Mayors Call for More Federal Aid

Cities deserve more federal aid because they supply the labor and the tax revenue that keeps the nation going, some of the nation’s urban mayors said Sunday.

“Cities are our nation’s marketplaces, not only for business, but also for ideas,” New York Mayor David N. Dinkins said. “If we choke off our cities by denying them the resources they need to function efficiently, the marketplaces will disappear.”

Dinkins and a dozen other mayors spoke at a news conference to kick off a two-day conference on urban issues, such as combating drug abuse, improving education and paying for costly infrastructure such as bridges and roads.

Boston Mayor Raymond L. Flynn said cities are not getting enough federal aid to support drug education.

Many of the mayors, most of them Democrats, said the federal government is neglecting urban areas. In 1980, federal funds made up 19.4% of New York City’s budget. Now that share is 9.7%, Dinkins said.

Last week, Dinkins announced a cut of 5,400 city jobs to close a $388-million budget gap.