South Bay mayors' advice for Obama

MSNBC asked a couple hundred mayors to provide their advice for President-elect Barack Obama. Included are two locals: Mayor Richard Montgomery (R-Manhattan Beach) and Mayor Doug Stern (D-Rancho Palos Verdes).

Here's Montgomery's advice:

I had the good fortune to meet and speak with (for all of 30 seconds) then-Senator Obama at the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Miami three months ago. I asked him then what I will tell you now. My hope is that the next president will pay the state of California back the costs we have incurred due to illegal immigration. The costs paid by the state of California were for law enforcement, jail, hospital and schools. All of these "free" services were provided to illegal immigrants because of a failed federal immigration policy. Obama's answer to me (which was also heard by the mayor of Redondo Beach, Mike Gin) was, "you are absolutely right, the next president will have to address that problem."

If the next president addresses this issue, it is likely to be in a way that Montgomery doesn't like (i.e. comprehensively, a.k.a. amnesty). Obama is probably more receptive to Montgomery's second piece of advice:

2. Encourage cities to install solar panels on the roofs of public buildings and or install solar-powered streetlights. Then provide rebate money for their purchase and installation.

Green jobs. Consider it done.

Here's Doug Stern's advice:

We have no particular issues that we desire to have President Obama address as city issues. Instead, I desire him to address in a much more thoughtful way than has the present Administration the issues of (1) our economy and (2) our foreign affairs/wars. We must put an end to making decisions based on political ideology, and begin again to find real-world solutions based on quality analysis and thought. That is my desire as the mayor of one American city.

Couldn't he have asked for more money for storm drains or something?