Malloy meets with Obama

by: Chris MC

Sat Feb 21, 2009 at 17:24:12 PM EST

Excerpt:

"We have urban areas -- Stamford, Bridgeport, Hartford, New Haven -- that are job-producing centers," Malloy said. "We need to get the money quickly."

Malloy said Obama has delivered on his pledge to work with mayors by including them in the economic recovery bill. Money is available for weatherization, community policing, schools and road repairs. But much of it will have to pass through the state first -- and that worries Malloy. "A lot depends on whether Connecticut state government can do its job and get the money in our hands. My fear is they won't," he said.  Malloy ... sees a potential conflict between the governor's office and state legislature over how to disburse the stimulus funds.

Malloy said Friday his primary focus is on securing funds for a waste-to-energy plant that will generate 17.5 megawatts of energy from the by-product of effluent.  "I spoke to [Energy Secretary Steven Chu] about the waste-to-energy project. I'm very proud of it," he said.

Malloy said he left the meeting feeling upbeat.

"The last eight years was roughly the equivalent of 40 years in the desert," Malloy said. "This is the first time I've been back to the White House since Clinton was president." Malloy said the Bush administration would turn to the governor to see their input, but Clinton and Obama see mayors as their allies.

Source: Peter Urban, The Stamford Advocate, Malloy: Cities need money more quickly.