When asked if the team of mayors and mortgage bankers areworking with Mayor Giuliani to address the housing crises in NewYork City, one of the worst in the country, Jacob answered thatChase is one of the leasing lenders in the city and is working inareas like Brooklyn and Harlem to help people achieve homeownership. Each mayor talked about their individual cities anddiscussed them as models of a national issue. Each pointed to theresults of a survey in which respondents expressed concern aboutaffordability of housing, an issue in New York, where rents areskyrocketing.

Minneapolis Mayor Sharon Sayles-Belton summed up much of thediscussion noting, "One of the things I'm most delighted about isthat we're talking about new American cities. Today people arecoming back to central cities; neighborhoods are blossoming." Shesaid culture, education, and parks are drawing even suburbanfamilies. "People are always telling me, 'You've got a great cityhere mayor, but I can't afford to stay,'" she commented. "I need tofind ways to make it more affordable. The Federal government hasnot been the driver it needs to be to address the housing crises.It's not just a conversation the government needs to have with thepoor, but with middle income families."

All of the mayors discussed the need to lobby Congress andwhichever candidate wins in November. Boston Mayor Thomas M. Meninonoted, "This is the best of times and the worst of times"economically as the "rich get richer" and "poor get poorer." Jacobadded, "The economy has exacerbated problems, presenting newchallenges."