating radiant light as they wait for purchase. And then the sun moves to a far horizon and these ghosts retreat into the night. I heard the tour group coming my way, so I reached out and touched an orb that was encased in a silver sheen. I closed my eyes and heard a child giggle and she said: I"m here. Come visit. Please, Miss Hannah. Oh, please."

[furion4865]

Hillary will promote a Wal-Mart or a movie theatre in every inner city and that will be the extent of her economic development program for the inner cities. The one area that people refuse to review when talking about the Clintons is Bill Clinton's federal judiciary nominations, most people tend to focus on Ruth Ginsberg's selection to the Supreme Court, while ignoring Bill's propensity for selecting ultra-conservative, corporate friendly judges to the federal district and U.S. Courts of Appeals and, in my opinion, who a person selects to enforce our laws is a helleuva lot more important than a few token dollars thrown at some inner city kids. Please God, when are black folks going to start really scrutinizing what a person does, as opposed to, what a person says? Bill Clinton did absolutely nothing to improve the condition of black people in this country during his presidency, if anything, he only recognized us when it was election time or to garner support during his impeachment. I'd rather be ignored by the Republicans, in lieu, of being used by the likes of Bill and Hillary Clinton. Do you believe Dick Cheney has spent the last eight years extending executive power to only turn it over to a progressive president, hell no. If someone like John Edwards wins the general election, the Bush Administration will declare martial law and void the election. Everything the prior Clinton and Bush Administrations has done over the last sixteen years was designed to weaken the middle class, put more money and power into the hands of the few, make judicial redress more difficult for the masses, and increase defense and law enforcement spending to protect the ill-gotten gains of the super rich from the oppressed masses. Hillary has been a willing participant in all of that and people are seriously considering this bitch for president. I guess Adolph Hitler got it right when he opined, "Thank God, people don't think." Is it really that difficult to discern between what a person does and what a person says?

[KarenZipdrive]

I happen to believe Bill Clinton did a sensational job as the nation's first African American president.
And Mayor, I think you really get the picture.
Though I like Obama and Edwards just fine, we need a proven commodity in office, and Hillary's proximity to Bill brings us that.
No doubt that Hillary's kind of a bitch, but we need a bitch right now; someone who can step in and un-do so many of the horrible things Bush 43 did.
I really don't think Michelle Obama or Elizabeth Edwards bring the power punch Bill will add to the Whitehouse.

[Boadicea]

Thank you for a wonderful commentary on the positive attributes of Hillary Clinton. You're right, Hillary's strengths have not been highlighted in the primary discussions, even though she has had substantial positive media coverage. I've no doubt that Hillary is committed to progressive causes, and I think she is smart enough to know which causes are the real ones, the ones that will make a difference in people's lives. I trust her.

Obama is my first choice, however, because I believe that his vision about America's place in the world holds more promise for our national interests longterm than does Hillary's. Hillary still leads with arrogance on that front, and I believe that that approach is hurting us.

I also think that Obama will not keep us mired in the partisan wars for which the Clintons are partly responsible. We need to move beyond that; we need new blood at the top in both parties.

But I do believe that Hillary is of high moral fiber and strong character. I would be proud to have her as my president.

[DontSpin]

Supporting Hillary for all these reasons are perfectly fine. But remember, you will no longer have the right to say there aren't enough black people in congress or the white house, because you are not part of the problem, not the solution. Here is a candidate Barack Obama who is extremely bright, has run the most honest campaign and aggressively addressed issues faced in urban neighborhoods, such as funding for public schools, and some old fashioned, establishment blacks aren't supporting him because he doesn't sound black enough, whatever that means. Very Nice.

[NABNYC]

The Mantra: "[Hillary has a]longstanding commitment to fighting for children and families, beginning over three decades ago with Marian Wright Edelman at the Children's Defense Fund.

The unfortunate truth: When Hillary Clinton got out of law school, after a brief government internship unrelated to women, children, or poverty, she decided to go work for a large private firm in Arkansas representing S&L crooks, real estate developers, and businesses. Her "commitment" to the Children's Defense Fund consists of writing a check once in awhile and milking her friendship with Edelman for all it's worth.

Hillary's undiminished and ongoing support for the war in Iraq, plus outsourcing jobs through Nafta, amnesty for illegal immigrants, plus her seat on the Walmart corporate board and close friendship with Murdoch and the Arkansas chicken king, are all the actions of a person who consciously supports policies to plunge cities, women, and children, further into poverty and despair.

Don't tell me about what Hillary will do. Just look at what she's done already. It's way more than enough.

Vote for Edwards.

[MartiP]

Hillary has the most comprehensive and detailed policy proposals for cities that I have yet seen. She gets it.

Great endorsement. Once again, people with wisdom and experience at solving real problems are looking to Hillary.