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NewDEAL Forum Launches Artificial Intelligence Task Force to Help Leaders Harness New Technology

This Monday, the NewDEAL Forum launched its Artificial Intelligence (AI) Task Force to explore AI’s potential to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of state and local public services. The group is led by co-chairs New York Assemblymember Alex Bores; San Jose, CA, Mayor Matt Mahan; and Albany, NY, Chief City Auditor Dorcey Applyrs, and will bring together other policymakers along with experts from non-profits and private sector leaders.

Like in the Forum’s previous report on AI and voting, the Task Force will elevate best practices and develop actionable recommendations on how to leverage AI for the public good while ensuring responsible development and deployment and educating policymakers on the latest advances and trends. The Task Force’s first session included an AI 101 presentation from the Wilson Center’s Director of Science and Technology Innovation Program, Kellee Wicker. You can watch the session here and be sure to visit the AI Task Force site to learn more about the group and read the latest news.

Homicide Rates Fall But Crime Remains a National Concern

A new report from the Council on Criminal Justice has found that rates of violent crime are plummeting in cities across the country. As reported by GOVERNING, homicide rates dropped by 10 percent in major cities such as Boston and St. Louis over the past three years, resulting in the lowest levels reported since before the pandemic. Notably, however, the country has seen an increase in hate crimes over the past few years, with the number of incidents reaching record levels in 2023.

Crime and public safety remain key concerns among voters, with surveys showing that 68 percent of Republicans and 47 percent of Democrats believe that crime reduction should be a top priority for lawmakers. As the country approaches a pivotal national election this fall, such issues will play a large role in how Americans vote. In anticipation of this, the NewDEAL recently released a guide outlining effective messaging strategies for talking about public safety, and hosted an event where Third Way Executive Vice President for Policy Jim Kessler highlighted the Biden Administration’s historic investments in policing and community-based violence interventions while emphasizing that Democrats should emphasize accountability in their public safety messaging.

NewDEALers in the Spotlight

NewDEALers Take on New Leadership Roles with National Government Organizations

NewDEALers have assumed key positions in several national government organizations, demonstrating their commitment to fostering effective governance:

Colorado Governor Jared Polis, a former NewDEAL vice chair, was elected Chair of the National Governors Association and announced the launch of the Let’s Get Ready: Educating All Americans for Success initiative. The initiative will evaluate outcomes from state education investments for a year, then release a roadmap to support governors in measuring the success of education initiatives and to ensure that students graduate with competitive economic skill sets.

Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon was sworn in as the President of the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) last Friday. NASS is a linking institution for states to exchange information and cooperate on public policy initiatives, especially in the areas of elections, voting, state business services, and cybersecurity.

Sonoma County Supervisor James Gore ascended to a year-long term as President of the National Association of Counties (NACo), the main lobbying and policymaking coalition of the nation’s 3,069 counties. He aims to create a national commission to study the Stafford Act, which provides the basis for federal disaster response activities, require a timeline for FEMA fund disbursement, bolster assistance programs for uninsured individuals, and pursue improvements to the federal small business loan program.