Archives of the Mayor's Press Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: Tuesday, June 26, 2001
Release #226-01

Contact: Sunny Mindel /Lynn Rasic
(212) 788-2958
  Jerry Lazzaro, Temple University (215) 204-4478
  Jennifer Buotote, NYSE (212) 656-2065


MAYOR GIULIANI AND TEMPLE UNIVERSITY
PRESENT E-GOVERNMENT CONFERENCE

City of New York Co-Hosts Conference of Mayors: "Seizing the Opportunity of E-Government"

Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today, in conjunction with Temple University's Center for Competitive Government and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), presented "Seizing the Opportunity of E-Government" -- a national conference for mayors on the power of information technology to improve constituent services and reduce the cost of government.

The two-day conference features presentations by mayors of cities who have managed or are undertaking major projects involving technological innovation and by executives of technology companies pioneering innovations relevant to local government. Participants include prominent leaders from the private and public sector such as AOL-Time Warner Chairman Richard Parsons, Chairman and CEO of the NYSE Richard Grasso, as well as mayors from over 23 cities including Charlotte, NC, Phoenix, AZ, and Toledo, OH.

"The inception of E-government offers an unprecedented opportunity to reinvent traditional government by improving efficiency, effectiveness and accountability," Mayor Giuliani said. "This conference is bringing together public and private sector leaders to share their technological knowledge on how to cut costs and improve customer delivery. By implementing E-government, municipalities have the opportunity to move from inefficient bureaucracy toward a more entrepreneurial culture of accountability."

"Mayors can learn much from one another, as well as from private sector leaders, about utilizing technology to manage municipalities more effectively and efficiently," said Paul J. Andrisani, professor of management at Temple University's Fox School of Business and Management. "The conference provides a forum for private and public sector leaders to share ideas that are reshaping municipal governments."

NYSE Chairman and CEO Richard A. Grasso, "The Exchange is privileged to host the Conference of Mayors and Temple University. Like the American cities this fine group represents, the Exchange continues to work to bring Wall Street and Main Street together. We look forward to a lively and beneficial dialogue with the mayors."

Municipal government leaders speaking at the conference include Mayors Rudolph W. Giuliani (NYC), Skip Rimsza (Phoenix, AZ), Patrick McCrory (Charlotte, NC), Paul Coble (Raleigh, NC), and Nicholas Tennyson (Durham, NC). Also representing municipal government are Steve Goldsmith, former Mayor of Indianapolis, IN, and Richard J. Sheirer, Director of the Mayor's Office of Emergency Management. Private sector executive speakers include: Richard Grasso, chairman and CEO, New York Stock Exchange; John Morgridge, chairman, Cisco Corporation; Richard Parsons, co-COO, AOL-Time Warner; Jim Sims, Executive Vice President, Enterasys; and Ken Fitzpatrick, general manager of global marketing, Computer Associates International.

"Governmental efficiency is crucial to competitiveness, regionally and nationally," said M. Moshe Porat, dean of Temple's Fox School. "Nationwide, government provides 15.4% of total U.S. employment -- about the same as the entire manufacturing industry -- and consumes nearly 25% of GDP. Moreover, all citizens and businesses are perennial clients of local, state, and federal government. To sustain economic growth, government at all levels must become more competitive in attracting and retaining jobs and businesses."

The two-day conference will be held in the City's Emergency Command Center in the World Trade Center as well as the NYSE Boardroom. In addition, Mayor Giuliani will host a welcoming reception and dinner at Gracie Mansion, the evening of June 26th.

The Center for Sustainable Communities at Temple University is the principal underwriter of the conference. Additional underwriters include Computer Associates International, Enterasys, PricewaterhouseCoopers Endowment for the Business of Government, and Eastern States Group. Additional support for the conference is provided by AOL Time-Warner, Cisco and Omnicom.


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