Our Blog + Latest News

Public Safety
▹ October 18, 2022

New Tool Helps Local Electeds Create Community Responder Programs

The new resource - titled Reform/Transform: Creating a Community Responder Program - will support local elected officials in their efforts to create and expand non-police community responder programs.

Immigrant Justice
▹ October 17, 2022

LPTX Chapter Manager Witnesses Dehumanizing ‘Operation Lone Star’ at Texas-Mexico Border

Last week, Local Progress Texas Chapter Manager, Kara Sheehan, spent two days at the Texas-Mexico border to witness Operation Lone Star (OLS) firsthand. Here are her reflections.

Abortion & Reproductive Rights, Economic Justice, Immigrant Justice
▹ October 14, 2022

LPTX Fall State Download 🍂 | Budget roundup, witnessing Operation Lone Star, & more!

Here's some of the latest news and exciting updates from our Texas chapter.

Economic Justice
▹ October 13, 2022

Huge Policy Wins for Texas Workers This Year

2022 has been a big year for Texas workers. From guaranteeing paid family leave and raising minimum wages for public employees to setting construction standards and supporting workplace organizing, localities across Texas have taken important steps to advance pro-worker policies.

▹ October 12, 2022

October Federal Advocacy Roundup

August has been a busy time for the federal government! The big news, of course, is the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which passed last week on August 16.

▹ October 11, 2022

We’re hiring a Membership Organizer

The Membership Organizer will be responsible for organizing in non-staffed states, particularly in rural and small localities, supporting caucus formation and preemption programming, and co-leading the planning and execution of the LP annual National Convening.

▹ October 3, 2022

The Network Download: Migrant crisis response, HB1 update and more | Oct 2022

Here’s a look at some of what’s happening across the Local Progress network.

Housing, Public Safety
▹ September 29, 2022

LP Members Discuss Innovative Policy Making at Route Fifty Future Cities Summit

As part of this year’s Route Fifty Future Cities Summit, two Local Progress members participated in panel discussions exploring what the future of cities could look like with innovative, equitable policy making.

Economic Justice
▹ September 28, 2022

Workers’ Rights Local Government Round Up | Sept 2022

We have partnered with the Harvard Labor & Worklife Program to pilot this approximately monthly newsletter to share and celebrate innovative local workers’ rights policies that have been proposed and/or enacted across the country—and have included links to those policies where possible.

Home Rule
▹ September 20, 2022

Lawsuit against anti-riot bill’s ‘defund the police’ provision advances

Five of the eight cities that filed complaints were OK’d to make their case. A Tallahassee circuit judge is letting a lawsuit against the “defund the police” provision in Florida’s anti-riot law move forward.

Home Rule
▹ September 20, 2022

Localities Stand up for Local Control as HB 1 is Challenged in Court

Today, over a year of organizing and community support comes to fruition, as the case will be heard by a court for the first time. The eight city plaintiffs are: Gainesville, Lake Worth Beach, Lauderhill, Miramar, North Miami, North Miami Beach, Tallahassee, and Wilton Manors.

▹ September 2, 2022

The Network Download: Abortion rights, worker protections, and more. | Sept 2022

Here’s a look at some of what’s happening across the Local Progress network this month.

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:

Economic Justice, Housing, Immigrant Justice
▹ February 9, 2026

The World Cup Is Coming. Our Cities Must Protect Their People.

Op-ed: As elected officials from U.S. host cities, we know that local governments are the last line of defense against human rights abuses during the FIFA World Cup.

▹ July 28, 2025

Greg Casar Is Organizing to Win

A must-read feature of former LP Co-Chair and now Congressman Greg Casar.

Housing
▹ July 22, 2025

Multiple Cities Across the Country Are Resisting Rent Algorithms

Hoboken and Jersey city are two of the latest localities to join the nationwide movement to tackle corporate greed in the rental market and ban algorithmic rental price fixing.

Public Safety
▹ June 24, 2025

This Organization Proved There Was an Alternative to the Police. Now It’s Being Defunded.

Portland, OR proved what we all know to be true: we keep us safe. LP's Reynold Graham talks to The Nation about Portland's program.

press Releases

▹ October 28, 2026

Statement: Local Progress Mourns the Passing of Civil Rights Giant, Dolores Huerta

▹ October 6, 2026

Statement: Local Leaders Stand with Jane Doe

Immigrant Justice
▹ June 30, 2026

Statement: Local Leaders Applaud Decision to Affirm Birthright Citizenship in the United States

▹ June 3, 2026

Our Communities, Our World Cup

▹ April 22, 2026

Statement: Local Progress responds to Department of Justice Charges Against Southern Poverty Law Center