U.S. Conference of Mayors President Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson Responds To President Obama's State of the Union Address

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Jan 21, 2015, 01:03 ET

WASHINGTON, Jan. 21, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- U.S. Conference of Mayors President and Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson issued the following statement in response to President Obama's State of the Union Address:

"As mayors often say, 'As go cities, so goes the nation.'

"The nation's mayors are pleased that President Obama embraces proposals that make cities strong and grow local economies by helping working families and those who live in our metropolitan areas.

"The President's proposals to help working families by raising the minimum wage, increasing paid sick leave for families, ensuring pay equity, making higher education more affordable, closing tax loopholes and making new investments in infrastructure are all issues that underscore the work of the Mayors' Cities of Opportunity Task Force, which was established to identify strategies to address income inequality, promote economic mobility and create jobs in America's cities.

"The nation is strong because our cities are strong. And our cities and their metropolitan areas are only as strong as the people in our local communities."

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.

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SOURCE The U.S. Conference of Mayors