Mayor Walsh to join National Conference of Mayors in Washington D.C.

Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced he will join more than 250 of the nation's mayors in Washington, D.C. for the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) 87th Winter Meeting. The meeting, which will be held at the Capital Hilton, will run through Friday, January 25, 2019. As part of the conference, Mayor Walsh will participate in panels and sessions on topics such housing, education, elder affairs, substance use disorder and equity.

Mayor Walsh currently serves in a leadership role as a Trustee for the U.S. Conference of Mayors. The Trustees guide the organization's work for the coming year, from connecting mayors to share ideas and tackle common challenges, setting a robust policy agenda at the national level, and elevating mayors' voices on issues that face cities every day. In addition, Mayor Walsh currently serves as co-chair of the USCM Task Force on Substance Use, Prevention and Recovery Services along with Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley, Vice Chair of the Cities of Opportunity Task Force and member of the Tourism, Arts, Parks, Entertainment and Sports Committee.

"Every year I look forward to the annual convening of the U.S. Conference of Mayors as an opportunity to showcase the bold and innovative ways that Boston is leading on the issues facing cities across our nation, and as a chance to learn more about how we can take our work even further," said Mayor Walsh. "What happens in Washington, we feel on the streets of Boston, so it is important that we work together with other cities on our shared priorities to offer a way forward for the nation during times of uncertainty and division."

With more than 85 percent of Americans living in U.S. metropolitan cities, mayors are on the front lines of today's challenges and have consistently called on Washington to draw on mayoral expertise. During the meeting, mayors from both sides of the aisle, from rural, urban and suburban municipalities, will hold sessions on a range of issues, including infrastructure, immigration, climate, opportunity zones, automation and the economic future of cities.

"The Winter Meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors is a critical and important way for cities across the country to stay connected with one another. It's a unique opportunity for mayors-whether Democrat, Republican or Independent-to roll up their sleeves, brainstorm about how to solve similar problems, and share best practices. As the gridlock and partisanship in Washington continues to escalate, mayors remain on the front lines working productively every day for the well-being of the people who live and work in their cities. There's no better time for the nation's mayors to come together to work on their shared priorities and build a brighter-more inclusive-future for all Americans," said USCM President and Columbia (SC) Mayor Steve Benjamin.

A draft agenda and list of pre-registered mayors are available here. Stay connected with all the news about USCM's Winter Meeting by following @usmayors along with the hashtag #MayorsDC19. For more information about the U.S. Conference of Mayors, see here.