/EINPresswire.com/ -- WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwired - March 10, 2016) - U.S. Conference of Mayors CEO & Executive Director Tom Cochran and Former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin today stood in solidarity with Flint Mayor Karen Weaver during a press conference at Flint City Hall where she called for federal and state assistance. As part of the Conference's support, Cochran also released a new bipartisan letter to Congress and the White House from more than 150 mayors around the country urging resources for Flint in the aftermath of the water crisis. To review the letter, please click here, and video of the today's press conference will be posted this evening at www.usmayors.org.

As the democratically elected Mayor of Flint, Karen Weaver has the full faith and confidence of her colleagues from around the country. On their second visit to Flint, Cochran, Franklin, and a team of experts are providing support to Mayor Weaver as she implements her plan to recover Flint's infrastructure, public health, and economy.

Background: 

The Flint water crisis has been a top priority for The U.S. Conference of Mayors since the Conference's January Winter Meeting in Washington, DC, where newly elected Flint Mayor Karen Weaver spoke about the challenges in her city. 

Immediately following the USCM Winter Meeting in January, Conference of Mayors President and Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake asked that former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin -- a national expert on water investment -- and USCM CEO & Executive Director Tom Cochran co-lead a mission to Flint in early February. 

The Conference of Mayors also supported Mayor Weaver as she testified before Congress, and Mayor Weaver recently attended USCM's Winter Leadership Meeting where nearly 45 mayors stood in support of her efforts to solve a serious health crisis that has both short-term and long-term impacts for Flint residents. Video of USCM's Leadership Meeting and mayors' previous comments in support of Mayor Weaver can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4LZyrEl0Sg

The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. There are nearly 1400 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.

Contact:

Elena Temple
etemple@usmayors.org
202-286-1100

Sara Durr
sara@durrcommunications.com
202-215-1811

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