When asked if the team of mayors and mortgage bankers are working with Mayor Giuliani to address the housing crises in New York City, one of the worst in the country, Jacob answered that Chase is one of the leasing lenders in the city and is working in areas like Brooklyn and Harlem to help people achieve home ownership. Each mayor talked about their individual cities and discussed them as models of a national issue. Each pointed to the results of a survey in which respondents expressed concern about affordability of housing, an issue in New York, where rents are skyrocketing.

Minneapolis Mayor Sharon Sayles-Belton summed up much of the discussion noting, "One of the things I'm most delighted about is that we're talking about new American cities. Today people are coming back to central cities; neighborhoods are blossoming." She said culture, education, and parks are drawing even suburban families. "People are always telling me, 'You've got a great city here mayor, but I can't afford to stay,'" she commented. "I need to find ways to make it more affordable. The Federal government has not been the driver it needs to be to address the housing crises. It's not just a conversation the government needs to have with the poor, but with middle income families."

All of the mayors discussed the need to lobby Congress and whichever candidate wins in November. Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino noted, "This is the best of times and the worst of times" economically as the "rich get richer" and "poor get poorer." Jacob added, "The economy has exacerbated problems, presenting new challenges."