Democratic Municipal Officials Digest
Week of 8/8/2022

DMO Update

• DMO Statement on the Inflation Reduction Act

• Skilled Union Labor Rules Assure Quality Construction – Read the Op Ed from DMO Board Member and Glendale, WI Mayor Bryan Kennedy

• Get your council involved with DMO – NationalDMO.org/join

Quick Links

• Introducing the CitiesSpeak podcast, with NLC President Clarence Anthony

• White House Releases Fact Sheets Highlighting President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Historic Progress Nationwide

• A Legal Showdown Over Section 8 Discrimination Is Brewing in Dallas Suburb

Ideas for Cities

• How Local Governments Are Handling a Threat They Can’t See

• Civic Engagement in One City Takes Off With a Digital Survey and Respect for Feedback

• I Got a Crash Course in Rodent Control at D.C.’s Rat Academy

In Depth – What Works to Reduce Violent Crime

• Longer prison sentences do not deter crime. If someone doesn’t believe they will get caught, there is no difference between a short and long sentence in their calculation of risk.

• Increasing the probability of being caught does deter crime. Police visibility directly impacts a likely offender’s perception that they will get caught.

• Leniency for first-time, non-violent offenders also reduces recidivism by ~50%. Entering first-time offenders into the prison system introduces them to a network of criminals, while limiting their ability to earn a living upon release.

• Similarly, housing, food stamps, and other social aid programs provide legitimate resources that give adults a stake in the system, and reduce the likelihood of criminal offenses.

• Increasing access to mental health resources reduces violent crime.

• Summer Youth Employment Programs also reduce violent crime. Not only do summer jobs provide a legitimate means of earning a living, they introduce teens to positive adult mentors in the workforce.

News for Democrats

• Republican Election Deniers Rack Up State Level Primary Wins

• FACT SHEET: President Biden Issues Executive Order at the First Meeting of the Task Force on Reproductive Healthcare Access

• New data sheds light on one method to combat election lies