Democratic Municipal Officials Digest
Week of 4/6/2020

DMO Update

• Access the DMO COVID-19 Resource Hub

• Join DMO and AFSCME this Wednesday at 4pm ET / 1pm PT (202-871-0096) to discuss upcoming legislation that can help cities deal with COVID-19. Read AFSCME’s policy suggestions.

• Are the other Democrats on your council members of DMO? Make sure your peers sign up at NationalDMO.org/join to get connected to Democratic Party resources before the Convention.

Quick Links

• Shortages of COVID-19 Emergency Equipment in U.S. Cities – A Survey of the Nation’s Mayors

• Coronavirus help: Comcast pledges $500 million to workers; executives forgo salaries

• Social Distancing To Fight the Coronavirus Saves Lives and Preserves the U.S. Economy – Ending social distancing policies before COVID has run its course will do more damage to local economies than a short term loss of business under quarantine.

Ideas for Cities

• Homelessness Support During the Spread of COVID-19

• How Dallas Is Making Transportation a Central Part of Tackling Climate Change

• Takoma Park offers grants to small businesses affected by COVID-19

News for Democrats 

• Governor Bullock to Bolster Food Security for Montana Families During Statewide COVID-19 Emergency

• Democratic National Convention pushed back to August

• Underfunded, understaffed and under siege: Unemployment offices nationwide are struggling to do their jobs

Pic of the Week

Don’t be the mayor from Jaws. The weather is getting nicer, but to flatten the curve we need to keep the beaches (and other non-essential spaces) closed.

Democratic Municipal Officials Digest
Week of 3/30/2020

DMO Update

• Access the DMO COVID-19 Resource Hub

• Check out DMO’s Campaigning During Corona info brief for some tools and tips on running this cycle.

• Are the other Democrats on your council members of DMO? Make sure your peers sign up at NationalDMO.org/join to get connected to Democratic Party resources before the Convention.

Quick Links

• Mississippi Governor Orders Limited Gatherings, Declares Most Businesses ‘Essential,’ Supersedes Local Safety Efforts – Republican governors are preempting local efforts to promote social distancing and limit the spread of COVID-19.

• Coronavirus: Public Service Workers on the Front Lines – Stories from AFSCME members keeping our cities working.

• Domestic violence in the age of coronavirus: What happens when you’re stuck at home, but home isn’t safe?

Ideas for Cities

• Trouble finding FDA approved safety masks? Contact Pinecrest, FL Vice Mayor Jim McDonald at jmcdonald@mmlawmiami.com for more information on procuring bulk orders of N-95 and KN-95 safety masks.

• Be Smart for Kids – Mayors Against Illegal Guns home firearm storage safety.

• Tech Yourself has released all their candidate training videos online.

News for Democrats 

• Coronavirus suddenly upends campaign themes for both parties

• As States Delay Primaries, June 2 Is Suddenly a Big Tuesday on the Calendar

• NJ Human Services Announces $70 Million in Food Assistance for Vulnerable Families in New Jersey

Pic of the Week

Your residents can take the census online at 2020census.gov, Get federal resources for your community, and limit census workers’ need to go door to door.

Democratic Municipal Officials Digest
Week of 3/23/2020

DMO Update

• Access the DMO COVID-19 Resource Hub

• Watch the livestream of the DMO Breakfast, featuring Congresswomen Robin Kelly and Marcia Fudge.

• Make your annual $50 contribution at NationalDMO.org/donate.

Quick Links

• In the Age of Social Distancing, Government Meetings Go Virtual

• What the Coronavirus Stock Meltdown Could Mean for Pensions

• What About the Workers Cleaning Up Coronavirus?

Ideas for Cities

• The Virus Can Be Stopped, but Only With Harsh Steps, Experts Say

• This Is How We Can Beat the Coronavirus

• Cities Rush to Respond as Homelessness and Coronavirus Collide

Messaging – DNC on Coronavirus and the Primary Process

• The DNC is urging the remaining primary states to use a variety of critical reforms that will make voting easier and safer for voters and election officials alike
  • Vote by mail, which is already in use in a number of states and should be made available to all registered voters.
  • Proactively mailing ballots to registered voters, where feasible, and counting all ballots as long as they are postmarked by the date of the primary.
  • No-excuse absentee voting, which allows voters to drop ballots off at convenient locations or in the mail.
  • Expanding days and hours of early voting to reduce lines in states where in-person voting can still take place under public health guidelines.

• The DNC will continue to work with every state party as they adjust their delegate selection plans around coronavirus. Louisiana’s primary occuring on June 20 and Kentucky’s occuring on June 23 would violate the DNC’s rule on timing, which requires that all states hold their contests by June 9. Any violation of the DNC’s rules could result in a penalty that could include a state losing at least half of its delegates.
  • All contests must happen by June 9 and delegates must be elected by June 20, as stated in the rules passed by the full DNC.

• The DNC’s guidance to state parties is to follow the recommendations of local health officials and prioritize health and safety of all individuals. They know the situation is very different in every state and want to give state parties flexibility to change their plans to address the guidance they are getting on the ground.

• The DNC will work with any state party that needs to make adjustments as needed to their delegate selection processes so they can continue without major interruptions.

• The DNC is closely monitoring this fluid situation and is focused on planning a safe and successful convention in Milwaukee four months from now.

News for Democrats 

• Trump Has Sabotaged America’s Coronavirus Response

• Voting by Mail Is the Hot New Idea. Is There Time to Make It Work?

• Coronavirus is changing political campaigning as we know it

Democratic Municipal Officials Digest
Week of 3/16/2020

DMO Update

• Watch the livestream of the DMO Breakfast, featuring surprise guest speakers Congresswomen Robin Kelly & Marcia Fudge.

• Congratulations to Board Member and Somerset, MD Mayor Jeffrey Slavin, this March’s recipient of the President’s Susan Burgess Award.

• We’re releasing a longer Digest this week to provide you with a comprehensive suite of coronavirus response resources. Email Nils.Robbins@NationalDMO.org or call the hotline at 312-550-3078 with any questions.

Cities Respond to Coronavirus

• Statement on Congressional City Conference Coronavirus Exposure – Two NLC attendees so far have tested positive. Many cases are asymptomatic, so avoid contact with the public and get tested if possible.

• Miami mayor with COVID-19 shows virtually no symptoms — a case for social distancing

• Michael R. Bloomberg to Help City Leaders Respond to Coronavirus in the United States

• Savannah mayor prepares citizens for possible local state of emergency

• Los Angeles Coronavirus Response – Read Mayor Garcetti’s city guidelines.

• Ban large gatherings: San Francisco bans gatherings of 100 or more through April

• Provide social media updates: COVID-19 Facebook Update from Philadelphia Council Member Derek Green

• Pass Eviction Moratoriums: U.S. Cities And Counties Halt Evictions Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

• Share health infographics: like Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson

• Provide meals to students during closures: Little Rock school districts to provide meals to students.

COVID-19 Resources

• CDC resource hub for the coronavirus outbreak

• Managing Through the Coronavirus: What Local Leaders Need to Know

• Campaigning during coronavirus? Check out these webinars. Managing campaigns through coronavirus & NDTC Weekly Virtual Training

• Coronavirus considerations for local governments

• COVID-19: What State and Local Leaders Can Do for Homeless Populations

• Keeping Workplaces, Homes, Schools, or Commercial Establishments Safe

• CDC’s Framework for Mitigation

• Information for State and Local Health Departments

• Free Communications Resources about COVID-19.

• How long to quarantine COVID-19 exposed police officers, firefighters, EMTs and paramedics

• How Do I Apply for the Coronavirus Small Business Loan?

Business Partner Resources

• Walgreens resources during Coronavirus outbreak – Walgreens is waiving delivery fees for online purchases and eligible prescriptions.

• Comcast is taking steps to implement the following new policies for the next 60 days, including free Xfinity WiFi, pausing their data plan, and no late fees.

• Delta is extending ticket rebookings through the end of the year, and is largely waiving rebooking fees.

• DTE is pausing shutoff for non-payment.

• Enterprise Holdings is waiving car rental age restrictions.

• National Apartment Association has released guidelines for property managers.

• Postmates launched a relief fund for employees and implemented contactless delivery.

• QuickenLoans is donating money in Michigan.

• T-mobile is working to keep people connected with free data, and provide continuity of service for customers who cannot pay their bills.

Labor Partner Resources

• AFSCME’s COVID-19 Resource Page – Our workers are on the front lines, risking exposure with no financial ability to self-quarantine.

• NEA resources for schools

• SMART Union resources

• Do the Teamsters working on behalf of your city have protective gear to wear?

• Industry impacts from the Painters.

• Confronting the Coronavirus – American Federation of Teachers

• AFL-CIO pandemic resources

News for Democrats 

• The House Passed A Coronavirus Relief Act. Here’s What It Could Do For You

• The first pandemic-era debate distills the choice of Biden vs. Bernie

• Fact-checking the Sanders v. Biden Democratic debate

Democratic Municipal Officials Digest
Week of 3/9/2020

DMO Update

• Watch the livestream of the DMO Breakfast starting at 7:30 AM Tuesday morning!

• Register for the DMO Council of State Chapters Meeting at NLC, Tuesday at 12:15pm in Lincoln 2.

• Make your annual $50 contribution at NationalDMO.org/donate.

Quick Links

• At “Shark Tank for Cities,” Civil Servants Learn to Speak Investors’ Language

• How bad will the coronavirus outbreak get in the U.S.?

• Congress Investigates Amazon Ring’s Relationships with Local Police Departments

Ideas for Cities

• AFSCME’s COVID-19 Resource Page – Our workers are on the front lines, risking exposure with no financial ability to self-quarantine.

• CDC resource hub for the coronavirus outbreak

• Managing Through the Coronavirus: What Local Leaders Need to Know

News for Democrats 

• After Super Tuesday, Joe Biden Is A Clear Favorite To Win The Nomination

• DNC sets up Biden vs. Bernie clash in next debate

• Biden, Sanders set for key battle in Michigan

Democratic Municipal Officials Digest
Week of 3/2/2020

DMO Update

• Register now for the DMO National Breakfast featuring Michael Bloomberg.

• Follow DMO on social media at @NationalDMO and Facebook.com/NationalDMO.

• Make your annual $50 contribution at NationalDMO.org/donate to gain early entrance and priority seating at the “Oh So Blue” National Breakfast.

Quick Links

• Cities and Towns are Abandoning Glass Recycling. Can It Be Saved?

• Making City Fines and Fees Fairer

• Public Health Response to the Coronavirus Disease Outbreak

Ideas for Cities

• Join the Walgreens’ Mayor’s Flu Fighter Challenge

• Cities and the Census: A Call to Action – Read NLC’s municipal action guide for the US Census

• What Happened When Tulsa Paid People to Work Remotely

News for Democrats 

• 4 Takeaways From Joe Biden’s Big Win In South Carolina

• ‘Tidal wave of voter suppression’ washes over states, lawyer says

• 2020 Candidate Conversations from Supermajority and Refinery 29

Democratic Municipal Officials Digest
Week of 2/24/2020

DMO Update

• Register now for the DMO National Breakfast featuring Michael Bloomberg.

• Follow DMO on social media at @NationalDMO and Facebook.com/NationalDMO.

• Make your annual $50 contribution at NationalDMO.org/donate to gain early entrance and priority seating at the “Oh So Blue” National Breakfast.

Quick Links

• Take Action on the 2020 Cities Agenda

• ‘People Not Property’ Aims to Create Statewide Database of Slave Deeds in North Carolina

• Millions of Americans Rely on Crowdfunding for Medical Expenses

Ideas for Cities

• 2020 Public Leaders for Inclusion Council

• Program Helps DC Homeowners Provide Low-Cost Housing — and Build Wealth

• When Evaluating Food Bank Programs, One Size Doesn’t Fit All

News for Democrats 

• Bernie Sanders Wins Nevada — Putting Him In The Driver’s Seat To Win The Nomination

• The Democratic race is now Sanders against the field, and a contested convention possibly awaits the party – Featuring a quote from DMO Board Member Wendy Davis!

• Voters Of Color Are Set To Have A Bigger Say As Democrats Enter A Crucial Phase

Democratic Municipal Officials Digest
Week of 2/17/2020

DMO Update

• DMO Ohio is holding their chapter conference call this week (Thursday, 3pm). Contact Christine.Senteno@NationalDMO.org for more details.

• Follow DMO on social media at @NationalDMO and Facebook.com/NationalDMO.

• Make your annual $50 contribution at NationalDMO.org/donate to gain early registration and entrance to the “Oh So Blue” National Breakfast with guest speaker Michael Bloomberg.

Quick Links

• New Principles of Home Rule – A primer on home rule from the National League of Cities.

• The Impact of School Safety Drills for Active Shootings

• Trump is sending armed tactical forces to arrest immigrants in sanctuary cities

Ideas for Cities

• In a First, Seattle City Council Moves to Ban Winter Evictions

• Out of Left Fields: Dutch Land Art Installation Cuts Area Airplane Noise in Half

• How a Twin Cities Suburb Has Led The Way With Permeable Pavement

News for Democrats 

• Sign up to help NV Dems with their 2020 first in the west caucus!

• 6 Takeaways From The New Hampshire Primary

• How Will The Democratic Primary Change Now That It’s Moving To More Diverse States?

Democratic Municipal Officials Digest
Week of 2/10/2020

DMO Update

• North Carolina (Tuesday, 11am) & Maryland (Wednesday, 1pm) are holding chapter conference call this week. Contact Christine.Senteno@NationalDMO.org for more details.

• Follow DMO on social media at @NationalDMO and Facebook.com/NationalDMO.

• Start the year off on the right foot with your $50 membership contribution. Support your voice in national politics at NationalDMO.org/donate.

Quick Links

• The Presidential Candidates that Mayors Support

• You can leave a comment to Tell HUD that you OPPOSE the Trump Administration’s latest retreat on civil rights.

• The Great Affordability Crisis Breaking America –  Two in five American adults would still struggle to come up with $400 in an emergency.

Ideas for Cities

• How Baltimore is Reimagining City-Owned Assets

• How to talk someone out of bigotry – Deep canvassing techniques yield small but real gains.

• Campaign videos made easy. Free app includes thousands of video clips, photos & soundtracks.

News for Democrats 

• Trump proposes $4.8 trillion election-year budget with big domestic cuts – Budget includes roughly $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid.

• Nevada Democrats Canceled Their Caucus App. But That Poses Its Own Problems.

• New Hampshire primary updates: Democrats barnstorm; Trump will rally in N.H. tonight

Democratic Municipal Officials Digest
Week of 2/3/2020

DMO Update

• DMO hosted another of our national town hall events last Friday with presidential candidate Tom Steyer.

• Follow @NationalDMO on Twitter for live responses to tonight’s State of the Union address.

• Start the year off on the right foot with your $50 membership contribution. Support your voice in national politics at NationalDMO.org/donate.

Quick Links

• Cities on the presidential campaign trail, including Spokane, left to foot the bill

• Postmates Condemns Expansion of Muslim Ban as a ‘cruelty to our economy, our values, and prosperity’

• Global Survey: Few Cities Have Robust Clean Energy Policies in Resilience Plans

Ideas for Cities

• Participate in National Gun Violence Survivors Week, Feb. 1—Saturday Feb. 8, 2020

• The Key for Successful City Summer Programs: Start Early

• Cities Are Cutting the Salt from their Winter Road Diets

News for Democrats 

• Senate rejects impeachment witnesses, setting up Trump acquittal

• Democrats drop donor threshold for Nevada debate, opening door to Bloomberg

• ‘A Systemwide Disaster’: How the Iowa Caucuses Melted Down