On Monday, August 19th, the National League of Cities held a panel with three local elected officials to talk about the value and experience they each gained through holding a position within NLC. What follows is a transcript of their thoughtful testimony. Learn more about the NLC Leadership Applications! Clarence Anthony, CEO and Executive Director,

This is a guest post by Dr. Gary Lovett, Senior Scientist and Forest Ecologist at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, NY.  When Asian longhorned beetles were first discovered in Worcester, Massachusetts in 2008, it came as a shock. “I knew our life was going to change,” said Patty Ruffini, then the United

This is a guest post by Greg McGrath, Southern California Regional President, Clear Channel Outdoor Americas Los Angeles is my home. It’s a city that offers something for everyone. And it’s an abundance of diversity that is “home to the world.” Our communities wear their culture on their sleeves and our streets tell our city’s storied

I was born and raised in Rochester, NY, a legacy city historically famous for being the birthplace of companies like Cunningham Stage Coach, Bausch and Lamb, Eastman Kodak Co. and Xerox.  First dubbed the “Young Lion of the West” thanks to our Erie Canal, we were one of America’s first boomtowns. Later, Rochester was referred

The Only Secret Should Be the Sauce Americans don’t just love to eat; we love to know about the foods we’re eating. Labels in restaurants increasingly inform the consumer about ingredients, calories, and even how animals have been raised. But good luck trying to find out if your restaurant choice fares well in food safety

At first glance, the housing challenges in our two states couldn’t seem more different. California’s economy ranks as the world’s fifth largest and is home to several of the most expensive housing markets in the nation. Michigan, on the other hand, is often cited as the standard for rust belt decline. Its major cities and

On August 1, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted 3-2 to approve a report and order that will make dramatic changes to cable franchises managed by state and local governments. The order, which will go into effect 30 days after it is published in the Federal Register, has two major components that will impact local

By Eli Craveiro Frankel and Melissa Williams “It takes a village.” Municipal governance works best when key players are working together. How local elected officials can foster coalitions to tackle policy issues was the focus of discussion for the National League of Cities National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials during their Annual Summer Conference.

The following presents brief highlights of the work of twelve cities in the Cities of Opportunity pilot. Based on what’s learned from these cities, NLC is launching recruitment for a new cohort and invite cities to apply. Click here to access the RFP. Cities of Opportunity are places where all residents can reach their full

Regardless of where you sit within a municipality, be it on the frontlines or in the City Manager’s office, you will inevitably find yourself in a position of responding to human needs. Isn’t that what public service is all about? Isn’t this what we signed up for? Of course, it is not always easy to