Our Blog + Latest News
Screenshot of Joshua Simmons speaking during a virtual press briefing

As Florida State Legislature Attempts to Silence Local Governments, Local Leaders Speak Out

Five local leaders, and Local Progress Florida members, representing communities across Florida spoke up this morning and shared how attacks on local control would impact their communities.
Community groups, local electeds, faith leaders, and labor partners standing in solidarity against HB 2127 with signs.

📬 The Network Download | Fighting abusive state interference, piloting guaranteed income programs, digging into climate policy and more | March 2023

Check out what our network has been up to this month!
An arial view of the capitol in Austin, Texas

Local Democracy in Texas is Endangered

Former Mayor of Prairie View, Texas Brian Rowland makes the case for local control in Texas.
LPFL members and staff posing for a photo in front of the old capitol in Tallahassee.

LPFL State Download 🔥 Lobby days in Tallahassee, HB 5 amicus brief, & courageous governance | Mar 2023

2023 legislative session is off to a rocky start. The needs of Floridians are being ignored. Our LPFL state chapter is fighting back. Join us.

Introducing Workers Rights: A Deeper Dive

To dive deeper into the full array of policies advancing workers’ rights, we are introducing a new series for Local Progress members and staff — Workers’ Rights: The Deeper Dive.

Building Our Collective Power | Leadership Collaborative 2023

At Local Progress, we understand that we are all stronger when we collectively organize as local electeds across the country and in deep partnership with grassroots allies towards a shared vision. The Leadership Collaborative is how we deepen that work.
Community groups, local electeds, faith leaders, and labor partners standing in solidarity against HB 2127 with signs.

Texas Local Electeds Sound Alarm on Harmful Preemption Bill

Alongside community organizations, faith leaders, and labor unions, Local Progress Texas (LPTX) members from across the state are speaking out against HB 2127, a wide-reaching preemption bill that would strip local governments of this basic right.
LPTX members and partners posing together in front of a mural in El Paso, Texas.

LPTX State Download 🌷 | Legislative round-up & more! | March 2023

Here's some of the latest news and exciting updates from our Texas chapter.
photo of environmental workers cleaning up the site of the train derailment in East Palestine

Federal Advocacy Roundup | March 2023

Though Congress has been quieter this month after their turbulent January, there’s never a quiet month in Washington D.C. February’s developments have put a bright spotlight on the actions—and inaction—of federal agencies. Here's our analysis.

As local laws fall, NY leaders call for statewide ‘good cause’ eviction legislation

In a letter to state leaders shared exclusively with City & State, dozens of local leaders pushed for the tenant protections.
LPMN Organizing Committee posing in front of a LPMN sign.

LPMN State Download 🌸 | Legislative action, state meeting & more! | March 2023

Here's some of the latest news and exciting updates from our Minnesota chapter.
Two large homes on the water in Florida.

Florida Senate unanimously approves $700 million plan to address affordable housing

A group called the Local Progress Impact Lab released a survey of 1,250 registered voters in Florida conducted by the African-American Research Collaborative on Wednesday that showed that 81% of those surveyed either strongly or somewhat agreed that the state should limit rent increases.

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:

Courtesy of Open Arms of Minnesota| Open Arms delivers free medically tailored meals to critically ill Minnesotans and their loved ones—and that’s just one of the almost 70 orgs here that can use your support.

Mad? Sad? Motivated? 60+ MN Orgs Working to Make the Next 4 Years (and Then Some) Suck Less.

Check out LPMN's feature in this sprawling list of organizations, groups, and collectives who are determined, political headwinds be damned, to make Minnesota a better place.
Photograph of a person walking in front a sign that says "APARTMENT FOR RENT STUDIO: Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Big Cities Take Up Fight Against Algorithm-Based Rents

The federal government’s price-fixing lawsuit against rental-software firm RealPage could take years to resolve. Rather than wait, some cities and states are already cracking down on the company.
Image of a police car driving (retrieved from the Fayetteville Observer)

Do Fayetteville, NC police stop more Black drivers?

LP's former Legal Fellow Kat Kerwin and LPNC's Mario Benavente weigh in on the importance of reducing pretextual stops.
The Philadelphia City Council Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development, and Homelessness hearing testimony in chambers.

Council Committee Advances Landlord Anti-Collusion Bill

The Philadelphia City Council advanced a bill introduced by LPPA member Councilmember Nicholas O’Rourke that would ban price-fixing by landlords.

press Releases

NEW REPORT: How Local Government Can Stand Up for Workers When States Try to Stand in Their Way

This new report for Labor Day 2024 highlights ways local elected officials can advance workers rights even when facing both hostile state preemption and federal labor law preemption.

How Localities Use Community Responder Programs to Keep People Safe

This new video from Local Progress and Local Progress Impact Lab focuses on three specific localities: Durham, Oakland, and Albuquerque to explain what community responder programs are, how they work, and why hundreds of localities are starting to adopt them.

After Grants Pass: organizing to house all our neighbors

In response to the Supreme Court's cruel decision in Grants Pass v. Johnson, we will continue to organize for housing for all.

Local Progress Condemns Cruel Supreme Court Decision in Grants Pass v. Johnson

In response to the Supreme Court’s decision in Grants Pass v. Johnson, Local Progress put out the following statement.

180+ State and Local Elected Officials Urge Congress to Reject the EATS Act

LP and the State Innovation Exchange (SiX) released letters calling on Congress to protect local and state governments ability to create policy that is responsive to the issues their own communities face in the agricultural industry.