Thank you! Thank you all so much.
It's great to be here with all of you. I'm looking out at the audience and seeing so many familiarfaces, as well as those here up on the dais.
I want to thank Kevin for his introduction and his leadership of this organization.
Mayor Lee, thanks for having us in your beautiful city.
It is for me a great treat to come back to address a group that, as you just heard, I spent a lotof time as senator working with – in great measure because of the need for buttressingHomeland Security, as well as other challenges within our cities during the eight years I servedin the Senate.
And it was always refreshing to come here because despite whatever was going on in Congressor Washington with respect to partisanship, a conference of mayors was truly like an oasis inthe desert. I could come here and be reminded of what Mayor LaGuardia said, "There's noRepublican or Democratic way to pick up the garbage. You pick it up, or you don't pick it up."And I loved being with people who understood that.
I've learned over the years how important it is to work with city hall, to try to make sure we areconnected up as partners and to get whatever the priorities of your people happen to beaccomplished.
So it pays. It pays to work with you, and I am grateful to have this opportunity to come backand see you.
When I was Senator from New York, I not only worked with the mayor of New York City, ofcourse, I worked with creative and committed mayors from Buffalo to Rochester to Syracuseto Albany and so many other places.
And I was particularly happy to do so because they were always full of ideas and eager to worktogether to attract more high-paying jobs, to revitalize downtowns, to support our firstresponders, to try to close that skills gap.
And I want you to be sure of this, whether you are a Democrat, a Republican or anIndependent: If I am president, America's mayors will always have a friend in the White House.
Now, as I was preparing to come here, I couldn't help but think of some of those who aren'twith us today.
Tom Menino was a dear friend to me, and to many in this room, and I certainly feel his loss.
Today, our thoughts are also with our friend Joe Riley and the people of Charleston. Joe's a goodman and a great mayor, and his leadership has been a bright light during such a dark time.
You know, the passing of days has not dulled the pain or the shock of this crime. Indeed, as wehave gotten to know the faces and names and stories of the victims, the pain has onlydeepened.
Nine faithful women and men, with families and passions and so much left to do.