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The bottom line is that we have entered an age when local communities need to invest in themselves. Federal and state dollars are becoming more and more scarce for American cities. Political and civic leaders in local communities need to make a compelling case for this investment.

Local politics, like everything else, are not what they used to be. But the fact is that our political system - like our physical existence - still breaks down along geographical lines.

We have to allow people in the states to make their own decisions, to get government agencies out of the way and let local people make decisions about what's best for them.

Why should a city be mandated to do something by the federal government or state government without the money to do it?

You have the biggest impact on controlling, on affecting local lives as mayor. It's so much more important than being a state legislator.

As a former mayor, I know that local governments must have control over land use decisions.

I know people don't like America very much, but the one thing it's very good on is local government.

As the world's 'most dynamic' cities seek to manage their own urban growth, American state and local officials have much to offer. Our mayors can share their experiences in urban design, clean energy projects, Smart Grids, codes for energy efficient buildings, transportation safety, and innovative environmental solutions.

Cities have to realize that whatever the federal government is going to do, it's not going to be enough. And cities that proactively take control of their own quality of life initiatives are going to be the cities that ultimately attract the highly talented young people and create the jobs.

Despite the enormous role that local government plays in our daily lives, the constitution makes not one mention of it.