San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg Provides Mental Health Training to Address Trauma

Texas: San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg is addressing violence and trauma by providing more mental health training in the community. In response to the growing need for mental health resources, the city partnered with the local college district to launch Compassionate USA to deliver free training for residents to provide support and resources to neighbors. The primary goal of Compassionate USA is to decrease violence while healing trauma. 

Delegate Brooke Lierman: New Infrastructure Plans Rolling Out

Following the signing of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, NewDEALers are poised to lead in directing investments to long-overdue projects that will impact the economic vitality of their communities. Many NewDEAL Leaders are already taking action on these priorities. Delegate Brooke Lierman’s Maryland Transit Safety & Investment Act overcame a gubernatorial veto and is set to eliminate the state’s $2 billion public transportation maintenance backlog by spending nearly half a billion dollars each year for repairs and enhancements. In Nevada, Clark County Commissioner Michael Naft celebrated the groundbreaking of a long-awaited bridge project which first received federal funding in the 1990s. “This bridge is an important transportation element and it is also critical for emergency responders,” Naft said. Elsewhere, the Boston Council approved newly-elected Mayor Michelle Wu’s $8 million plan for three of the city’s bus lines to go fare-free, an important step towards making the city’s transportation equitable and accessible. The program will utilize federal funding, and early numbers suggest that ridership will be significantly boosted by the measure.

Senator Sarah McBride: New Bill Seeks to Set Digital Literacy Standards

A recent Stanford University survey of American high school students found that 96% lacked the skills to judge the reliability of online information. This sobering finding, combined with the increasing role misinformation has played in American political division, inspired NewDEALer Delaware Senator Sarah McBride to introduce legislation to require Delaware’s Department of Education to set “evidence-based media literacy standards” to be incorporated into learning plans. The legislation has passed both the House and the Senate and awaits the Governor’s signature. McBride hopes the new standards will allow “educators to really address these two significant, insidious problems: a mental health crisis exacerbated by online bullying and a democratic crisis fostered by disinformation, misinformation.” The new curriculum is intended to help students identify credible sources of information, foster positive social media behavior, and identify techniques of online manipulation. Read more about this important issue, and how Delaware is tackling it, here.

Mayor Justin Bibb: Cleveland’s Infrastructure

Over the last several weeks, NewDEAL Leader Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb has announced a series of impactful investments in his community seeking to expand broadband access and revitalize large sections of his city. This week, Bibb announced a public-private partnership that would bring internet access to an estimated 29,000 homes over the next 18 months. Last week, he announced a $21 million investment of federal American Rescue Plan Act funding for a Waterfront Activation Fund that will support nine projects along the city’s shores, and, in April, he announced plans to devote more of the city’s federal aid to turn “thousands of acres” of brownfields into development-ready land. In addition, the U.S. Department of Transportation has announced infrastructure funds dedicated to the replacement of aging train and commuter rail cars. Read more about Mayor Bibb’s agenda here.

Senator Eddie Melton: Bipartisan Bill Revitalizes Gary, IN

Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb signed SEA 434 – an innovative economic development bill sponsored and championed by NewDEAL Leader Indiana Senator Eddie Melton – into law this week. Senate Enrolled Act 434, which was introduced by Senator Melton back in January, matches new gaming revenue with local dollars for economic investments in the Lake County region. With these funds, the bill establishes the Lake County Convention and Economic Development Fund; creates the Blighted Property Demolition Fund to address the over 6,000 abandoned properties in the region; and invests in the revitalization of the Gary Metro Station to meet the goals of the state’s Double Tracking project. “SEA 434 represents new beginnings and opportunities for the people of Gary who have long been ready for change,” Senator Melton expressed at the bill’s signing. SEA 434 represents a pragmatic, bipartisan win for Melton and for all of Indiana, with the bill passing by a 49-1 vote.

Minority Leader Anthony Daniels: Historic Tax Reform Benefiting Alabama’s Workforce

NewDEAL Leader Alabama House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels has spearheaded key changes in Alabama’s tax structure. His groundbreaking legislation, was passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, garnering 103 affirmative votes in the Republican supermajority state. House Bill 217 eliminates the state’s 5% income tax on overtime pay for Alabama’s hourly workers to not only incentivize overtime work but also provide an invaluable retention tool for businesses grappling with the tight labor market. Daniels praised the passage of the law, noting it as a crucial element of his ‘Plan for Prosperity’ — a strategic legislative agenda designed to uplift Alabamians amid economic uncertainty and inflation.

Mayor Aftab Pureval: New Cincinnati Budget Prioritizes Housing, Fiscal Responsibility

NewDEAL Leader Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval’s $523 million budget proposal for the 2024 fiscal year was unanimously passed by the City Council. The budget invests in several housing initiatives, including rental assistance, eviction counsel, code enforcement, and a new pilot rental rehabilitation loan program. The budget also includes money for three groundbreaking programs aimed at realizing equitable financial opportunities for all residents: a medical debt relief program, a child savings account initiative, and a guaranteed income pilot program. Importantly, the city is planning for a future without federal assistance, eyeing additional revenue sources and responsible budget cuts that will ensure a smooth transition as COVID-era assistance ends. Read Mayor Pureval’s letter to the Council about his budget here.

Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird: New Plan to Boost Local Food System in Lincoln

This week, NewDEAL Leader Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird unveiled Lincoln’s Local Food System Plan, a thorough effort to support local producers, increase equitable access to high-quality food, and reduce food waste. The plan, developed by a 10-member community committee, hopes to double the acres where local food is grown in the Lincoln area and triple the number of community gardens by 2035. “Lincoln’s new Local Food System Plan will position our community to reap the benefits of a thriving local food system — supporting local farmers, expanding markets, creating jobs, increasing food security, improving health outcomes, reducing carbon emissions and instilling a sense of pride in our community,” Gaylor Baird said. Read more about the plan here.

New Plan to Boost Local Food System in Lincoln

This week, NewDEAL Leader Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird unveiled Lincoln’s Local Food System Plan, a thorough effort to support local producers, increase equitable access to high-quality food, and reduce food waste. The plan, developed by a 10-member community committee, hopes to double the acres where local food is grown in the Lincoln area and triple the number of community gardens by 2035. “Lincoln’s new Local Food System Plan will position our community to reap the benefits of a thriving local food system — supporting local farmers, expanding markets, creating jobs, increasing food security, improving health outcomes, reducing carbon emissions and instilling a sense of pride in our community,” Gaylor Baird said. Read more about the plan here.

New Cincinnati Budget Prioritizes Housing, Fiscal Responsibility

NewDEAL Leader Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval’s $523 million budget proposal for the 2024 fiscal year was unanimously passed by the City Council. The budget invests in several housing initiatives, including rental assistance, eviction counsel, code enforcement, and a new pilot rental rehabilitation loan program. The budget also includes money for three groundbreaking programs aimed at realizing equitable financial opportunities for all residents: a medical debt relief program, a child savings account initiative, and a guaranteed income pilot program. Importantly, the city is planning for a future without federal assistance, eyeing additional revenue sources and responsible budget cuts that will ensure a smooth transition as COVID-era assistance ends. Read Mayor Pureval’s letter to the Council about his budget here.

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