Take the Lead 2, now with 100% less Antonio Banderas

Wondering where John Street is today? According to the New York Times, he's in New York attending a daylong meeting on the proliferation of unlicensed firearms in crimes convened by Mayors Michael Bloomberg of New York and Thomas Menino of Boston. Both Bloomberg and Menino recognize the toll that gun violence has taken on the nation's large cities and have responded by picking up the ball dropped by the federal government.

Throughout the country, mayors of major cities have been taking the lead on what at one time would have been considered national issues to be addressed by the President and the federal government.

In the wake of the U.S. government's refusal to sign onto the Kyoto Protocols for reducing global warming, Mayor Greg Nickels of Seattle has taken the lead to get over 200 mayors representing 44 million Americans to sign onto the U.S. Mayor's Climate Protection Agreement.

Chicago Mayor Richard Daley has also become quite the environmental advocate by encouraging the construction of green buildings.

In San Francisco, Mayor Gavin Newsom is searching for ways to provide health insurance for his city's working poor.

Philadelphia mayors past and present have taken the lead and provided examples for other mayors on issues like homelessness and wireless connectivity.

But when was the last time the mayor of Philadelphia has used his position as the chief executive of the 5th (or 6th?) largest city in the nation to advance an issue that would benefit all Americans? Do we want the type of leader who does such things or should the next mayor focus exclusively on things going on within this city's borders? Simply put, do we want to share our mayor with the rest of the country - assuming he or she is worthy of it? If so, what issue can our next mayor take the lead on?

UPDATE: Photo from LIBRADO ROMERO/New York Times. In case you're wondering who's who, they are from left: Thomas M. Menino of Boston; Jerramiah T. Healy of Jersey City, N.J.; Anthony Williams of Washington; Michael Bloomberg of New York; John Street of Philadelphia; Laura Miller of Dallas and Douglas Palmer of Trenton, N.J.