NLC State of the Cities report highlights mayoral priorities
Source: Smart Cities World By Smart Cities World news team
With infrastructure, economic development, budget and management and public safety top of the agenda, the National League of Cities report shows US mayors are focused on building equitable cities.
The National League of Cities’ 2022 State of the Cities report highlights top mayoral priorities as infrastructure, economic development, budget and management, and public safety.
The findings of the report are based on research which examines mayoral state of the city speeches delivered between October 2021 and April 2022 so it provides a clear and consistent voice about the current priorities of local leaders.
Infrastructure funding
This year’s report indicates that cities are focused on rebuilding their communities with the infrastructure funding heading their way, while simultaneously working through employment pressures and working to ensure all their residents are treated equitably.
“This year was full of big opportunities for cities, with American Rescue Plan and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law dollars now headed directly to communities,” said NLC CEO and executive director Clarence Anthony. “From this year’s speeches, it’s clear that our local leaders are reaping the benefits of those hard-won efforts with the ultimate goal of making our cities, towns and villages better, more equitable places to live.”
“With unprecedented federal resources in hand, we cannot wait to see how they turn the visions they have for their communities into reality”
In his introduction to the report, Anthony said this year’s findings also highlight mayors’ efforts to grow their economies by investing in downtown development and revitalisation projects, foster stronger community relationships with police as well as bolster their own municipal finances to hire and retain city workers.