Statement by U.S. Conference of Mayors President and New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu on President Trump’s Announcement About Opioid Epidemic

Washington, D.C, Oct. 26, 2017 -- In response to President Trump’s announcement today declaring the opioid crisis a public health emergency, U.S. Conference of Mayors President and New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu released the following statement:

“Declaring a public health emergency is a step in the right direction, so long as it brings immediate financial, personnel and equipment resources to the heart of the crisis. While optimism and mobilization is key and necessary, this is a crisis years in the making.

“No American city and no community has been immune to this deadly crisis, and mayors, more than any other elected official, are on the front lines of this battle. In fact, many American mayors declared states of emergency over the past several years, in order to marshal every resource at their disposal. Local solutions in partnership with health and mental health authorities, addiction, treatment and recovery experts and law enforcement have proven effective in the absence of federal leadership. We hope the President’s commitment to fighting this scourge means bringing mayors and local officials to the table to develop new partnerships and solutions.

“Mayors of both parties will not rest until we have reached a comprehensive, sustainable response to this epidemic. Our shared constituents are mired in the worst public health crisis in a generation, and a solution demands the same urgency from the federal government. We welcome the President to the fight and hope that his show of force today means long-term commitment, much-needed federal resources and a long-term partnership.” 

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 The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. There are nearly 1,400 such cities in the country today, and each city is represented in the Conference by its chief elected official, the mayor. Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/usmayors, or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/usmayors

Attachments:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9b9610c1-0362-43ca-960f-3b8fab7175f7

Sara Durr
The U.S. Conference of Mayors
202-215-1811
[email protected]