City officials attend Boston summit

Erin Neff

Friday, Dec. 8, 2000 | 10:39 a.m.

Sometimes city officials think they're the only ones struggling with redevelopment, race relations and the new economy.

But six Las Vegas representatives are learning from 4,000 of their counterparts nationwide that they are not alone.

City Councilmen Larry Brown and Michael Mack, Councilwoman Lynette Boggs McDonald and three city staffers are all in Boston attending the National League of Cities Congress of Cities and Exposition.

The forecast doesn't just include snow and a Northeastern chill in the air. The conference is designed to showcase programs nationwide that are working in hopes that other cities try to implement ways to solve various issues.

"Some of the challenges we have in West Las Vegas and our older areas aren't unique at all," said Assistant City Manager Betsy Fretwell before leaving for Boston on Wednesday. "There's a whole emphasis on community relations and similar things that we are doing."

Fretwell, Doug Dickerson, the deputy director of Administrative Services, and Patrick Smith, Councilman Michael Mack's ward liaison, are also in Boston.

The conference included a keynote address from author and Harvard University professor Lani Guinier and featured seminars with former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich and former Wyoming Sen. Alan Simpson.

Mack said he was very interested in exploring what National League of Cities calls the E-city -- an entire track of seminars on municipal government's role in the new economy.

"This should be very beneficial," Mack said.

Smith, who previously attended a National League of Cities conference, said the session was an outstanding way to network with other city officials and learn about other solutions.

In Boston, participants can take workshops in one of five different seminar tracks. Mobile seminars also allow officials to explore specific Boston projects, including The Big Dig -- a central highway artery and tunnel under construction deemed one of the most complex city transportation projects ever.

Brown, who serves on the Regional Transportation Commission, was expected to focus on infrastructure and transportation at the conference. And as a Harvard graduate, he was expected to help lead some after hours tours for his city colleagues.

Boggs McDonald was expected to focus on human development and social issues, Fretwell said.

One of the mobile seminars in Boston involves a tour of a variety of housing complexes ranging from university settings to affordable units that are environmentally friendly. One site showcases Boston's granny housing for grandparents raising grandchildren -- another is a community cooperative in a renovated old school.

The conference runs through Saturday.