Tell Congress: to Put Families Over Billionaires and Stop the Trump Administrationās Devastating Megabill
Congress is sprinting to pass the Trump Administrationās massive bill that would line the pockets of billionaires at the expense of families and children. If passed, this billionaire tax scam would give trillions to the ultra-wealthy, hundreds of billions to federal immigration officers, and force everyone to foot the bill through unprecedented cuts to Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, SNAP, and clean energy tax credits ā simply put, our health care, our ability to put food on the table, and our children are all on the line.
Congress can pass the bill as early as this Wednesday. Now is the time to act: call your members of Congress to let them know how destructive this bill would be to your communities. See our toolkit and take action here.
Hereās a look at whatās been happening across the Local Progress network:Ā
New Op-Ed: This Is What Authoritarian Intimidation Looks Like
Earlier this month, I co-authored an op-ed in Courier laying out the signs of authoritarian intimidation and how the Trump Administrationās bullying of local elected officials is a clear indicator. I shared how in each of these instances, elected officials have found themselves in the crosshairs of President Trump just for doing their jobs. These actions are creating an environment of fear for thousands of local officials across the country and bring into question whether they can actually do their jobs without the threat of a federal subpoena. Despite these threats, we continue to see incredible courage from elected leaders. Since January, we have seen dozens of states and localities take action to protect immigrants, stand up for the transgender community, and support diversity measures. We are grateful to our LP members who are on the frontlines of democracy and we continue to stand by you.
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We Grieve the Politically Motivated Assassination of Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman
We continue to remember former Minnesota Speaker of the House, Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark. We are still processing the horrific targeted political assassination of MN elected officials and the attempt on the lives of Sen. John Hoffman and his wife Yvette. The Local Progress Minnesota Organizing Committee shared, āOur role as elected officials is to bring our communities together, to do the work of collaborative governance that delivers justice for our constituents no matter our race, age or where we live. This work requires commitment, courage, and moral clarity, especially in times of great fear and uncertainty. Melissa Hortman lived into this commitment for the people of Minnesota.ā Read the full statement here ā.
Local Leaders Stand Strong Against Attacks on our Immigrant Communities
Since the beginning of this year, weāve seen the Trump Administration using executive overreach and ICE to terrorize our communities. From Orange County to Philadelphia to Minneapolis to Austin, Local Progress Members across the country have been standing up against fascism and authoritarianism. New York City Comptroller and founding LP member, Brad Lander was arrested by ICE, putting his body on the line as he tried to escort an individual out of an immigration courthouse. LP members in Providence City Council, including City Council President Rachel Miller, made the decision to mail āKnow Your Rightsā information postcards on how to respond to ICE to residents as a ādirect response to the brutal and unconstitutional enforcement tactics currently being undertaken by the far-right federal administration.ā And more than 2,100 No Kings protests, marches, and rallies across the country drew 5 million participants to stand in opposition to the Trump Administrationās cruel policies and actions. As San Antonio Councilmember Jalen McKee-Rodriguez said, āOur community is under attack, our families are being separated in the most hateful, inhumane ways, and our response should be rooted in collective power and unity.ā When our communities come together to fight back, we can reshape what is possible at the local level.
Wins for Renters and Public Safety for All
As the federal government focuses on enriching billionaires over taking care of working families, itās up to governments at the local level to keep corporate greed in check and make housing more affordable for everyone. Seattle joined cities like San Francisco, Minneapolis, and Philadelphia to ban rental price fixing, protecting renters from corporate greed driving up rents across the country. The New York Court of Appeals upheld Kingstonās 15% rent reduction, easing the financial burden of tenants. Local governments are taking important steps to combat gross overreach and surveillance into our communities. Additionally in a win for public safety for all, earlier this month, Austin and Denver declined to proceed with a contract renewal for their automatic license plate reader (ALPR) vendor, while San Marcos City Council voted to not increase the number of ALPRs in the city.Ā
š³ļøāš How Local Leaders Can Show Up for LGBTQ+ Communities Under the Trump Administration
Queer and trans peopleālike everyoneādeserve access to the healthcare needed to thrive, to have their civil rights protected, and to be able to fully participate in our society. The Trump Administration and right-wing-led states have intensified their campaign of hate against LGBTQ+ peopleāespecially trans people. But local leaders across the country must stand strong with our communities and advance a different vision of what is possible. Learn about how localities are resisting, resources, and opportunities for action ā.
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š Thatās a Wrap on our Washington State Progressive Governance Lab & Local Elected Leadership Institute!Ā
Earlier this month, Local Progress Impact Lab and Sage Leaders successfully wrapped up our Washington Progressive Governance Lab & Local Elected Leadership Institute! Over 20 members, partners, and funders attended the closing event, including LP Board Member and King County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda. The six-month program equipped local elected officials with the resources and skills to be powerful and collaborative leaders, while also providing them with a safe space to connect with their peers and bounce policy ideas off each other.
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šļø Local Progress Colorado 2025 Legislative ScorecardĀ
This yearās legislative session was defined not only by high-stakes debates under the Gold Dome, but by what came after: a wave of vetoes from the Governor that undermined critical protections for working class families across the state. However, while the Governor turned towards corporate interests, Local Progress Colorado members turned towards their communities, organizing and winning big at the local level. There were some wins for tenants and workers, some disappointing vetoes on legislation that would have kept corporate greed in check, and some great shows of solidarity and collaborative governance at both the local and state level. Read our full 2025 Colorado Legislative Scorecard ā.
š£ Families Over Billionaires Digital Toolkit
House Republicans passed their Billionaire Tax Scamāthe Trump Administrationās plan to cut taxes for the rich at the expense of working people. While major modifications are expected in the Senate, the House version included massive cuts to SNAP and Medicaid all to pay for massive tax breaks for billionaires. Now is the time to call out what this bill really is: an egregious plan to slash programs families rely on to pay for more billionaire tax breaks. See the Families Over Billionaires Digital Toolkit for talking points and ways to take action.
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š¤ Community Responder Programs in the NewsĀ
Hundreds of cities across the country have adopted community responder programs ā these programs allow unarmed, trained civilians to respond to concerns like mental health emergencies, noise complaints, wellness checks, and more. A new op-ed in the New York Times from the Policing Project at the N.Y.U. School of Law highlights the over 130 alternative response programs across the country redefining what safety looks like. Learn more in our Creating a Community Responder Program report ā
