Our Blog + Latest News

Trump’s Surge of Federal Police in Cities is Dangerously Authoritarian. We Won’t Stand For It.

WASHINGTON, DC — In response to President Trump’s announced intent to deploy federal law enforcement from the Department of Homeland Security.

How Local Elected Leaders Can Make it Easier and Safer to Vote During COVID-19

A new toolkit outlines high-priority local reforms to protect democracy during the pandemic.

The cities that are already defunding the police

In the aftermath of the protests over the killing of George Floyd, city leaders are calling to cut law enforcement budgets or reallocate funds in at least 19 U.S. cities, according to Local Progress, which pushes for racial and economic justice and is tracking the issue in real-time.

The Cities Taking Up Calls to Defund the Police

Minneapolis councilmembers took a remarkable step in pledging to reimagine public safety. Other cities are heeding demands to reduce police resources.

Minneapolis lawmakers vow to disband police department in historic move

City council members declare intent to ‘abolish’ embattled agency and replace with alternative model in wake of George Floyd’s killing.

Local Progress Applauds Minneapolis Community and City Council Members for Historical Step in Reimagining Public Safety

“Transforming this system will not happen overnight. This is just the beginning — but it will undoubtedly lead to long-lasting change.”

How Cities Offload the Cost of Police Brutality

Local Progress Condemns Trump’s Threats to Deploy Military Against Protests

In response to President Trump’s remarks threatening to deploy the US military in cities and states, Local Progress released the following statement.

Local Leaders to Congress: Credit Cards Aren’t a Housing Strategy

Denver, Seattle, Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Louisville, Philadelphia, Hartford, and San Francisco.

New Reform/Transform report analyzes police policy and budgets in Oak Park, IL

A new report released by Freedom to Thrive Oak Park and Local Progress highlights the need to reimagine budgeting in Oak Park amid the coronavirus crisis.

Local Progress Reacts to Lack of State and Local Funding in $484 Billion Coronavirus Aid Legislation

WASHINGTON, DC — In response to the announcement that the Senate unanimously approved a bipartisan deal for additional coronavirus aid.

City Leaders Rally Around a Fix: Cancel the Rent

To prevent a housing disaster, leaders in nine U.S. cities called on state and federal officials to give more support to tenants as the COVID-19 crisis deepens.

Have a Media Inquiry?

Local Progress is a movement of local elected officials advancing a racial and economic justice agenda through all levels of local government. We are elected leaders who build power with underrepresented communities and fight to reshape what is possible in our localities all across the country. 

Want to get in touch with us for a story? Reach us at press@localprogress.org.

In The News

At Local Progress, we seek to make the aspirational pragmatic by showing how government can be a tool to create just and equitable outcomes and reshaping peoples’ understanding of governing from an institution to a collective responsibility. Here are some highlights of our media coverage:

Image of brownstonehomes. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Cities lead bans on algorithmic rent hikes as states lag behind

Minneapolis on Thursday has become the fourth U.S. city to ban algorithmic rental price-fixing software, joining San Francisco, Philadelphia and Berkeley, California, in a growing wave of legislation aimed to protect renters from rental price-gouging.
Portland City Council member Angelita Morillo is championing a local ban on the use of algorithms to set rents, following a U.S. Justice Department antitrust lawsuit.Beth Nakamura

Portland City Council weighs ban on using algorithms to set rents

Portland, Oregon could soon be the next city to ban rental price fixing!
East Front of the United States Capitol in Washington, DC, against blue sky and clouds. Photo: Tada Images via Shutterstock

Hundreds of State Officials Oppose Anti-Sanctuary City Act

Nearly 400 state and local electeds nationwide sent a letter to Congress today urging them to vote NO on HR 32 – a dangerous bill that would strip our communities of essential funding simply for undertaking reasonable policies that make all of us safer.
Photograph of the San Fransisco skyline. Photograph Source: Raydann

Social Housing Emerging in Cities Needs Local Govt Support

Local Progress founding board chair Nick Licata makes the case for local governments to support social housing.

press Releases

Brave of Us Roundup: Immigrant Justice at the Local Level

A yellow background with the text "No Buildout for Billionaires"

No Buildout For Billionaires

Lessons from the Front Lines: LP Members Chart New Path Forward in the Face of Growing Authoritarianism

How Local Electeds Can Tax the Ultrawealthy to Fund Communities

Training Our Next Cohort of Comms Leaders