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.

Minority Leader Anthony Daniels Drives a 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.

Senator Eddie Melton’s 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.

Steve Benjamin

NewDEAL Honorary Co-Chair Joins the White House

This week, NewDEAL Honorary Co-Chair and former Mayor of Columbia, SC Steve Benjamin was announced as the new Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement. A former NewDEAL Leader himself, Benjamin will act as the White House’s liaison to state and local elected officials, as well as business leaders, across the country. While Mayor, Benjamin served in leadership roles at both the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the African American Mayors Association, experiences that make him well-positioned to take on new responsibilities with the White House. In a statement announcing the appointment, President Biden said that “Steve’s deep relationships with communities across the country will serve our Administration and the American public well.” The NewDEAL looks forward to continuing to work with Steve in his new role. Read more about the appointment here.

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Oregon: State Representative Janelle Bynum – bipartisan Oregon CHIPS Act

TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION – Oregon: State Representative Janelle Bynum successfully led the passage of her bipartisan Oregon CHIPS Act in the House. The legislation will allocate $190 million to support local businesses applying for federal investments in the semiconductor and microchip manufacturing industries. It also directs $10 million to help public universities compete for federal research grants. By focusing on education and training, Bynum hopes to create new job opportunities and strengthen Oregon’s status as a global leader in the advanced manufacturing sector.

ARPA: Support for Hartford’s Library Branches

Mayor Luke Bronin and the City of Hartford are allocating $10.5 million to its public library system, in funds made available through the revenue replacement provisions of the ARPA. The city will relocate a public library branch to a new site within the Swift Factory, a community and entrepreneurial center in Hartford. The new space will be state-of-the-art, comprising over two stories and including a new job search center. The library is expected to revitalize the community and spur economic development. Additionally, the city will also renovate an additional branch to incorporate the nearby historic Northwest Jones School building. By uniting the two buildings, the expanded branch library will be able to provide more services to residents.

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.

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Formal Equity Audit of City Government Practices

Problem:

City and local governments often face challenges in addressing inequities within their institutions, and especially with knowing exactly what areas to target and address. Systemic biases against minority groups are institutionalized and long ingrained into city operations, and changing the existing system requires time, funding, and leadership willing to take on the challenge. The difficulty also lies in how to best present solutions that are quick enough to address community needs but are also genuinely efforts that will last in the long-term.

Solution:

Conducting a formal equity audit of city government practices will allow for better accountability to the Albany community and allow for city government to take a deeper look at current issues in order to develop solutions to address any lacking areas. This audit will examine hiring and promotional rates, allocation of city services, granting of permits and contracts, compliance with Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The audit will also assess internal operations for any evidence of systemic biases or inequities. A thorough city-wide audit by the Office of Audit and Control will allow for this in-depth analysis of city operations and grant time for city officials to examine the issues found and develop task forces or policy changes in response to them.

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