NLC COVID-19: Pandemic Response Update | Issue 25

LEADERSHIP UPDATE

Colleagues,

I hope this message finds you safe and well. Earlier this week, I had the pleasure of speaking with Former NLC President Jim Hunt on the Amazing Cities and Towns Podcast about the challenges that we are facing on the ground. I made one thing very clear in our conversation: Municipal budget cuts will have lasting effects on the lives of the American people.

That’s why we need every municipality standing up and telling Congress that Cities Are Essential. I hope you will consider showing your commitment by introducing a resolution in support of fair, direct, federal emergency support to reopen and rebuild local economies. A template resolution can be found on our “Take Action” page.

I look forward to continuing our campaign alongside you!

Sending you strength,

Joe Buscaino
President,
National League of Cities
President Pro Tempore, Los Angeles City Council

MAYORS ON THE FRONTLINES: NEW ORLEANS MAYOR CANTRELL

When New Orleans was declared a hotspot for the novel coronavirus, Mayor LaToya Cantrell wasted no time putting her team into action, issuing a stay at home and other strategies to help her city flatten the curve. A major priority was reaching the most vulnerable in her community and addressing the disproportionate impact COVID-19 was having on African-Americans in her city.

RESOURCES

UPCOMING EVENTS

WEBINAR | The Essential Home: Solutions for Local Governments | Wednesday, May 27, 2:00 PM ET
Local governments are facing many challenges during this pandemic. Helping residents shelter safely at home, protecting essential workers, and looming budget cuts are at the forefront. Join this webinar to learn how HomeServe is helping to protect the home while putting the safety of residents and essential workers at the forefront of their efforts. It will also cover some options that can help bring dollars back to the city in a time of budget challenges. Register here.

TELE-TOWNHALL | Taking Care of Yourself: Self-Care Strategies for Effective Leadership During COVID-19  | Thursday, May 28, 1:00 PM ET
City and county leaders are facing unique personal stressors while responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. NLC and the American Psychological Association are hosting an interactive tele-town hall to hear from two CEOs and leaders with decades of experience in local governing and mental well-being to offer their insight into why self-care is important for effective leadership. Register now.

Presenters:

  • Clarence E. Anthony, CEO and Executive Director, National League of Cities and former mayor of South Bay, Florida
  • Arthur C. Evans, PhD, CEO of the American Psychological Association and former commissioner of Philadelphia’s Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disability Services.  
  • Moderator: Lindsey Horvath, Mayor Pro Tempore, West Hollywood, CA 

WEBINAR | Resilient Cities: Adaptation and Municipal Financing in the Era of COVID-19 | Thursday, May 28, 4:00 PM ET
As our communities and environment continue to change at a faster pace, so do the risks associated with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors. ESG has become a key topic in the private sector when investors and companies are evaluating, disclosing, and mitigating risk. However, local governments face similar risks and many of the same ESG factors are used by bond rating agencies to evaluate municipal credit ratings. Register here.

OPPORTUNITIES

Share Your COVID-19 Story
NLC is working with cities, towns, and villages to help shed light on the impact of COVID-19. We want to hear how your community has been responding to the pandemic. From heroic tales of front-line workers to the financial impact of flattening the curve — please use this form to help us tell your story.

Change Management in the Time of COVID-19 | NLCU Training, May 21
Please join NLCU and chief impact officer at CivicMakers, Judi Brown for Change Management in the Time of COVID-19. The art and science of managing organizational change require a more nuanced and human-centered approach, especially in these uncertain times. How might we prepare individuals, teams and organizational systems for the unknown? Register for the training here.

Show Cities Are Essential
Show your support for NLC’s advocacy campaign, Cities Are Essential. Tell your friends and family that you believe cities are crucial to America’s recovery by adding a Facebook profile picture overlay. It’s simple: log in to Facebook, select ‘add frame’ and search for Cities Are Essential. Show the world that you believe Cities Are Essential. Add your profile frame.

BEST PRACTICES

How City Leaders Can Ensure Their Residents Have Access to Health Care
Considering that Americans are approaching that 60-day mark since many states have officially issued stay-at-home orders, the clock is ticking. Now is a crucial time for cities to focus on resident outreach because windows will soon be closing for those who lost their employer-sponsored health insurance. Read more.

Released, Now What: The Intersection of Justice Reform and Housing in Response to COVID-19
For most, the release from jail is a disorienting moment. While release symbolizes freedom, this freedom quickly becomes overwhelming for those who have to navigate their reentry delicately to achieve successful reintegration into the community. Read more.

IN THE NEWS

A new coronavirus crisis: Cities and towns face financial peril as pandemic drags on
Washington Post – May 18, 2020

Red-state cities get cool reception from GOP on relief aid
The Hill – May 16, 2020

Coronavirus Exposes the Inextricable Connection Between Housing and Health
City Lab – May 15, 2020

Lacking Money and Power, Authorities Barely Enforce Virus Rules
Bloomberg News Wire – May 15, 2020