WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwired - October 10, 2016) -

• The United States Conference of Mayors & NYU Wagner Graduate School; October 13, New York City

The U.S. Conference of Mayors, in partnership with the NYU Wagner Graduate School for Public Service, will host a bipartisan discussion with mayors and the presidential campaigns on why infrastructure in U.S. cities is key to both economic security and public safety, and to urge a stronger federal partnership with cities.

Under the leadership of USCM President Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett, USCM Vice President New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, USCM Second Vice President Columbia, SC Mayor Stephen Benjamin, USCM Past President Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and USCM Advisory Board Member Albuquerque Mayor Richard J. Berry, will engage in an interactive question-and-answer session with surrogates representing both the Trump and Clinton campaigns who will present their candidates' views on infrastructure. NY1 News Political Anchor Errol Louis will moderate the session.

With more than 80 percent of the people in this country living in cities and their metropolitan areas, cities are clearly magnets for growth. Over the next 30 years, 66 million people will move to cities and their metro areas, accounting for 96 percent of the nation's total population growth.

Because our nation's roads are already congested, our water systems suffer from aging and leaking pipes, and our electrical grid needs modernization, mayors believe the Presidential aspirants and their policy agendas should be focused on cities and urban areas. Further, mayors will stress that cities are home to innovation, creativity and cultural diversity, thus they need federal support and a national infrastructure policy that directs funding to metro areas which are the lifeblood of our economy and where our future growth will occur.

WHO:

Oklahoma City, OK Mayor Mick Cornett, USCM President

New Orleans, LA Mayor Mitch Landrieu, USCM Vice President

Columbia, SC Mayor Stephen Benjamin, USCM Second Vice President

Baltimore, MD Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, USCM Immediate Past President

Albuquerque, NM Mayor Richard J. Berry, USCM Advisory Board

Tom Cochran, USCM CEO & Executive Director

Errol Louis, NY1 News Political Anchor & Moderator

Sherry Glied, NYU Wagner Dean and Professor of Public Service

WHEN: Thursday, October 13, 2016 | Forum 12:00pm-1:30pm | Doors Open 11:30am

WHERE: SVA Theatre | 333 West 23 Street, New York NY 10011

About The United States Conference of Mayors -- The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. There are nearly 1,400 such cities in the country today, and each city is represented in the Conference by its chief elected official, the mayor. Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/usmayors, or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/usmayors.