NEW YORK CITY -- San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom is one of the big-city mayors kicking off a summit to discuss reproductive health for women in urban areas. It's an issue many of them say is bogged down in politics and ideology at the federal level.

The Urban Initiative for Reproductive Health draws city leaders, health officials and advocates from more than 35 cities in the United States and Mexico.

Newsom joined New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg among others at City Hall in New York Wednesday, a day before the two-day summit begins.

They say the agenda is to discuss how cities can help women get the most timely and comprehensive reproductive health information and care.