Three NewDEAL Alumni Serve as Governors

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What We're Saying

Three NewDEAL Alumni Serve as Governors

With the swearing in of Delaware’s Matthew Meyer this week, three NewDEAL alumni now serve as governors. In addition to Meyer, Joshua Stein , who previously served as a state attorney general, was sworn in earlier this month to lead North Carolina, joining fellow NewDEALer Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro , elected in 2022, in charting the path forward for their states.

• Read more about Meyer’s inaugural address, which “focused on public education, housing and rising inequality.”
• In North Carolina, Stein emphasized building a “safer, stronger North Carolina” as he talked about making the economy work for everyone, improving public schools, addressing public safety and protecting personal freedoms.

NewDEAL Alumnus Leads Vermont's Housing Movement

Former Burlington, VT, Mayor and NewDEAL Alumnus Miro Weinberger is making headlines as the leader of the Let’s Build Homes Coalition, which is working to speed up development and increase housing supply across Vermont. Let’s Build Homes is a non-partisan organization made up of private companies, area nonprofits, local hospitals, and more who are advocating for the construction of 30,000 new homes by 2030.

• ?“There are so many interests that are negatively impacted by Vermont’s housing shortage, and the goal of this group is to represent all of them,” said Weinberger, who worked for over a decade as an affordable housing developer prior to his time as mayor.

Ideas Worth Stealing

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE | Colorado: Senator Lindsey Daugherty is spearheading legislation that aims to enhance the state’s wildfire response by deploying AI-powered detection cameras along with wildfire mitigation and prediction software. Daugherty emphasizes the cost-effectiveness of using state property funds for the initiative, citing the significant economic and human toll of wildfires

HOUSING | California: Sonoma County Supervisor James Gore has worked with the Board of Supervisors to streamline the construction of affordable housing by temporarily suspending impact fees for new projects. Historically used to fund utilities, parks, and services, these fees are increasingly viewed by housing advocates as obstacles to new developments. The Board has voted to suspend these fees for two years, during which staff will study the current structure and determine more targeted alternatives.

PUBLIC SAFETY | Utah: Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall 's recently announced comprehensive plan to address crime and improve public safety has received bipartisan support from Governor Spencer Cox and members of the Republican-controlled state legislature. With 50 concrete initiatives, Mendenhall aims to address crime at its root causes by expanding access to permanent housing and temporary shelters and by increasing mental and behavioral healthcare offerings, while also beefing up police presence in downtown Salt Lake City.?

This week on An Honorable Profession, former Transportation Secretary and NewDEAL alum, Pete Buttigieg looks towards the future, rallies state and local leaders, and shares advice for building a brighter tomorrow. Tune in on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and anywhere else you listen to podcasts.

What We're Reading

Cleveland's Justin Bibb to lead Democratic mayors group | NBC News

NewDEAL Leader Cleveland Mayor Justin M. Bibb has been named the next head of the Democratic Mayors Association, succeeding fellow NewDEAL Leader Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego. Mayor Bibb will play a key role in advocating for resources from the federal government and setting priorities for municipal governments across the country.

Global network of mayors react to President Trump withdrawing the US from the Paris Climate Agreement | C40 Cities

In response to the US withdrawing from the Paris Climate Agreement, a global network of mayors, including NewDEAL Leaders like Phoenix, AZ, Mayor Kate Gallego and Boston, MA, Mayor Michelle Wu , have reaffirmed their commitment to addressing the climate crisis.