Local Progress Remembers a Leader, a Friend, and a Sister in the Fight for Justice: Nancy Metayer
If there was anybody who embodied collaborative governance and fearless leadership, it wasĀ Nancy Metayer. We have continued to grieve her passing and we remember Nancy as not only a dedicated LP member who cultivated our community with joy and compassion, but a dear friend, sister, and confidant.
Beyond her own community, she was a dedicated advocate for local leaders in Florida and across the country. She was an integral member of Local Progress Florida, a leader in our Black Caucus, and a founding member of the Womenās Caucus. She was not only a friend to so many in our network but also deeply influenced the curriculum, policies, and programs our network shares with nearly 1,800 local elected officials across the country. May we continue her legacy by leading as Nancy did. Organizing with care, integrity, and passion for people, the environment, and a just society.Ā
Hereās a look at whatās been happening across the Local Progress network:Ā
Fighting for True Public Safety and Thriving Continues in San Diego
As AI-driven surveillance creeps deeper into our communities, it is local leaders who have long fought back against the tech oligarchy that continues to squeeze working families for every cent. And while negotiations rage on regardingĀ AI-powered surveillance in San Diego,Ā San Diego City Councilmember Sean Elo-RiveraĀ continues pushing back against other ways AI is taking over ā calling to restrict Waymos from airports to help people who drive for their primary or secondary income to persuading his colleagues to ban AI driven price hikes on groceries.Ā
Local Leaders are the Brave of Us Showing Up for Immigrants
The Trump Administration is continuing to terrorize our communities, expand its immigration detention footprint, rip families apart, and pour more and more money into ICE. But our communities arenāt backing down. Local leaders inĀ Phoenix, AZ,Ā Spokane, WA,Ā Baltimore, MD,Ā andĀ Montgomery County, PAĀ recently passed āICE-free zonesā legislation ā ensuring that their community spaces are safe for everyone. In Baltimore,Ā Council President Zeke Cohen and Councilmember Odette RamosĀ led the effort toĀ ban immigration officers from city buildings; their bill also prevents the city from collecting and sharing data related to immigration status. Weāre also seeing localities nationwide ā fromĀ Roxbury, NJĀ andĀ Social Circle, GAĀ toĀ Seattle, WAĀ ā find creative ways to fight back against detention centers in their communities. In Seattle,Ā Councilmember Alexis Mercedes RinckĀ led the effort to pass anĀ emergency, one-year banĀ on new ICE detention centers. This came right after King County ā led byĀ Councilmember Teresa MosquedaĀ āĀ passedĀ a similar emergency one-year moratorium. And this just scratches the surface, as countless otherĀ local leaders continue doubling down to keep our neighbors safe.
šļøĀ Affordable Homes, Stable Communities: Our 2026 Housing Convening in Seattle
At the end of March, we held our first Housing Convening in four years:Ā Affordable Homes, Stable Communities!Ā More than 70 elected officials and staff gathered in Seattle for two days to talk about how to fund and preserve affordable housing, organize alongside tenant unions, and explore publicly-owned options! We also had the chance to explore the city, talking with El Centro de la Raza and Seattle Chinatown Int’l. Dist. Preservation and Development Authority about their efforts to preserve affordable housing for their communities. Weāre grateful for the leadership of our WA members āĀ Local Progress Board Member and King County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda, Seattle City Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck, and Mayor of Seattle Katie WilsonĀ ā who helped make this gathering a thoughtful, collaborative, and energizing space. The strength of Local Progress is when our members can come together to learn from one another and build relationships with each other.Ā
Ā
š£ Comms Cohort 2026
Thatās a wrap on another comms cohort! Earlier this month, we brought 15 LP members to Washington D.C. as the grand finale to ourĀ second-ever Communications Cohort. Since January of this year, this amazing group of members has come together almost every week on Zoom to learn from LPās comms team how to become better communicators. From learning how to develop better press relationships to best practices for short-form video content, we did a deep dive for our membership on everything they need to know to be successful communicators in 2026. In D.C., we took all the lessons learned virtually and saw real-life professional communicators put them into practice. From visiting with local NPR journalists to meeting Communications staffers on the Hill, the threads of our lessons were interwoven into every sit visit and important moment during our time in the nationās capital.
ā” 2026 National Convening: Fearless Leadership * Joyful Liberation
Registration closes on May 20 for the National Convening this summer in Baltimore! Join us July 9-11 to strategize with a community of values-aligned peers and partners. Our three days together will include welcome and keynote plenaries, welcome orientations for new members, site visits, strategy sessions, receptions, and more! Most importantly, the Convening is a chance to be in and build community with each other. See whatĀ Local Progress members had to sayĀ about why they enjoy the National Convening, and check your email for your personalized registration link!Ā
Ā
š¤ Data Centers 101 Webinar
Big Techās push to consolidate control over our economy and public infrastructure is one of the most consequential corporate power grabs of our time ā and data centers are at the center of it. On Thursday, April 23, nearly 100 Local Progress members gathered for our first-everĀ Data Centers 101 webinar. Members and partners from across the network gathered to learn more about this billionaire-led buildout and what local leaders can do to stop this big tech takeover. In addition to learning from issue experts from our friends atĀ AI NowĀ andĀ LPMI Member Amber Fellows, who is helping to lead the fight against a Department of Defense-led project in her hometown, we previewed an upcoming resource that will cover everything local officials need to know to take on a data center in their own backyard. While we finish that up, if youāre a local elected official looking to learn more about data centers and the authority you have to stop their expansion, check out our handy one-pagers below.Ā
Ā
š£ NEWLY UPDATED: Immigrant Justice Messaging & Narrative GuideĀ
Since taking office, Trump and his billionaire allies have waged war on all of us ā militarizing our cities, abducting our neighbors, and stripping us of our freedoms ā but no one has been more targeted and scapegoated than our immigrant family members and neighbors. To win the narrative, we all need to document the Trump Administrationās horrific actions, counter their lies and misinformation, AND collectively demand our vision for a better future. Check out our newly updatedĀ Immigrant Justice Messaging & Narrative GuideĀ for situational messaging guidance, best practices, tough Q&A, and more!Ā
Ā
š How to Start a Municipal Grocery Store: First Steps Local Leaders Can Take
As grocery prices rise, municipal grocery stores may be one solution to stabilizing the cost of putting food on the table. OurĀ new policy bulletinĀ breaks down the grocery affordability crisis and how localities can explore municipal grocery programs with existing and emerging models as well as practical steps to begin introducing them in your own neighborhoods. Check out (pun intended) ourĀ new resourceĀ today!