Chavez: Money should go to cities

ALBUQUERQUE (AP) - Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez was among 14 mayors who met Thursday with President-elect Barack Obama after Obama made a pitch on national television for his mammoth spending proposal.

Chavez said there's been serious discussions this week with Obama's transition team about the emerging stimulus package.

Chavez said he wants money to go directly into metropolitan area economies instead of just to state governments.

He said mayors are the elected officials most directly responsible to the public.

For his part, Chavez would like Congress to put money into energy grants that would pump money directly into municipal areas while responding to one of Obama's agendas -- to green the economy.

Chavez says mayors are interested in money for projects that not only build things but also transform things.