Democratic Municipal Officials Digest
Week of 4/19/2021

DMO Update

• Join Philadelphia Council Member Derek Green, Detroit Council Member Scott Benson, Columbia Council Member Tameika Isaac Devine, and HomeServe for a webinar on what cities can do about aging water infrastructure. Register with HomeServe for this webinar.

• How DMOs can Celebrate the American Rescue Plan. Publish an op-ed in your local paper informing constituents on how Democrats have helped them.

• DMO supports statehood for Washington, DC, and encourages our members to pass local resolutions to ensure all Americans are represented in Congress.

Quick Links

• Cities Prepare to Spend Historic Sums of Federal Aid

• Whatever Climate Change Does to the World, Cities Will Be Hit Hardest

• Increasing Number of Americans Believe in Conspiracy Theories

Ideas for Cities

• The Road to Removing Police From Traffic Enforcement

• Syracuse Couldn’t Fine Its Way to Clear Sidewalks, So It’s Trying Something New

• What Other Places Can Learn From Santa Rosa’s Tent City

American Jobs Plan

• All In: Partnering with Community and Faith Organizations in COVID-19 Vaccination Efforts

• FACT SHEET: The American Jobs Plan Supports Small Businesses

• FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Announces Initial Actions to Address the Gun Violence Public Health Epidemic

News for Democrats 

• Florida’s new ban on transgender students in sports would allow schools to subject minors to genital inspections

• Democrats to introduce bill to expand Supreme Court from 9 to 13 justices

• The Democratic Party is Growing Because We’re Delivering Results

Video of the Week

New from the White House – Getting America Back on Track

Democratic Municipal Officials Digest
Week of 4/12/2021

DMO Update

• DMO has renewed our support for the RECYCLE and RECOVER acts. You can call for greater funding and education around recycling by sending this sample letter to your federal representatives.

• How DMOs can Celebrate the American Rescue Plan. Publish an op-ed in your local paper informing constituents on how Democrats have helped them.

• Need to speak with the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs? Email Nils.Robbins@NationalDMO.org for a connection.

Quick Links

• How St. Louis’s First Black Woman Mayor Will Lead With a Racial Equity Lens

• Statement from Jeff Zients, White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator on Johnson & Johnson Vaccine

• Increasing Numbers of U.S. Residents in High-Risk Wildfire and Flood Zones

Ideas for Cities

• How Two Local Governments Got Covid Vaccination Registrations Right

• How This Texas City Ended Veteran and Chronic Homelessness

• Seattle City Council passes right to a free lawyer for those facing eviction

American Jobs Plan

• New Funding for Cities: The American Rescue Plan and Other Federal Funding Opportunities to Combat Gun Violence

• The American Jobs Plan Advances Racial Equity

• The American Jobs Plan Supports Rural America

News for Democrats 

• The States Following Georgia’s Lead on Voter Suppression

• Biden to announce withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan by September 11

• Inside a stealth ‘persuasion machine’ promising Republican victories in 2022

Democratic Municipal Officials Digest
Week of 4/5/2021

DMO Update

• Want to learn how you can use ARP funding to reopen schools? Join DMO and AFT President Randi Weingarten this Monday for a brief webinar.

• How DMOs can Celebrate the American Rescue Plan. Publish an op-ed in your local paper informing constituents on how Democrats have helped them.

• Need to speak with the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs? Email Nils.Robbins@NationalDMO.org for a connection.

Quick Links

• NYPD officers are no longer protected from civil lawsuits after city council passes police reform legislation

• New Project Aims to Identify Local Government Assets at Risk of Cyberattack

• Estimated Local Allocations in the American Rescue Plan

Ideas for Cities

• Madison ordinance regulating personal delivery devices. 

• To Improve Public Health, the Environment and Racial Equity All at Once: Upgrade Low-Income Housing

• It’s expensive to be poor. Publicly owned banks may help

Advisory Board Updates

• Planned Parenthood Action Fund – New Report — Escalation in Dismantling Abortion Access in States

• Mayors Against Illegal Guns – The Economic Cost of Gun Violence

• SMART Union – What is Ventilation Verification?

News for Democrats 

• Biden to review executive authority to cancel student debt

• DCCC Announces Members of 2021-2022 Frontline Program

• ‘My experience was painful’ | State Rep. Park Cannon speaks on arrest at Georgia Capitol  – Rep. Cannon now faces 8 years in prison on felony charges for knocking on Gov. Kemp’s door as he signed the anti-voting legislation.

Democratic Municipal Officials Digest
Week of 3/29/2021

DMO Update

• Need to speak with the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs? Email Nils.Robbins@NationalDMO.org for a connection.

• How DMOs can Celebrate the American Rescue Plan. Publish an op-ed in your local paper informing constituents on how Democrats have helped them.

• Have you contributed your annual $50 membership to DMO this year?

Quick Links

• The Local Policies That Will Outlast the Pandemic

• Mid-Sized City Mayors Urge Feds Not to Forget Them in Climate Fight

• The Riskiest ‘Smart City’ Technologies, According to Cybersecurity Experts

Ideas for Cities

• Join Mayors Against Illegal Guns for tomorrow’s webinar on mass shootings, hate crimes, and the economic cost of gun violence.

• An Initiative to Improve Street Safety through Public Art

• Charleston has new ‘Green Team’ to lead sustainability efforts – Going green isn’t just about the environment, but about saving taxpayer money through reduced energy use.

News for Democrats 

• With More Women In State Office, Family Leave Policies Have Not Caught Up

• Why one part of the Georgia Republicans’ anti-voting law stands out – The Republican state legislature now has unprecedented control over whose ballots get counted.

• California May Launch Its Own Version of the Depression-Era WPA

Democratic Municipal Officials Digest
Week of 3/22/2021

DMO Update

• Need to speak with the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs? Email Nils.Robbins@NationalDMO.org for a connection.

• How DMOs can Celebrate the American Rescue Plan. Publish an op-ed in your local paper informing constituents on how Democrats have helped them.

• Hold an event this Thursday, March 25th as the White House draws attention to how the American Rescue Plan brings Help for American Communities.

Quick Links

• Ald. Gilbert Villegas outlines the pilot program for universal basic income

• Growing Number of Cities Weigh Tribal ‘Land Acknowledgements’

• Everything You Need to Know About COVID Relief

Ideas for Cities

• How Cities Can Make Cybersecurity a Top Priority

• Guaranteed Income in Jackson Designed By Black Moms for Black Moms, Showing Results for Black Moms

• Dare to Reimagine – 50 policy innovations from Local Progress

Advisory Board Updates

• Comcast – An Update on our $100M Commitment

• Planned Parenthood – Update on the American Rescue Plan and State Abortion Bans

• AFT’s Weingarten Sends Letter on Physical Distancing to CDC, Education Department

News for Democrats 

• House Democrats end controversial consultant ban

• For Voting Rights Advocates, a ‘Once in a Generation Moment’ Looms

• The Great American Build – Climate Action Means Jobs

Democratic Municipal Officials Digest
Week of 3/15/2021

DMO Update

• Need to speak with the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs? Email Nils.Robbins@NationalDMO.org for a connection.

• How DMOs can Celebrate the American Rescue Plan. Publish an op-ed in your local paper informing constituents on how Democrats have helped them.

• Missed the DMO National Briefing yesterday? Watch now to view updatesfrom Governor Phil Murphy, Congressman Richard Neal, Ironworkers President Eric Dean, and ASDC President Ken Martin.

Quick Links

• A Fight Over Inclusionary Zoning Foreshadows Booming Bozeman’s Troubles

• What It Will Take to Close the Race Gap in Home Appraisals

• Help Is Here: The American Rescue Plan Guide

Ideas for Cities

• Celebrating Women in Local Government During Women’s History Month and Beyond

• Road Salt is Imperiling Aquatic Ecosystems. It Doesn’t Have to.

• Share Your Story – Elected officials and constituents alike should share their story on the impact of the American Rescue Plan

News for Democrats 

• Kamala Harris Pushes Plan to Strengthen City Infrastructure

• Fact Sheet: President Biden to Announce All Americans to be Eligible for Vaccinations by May 1, Puts the Nation on a Path to Get Closer to Normal by July 4th

• Some Americans have already received the third stimulus payment

Video of the Week

President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan. Let Americans know that Help Is Here.

Democratic Municipal Officials Digest
Week of 3/8/2021

DMO Update

• Congratulations to Detroit Councilman Scott Benson, this spring’s Susan Burgess President’s Award recipient.

• Help the Biden Administration pass the American Rescue Plan to bring financial assistance to local government. View the Progressive Fact Sheet on the American Rescue Plan.

• DMO welcomes Columbia, South Carolina Council Member Tameika Isaac Devine to our Board of Directors.

Quick Links

• Austin Council Calls for More Aid as Food and Water Is Still Lacking

• Ithaca mayor unveils proposal to replace city’s police department

• The Biggest Payoff From Stockton’s Basic Income Program: Jobs – More information on Mayors for a Guaranteed Income

Ideas for Cities

• How Cities Can Help Small Businesses Hire and Train Locally

• Baltimore’s powerful new tool to fight illegal guns

• How NYC Is Stopping Textile Waste With Low-Tech Donation Bins

Advisory Board Updates

• Honeywell – A Leader’s Guide to Safer Faster and More Equitable Community Vaccination Events

• SEIU – Respect Us, Protect Us, Pay Us: Voices From The Frontline – State and Local Elected Toolkit

• OpenGov – Savannah Brings The Data To Show Real Impact (Featuring DMO Treasurer, Mayor Van Johnson)

News for Democrats 

• New DNC chair promises greater midterm election involvement — to Democrats’ relief

• Democrats decry “new Jim Crow” as Georgia GOP passes drastic new voting restrictions

• Biden shifts his operation to DNC ahead of 2022 midterm elections

Democratic Municipal Officials Digest
Week of 3/1/2021

DMO Update

• One Week Left – Join DMO on March 8th at 6:30pm ET for our Spring “Oh So Blue” Celebration, featuring DNC Chair Jaime Harrison.

• Help the Biden Administration pass the American Rescue Plan to bring financial assistance to local government. View the Progressive Fact Sheet on the American Rescue Plan.

• Watch our Municipal Monday on the 2021 Preemption Landscape, featuring Mark Pertschuk.

Quick Links

• How Black Cartographers Put Racism on the Map

• Cities Are Sinking Under the Weight of Urban Development

• Public Employees’ Use of Personal Phones, Tablets Puts Local Governments at Risk

Ideas for Cities

• Cyber Risk: The Time Is Now To Understand Insurance and Risk

• Innovative Water Infrastructure Workforce Development Program

• Reform/Transform: A Policing Policy Toolkit – From our friends at Local Progress

Advisory Board Updates

• Comcast – Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: Our Impact

• Verra Mobility acquires Redflex for US $112 million

• Ironworkers – Legislation to strengthen representation on the Apprenticeship and Training Council.

News for Democrats 

• Bill requiring ID for absentee voting passes Georgia Senate

• Progressives push to squash Senate filibuster after minimum wage defeat

• Statement by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. on Introduction of the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021 – What’s in the act.

Democratic Municipal Officials Digest
Week of 2/22/2021

DMO Update

• Early registration now open – Join DMO on March 8th at 6:30pm ET for our Spring “Oh So Blue” Celebration, featuring DNC Chair Jaime Harrison.

• Help the Biden Administration pass the American Rescue Plan to bring financial assistance to local government.

• Watch our Municipal Monday on the 2021 Preemption Landscape, featuring Mark Pertschuk.

Quick Links

• Gun violence crisis in America’s cities: Opinion by Greg Fischer, Eric Garcetti, Lori Lightfoot and Brandon Scott

• Bipartisan group of mayors, governors meet with Biden over COVID stimulus

• Local Governments Are the Answer

Ideas for Cities

• To Create More Affordable Housing, Make Zoning Hyperlocal

• What Role Can Cities Play in Reparations? Some Aim to Find Out

• How Newark Water Coalition Is Bringing the City Clean Water Without Plastic Waste

News for Democrats 

• U.S. Bans Housing Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity

• Here’s What’s In House Democrats’ $1.9 Trillion COVID-19 Relief Plan

• Biden Administration takes steps to promote equitable access to SBA relief

Democratic Municipal Officials Digest
Week of 2/15/2021

DMO Update

• Early registration now open – Join DMO on March 8th at 6:30pm ET for our Spring “Oh So Blue” Celebration, featuring DNC Chair Jaime Harrison.

• Help the Biden Administration pass the American Rescue Plan to bring financial assistance to local government.

• Do renters and leasers in your city need financial support? Pass this sample resolution and call on the federal government to support the rental housing market.

Quick Links

• Biden Administration to Ship Covid Vaccine to Community Health Centers

• There Could Be an Energy Bill Debt Tsunami, Too – Towns and cities can help residents by passing local water security ordinances.

• Biden’s special Obamacare enrollment period opens Monday. Here’s what you need to know.

Ideas for Cities

• Establish March 1st as a COVID-19 Memorial Day

• Follow @StaySafeOnline for tips on how to protect your city government, businesses, and residents from cyber attacks. View their full resource suite online.

• Have your campaign staff register for the Emily’s List Finance Training

Advisory Board Updates

• American Water Resources – Councilman Derek Green Talks About the Water Sewer Line Protection Program

• Comcast RISE to Award $5 Million in Grants to Small Businesses

• NEA Statement on CDC School Reopening Guidelines

News for Democrats 

• DNC Announces “Chair Chats Tour” with Chair Harrison

• FACT SHEET: President Biden Reestablishes the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships

• Biden extends foreclosure moratorium and mortgage forbearance through June