ABOUT CFE COALITION

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Message from Co-Chairs

Dear Friends:

It is our pleasure to welcome you to the Web site of Cities for Financial Empowerment (CFE). On this site, you will find information about CFE and our member cities. CFE works to raise awareness of the role cities play in securing the financial well-being of their residents, while promoting efforts to break down the barriers that keep those with low incomes in poverty.

CFE members have all made key contributions to increasing the financial security of their residents. We are now working together to take advantage of shared goals, a diverse body of expertise, and the unique relationship we have with our residents to make further gains. Cities are a new and powerful force when it comes to helping people build their way out of poverty, through savings and asset building, protection from unfair and predatory practices, and education about the best ways to manage money and plan for the future.

Indeed, city governments are uniquely poised to create real pathways to improve people’s financial health. First, a municipality can identify and then leverage critical opportunities to combine the delivery of programs and services with public and private empowerment initiatives, for example moving people into bank accounts or savings vehicles. Second, not to be undervalued, cities can marshal lawmaking and enforcement powers to insist upon genuine reform in primary and secondary business sectors affecting those with low incomes.

With that in mind, and with the support of many committed individuals and organizations, we believe that we can effect a sea change on behalf of hard-working Americans, while challenging traditional attitudes about what local government can and should do on their behalf. We in New York and San Francisco are excited about the work of Cities for Financial Empowerment and are proud to be chairing this effort. Please stay tuned to our Web site for updates as we push ahead. And if you would like to support our efforts in any way, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Co-chairs	New York City	San Francisco
	Jonathan Mintz	José Cisneros
	Commissioner	Treasurer
	NYC Department of Consumer Affairs	City and County of San Francisco