FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                       June 1, 2006   Release M-57-06

 

 

MAYOR ATTENDS U.S. CONFERENCE OF MAYORS  MEETING

 

 

            Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann is joining hundreds of American mayors attending the 74th annual meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Las Vegas, Nevada, this week.

            Hannemann will be at the conference opening tomorrow (Friday, June 2, 2006), and will return to Honolulu on Saturday.

            One of the items being discussed by the mayors will be the SustainLane 2006 U.S. City Rankings, which place Honolulu 15^th among America’s 50 largest cities on essential quality-of-life and economic factors.  SustainLane is an on-line network of people and communities devoted to “a healthy, more sustainable life.”

            SustainLane says, “Hallmarks of sustainable cities include a commitment to public health, an emphasis on creating a strong local economy, and citizens and city officials working together to make positive, thoughtful choices for the long-term benefit of the city and its residents.” (Rankings are attached below.)

            “Our 15^th place ranking confirms that we as a community are heading in the right direction, especially since we weren’t even in the top 25 last year,” said Mayor Hannemann. “We placed high in the rankings for air and water quality and markets for local food. The survey identified room for improvement in energy and transportation, and pointed out that Honolulu would benefit from a rail system, which is something we’re already working on.”

            At the Conference of Mayors meeting, Hannemann will record a segment for a video presentation on healthy cities by SustainLane.

            In addition he will:

·     Convene a new environmental group focusing on challenges facing urban forestry programs. As chairman of the Community Trees Task Force, Hannemann will lead a study that will develop best practices for local community trees programs.

·     Be a featured speaker at a luncheon on “Mayoral Best Practices on Healthy Cities.” He will discuss how he leads by example to make Honolulu one of the nation’s healthiest cities.

·     Tape two radio public service announcements regarding breast cancer and prostate cancer as part of an ongoing public education campaign by the Conference of Mayors. 

·     Participate in the meeting-opening press conference.

 

            “The conference officially runs from Friday (June 2) through June 6, but I’m only going for a day, and it will be a busy one,” said Hannemann. “It’s important that Honolulu is represented in this national forum.”  

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Contact:

Bill Brennan, 527-6928

Mark Matsunaga, 527-5767

 

 

2006 SustainLane 50 Largest U.S. Cities Overall Sustainability Ranking