October 1, 2025

📬 LP Network Download | Fighting back against federal threats, big tech, and corporate greed | September 2025

Take Action: Stop Gutting Essential Services

A federal shutdown is imminent, with the government set to run out of funding on October 1, as a result of the Trump Administration’s refusal to support funding that would keep healthcare costs down for working families. Because of its cruelty, the government will remain shut down until a bipartisan agreement can be reached, furloughing millions of federal workers, while ICE enforcement and federal deployments continue. This will likely be used as an excuse to fire federal employees across the country. Take action for federal workers, immigrants, and communities across the country!

Here’s a look at what’s been happening across the Local Progress network:

This is What Local Leadership Looks Like

Even in the midst of federal overreach and power grabs, families being torn apart, and workers exploited, our local leaders are showing us how to show up, speak out, organize, and govern for all people. In Washington, D.C., the Attorney General is suing to block the unlawful deployment of National Guard troops. As the Trump Administration threatens to take over Chicago, local leaders are speaking up and bracing for expanded immigration enforcement. Portland, OR is taking steps to revoke an ICE facility’s land use permit after city officials uncovered 25 prolonged detentions. In Boston, MA, Mayor Michelle Wu responded to the Trump Administration by saying, “We affirm our support for each other and for our democracy. Boston will never back down from being a beacon of freedom, and a home for everyone.”

Looking for resources to stand against federal takeover threats? See our Policy Bulletin on Protecting First Amendment Rights to find best practices including developing clear, measured communications strategies and coordinating with municipal attorneys to challenge deployment in court. The Vera Institute of Justice’s messaging guide on federal overreach and the deployment of troops in cities emphasizes that these actions are a political power grab rather than a true safety strategy.

Localities are Fighting Back Against Big Tech

From stopping surveillance technology to banning data centers, local leaders are fighting back against big tech! Evanston, IL is the latest city to terminate its Automatic License Plate Reader (ALPR) contract, led by Local Progress members, Mayor Daniel Biss and Councilmember Juan Geracaris. Flock technology is a national network of ALPR cameras that take pictures of all passing cars and stores that information, including license plates and personal location data, in a database accessible to law enforcement agencies of all kinds. St. Charles, MO is the first community in the nation to enact a citywide ban on data center construction for one year. The unanimous vote was approved after city residents pushed back on the Project Cumulus data center earlier this summer.

Eleven Localities Ban Rental Price Fixing

King County, WA banned algorithmic rental price fixing, becoming the 11th locality to do so (and the most populous one so far)! LP Board member and King County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda said, “We don’t want there to be any technological tool that basically replaces dark, smoky backrooms where these deals are taking place.” As corporate landlords use algorithms to collude and hike up rents in our communities, banning this practice is just one way local electeds can protect renters in their jurisdiction from corporate greed. Learn more about the campaign →

🍎 LPNY Making Waves

This month, we kicked off the start of our Progressive Governance Lab (PGL) in New York City, gathering new and tenured council members to learn from one another. The NYC PGL will help ground our members in our shared purpose and learn how to govern in collaboration with grassroots movements. Then in Syracuse, the state organizing committee (OC) came together for our yearly retreat to discuss priorities for 2026. New York was hit hard by the cuts in the Big Ugly Bill and our chapter is laser focused on ensuring local officials’ voices are heard when budget decisions are being made.

🦅 West Pennsylvania Meet-Up

LPPA held a West Pennsylvania Meet-Up with more than 30 electeds and on-the-ground partners! Co-hosts Meadville Mayor Jaime Kinder and Allegheny County Executive Sara Innomorato shared with new members what LP means to them, and the impact we’ve had together in the state.

💗 Standing Up for Public Safety

Everyone deserves to feel and be safe – and localities across the country are building real safety by investing in their communities. Harris County, TX is growing their Holistic Assistance Response Team (HART), a community responder program that meets people in crisis with an emergency response that meets what they need in the moment. Commissioner Rodney Ellis said, “HART is getting people the help they need when they need it most, decreasing our jail population, helping clear court back logs and lessening the DA’s case logs, freeing up time for law enforcement and EMS for true public safety and medical emergencies which they are better equipped to handle.” In Minnesota, where we have seen too many lives lost to gun violence this year, local leaders are fighting to win control on gun policy. Nine mayors called on the state legislature to ban assault weapons, or repeal a law that prevents cities from regulating firearms at the local level.

💸 The Big Ugly Bill’s Fallouts for Local Governments

In the wake of the Big Ugly Bill, local leaders are working to fill the gaps of already strained budgets. LPCO leaders and Denver City Councilmembers Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez and Sarah Parady spoke about the fallout for Denver’s city budget. “If you were to ask either one of us or anyone who we work with in this building, what keeps us up at night, we would begin racking off a list for you of expenses and costs, and how we’re going to keep this city safe, secure, fed, sheltered, housed, given the impacts of this federal bill,” Parady said. “It is probably the number one thing weighing on me as a member of this council.” See our resources on what the Billionaire Tax Scam means for our communities →

📝 Share Your Thoughts in the Member Survey

There’s still time to take the Local Progress Member Survey! At the National Convening, over 150 members shared their thoughts about Local Progress, and we want yours too! The results will help inform our future work and priorities. As a thank you for taking the time to complete the survey we’re offering a $25 virtual Visa gift card or donation to the charity of your choice. Only Local Progress Alumni and Members are eligible for the survey.

🤝 Assemblies as a Tool for Just Democracy

Assemblies—gatherings where large numbers of people come together to deliberate and make collective decisions—are a powerful tool for democratic governance and movement-building. Our friends at Partners for Dignity and Rights recently released a report on Assemblies as a Tool for Just Democracy. Learn more about how different forms of assemblies are reshaping democratic governance, and see case studies of community organizations and government partners building assemblies on the ground.

🛑 Resources to Resist Data Centers in Your Community

Tech giants like Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and Meta have spent more than $100 billion on data center construction just this summer. Big Tech is marketing these projects as “progress,” but communities are getting shorted. MediaJustice’s new report, The People Say No: Resisting Data Centers in the South, reveals how tech corporations are quietly draining the South – economically and environmentally. Good Jobs First also published a guide for public officials and community members on What to Ask When a Data Center Wants to Come to Town on the most important questions to ask, long before approval.

🏀 Support the WNBA Union

As the popularity of women’s sports has grown, organizations like the WNBA have experienced record game attendance and a significant surge in profits. But while team owners and their corporate sponsors have seen their bottom lines grow, the players who are responsible for the league’s success haven’t seen any meaningful growth in their compensation. The WNBA’s Player Association (WNBPA) is negotiating with the league to ensure that players are fairly compensated for their success and paid at a comparable level to their male counterparts. Local Progress board member, New York City Council Member, and New York Liberty superfan Tiffany Cabán is organizing a nationwide sign-on letter to support the WNBPA in their bargaining efforts. Help us send a clear message to the WNBA: equal work demands equal pay!