Mayors Urge U.S. Aid to Fight Violence : Cities: Gore promises all-out attack on root social conditions.

Mayors from more than 100 cities sought assurance from the Clinton Administration Friday that they will get the help they need to curb violence in the streets.

Vice President Al Gore assured the U.S. Conference of Mayors that the Administration would try a comprehensive attack on underlying social conditions, rather than focusing solely on law enforcement.

“We cannot look at a single problem in isolation,” Gore said. “Working as a team, we can revitalize the inner city. Voters in your cities elected us all. Now it’s our turn to do our job for them.”

Clinton’s crime package would provide 100,000 extra police officers to patrol the streets; funds for building more prisons and establishing military-style boot camps, and life sentences for three-time violent offenders.

Gore said Clinton’s plan also would set tough penalties for drug kingpins, even on the first offense. “One strike and they’re out,” Gore said. “We’ve got to convince people by our actions, not by our words.”

The mayors, though, say Clinton’s long-term approach doesn’t take care of their immediate needs. They planned to ask the President for fast relief.

“If you’ve got an epidemic in your community, it’s time for a vaccine,” said Louisville, Ky., Mayor Jerry Abramson, president of the mayors conference. “We’re talking about a situation where we literally have got to get that vaccine.”

The mayors were ending their annual winter meeting in Washington, a session that focused on escalating crime and finding an appropriate way of dealing with it.

Last month, they presented Clinton a plan for combating crime. One key element would allow cities to use federal law-enforcement funds not only for hiring extra police officers, but also for overtime, training and equipment for veteran officers.

Mayors said they expect some resistance from Congress, much like last year’s defeat of Clinton’s economic stimulus plan, which sought to allow cities to use their discretion in spending certain federal funds.

Paul Soglin, mayor of Madison, Wis., said he hoped Congress would not tie up anti-crime legislation in political battles over money.

“If those members of Congress are so concerned about our spending that money wisely, let them come home and run for mayor,” Soglin said.