Our Blog + Latest News

▹ August 19, 2019

#LP2019: Our largest, most powerful convening yet

Last month, more than 250 local elected officials, community leaders, policy and labor partners from across the country gathered in Detroit for the largest, most diverse, and most powerful Local Progressconvening to date.

▹ July 26, 2019

Local Progress Conference Brings National Gathering of Municipal Progressive Officials to Detroit

July 26-27 Local Progress and People’s Convention will bring 1900 progressive activists to Detroit.

Immigrant Justice
▹ July 1, 2019

Hundreds of Elected Officials Condemn Trump’s Threat of Family Separation Raids, Urge Congress to Defund the Deportation Force

As their communities respond to Trump’s threats of ICE raids, local elected leaders across the country call on Congress to stop funding his family separation agenda.

Immigrant Justice
▹ June 27, 2019

50+ NC local elected officials support Governor’s veto of anti-immigrant bill

On June 24th, dozens of local elected officials across North Carolina sent Governor Roy Cooper a letter in support of him vetoing anti-immigrant legislation.

▹ April 10, 2019

The Minneapolis 2040 Story

Last year, Minneapolis did something historic. While it was years in the making, the current Council.

Economic Justice
▹ February 14, 2019

Local Elected Officials Call Amazon’s Decision a Victory Over Race-to-the-Bottom Development

In response to breaking news that Amazon will not locate its second headquarters in New York City.

Immigrant Justice
▹ February 5, 2019

Statement: Local Progress Condemns Trump’s State of the Union Remarks

In response to Donald Trump’s State of the Union address, Local Progress Director Sarah Johnson issued the following statement.

▹ January 29, 2019

Introducing the newest Local Progress board members

Our network keeps growing in diversity and strength and in turn so does the Local Progress board.

▹ January 15, 2019

Statement: New York Local Elected Officials Applaud Passage of Election Reforms

ALBANY, NEW YORK — Today, the New York State Legislature has taken a step forward to modernize

Economic Justice
▹ August 31, 2018

Local elected officials across Texas announce effort to raise wages to a $15 minimum

Public Safety
▹ August 23, 2018

Local Progress launches Reform/Transform policing toolkit

We hope that this toolkit will aid the courageous work of local elected officials—in close partnership with impacted community members..

Immigrant Justice
▹ July 18, 2018

Elected Officials From 20 States Join the Call to Abolish ICE

“The experiment that is ICE has failed, and must be ended as soon as possible,” more than 100 officials from 20 states wrote in a statement.

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:

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.

▹ June 3, 2025

Ivan Luevanos-Elms and Sarah Johnson: This Is What Authoritarian Intimidation Looks Like

In this op-ed, LP ED Ivan Luevanos-Elms and former LP ED Sarah Johnson make the case that Trump's attempts to bully and intimidate local leaders is yet another sign of growing authoritarianism.

▹ May 29, 2025

Report: How local governments can prioritize responsible AI adoption

Earlier this month, OpenAI & Microsoft lobbyists called for a shutdown on AI regulation. Our new report details the harmful impacts of unrestricted AI on our communities and what local governments can do.

press Releases

Housing
▹ May 16, 2025

LP Members & Union Leaders Call To Overturn WPA Veto

Municipal Officials join labor leaders to call out the Governor for rejecting this Common-Sense legislation

Public Safety
▹ May 9, 2025

Statement: National Network of Local Officials Denounce Unjustified Arrest of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka

In response to the reported arrest and subsequent release of Newark Mayor and Local Progress member Ras Baraka, Essex County Commissioner and Local Progress Board Member A’Dorian Murray-Thomas released the following statement.

Public Safety
▹ May 8, 2025

Statement: Amid Federal Threats, Local Leaders Stand Strong for True Civil Rights

In response to the Trump Administration’s so-called “civil rights” investigation into Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty’s Office, Local Progress released this statement.

Housing
▹ December 10, 2024

Road To Good Cause Campaign Scores 11 Victories Across Upstate New York

The coordinated campaign of local officials expand critical renter protections to thousands of tenants, setting their sights on Rochester next.

Economic Justice
▹ September 2, 2024

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.