10 Mayors On the problems facing Cities

when I wake up within the morning i am in a city—it is my and so many others’ house. I make my manner throughout the metropolis on the subway and stroll on sidewalks, using the infrastructure under and above.

Cities are diverse places with people from all walks of life, and the place people come from all over the arena, wealthy, bad, black, white, outdated, younger, and the whole lot in between. The tapestry of the city is what makes it so distinctive, thrilling, and bright.

Our cities are the nation’s laboratories for innovation, our economic engines, and the locations we live, love, and come together in. Cities are our collective community and the lifeblood of our democracy. it’s in cities the place social movements flourish and the place rights have been expanded.

Mayors are the leaders of our cities, working from the bottom-up no longer the highest-right down to make things happen. These leaders are bringing folks together to create probability-filled, socially cohesive, secure locations for all, now and into the future.

on the same time, everything is not good. There are nonetheless enormous challenges to overcome. From Ferguson to new york to Baltimore and beyond, long-standing tensions continue to exist. Mayors are taken with addressing these considerations though with an answer based manner that helps transfer our u . s . ahead.

Our annual State of the Cities file examines what’s taking place now in cities. the highest 10 issues mentioned through mayors in their 2015 State of town addresses are very important to operations, construction, and livability.

The analysis reveals what issues mayors are eager about via measuring the share of speeches significantly overlaying a subject. We examined one hundred State of town speeches in cities huge and small, with a domestically diverse sample from across the united states. These are the top concerns that subject to cities.

10. well being Care (9% of Speeches)

wholesome cities are a success cities. And, even if the bulk of well being care coverage is run on the federal and state level, mayors play a task in making improvements to public well being in their communities. From city hospitals to scientific establishments—our cities are where individuals obtain hospital treatment. Many mayors are also fascinated with bettering enrollment and compliance with the affordable Care Act.

“200,000 of our working men and women in South Carolina earning not up to 100 percent of the federal poverty level, including tens of hundreds in Columbia, haven’t any get entry to to healthcare as a result of our state refused to extend Medicaid.” — Mayor Steve Benjamin of Columbia, SC

9. Demographics (eleven% of Speeches)

metropolis-associated issues involving demographics embody race family members, cultural range, sexual orientation, and immigration. Mayors see these issues as foundational to our cities, and essentially sought to focus on how they’re working to improve more inclusive communities.

“Our nice metropolis is driven through a imaginative and prescient, a vision by which the contributions of each member of society without reference to race, age, incapacity, gender or sexual orientation is revered.” — Mayor George Hartwell of Grand Rapids, MI

8: atmosphere/energy (16% of Speeches)

For mayors, the combat to fight climate alternate continues apace. American mayors have been on the forefront of these considerations and are repeatedly pushing other ranges of presidency to take action. Cities, by way of nature, are on the nexus of sustainability initiatives with problems with power effectivity, water, and local weather change rising to the top as our native leaders searching for solutions now.

“we know our collective future will depend on our skill to have a planet—and a city—that can maintain existence with smooth air, easy water, nourishing meals, and stable weather patterns.” — Mayor Betsy Hodges of Minneapolis, MN

7: knowledge/know-how (21% of Speeches)

metropolis leaders are increasingly more employing knowledge and technology to toughen the standard of lifestyles for residents of their cities. An emerging pattern is the use of open information as well as performance administration and data analytics programs that are making improvements to metropolis service delivery. data is the constructing block of cities of the long run.

“In these days’s globalized and excessive-tech world, innovation will come to a decision the winners and losers in many different fields and industries.” — Mayor Jim Ardis of Peoria, IL

6: Housing (28% of Speeches)

As cities continue to get well from the 2008 crash of the housing market, mayors are the usage of innovative solutions to address housing-associated challenges. inexpensive housing continues to be prime of mind for mayors as they method housing associated efforts in cities.

“growing alternatives to realize pathways to the middle classification implies that we have now to speculate extra in affordable housing.” — Mayor Muriel Bowser of Washington, D.C.

5. education (forty one% of Speeches)

Mayors see quality training as the foundation for a success communities. The racial fulfillment hole is still a power difficulty facing cities that mayors highlighted in speeches. moreover, issues about universities, school funding, and infrastructure had been raised—with general training high quality the principle goal.

“Nothing will outline a city more than the quality of the school system that services and products that community.”— Mayor William Healey of Canton, OH

5: Budgets (forty three% of Speeches)

even supposing city budgets took enormous hits as a result of the recession, city leaders are expressing a renewed experience of optimism about metropolis fiscal health. Many point out that broader economic boom has translated to a higher tax base, enabling well-functioning executive services and operations.

“it’s my agency perception that the financial integrity of any group is the inspiration upon which success is constructed.”— Mayor Adrian Mapp of Plainfield, NJ

three: Public security (55% of Speeches)

Many mayors mentioned public security in the context of the connection between police and the community. concerns over racial fairness, the increased use of body cameras, and gun violence had been raised many times in speeches. the theory of public security as a group vast intention was once highlighted as paramount.

“Making our group a safer situation to reside can’t be entire with the aid of police by myself.” — Mayor Denis law of Renton, WA

2. Infrastructure (fifty seven% of Speeches)

metropolis infrastructure, which incorporates roads, bridges, broadband, and public transportation, as well as water and sewer methods, is important to the smartly-being of cities. Mayors extensively prioritized infrastructure investments and see it’s a foundational piece of city success.

“If we wish a metropolis that treats folks moderately, we now have to make sure there are alternatives for everybody to get round.” — Mayor Ralph Becker of Salt Lake metropolis, UT

1: financial development (seventy five% of Speeches)

economic development remains to be the most addressed topic in mayoral state of town addresses. expanding financial opportunity is on the forefront of many mayors’ agendas, with body of workers building and income inequality receiving higher attention this year, a reflection of broader developments going down within the financial system. One issue in particular—minimal wage increases—has been viewed via many as vital to combat poverty and financial inequality. a powerful economy makes a strong neighborhood.

“Nothing does extra to address income inequality than if truth be told elevating folks’s incomes.” — Mayor invoice de Blasio of new York, big apple

in finding the full State of the Cities report here.