USCM president says the federal government has 'abandoned' its cities.

The next president must understand that an investment in America's cities is an investment in its people and in its future, said U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) President Manny Diaz last week while addressing the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. In other words, he said, the next U.S. president should be the mayor of the United States.

Right now, Diaz believes, the solutions to urban issues are not coming from Washington, but from America's cities.

"This is a time when Washington has lost its value, lost its principles, lost its sense of purpose," said Diaz, mayor of Miami. "Plain and simple, Washington has abandoned us. While Washington engages in endless debate and partisan bickering, people throughout this country continue to suffer from cuts to education, housing, health, public services, public safety, youth programs, economic development, job training, arts and infrastructure."

Diaz's hard-hitting address called attention to urban issues that he believes should be at the top of the next president's agenda. As far as global issues, he discussed how there's mounting evidence of an environmental crisis in this century.

"For the first time in our history, we are in real danger of failing to give our children a better world than the one our parents left us," said Diaz. "We are in danger of raising a forgotten generation."

Of Diaz's remarks, NLC Executive Director Donald J. Borut said, "We applaud Mayor Diaz's call for a renewed focus from Washington on America's cities and the problems we face. NLC has already met With representatives from both presidential campaigns to make the point that it is cities and towns that are leading the way in with innovative solutions. Only by working directly with us will the next President be able to tackle this country's challenges."

Diaz's address also set the tone for USCM's Mayors '08 Action Forums, a national tour to five major American cities--Philadelphia, Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and Miami--between August and October, where the nation's mayors will forge an action agenda for cities and metropolitan areas.

"Why these five cities?," asked Diaz. "Why now? Because we see violence increasing in these cities. Today there are more gang members than police officers. On the streets of Miami, an AK-47 is cheaper than a Playstation."

The action forums will focus on five areas that mayors believe are in need of significant federal investment and are at the center of USCM's Mayors' 10 Point Plan: crime; poverty; arts, culture and tourism; infrastructure; and the environment. The recommendations will be presented to the next president during the critical first 100 days of the new administration.