Seattle—Mayors Marc Morial of New Orleans, Louisiana, and Steve Means of Gadsden, Alabama, have been awarded top honors in the 2000 City Livability Awards Program, sponsored by the U.S. Conference of Mayors and Waste Management, Inc. The awards were announced in Seattle on June 10 at the 68th Annual Conference of Mayors.
The City Livability Awards were announced and presented at the Conference of Mayors' Annual Luncheon by Mr. Maury Myers, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Waste Management, Inc., the world's leading provider of comprehensive waste services. Waste Management's support makes the City Livability Awards Program possible.
City Livability Awards recognize and honor mayors for exemplary leadership in developing and implementing programs that improve the quality of life in America's cities. The winning cities were determined by an independent panel of judges, selected by the U.S. Conference of Mayors.
In addition to the awards won by Mayors Morial and Means, Outstanding Achievement awards were received by Mayors Thomas M. Menino of Boston, Massachusetts; Frank C. Roberts of Lancaster, California; Brian Ebersole of Tacoma, Washington; and Dannel P. Malloy of Stamford, Connecticut for cities with populations of 100,000 or more. Outstanding Achievement Awards were also won by Mayors David Ragucci of Everett, Massachusetts; Paul Oysaki of Euclid, Ohio; Patrick C. Guerriero of Melrose, Massachusetts; and Johnny Isbell of Pasadena, Texas for cities with populations of 100,000 or less.
Honorable Mention Citations were awarded, for cities with populations of 100,000 or greater, to Mayors Anthony M. Masiello of Buffalo, New York; Joe Putnam of Irving, Texas; Alex G. Fekete of Pembroke Pines, Florida; Carleton S. Finkbeiner of Toledo, Ohio; and Robert Walkup of Tucson, Arizona.
Mayors Frank N. Nicastro, Sr. of Bristol, Connecticut; Michael J. O'Malley of Hoffman Estates, Illinois; William E. Standley of Farmington, New Mexico; Glenn Lewis of Moore, Oklahoma; and John Barrett, III, of North Adams, Massachusetts received Honorable Mention Citations for cities with populations of 100,000 or less.
In addition to the City Livability Awards, Mr. Myers and Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley will present the Richard J. Daley Award to Seattle Mayor Paul Schell. The Daley Award is presented annually to the host mayor of the Annual Conference of Mayors in appreciation for the hospitality shown the conference participants.
"We at Waste Management are very proud to support the continuing strong efforts of mayors across this nation to improve the quality of life in their communities," says Mr. Myers. "Their leadership and creativity are critical to achieving greater livability in America's cities, and we are delighted to showcase the exciting and innovative projects they have developed."
J. Thomas Cochran, Executive Director of the U.S. Conference of Mayors adds, "Every year we are heartened by the strength of commitment and vision of mayors across this country in their struggle to improve the overall well-being and quality of life in America's cities. Our City Livability Awards Program gives us an opportunity to express our pride in their determined leadership and share in the celebration of their achievements.
"We are extremely grateful to Waste Management for their support and commitment to America's cities that allows us to publicize these exciting and worthwhile programs so that other mayors and cities can use them as models," Mr. Cochran said.
Read a summary for the winners in both the 100,000 population or more category and the less than 100,000 population category.
Waste Management, Inc. based in Houston, Texas, is the global leader in providing waste management services. In North America, the company operates throughout the United States, and in Canada, Puerto Rico, and Mexico, serving municipal, commercial, industrial and residential customers.
