WASHINGTON - The nation's mayors, meeting in an unprecedented Emergency Safety and Security Summit, presented Tom Ridge, Director of the Office of Homeland Security, with a sweeping set of recommendations for improving the nation's ability to prevent and respond to terrorist attacks, while stimulating the economy through strategic investments in the nation's infrastructure.

The U.S. Conference of Mayor's report, "A National Action Plan for Safety and Security in America's Cities," was the result of several weeks of work by mayors that culminated in a historic, two-day summit attended by nearly 100 mayors and scores of police and fire chiefs from across the country.

One of the recommendations most pertinent to Landscape Architects outlines the strategic infrastructure investments to strengthen security systems, improve transportation networks and increase jobs. The recommendation states that a federal economic stimulus package should include funding for securing and strengthening the nation's water security system and surface transportation networks. The funding would allow for new construction and improvements to existing infrastructure as well as for increasing security personnel and improving communications systems. The strategic infrastructure investment would improve defense and response against terrorists and provide job-creating stimulus to the economy.

Also, economic security measures discussed include, any provisions to cut taxes should be short term - 12 to 18 months - and targeted to stimulating the economy. Examples include lifting the cap on state and local exempt bonds to spur stalled development, doubling the allocation of low-income housing tax credits to advance housing construction.