In January, after almost a week of democracy at its messiest when the new 118th Congress chose its leaders (Kevin McCarthy of California became the House Leader on January 7, after 15 ballots), suddenly Capitol Hill was quiet. Most representatives left to join their Senate colleagues, taking advantage of the official Congressional “State Work Period”, from January 4 to 20, when members worked at home and celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. day (January 17).

So UNCENSORED turned its attention in mid-January to one of the best national conferences held in DC every year – the bipartisan US Conference of Mayors, made up of over 1,400 mayors from across the United States, representing cities with a population of 30,000 and larger. The conference, which took place from January 17 to 20, was headed by Miami’s highly energetic mayor, Francis Suarez. The 1,000 or so mayors who attended are highly diverse. They are on the front line of every issue confronting America, and polls say that mayors are the most trusted public servants all over the country. They came to DC to share their stories, contacts, ideas, concerns, and best practices and to attend sessions by experts and President Biden’s Administration Secretaries on topics such as small business and entrepreneurship development, wastewater, gun violence, mental health, homelessness, policing, and partnering with NGOs, among other issues. Here are some takeaways from the conference.

Lessons Learned about the Nuances of Issues Important to Latinos

Maybe it was because this year’s President of the US Conference of Mayors, Francis Suarez, is a prominent Hispanic and the mayor of immigrant-rich Miami, Florida. Maybe it was the fact that the conference took place just following a midterm election that once again (as in the 2020 election) voted in a razor thin majority for the Democrats in the Senate (one) and for the Republicans in the House (10). This election again saw the press focus particularly on the way the “Latino vote” is slowly becoming more conservative. Whatever the reason, the opening plenary lunch of the conference, included an on-stage panel on “lessons learned about the nuances of issues important to Latino voters.” The panelists, who mainly represented Latino advocacy groups, emphasized the need to increase the percentage of Latino voters eligible to register and vote. They agreed that the most effective way to motivate Latino voters is to talk to them personally – “knock on doors, listen and try to understand their issues in each community.” They reported that once registered, some 80 percent of Latino voters turned out to vote in 2022 – many by mail and early voting processes. “Latino voters are not monolithic, but we all are concerned about education, health care, jobs,” said Tucson Mayor, Regina Romero, Chair of the Conference’s Latino Alliance. There are commonalities and differences in how to approach our concerns –especially between generations, genders and geography, noted Suarez. “But the gaps between Latino Democrats and Republicans seem to be narrowing.” There is a big swing potential in the Latino vote that is evolving and will be watched carefully coming into 2024 and the next presidential election.

Migrant Surge is Top Concern of Mayors as the Press Mobs Mayorkas

Of all the issues challenging mayors of US cities, small and large, one of the most important is the huge and increasing presence and needs of recent migrants, Francis Suarez, President of the US Conference of Mayors, said in his opening remarks at the plenary lunch on January 18. Featured speaker Mayor Eric Adams said that asylum seekers/illegal border crossers were his third top safety concern for New York City. “It’s a huge problem for every mayor in our nation,” Adams said. Several mayors who sat at my lunch table agreed. Two from small towns in Washington state nodded vigorously when Suarez said that they can’t afford “an open checkbook when welcoming and helping new migrants.” He added that they are encountering more and more groups of six to eight men in their late 20s, early 30s, residing in overcrowded basements and sheds “in substandard conditions, and we don’t have the means to give them long term help.” Two California mayors (both Hispanics) applauded when Suarez and Adams added: “We can’t deal effectively with the situation without supporting our police and the rule of law.”

It was in that light that, the next day, Suarez introduced “a good friend of mayors, Alejandro Mayorkas,” President Biden’s Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security and the first Hispanic to hold that top position. “Our mission is to safeguard the American people,” Mayorkas said. “The biggest threat in the next ten to twelve years will be the home-grown variety – small groups of people inside the country who commit violence and threaten our power and communications infrastructure.” As for the surge of migrants crossing illegally over the southern border (over 2 million in the past two years, with less than one-tenth removed permanently), Mayorkas claimed the phenomenon “was not unique to the US. The challenges of world migration are evolving and can only be met if we all work together – cities, non-profits and government agencies in partnership. FEMA disaster services will offer some relief,” Mayorkas said, “as well as new programs to allow lawful entry for non-citizens coordinated by the border patrol and ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement). A new program also offers relief to non-citizen workers who experience predatory employers.”

It was a real “get” to have Mayorkas come on stage, and talk to the mayors in person. But no questions were allowed and he did not address the issue of stopping the flow of illegal border crossers. He left the stage quickly and was mobbed by reporters as he made his way to a private meeting with some mayors. “It was closed to the press in order that the mayors could have a frank and direct discussion with the Secretary,” conference officials said.

 “Don’t Say Education”

The nation’s mayors sat on the edge of their seats at full attention during their January conference in DC as language guru Frank Luntz told them how to talk about issues so people could better relate to them. On education, Luntz advised: “Don’t use the term “education.” (Too many syllables and too academic?) “Say ‘schools’ and ‘college’ instead.” •