Mayor Meets with Obama, Cabinet

Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and other prominent mayors met in Washington D.C. today with President Obama and key members of his cabinet to discuss federal funding that will help the country’s large cities during the economic crisis. Ravenstahl says that he is pleased with the outcome of the discussion, but cannot specify yet what programs and projects the funding will help. The mayor says he must work first with local officials to determine the usage of the funds. Also, much of the money will be granted competitively. Ravenstahl says when he returns from Washington, he and city officials will “sit down… and understand everything we need to do [to get these competitive grants].” Ravenstahl adds that cabinet members expressed their wish to have the funding sent out as quickly as possible. The mayor projects that the city will receive funding in three to six months.