United States Conference of Mayors

“Access to affordable mental health care is one of the greatest obstacles to solving this crisis, and America’s mayors applaud the Administration for putting millions more people in a position to get the care they need.”

Read USCM President Mayor Andrew Ginther’s statement on the Biden Administration’s finalized rules that strengthen mental health parity for health coverage in America.

Nation’s Mayors Welcome Administration Action on Mental Health Parity Addressing America’s Mental Health Crisis a Top Priority for Cities Washington, D.C.— Today, the Biden Administration finalized rules that strengthen mental health parity for health coverage in Ame…

“We know what we need to do. It is time to put aside partisan differences and meet the moment before another life is lost and another community is shattered.”

Full statement from U.S. Conference of Mayors President Mayor Andrew Ginther on yesterday’s shooting in Winder, Georgia, that took the life of 4 people and injured 9 more.

Statement by U.S. Conference of Mayors on Shooting at Apalachee High School in Georgia Washington, DC—Below is a statement by U.S. Conference of Mayors President Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther on today’s shooting at Apalachee High School in Georgia: “America’s mayors are horrified tha…

Mayor Justin Bibb launched an “all-of-government approach” to strengthen public safety in Cleveland (OH) this summer. Early action with partners at all levels of government are delivering results, with homicides down 34% this year.

Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb Takes “All-of-Government Approach” to Summer Safety During the summer months, when warm weather and sunshine abound, people spend more time outdoors in their communities and exploring new…

Read the full statement from USCM President Mayor Andrew Ginther on the Biden administration’s actions to expand access to affordable housing for America’s veterans:

https://www.usmayors.org/2024/08/08/mayors-celebrate-biden-harris-administration-action-to-protect-housing-benefits-for-veterans/

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law “gave local communities resources we need to support core infrastructure.” Don’t miss this new USA Today column from OKC Mayor David Holt. The USCM vice president champions the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. “Already has brought significant resources” and demonstrated that “bipartisan achievements are still possible in Washington."

Bipartisan achievements are still possible in Washington. OKC is reaping benefits | Opinion OKC mayor: I met with President Biden and Vice President Harris, joining other mayors at the White House to witness the historic bill signing.

“America’s mayors are shocked and concerned by the FY 2025 Commerce, Justice, Science appropriations bill recently reported out of the Appropriations Committee. Just as we’re making real progress in reducing crime and violence in our cities it would move us in the opposite direction.”

Read the full statement from USCM President Columbus (OH) Mayor Andrew Ginther and USCM CEO and Executive Director Tom Cochran on the House’s FY 2025 Commerce, Justice, Science appropriations bill:

In New Letter, Mayors Raise Concern Over Proposed Cuts, Policy Riders in Public Safety Funding Bill FY 2025 Appropriations Bill passed by the House threatens progress on public safety and gun violence prevention Washington, D.C.— Today, United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) President Columbus…

“We are grateful that when we needed someone to champion American cities, this president was there for us.”

Read the full statement from U.S. Conference of Mayors President Mayor Andrew Ginther on President Biden’s decision today that he will not seek re-election.

https://www.usmayors.org/2024/07/21/statement-u-s-conference-of-mayors-on-president-bidens-decision-to-not-seek-re-election/

Earlier this week, at the Republican National Convention, Milwaukee (WI) Mayor Cavalier Johnson and former USCM president Miami (FL) Mayor Francis Suarez joined local leaders National League of Cities President and Rancho Cordova (CA) Mayor David Sander and Community Leaders of America Chairman and NYC City Councilmember Joe Borelli for a press conference to highlight the critical role cities play in shaping the country’s future and their interest in working across the political spectrum to address the biggest challenges facing America’s cities.

Next month, mayors will travel to Chicago for the Democratic National Convention, where they will continue to bring their policy priorities in front of the leading presidential candidates.

Full statement from U.S. Conference of Mayors President Mayor Andrew Ginther on today’s shooting at a Trump rally in Butler, PA, that took the life of at least one person and injured at least two more, including former President Donald Trump.

Statement by U.S. Conference of Mayors on Shooting at Trump Rally in Butler, PA Washington, DC—Below is a statement by U.S. Conference of Mayors President Columbus (OH) Mayor Andrew Ginther on the shooting at a rally for former President Donald Trump earlier today. “The nati…

“This is one of the most important times in American history for mayors to lead,” said USCM President Columbus (OH) Mayor Andrew Ginther on the Chuck Toddcast.

Mayor Ginther and USCM Vice President Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt joined the podcast to talk about priorities for mayors and the importance of bipartisanship, especially ahead of the 2024 election.

Listen here:

Two mayors deliver lessons on bipartisanship to Washington: Andrew Ginther & David Holt | The Chuck ToddCast Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt (R) and Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther (D) join Chuck to talk about the role of elected officials closest to the people in showing the federal government how bipartisanship works, and why there's "hardly any better job in American politics" than mayor of a city.

Today, the U.S. Conference of Mayors released a bipartisan policy roadmap for the next Congress and Administration that will drive mayors’ advocacy at the Republican and Democratic national conventions and beyond. It addresses key issues impacting cities, including housing, public safety and mental health.

https://www.usmayors.org/2024/06/24/nations-mayors-release-2024-election-priorities-for-next-congress-and-administration/

This morning, the U.S. Conference of Mayors LGBTQ+ Alliance released the results of an 83-city survey on how mayors are building inclusive cities by supporting and involving LGBTQ+ residents. Read more here:

https://www.usmayors.org/2024/06/24/survey-of-nations-mayors-highlights-city-efforts-to-support-lgbtq-residents/

Congratulations to USCM’s new president, Columbus (OH) Mayor Andrew Ginther!

Thank you Reno (NV) Mayor Hilliary Schieve for your leadership over the past year. Congratulations on a successful term as USCM president. Oklahoma City (OK) Mayor David Holt will serve as USCM’s vice president. San Diego (CA) Mayor Todd Gloria will serve as USCM’s 2nd vice president.

Read more: https://www.usmayors.org/2024/06/23/columbus-mayor-andrew-ginther-elected-new-president-of-the-u-s-conference-of-mayors-policy-agenda-adopted-for-the-year-ahead/

“This should not be happening in our country and it doesn’t have to happen.”

Read the full statement from U.S. Conference of Mayors CEO and Executive Director Tom Cochran on this morning’s shooting in Columbus, Ohio, that injured 10 people.

https://www.usmayors.org/2024/06/23/statement-by-u-s-conference-of-mayors-on-mass-shooting-in-columbus-ohio/

Mayors spent the afternoon in a series of breakout sessions and discussion. Riverside (CA) Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson moderated a discussion on public-private partnerships (P3s).

“There’s no better place to build partnerships than with mayors, who have to think about partnerships every single day,” said Senior Advisor to the President and Director of the Office of Public Engagement Steven Benjamin during the discussion.

“It’s great to see this group of bipartisan leaders trying to get things done,” he continued.

Kansas City (MO) Mayor Quinton Lucas led a session on preventing and reducing gun violence with several federal officials. ““In the end we always work to come to good solutions to make our streets safer,” he said.

At a session on mental health and homelessness, Reno (NV) Mayor Hillary Schieve led a discussion with Durham (NC) Mayor Leonardo Williams and Allentown (PA) Mayor Matt Tuerk about how cities can improve behavioral health outcomes.

San Diego (CA) Mayor Todd Gloria and Madison (WI) Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway, the co-chairs of the USCM LGBTQ+ Alliance, led a discussion on the impact of anti-LGBTQ+ state legislation and the 2024 elections.

Kansas City (MO) Mayor Quinton Lucas and Fort Lauderdale (FL) Mayor Dean Trantalis announced the results of an 83-city survey on how mayors are building inclusive cities by supporting and involving LGBTQ+ residents.

“I just want kids to be able to grow up happily, and to live their lives, and to be good, healthy, productive adults in our state,” said Mayor Lucas.

During the Saturday Plenary Lunch, St. Louis (MO) Mayor Tishaura Jones and Cincinnati (OH) Mayor Aftab Pureval joined Senior Advisor to the President and Director of the Office of Public Engagement Steven Benjamin for a discussion about public-private partnerships.

“We can’t do it on our own because we shouldn’t be doing it on our own,” said Benjamin, a former president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. “We should be doing all of these things together.”

San Antonio (TX) Mayor Ron Nirenberg announced the Mayors’ Guide to Compassionate and Equitable Cities. The guide equips mayors with tools to support and track compassionate policies.

Burnsville (MN) Mayor Elizabeth Kautz led a panel discussion on reproductive rights with Tucson (AZ) Mayor Regina Romero, Gresham (OR) Mayor Travis Stovall. Mayors Kautz and Romero co-chair the USCM Women’s Health and Reproductive Rights Task Force.

“The overturn of Roe allowed many states to ban abortion outright,” said Mayor Kautz. “Our nation now has a variety of state policies impacting reproductive rights and access to healthcare.”

“While the direct impacts may be local, what happens in one state and city impacts all of us,” she continued.

USCM President Reno (NV) Mayor Hillary Schieve closed the session with a discussion on how mayors can combine local artistic expression with effective urban design. “Art is a way you package a city,” said Mayor Schieve.

We are excited to join our partners at Target in announcing a total of $350,000 in grants to the three city winners of the 2024 Police Reform and Equitable Justice Grant Program awards!

The grants support effective police policies and practices in cities of all sizes. Congratulations to our large, medium, and small city winners: Boston (MA) Mayor Michelle Wu, Madison (WI) Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway, and Bloomington (MN) Tim Busse

Read more: https://www.usmayors.org/2024/06/22/u-s-conference-of-mayors-announces-winners-of-2024-police-reform-and-equitable-justice-grants/

At the Mayors and Business Leaders Plenary Session, mayors heard from Neera Tanden, the director of the White House’s Domestic Policy Council. Tanden highlighted how mayors are working with the federal government to combat homelessness.

“The people I often learn the most from… [are] the mayors in the room and throughout the country, who are really, truly delivering transformative change and making people's lives better,” said Tanden.

Tampa (FL) Mayor Jane Castor updated mayors on plans to hold next year’s 93rd Annual Meeting in Tampa. Columbia (MO) Mayor Barbara Buffaloe led a discussion on sustainable agriculture in America’s cities.

To close the session, Reno (NV) Mayor Hillary Schieve led a panel on how city governments are using artificial intelligence, featuring Seattle (WA) Mayor Bruce Harrell and Miami (FL) Mayor Francis Suarez.

“How do we create an ecosystem that serves each one of our residents the best? And using AI as a force multiplier is probably a very effective and efficient way to do it,” said Mayor Suarez. “You don’t have to be a big city with a huge internal team to do it.”

ICYMI: Yesterday, Kansas City (MO) Mayor Quinton Lucas and Oklahoma CIty (OK) Mayor David Holt joined MSNBC’s Morning Joe to talk about how mayors are leading in addressing homelessness, gun violence, mental health and more.

https://www.msnbc.com/morning-joe/watch/-we-try-to-get-things-done-mayors-focus-on-key-issues-at-conference-213425733577

This morning, on the third day of the U.S. Conference of Mayors Annual Meeting in Kansas City (MO), Boise (ID) Mayor Lauren McLean led a session on implementing the CHIPS and Science Act.

Mayor McLean, the chair of the CHIPS Implementation Task Force said “With this task force… we're talking with a single voice in terms of our expectations, for building up people while they're building up their industry, as we bring this manufacturing back to the United States.”

Phoenix (AZ) Mayor Kate Gallego said, “With investments like CHIPS, now is the time to put more money locally and with mayors who are seeing this on the ground in a very real way.”

In the afternoon, several committees met to pass resolutions, hear from experts and share best practices.

“I made a career in technology and its great opportunities,” said Seattle (WA) Mayor Bruce Harrell, the chair of the Technology and Innovation Standing Committee. “But also as mayors, we need to be aware of its great vulnerabilities.”

Richmond (VA) Mayor Levar Stoney led the Child, Health and Human Services Standing Committee meeting. Mayors discussed challenges their cities face in implementing children and health programs. They also touted the ability of mayors to impact people’s lives.

“I think that there are a handful of states that are actively preempting from actually initiating such programs, enacting such programs,” Mayor Stoney said.

Mayor Stoney continued, “To me, if you want to preempt local governments from actually enacting such programs to help people, it just blows me away. But it’s happening.”

“Our belief is that you all in this room are some of the most important leaders in our nation,” said Heather Reynolds, Managing Director at the Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities. “You are closest to your communities, you see the impact of poorly designed policies and investments.”

Mayors discussed how climate change is impacting their cities at the Environment Standing Committee, chaired by Columbia (MO) Mayor Barbara Buffaloe. They also learned about resources to help them and their cities prepare for the effects of climate change.

“We surveyed our global community and we found out that 68% of public servants say that climate change is already impacting their work,” said Bruna Santos, the director of The Wilson Center’s Brazil Institute.

At the Jobs, Education and the Workforce session, Phoenix (AZ) Mayor Kate Gallego, who chairs the committee, spoke with Jessica Berman, Commissioner National Womenʼs Soccer League about the impact women’s sports are having on local economies.

“We now see the economic impact that has been proven in men’s sports is beginning to happen on women’s side,” said Berman.

At Friday’s Plenary Lunch, Raleigh (NC) Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin and Philadelphia (PA) Mayor Cherelle Parker joined a discussion on how cities can promote microbusinesses and small businesses.

Mayor Parker highlighted efforts by the city of Philadelphia to reduce obstacles for small business owners. “We want to grow the tax base,” she said. “Well, we need businesses to survive and thrive and be the prime job creators that they were meant to be.”

Albany (NY) Mayor Kathy Sheehan, the chair of the Women Mayors Leadership Alliance, led a panel discussion about how mayors can empower women voters in their communities.

“As the 2024 election comes into focus, women across the country are showing a heightened interest in policy, legislation and government,” said Mayor Sheehan. “There’s also a lot of this divisive rhetoric… which may serve to discourage women from participating.”

“We’ve really got to take our polling places back as communities,” Mayor Sheehan continued. “It’s not a place where you go and get bullied when you're going and exercising your hard fought right to vote.”

Montgomery (AL) Mayor Steve Reed and Wichita (KS) Mayor Lily Wu discussed how their cities have embraced innovation to help them rise to the top of multiple best-of lists.

“The American dream is alive and well in Wichita, Kansas,” said Mayor Wu. “We are very proud of our innovators.”

“We’re always thinking about ‘how can our community be healthier from a public safety standpoint,’ but that makes us wealthier. It makes us a better place to live and a better place for people to want to work as well,” said Mayor Reed.

The lunch session closed with a presentation from pollster Frank Luntz about how mayors can help heal America’s political divide and bring people back together.

Watch the plenary lunch here: https://www.youtube.com/live/5TfbOXHMZ_s?si=ESWF3AEIUU4NOCA4

Later in the morning mayors gathered for a discussion on implementing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Montgomery (AL) Mayor Steven Reed moderated the discussion at the Local Infrastructure Hub session.

The discussion featured Edina (MN) Mayor Jim Hovland, Austin (TX) Mayor Kirk Watson officials from the Department of Transportation, Department of Commerce, Biden administration and Bloomberg Philanthropies.

At Friday’s Opening Plenary session, mayors heard from Mitch Landrieu about the power of mayors to effect change, even at the federal level. Landrieu, a former president of the USCM, celebrated investments in America’s cities, like ARPA and the Inflation Reduction Act.

“Mayors get things done,” he said. “You hear this all of the time because, in fact, it is true.”

Later Reno (NV) Mayor Hillary Schieve led a discussion on the impact mayors are having on mental health with Fresno (CA) Mayor Jerry Dyer, Fontana (CA) Mayor Acquanetta Warren and Piscataway (NJ) Mayor Brian Whaler.

Watch the Opening Plenary session here: https://www.youtube.com/live/neHiCJLPio0?si=8LGGH05_k1nqmYTe

Also this morning, the Tourism, Arts, Parks, Entertainment and Sports Committee, led by vice chair Boca Raton (FL) Mayor Scott Singer held its meeting at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City (MO).