Worried about the results from the national elections on November 5? Have no fear, the local work in the trenches of our communities will continue to address broad issues of national importance and continue to yield results!
But wait, should cities and counties be addressing national issues? During a 2023 conference hosted by the National Academy of Public Administration, I sat on a panel which was asked about the effects of the “nationalization” of local government matters, and, on balance, we felt that it’s a positive phenomenon. While local policy-making may sometimes reflect the conflicts seen at the national level, at least local governments are getting to solutions.
We often dealt with this question while I was on Denver’s City Council beginning in the early 2000’s. Whenever someone would bring a resolution pertaining to national or even global issues, other members would inevitably say that the particular issue “is none of our business.” Now, however, hundreds of cities have taken action on issues like climate change, racial equity, immigration, and other matters that some feel should be addressed at the national level.
The problem is that our national government is often dysfunctional and lacks the people’s trust for addressing key issues. As a result, local governments and their partners—nonprofits, faith institutions and others—are stepping up to the plate. On issues ranging from climate change to immigration, cities and counties are devising approaches to address global challenges with approaches that either reduce the problems or mitigate their effects.
As cities address these kinds of issues, it’s not surprising that they encounter more controversy, since topics like climate change and immigration often carry more emotion and attention, along with opinions molded and hardened by national media and advocacy. Yet, because of their problem-solving structure and approaches, communities have been remarkably successful in negotiating solutions, at least compared to federal policymakers.
Think Globally, Act Locally
Climate Change is one of the national or global issues being addressed by cities. More than 10,000 cities around the world have joined the Global Covenant of Mayors, over 100 major cities have committed to cutting greenhouse gases in half by 2030, and many dozens of U.S. cities have established resilience officers and climate goals.
Austin, TX, is an example of a city that has already made a measurable difference regarding climate change. One of many cities that have set a goal of net zero emissions by 2040, the city reduced total emissions by 21% between 2010-2022, despite population growth of 17.5% during this time.
For Austin, the largest source of emissions reductions comes from conversion of its publicly-owned utility to carbon-free resources. As of 2020, the utility had already sourced 63% of its energy from renewables, with a plan to reach 93% by 2030.
To reach these goals, the city’s Office of Sustainability has engaged the public in planning efforts for years, including a focus on equity in its climate plan that was achieved through the use of paid volunteers serving as climate ambassadors. With the help of these ambassadors, the city has created several other programs that are contributing to its climate goals, including installation of electric vehicle charging stations, improvements to mass transit, and enhancements to natural areas and the tree canopy.
Racial equity is another matter on which cities and counties have taken action, with many major cities appointing equity officers or developing equity plans. In the wake of George Floyd’s murder in 2020, 168 Confederate symbols were removed across the U.S., including 94 monuments, while numerous cities implemented police reforms.
One of the many places that was working on racial equity prior to the George Floyd murder is the All-America City of Decatur, GA, which held a citywide conversation on race entitled Better Together. This initiative generated various goals and strategies aimed at fostering harmony within the community regarding racial differences. Perhaps because of these conversations, the city was later able to resolve a conflict over a local confederate statue despite attempted interference from the state and a few protestors.
Regarding immigration, over 130 local governments have joined Welcoming America, a network of cities and nonprofit organizations that helps communities creating a more welcoming atmosphere for immigrants and build a culture of belonging. This classification became a less controversial label for cities starting in 2009, decades after the beginning of sanctuary cities movement, which started in the 1980’s, and now counts over 500 cities as places in which local law enforcement refuses to cooperate with federal authorities in capturing and deporting immigrants.
One of these sanctuary cities which also conducts other activities to welcome immigrants is Beaverton, OR, which joined the movement in 2017 with a council resolution that stated that Beaverton “is committed to living its values as a welcoming city for all individuals and is a community that seeks to accept everyone, regardless of a person’s race, ethnicity, place of origin or immigration status; and all people within the city need to feel safe to contact local law enforcement or city government and be able to freely access critical public safety services without fear.”
Beaverton hosts a variety of programs aimed at supporting immigrant populations, including Welcoming Beaverton, a program that provides a welcoming guide and resources to actively support incoming immigrants, and a Language Access Program that helps with translation and language acquisition. The city’s BOLD program, Beaverton Organizing and Leadership Development, enrolls immigrant volunteers in year-long cohorts that learn about civic affairs and skills for civic engagement. Since the program’s inception, more than half of the participants have gone on to engage in other civic leadership roles.
Local Capacity and Escalating Conflict
Cities’ effectiveness in navigating local and national conflicts stems from their establishment as nonpartisan, professionally managed governments. Rooted in the Model City Charter from 1900, cities aim to minimize partisanship, favoritism, and corruption. With nonpartisan elected officials and city managers, cities foster a problem-solving environment that contrasts with the adversarial nature of state and national legislative bodies. Additionally, the expansion of civic engagement practices—such as listening sessions, online surveys, and deliberative dialogues—has enriched the problem-solving framework, enhancing community involvement through tools promoted by the National Civic League and similar organizations.
Regardless of the election outcomes, local initiatives addressing national issues will persist. Cities and counties are proving their capability to tackle these challenges through innovative, community-driven approaches. While local governments may reflect the divisive nature of national politics, they ultimately prioritize solutions that benefit their communities. As seen through various successful programs focused on climate change, racial equity, and immigration, local entities are leading the charge where national governments have faltered. Their commitment to collaborative problem-solving demonstrates the enduring power of local action in fostering positive change.
