Working as Catalyst to Spread “Renter Choice Movement” across the Country 

Washington, D.C. – Less than two months after Councilmember P.G. Sittenfeld announced the legislation at the NewDEAL Leaders Conference, the Cincinnati City Council passed his Renters Choice bill, which guarantees all Cincinnati renters a choice to forego traditional security deposits that can pose a significant barrier to housing affordability. Sittenfeld’s fellow NewDEAL Leader, Mayor John Cranley, supports the legislation and is expected to sign it into law.

 

In addition, members of NewDEAL – a selective network of the most innovative state and local officials from across the country – have taken the idea from the organization’s November conference and offered support for spreading the policy in at least eight other states.

The legislation aims to directly improve the lives of millions of Americans dealing with skyrocketing housing costs and the fact that the Federal Reserve reports 40 percent of Americans don’t have $400 to cover emergency expenses. All Cincinnati renters will have an option in lieu of a traditional security deposit, including low-cost insurance or a modified security deposit.

“State and local leadership is critical to solving the biggest challenges facing Americans in today’s economy and the NewDEAL is committed to being a catalyst for the development and spread of the best policies that expand opportunity,” said NewDEAL CEO Debbie Cox Bultan. “At a time when Americans cannot count on Washington to solve their most pressing issues, Renters Choice represents the kind of innovative approach government must take to make big change.

 

“We are proud of the leadership of Councilmember Sittenfeld as the first legislator in the nation to introduce a renters choice bill, as well as the efforts by nearly a dozen other NewDEALers who are already looking to spread his work to their communities. Housing affordability is one of the most significant obstacles to economic security, and it is exciting to play a role in a policy idea that gives renters lower-cost alternatives to cash security deposits and puts that money back in their pockets.”

NewDEAL Leaders, who hold state and local offices below the level of Governor, have pledged support for bringing renters choice to counties, cities, and states from New Hampshire to California. These leaders include: 

Alabama: Minority Leader Anthony Daniels, Huntsville, AL

California: Candidate for Supervisor (current School Board Member) Laura Capps, Santa Barbara, CA

California: Supervisor Ryan Coonerty, Santa Cruz County, CA

Connecticut: Representative Caroline Simmons, Stamford, CT

Maryland: County Councilmember Will Jawando, Montgomery County, MD

New Hampshire: Vice Chairwoman Molly Cowan, Select Board of Exeter, NH

New Hampshire: Senator Jon Morgan, Brentwood, NH

North Carolina: Representative Ashton Wheeler Clemmons, Greensboro, NC 

Pennsylvania: At-Large Councilmember Derek Green, Philadelphia, PA

Virginia: Delegate Mark Keam, Vienna, VA

 

About NewDEAL 

NewDEAL (Developing Exceptional American Leaders), is a selective national network of state and local elected officials with Honorary Co-Chairs U.S. Senator Mark Warner and former Governor Jack Markell. Members of the 181-person network covering 47 states have been chosen from among more than 1500 nominations over its eight-year history, and are working to enact pro-growth progressive solutions in a diverse array of communities. The network of rising leaders has included more than 20 who have ascended to higher office since the fall of 2018, such as four members of Congress and seven mayors who won their office for the first time in 2019.

 

The NewDEAL brings together leaders focused on expanding opportunity, helping them develop and spread innovative ideas to spur economic growth that is broadly-earned and sustainable. Most importantly, the organization facilitates the exchange of ideas among its members and connects them with other pro-growth progressive political, policy, and private sector leaders. The leaders’ work is helping to spread and build on policy recommendations that NewDEAL Leaders help develop, including the release of a report from the NewDEAL Forum Future of Work Policy Group, and the upcoming release of work by the Climate Change Policy Group that launched earlier this

year. 

Learn more about the NewDEAL at https://newdealleaders.org/leaders.

 

State and local leaders recognized for best of more than fifty proposals to expand opportunity and make government work better

Washington, DC – Today NewDEAL announced the winners of the 2019 New Ideas Challenge – a competition among rising and innovative state and local policymakers to propose the most effective solutions on an array of issues. Policy experts vote for the proposals that best improve Americans’ economic well-being and overall quality of life, and that make government work more effectively to meet communities’ needs. Of over fifty proposals submitted, an esteemed and diverse panel of judges selected the following five winners in their respective categories:

Adapting to the Future of Work: Creating Portable Benefits — Senator Eric Lesser, Longmeadow, MA

Expanding Access to Education: ACCESS (Affordable College and Career Education Starts with Saving) — Councilmember Elizabeth Brown, Columbus, OH

Securing our Communities and our Planet: Resilient Zoning Code for a Coastal Community — Councilmember Andria McClellan, Norfolk, VA

Empowering Disadvantaged Populations: West Sacramento On-Demand: Mobility for All — Mayor Christopher Cabaldon, West Sacramento, CA

Rebuilding Community: Transit Corridor Opportunity Program (TCOP) — Councilmember Nirva LaFortune, Providence, RI

More information on the winning ideas is below. A full list of finalists and their ideas can be found here.

“NewDEAL Leaders are charting a course for communities across the country with forward-looking solutions to our challenges, while embracing the keys to prosperity in the 21st century, rather than trying to turn back the clock to a different era,” said NewDEAL CEO Debbie Cox Bultan. “Our winners have developed some of the most innovative ideas for making the new economy and government work for everyone. These ideas should inform policymakers in Washington and across the country who want to rise above the partisan fray to move the nation in the right direction.”

In its fourth edition, the Challenge was open to the more than 165 members of the NewDEAL (Developing Exceptional American Leaders), an organization that supports state and local pro-growth progressive elected officials through the exchange of ideas and engagement with other top public, private, and non-profit sector officials. U.S. Senator Mark Warner (VA) and former Delaware Governor Jack Markell serve as Honorary Co-Chairs of the group.

Submissions to the New Ideas Challenge were evaluated by eight judges:

Andrei Cherny, CEO, Aspiration

Micaela Fernandez Allen, Director of Global Public Policy, Walmart

Alastair Fitzpayne, Executive Director, Aspen Future of Work Initiative

Christy Goldfuss, Senior Vice President for Energy and Environment Policy, Center for American Progress

Dan’l Lewin, President & CEO, Computer History Museum

Amy Liu, Vice President and Director, Metropolitan Policy Program at Brookings

Steven Olikara, Founder & President, Millennial Action Project

2019 New Ideas Challenge Winners:

Massachusetts Senator Eric Lesser’s Creating Portable Benefits program won in the “Adapting to the Future of Work” category, which includes ideas that ensure everyone has opportunities to earn good jobs and pursue entrepreneurial ventures, while having access to a safety net that provides security and stability. His idea establishes the Portable Benefits for Independent Workers Innovation Fund and competitive grant program to encourage employers and organizations to innovate and experiment with benefits systems that are especially designed to serve workers who are outside of traditional full-time employment positions. These efforts would attempt to address barriers to health care, retirement, workers compensation and other benefits that Americans are less likely to receive through their employer in the new economy.

Columbus Councilmember Elizabeth Brown’s ACCESS (Affordable College and Career Education Starts with Saving) program won in the “Expanding Access to Education” category, which emphasizes opportunities at every level — from early childhood to post-secondary — to prepare students to make the most of their abilities. ACCESS addresses barriers that prevent lower-income youth from achieving a post-secondary education. Participants in the program are placed in a job and receive professional development, financial education, and mentoring. Eligible youth also have access to an Individual Development Account (IDA) where up to $500 in savings will be matched 8:1 with a combination of city, private and federal dollars, for a total of $4,500. Participants can use the funds for any eligible educational expenses.

Norfolk Councilmember Andria McClellan’s Resilient Zoning Code for a Coastal Community idea won in the “Securing our Communities and our Planet” category, which includes ideas for states, cities, and regions to address climate change. Her city’s project created the most resilient zoning code in the nation to reduce future risks to the built environment. The new zoning code includes elevated building requirements, additional landscaping and open space, and a Resilient Quotient — a point-based system for new development to mitigate risk and support sustainable practices.

West Sacramento Mayor Christopher Cabaldon’s West Sacramento On-Demand: Mobility for All program won in the “Empowering Disadvantaged Populations” category, which includes ideas that ensure people facing systemic obstacles have a fair shot to contribute and thrive. His initiative is a first-of-its-kind microtransit service that fills the gap between ride-sharing and traditional busses to serve all members of his community, including youth, seniors, and the disabled, at a low, flat rate. The city has used local Transportation Development Act (TDA) funds to partner with Via and deploy rideshare as a public transportation option. Ridership now exceeds 10,000 monthly.

Providence Councilmember Nirva LaFortune’s Transit Corridor Opportunity Program (TCOP) won in the “Rebuilding Community” category, which includes ideas that effectively and efficiently solve problems and engage people in civic society. Her program promotes arts and culture, workforce development, productivity, economic opportunity, accessibility, and access to affordable housing in key corridors around public transportation. TCOP recognizes the need for systemic solutions to revitalizing neighborhoods by addressing access to reliable transportation, affordable housing production, employment opportunity, and a ready workforce.