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1、NLC STATE OF THE CITIES 2023 1STATE OF THE CITIESAbout the National League of Cities The National League of Cities(NLC)is the voice of Americas cities,towns and villages,representing more than 200 million people.NLC works to strengthen local leadership,influence federal policy and drive innovative s

2、olutions.About the Center for Research and DataNLCs Center for Research and Data provides research and analysis on key topics and trends important to cities,creative solutions to improve the quality of life in communities,inspiration and ideas for local officials to use in tackling tough issues.Auth

3、orsFarhad Omeyr,PhD,Program Director,Center for Research and Data,National League of Cities;Shuhan“Alice”Ai,Research Assistant,Center for Research and Data,National League of Cities.Acknowledgements The authors would like to thank Erica Grabowski,Program Manager,Research and Data,Ivonne Montes Diaz,

4、Sr.Research Specialist,Christine Baker-Smith,PhD,Director,Research and Data,and many others throughout NLC for their contributions to this report.CENTER FOR RESEARCH AND DATA 2023 National League of Cities.ContentsForeword.4Introduction.5Top Mayoral Priorities in 2023.6Infrastructure.10Budget&Manage

5、ment.16Public Safety.18Housing.24Economic Development.28Conclusion.32Appendices .34Appendix A:Methodology.34Appendix B:Mayors Priorities Over the Last Decade.36Appendix C:Learn more about our partners.37Endnotes.38ForewordOur nations local leaders showed incredible resilience and courage when the CO

6、VID-19 pandemic disrupted everything three years ago.The unprecedented federal support cities,towns and villages received from the American Rescue Plan Act(ARPA)and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law(BIL)continues to provide essential funding that goes directly to our communities and shape local lead

7、ers priorities.From this years State of the City addresses,it is clear that city leaders are using these funds wisely and effectively to make our cities,towns and villages more livable and fairer for everyone.In its 10th year,the 2023 State of the Cities report highlights the major issues facing mun

8、icipal governments across the country using various data sources.This years findings are consistent with previous ones with the support of federal funds,local leaders are eagerly continuing to work to improve their communities.This year,mayors have once again made it clear that infrastructure is a t

9、op priority,as they see a pressing need to upgrade roads and bridges,water systems and broadband access.With federal and state grant programs available in the BIL to fund these demands,municipal governments across the country have been applying for,receiving,and investing in these resources to fully

10、 bring their communities into the 21st century.Mayors are not only focused on rebuilding the physical infrastructure of their communities,but also on boosting their economic growth by investing in downtown development and revitalization projects.They are also working to strengthen relationships betw

11、een police and their communities while also focusing on improving municipal finances to sustainably hire and retain city employees.This years report shows that our cities,towns and villages are making strategic investments in programs and services that ensure that todays communities are places that

12、benefit all of their residents.We hope this years findings not only paint a clear picture of local leaders priorities today but can help inform their municipal strategies moving forward.CLARENCE E.ANTHONY CEO and Executive Director National League of CitiesNLC STATE OF THE CITIES 2023 5IntroductionI

13、n its 10th year,the State of the Cities report explores U.S.municipalities most urgent challenges and their leaders main objectives and strategies for improving the quality of life of their residents.To answer these questions,the authors examined data extracted from State of the City speeches given

14、by mayors from a sample of U.S.cities,census data on U.S.cities and sentiments of residents in cities across America.The five sections of the report focus on the top five themes that emerged from the annual mayoral speeches:Infrastructure,Budget/Management,Public Safety,Economic Development,and Hous

15、ing.For each theme,we provide an overview of the main topics discussed by the mayors,as well as some examples and statistics that illustrate their perspectives and challenges.Mayors have once again made it clear that infrastructure is a top priorityWA,United StatesNLC STATE OF THE CITIES 2023 6TOP M

16、AYORAL PRIORITIES IN 2023NLC STATE OF THE CITIES 2023 7Data collected from annual State of the City addresses show that infrastructure was the most dominant theme,taking up 32%of the total speech time,followed by Budget/Management with 17%,Public Safety at 12%,Economic Development with 11%,and Housi

17、ng with 8%.The remaining themes were Education,Health and Human Services,and Energy and Environment.The following sections will provide more details about the top five themes and their subthemes.Budgets and ManagementInfrastructurePublic SafetyHousingData and TechnologyEconomic DevelopmentHealth and

18、 Human ServicesEnergy and EnvironmentEducationMayoral Priorities in 2023See Appendix A for more detail.T O P M AYO R A L P R I O R I T I E SNLC STATE OF THE CITIES 2023 8Analyzing a sample of mayoral speeches from different cities across the United States,infrastructure issues accounted for almost a

19、 third of the total speech content.With infrastructure securing a top spot,the data shows that mayors are concerned about the quality and maintenance of public facilities and services,such as roads,bridges,water systems,and transportation networks.Another essential topic that mayors frequently discu

20、ss is budget and management issues,representing about 17%of the speech content.Mayors are challenged to balance their cities financial needs and priorities,especially in times of economic uncertainty or crisis.The importance of budget and management issues may also be related to the recent influx of

21、 federal funds through BIL1 and the American Rescue Plan Act2(ARPA).These dollars have created additional demands for fiscal accountability which mayors are directly addressing by prioritizing budget and management.Public safety is also common in mayoral speeches,occupying about 12%of the speech con

22、tent.Mayors address various aspects of public safety,such as crime prevention and reduction,police reform and accountability,emergency preparedness and response and fire protection.Mayors also consistently express their support and gratitude for public safety personnel who serve their communities.In

23、frastructure secured a top spot,showing that mayors are concerned about the quality and maintenance of public facilities and services,such as roads,bridges,water systems,and transportation networks.T O P M AYO R A L P R I O R I T I E SEmergency medical servicesNLC STATE OF THE CITIES 2023 9Other top

24、ics mentioned in speeches include economic development,health and human services,and housing issues.Economic development issues comprise about 11%of the speech content;mayors are focused on promoting job creation,business growth,innovation,and tourism in their cities.Health and human services issues

25、 account for about 9%of speech content,with mayors emphasizing the importance of providing residents with quality health care,education,social services,and recreation opportunities.Housing issues comprise about 8%of mayoral speeches;as mayors address the challenges of ensuring affordable,accessible,

26、and safe housing for all.Many of these issues have featured more prevalently in previous years.Over the last decade,infrastructure,economic development,budget and management,public safety and housing were among the top issues for cities nationwide(See Appendix B for more detail).In the remainder of

27、this report,the significant categories highlighted in mayoral speeches this year are discussed in more detail using a large sample of census data(See Appendix A for research methodology).The importance of budget and management issues may also be related to the recent influx of federal funds through

28、BIL and the American Rescue Plan Act(ARPA)T O P M AYO R A L P R I O R I T I E SPedestrians in New York,NYNLC STATE OF THE CITIES 2023 10INFRASTRUCTUREEI in Philadelphia,PANLC STATE OF THE CITIES 2023 11Infrastructure has remained a top priority for cities over the last few years.The U.S.economy reli

29、es on a vast network of roads and bridges,freight rail and ports,electrical grids and broadband networks.Many current systems were built decades ago;economists say that supply chain and construction delays combined with rising maintenance costs are holding economic performance back.3 Moreover,reside

30、nts are already experiencing what civil engineers have warned for years:many bridges are structurally deficient,4 water systems pose risks to public health,and levees are vulnerable to climate change.5 Investing in new infrastructure and adequately funding the maintenance of current infrastructure w

31、ould stimulate the economy,increase efficiency and reliability,lower transportation costs and create jobs.6 The deterioration of bridges,roads,tunnels,and railways has significant impacts on American cities.Given the current fiscal uncertainties facing cities,towns and villages across the country,fe

32、deral funding sources like BIL play a critical role in shaping the future of American infrastructure.With 140,000 miles of track in the U.S.crossing through thousands of cities,towns and villages,rail safety is a concern for residents in communities of all sizes.Every day in the U.S.,an average of t

33、hree trains derail,with as many as half potentially carrying hazardous substances.See our interactive map to learn more about rail safety where you live and connect with your legislators to advocate for rail safety:miles of track140KI N F R A S T R U C T U R EClick on image for interactive experienc

34、eNLC STATE OF THE CITIES 2023 12These vital transportation networks are essential for economic growth,social mobility,environmental sustainability,and public safety.Pavement and bridge conditions directly affect vehicle operating costs,with deteriorating pavement and bridge decks increasing vehicle

35、wear and tear.While there have been improvements in pavement and bridge conditions,to improve the nations infrastructure there is still work to be done.7 According to the American Society of Civil Engineers(ASCE),U.S.infrastructure received a grade of C-minus in 2020,with bridges and transit scoring

36、 even lower at D and D-minus,respectively.8Infrastructure Priorities in 2022I N F R A S T R U C T U R ENLC STATE OF THE CITIES 2023 13Investigating a sample of 395 cities,towns and villages,NLCs 2022 Municipal Infrastructure Conditions(MIC)report found that streets and roads are at the top of the in

37、frastructure priority list for municipalities,followed by water,sewer,reclamation systems,and power utility systems9.On the other hand,bridges,seem to be of medium priority for municipalities in the sample.City leaders nationwide are publicly stating the importance of infrastructure improvements in

38、their communities.In his 2023 annual State of the City address,Mayor Harold Weinbrecht of Cary,North Carolina,lists a several infrastructure projects,including widening roads,improving bike lanes and pedestrian facilities,installing bus stop security lighting,and building pedestrian bridges,among ot

39、her projects.Climate change poses a serious threat to the infrastructure of many American cities.Infrastructure is vital for the economic and social well-being of residents.Building climate-resilient infrastructure means designing and constructing assets and systems that can withstand and recover fr

40、om the impacts of extreme weather events,such as floods,storms,droughts,heat waves and wildfires.According to the United Nations,infrastructure is responsible for 88 percent of the forecasted costs of adapting to climate change.10 City leaders are at the forefront of the conversation,developing forw

41、ard-looking plans for a more climate-ready infrastructure.This work includes addressing infrastructure for water,sewer,transportation and the like.In Queen Creek,Arizona,Mayor Julia Wheatley highlighted several large-scale road improvement projects in her State of the City address,including construc

42、ting two new east-west connectors in the downtown area to create a“vibrant and walkable downtown.”I N F R A S T R U C T U R EStorm DrainNLC STATE OF THE CITIES 2023 14ARPA&INFRASTRUCTURE In her 2023 mayoral speech,Mayor Vivian Jones shared Wake Forest,North Carolina,used some of its ARPA allocations

43、 to address urgent stormwater projects,including Flaherty Park dam repairs and maintenance of the old water treatment plant,which will,in turn,enhance the citys parks and recreation programs by offering more recreational options at the reservoir.Hydroelectric power stationNLC STATE OF THE CITIES 202

44、3 15Other municipalities focus on infrastructure and maintenance projects for water,sewer and stormwater facilities.Without proper maintenance,sewer lines can deteriorate,leak,crack or clog,leading to costly repairs,environmental damage,health hazards and poor water quality.Failing water and sewer s

45、ystems in American cities seriously threaten economic development,public health and city budgets.11 Moreover,climate change exacerbates the problem by increasing the frequency and intensity of rainfall and flooding,which can overwhelm the sewage systems and cause sanitary-sewer overflows.12 In El Do

46、rado,Kansas,a recent water issue(where residents started to notice a change in the smell and color of the water in the city)is leaving residents without safe water for drinking and cooking.Residents have taken to social media to raise their concerns.13In her 2023 mayoral speech,Mayor Cassie Franklin

47、 of Everett,Washington,laid out plans for the city to“fully transition buildings away from fossil fuels when possible,prioritizing buildings that present the greatest opportunity for greenhouse gas reductions.”Kingston,New York,has taken a similar approach.Mayor Steve Noble highlights city plans to

48、solarize park facilities,including“a$3.25 million investment in heating,cooling,and energy efficiency upgrades to Andy Murphy Center and City Hall,divesting from fossil fuels.”The city also plans to launch Kingston Community Energy,advancing the city toward energy independence and resilience.Buildin

49、g climate-resilient infrastructure is not only a matter of safety but also of affordability.Research has shown that investing in resilience can save money in the long term by preventing or reducing repair costs and losses from service disruptions.14 Moreover,investing in climate-resilient infrastruc

50、ture can create jobs,stimulate innovation and center environmental justice by ensuring access to essential services for all communities.I N F R A S T R U C T U R ENLC STATE OF THE CITIES 2023 16BUDGET&MANAGEMENTU.S.Treasury Building,Washington DCNLC STATE OF THE CITIES 2023 17Although not likely15,t

51、he US economy is still facing the risk of recession due to a combination of factors,such as high inflation,tight monetary policy,and a credit crunch in the last year.Some cities may be more vulnerable than others to these shocks,depending on their economic structure,fiscal health,and policy response

52、s.A potential recession and elevated inflation16 can have significant impacts on American cities and their budgets.A recession may reduce the tax revenues of cities from income and sales taxes as unemployment rises and consumer spending falls17.Inflation may increase the costs of public services and

53、 pensions,as well as erode the purchasing power of residents18.Financial system lending has declined after several major banks failed earlier this year.Consumer spending,which has been the main driver of the economy,has slowed down in the face of higher prices and interest rates.Business investment

54、has also declined as firms face uncertainty and lower demand.Some economists expect the economy to contract as soon as the current quarter or the next one19.Therefore,cities need to prepare for the possibility of a recession and continued inflation by exploring other sources of revenue,adopting more

55、 conservative budgets,building up rainy-day funds,and diversifying their revenue sources.These concerns have led city leaders to focus on financial infrastructure and management as they look forward.For example,in the process of hiring a new city manager that shares his visions for the city,Mayor Ne

56、al E.McIntyre of Fernley,Nevada,mentioned in his 2023 mayoral speech that he“will not stop fighting for the citys fair share of C-tax.”20 He said that in moving forward,the city will make sure that the amount of C-tax generated by Fernley is calculated accurately by the state.Additionally,the mayor

57、noted the city is currently embarking on a revenue and expenditure study to understand the communitys needs and stabilize the citys budget.Cities need to prepare for the possibility of a recession and continued inflation by exploring other sources of revenue,adopting more conservative budgets,buildi

58、ng up rainy-day funds,and diversifying their revenue sources.B U D G E T&M A N AG E M E N TNLC STATE OF THE CITIES 2023 18PUBLIC SAFETYPolice Officers in Grand Central Terminal,NYNLC STATE OF THE CITIES 2023 19Public safety is a vital concern for all communities across the United States.Ensuring pub

59、lic safety in American cities is complex and multifaceted,involving various actors,institutions,and policies.One of the most pressing public safety issues is gun violence,which claims the lives of tens of thousands of Americans every year and disproportionately affects communities of color.In respon

60、se to these concerns,NLC created the Reimagining Public Safety Task Force to provide a space for local leaders to engage in dialogue and develop recommendations to help cities create a new vision for community safety.Figure 3(below)shows larger cities have higher violent crime rates than cities with

61、 smaller populations.The size of a municipality can also affect the management of public safety agencies,including law enforcement.Median Crime Rates By Size of City(2021)P U B L I C S A F E T YNLC STATE OF THE CITIES 2023 20A survey conducted by NLC among its members to understand how they govern p

62、ublic safety and law enforcement programs and their main concerns shows different levels of authority for rural,suburban and urban municipalities.Of the 202 responses from local officials,the majority indicated they have authority in approving the annual budget and hiring and termination of law enfo

63、rcement executives.while the minority have authority in establishing training standards and regulating use of force requirements.However,other governing functions,such as negotiating union contracts,regulating the use of force requirements,and establishing training standards,varied significantly dep

64、ending on whether the municipality is rural,suburban,or urban.21 Another public safety issue is police-community relations.According to data collected in 2022 from government social media and local media organizations,ZenCity found that most of the discourse about violence,crime,and general public s

65、afety is negative,indicating low satisfaction and trust among residents.22 Learn more about ZenCity in Appendix C.P U B L I C S A F E T YThis year,Tacoma,Washington,convened a gun violence reduction event on May 25th and 26th.In her 2023 mayoral address,Mayor Victoria Woodards highlighted the Togeth

66、er We End Gun Violence Conference where,the Alliance for Gun Responsibility,regional,and state partners“convene community members,national experts,and state,county,and city officials to identify and amplify community-led solutions to gun violence reduction in Washington State.”As NLC president,one o

67、f Mayor Woodards top priorities is to connect with subject matter experts from across the nation on violence intervention and learn about the resources and lessons that can enhance work in this space at the local level of governance.NLC STATE OF THE CITIES 2023 21Like Tacoma,Jamestown,New York,has i

68、nstituted several plans to increase general public safety,including hiring new officers,approval of gun task force officers,which aims to decrease the overall gun violence in the city,as well as appointing a“quality-of-life”officer whose main tasks will be dealing with nuisance complaints plaguing c

69、itizens,mentioned Mayor Eddie Sundquist in his 2023 mayoral speech.Many cities are implementing reforms to improve transparency,accountability,and trust between police and the communities they serve.Some of these reforms include creating civilian-led crisis response teams,investing in community-base

70、d violence prevention programs,establishing independent oversight bodies,and collaborating with peers and experts.23In his 2023 mayoral speech,Mayor Michael Boehm laid out Lenexa,Kansas Police Departments plan for improving police-community relationships.The mayor noted that the police department is

71、 taking a proactive approach to policing to deter crimes in the city.P U B L I C S A F E T YJamestown,NYNLC STATE OF THE CITIES 2023 22Port Jervis,New York,is taking a rather innovative approach to policing and community relations.In his 2023 mayoral address,Mayor Kelly B.Decker noted that in 2023 t

72、he police department will continue to reform and collaborate as part of its public relations endeavors.Additionally,the city continues implementing less lethal technologies,namely BolaWarp,a remote restraint device that discharges a cord that restraints and immobilizes a fleeing suspect,significantl

73、y decreasing the chances of lethal and fatal injuries.Another big issue for American cities,villages and towns is the retention and recruitment of a diverse public safety workforce,including police,as the municipal workforce sees increasing retirement rates and difficulty in recruitment.One way citi

74、es address this issue is by designing a user-centric process that provides one-on-one support,targeted assistance,and coaching for candidates from diverse backgrounds.Diversifying public safety personnel can reduce the dropout rate and increase the success rate of applicants who reflect the communit

75、ies they serve.Cities are addressing this issue by creating a culture of inclusion and respect within their law enforcement agencies.This can foster a sense of belonging and commitment among officers from different races,ethnicities,genders,sexual orientations,and other identities.By working on the

76、culture,local leaders can help improve the morale,performance,and retention of officers who can enhance trust and collaboration with the public.24,25NLC STATE OF THE CITIES 2023 23Related to the rebuilding of a public safety workforce is the public health and safety concerns related to the opioid an

77、d fentanyl epidemic.This epidemic directly impacts the public safety workforce as they are often first responders.The opioid and fentanyl epidemic has resulted in a surge in overdoses,deaths,and addiction among Americans of all backgrounds.Many cities struggle to cope with the demand for treatment a

78、nd prevention services,and the impact on public health and safety.Some of the solutions that cities are pursuing include expanding access to medication-assisted treatment,distributing naloxone to reverse overdoses,creating safe injection sites to reduce harm,and an expansion of the public safety wor

79、kforce to include crisis intervention experts.26NLC STATE OF THE CITIES 2023 24HOUSINGConstruction New York,NYNLC STATE OF THE CITIES 2023 25Homelessness and housing insecurity are among the top concerns for Americans today.Housing issues are a significant challenge for American cities today.The mos

80、t pressing problems include affordability,supply,homelessness,evictions and displacement.According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition,there is need for 6.8 million affordable rental homes for low-income renters in the U.S.27 According to the White House Council of Economic Advisers,the U.S

81、.housing market is experiencing a severe shortage of available and affordable units,contributing to rising rents and home prices,increased homelessness,and reduced economic mobility.28The extent of the housing supply gap is staggering.A report by Freddie Mac estimated that the U.S.needs about 3.8 mi

82、llion more housing units to meet the current demand 29,while another study by Fannie Mae projected a shortfall of 5.5 million units by 2030.30 Moreover,the supply shortage is not evenly distributed across regions and income groups.Research by the Pew Institute found that low-income households are mo

83、re likely to face housing cost burdens than higher-income households and that some metropolitan areas have much higher shares of cost-burdened renters and homeowners than others.31NLC is working in partnership with the American Planning Association on a national campaign,the Housing Supply Accelerat

84、or,that brings together local governments,community planners,builders,financial institutions,housing policy associations and state and federal partners to develop,align and advance solutions for housing supply challenges at the local level.H O U S I N GNew York,United StatesNLC STATE OF THE CITIES 2

85、023 26Figure 4 illustrates the median housing costs as a percentage of income in cities,villages and towns across the country.As the figure shows,the Northeast and West census regions have the highest costs associated with homeownership,18.3%and 18.4%,respectively.In contrast,the north central regio

86、n cities have the lowest costs associated with housing at 15.8%.The Northeast and West regions have higher population density,lower vacancy rates,and more restrictive land use regulations than the other regions,which limit the availability of new housing construction.32 Therefore,the imbalance betwe

87、en supply and demand drives up the housing prices in these regions,leading to higher housing costs(as a percentage of income),and lower housing affordability levels.Median Housing Costs As a Percentage(%)of IncomeIn Cities By Region(2021)South:16.2North Central:15.8Northeast:18.3West:18.4H O U S I N

88、 GNLC STATE OF THE CITIES 2023 27Boston,Massachusetts,is an example of a Northeast region city fighting against homelessness and seeking to improve housing affordability.Mayor Michelle Wu noted that the city will“deploy every tool,every strategy,and every resource to create more housing that residen

89、ts can actually afford.”Additionally,the mayor emphasized the need for the city to close the racial wealth gap by boosting homeownership and reducing homelessness.Other plans Mayor Wu discussed in her annual address include directing the bulk of federal recovery dollars to housing efforts,discussing

90、 a“Home Rule”33 status for rent stabilization with the city council to end rent gouging and protect families from eviction and displacement,as well as increasing mortgage assistance for residents.Kettering,Ohio,is another example of a city fighting homelessness.Mayor Peggy Lehner listed several hous

91、ing programs the city has in the pipeline.These plans include a 50-unit,$11.5 million apartment building opening in 2023,affordable housing for a general workforce(i.e.The Loft),and affordable housing for seniors aged 55 and older(i.e.The Senior Village).The mayor said that Ketterings Community Deve

92、lopment division will keep offering programs to help homeowners maintain quality housing and avoid foreclosure.San Diego,California,has both short-term and long-term plans to tackle homelessness problems in the city.Mayor Todd Gloria mentioned that in the short-term,the city has secured a motel“that

93、 will soon serve families experiencing homelessness.”In the long-term,Mayor Gloria also noted that the city would invest more in other affordable housing projects through his“Bridge to Home”initiative to provide“gap-financing”for home builders to facilitate and expedite the development process.In co

94、nclusion,cities across the country,both small and large,are investing in homelessness by providing short-term as well as more permanent housing solutions and support services to people experiencing homelessness.H O U S I N GNLC STATE OF THE CITIES 2023 28ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTDayton,OHNLC STATE OF THE

95、 CITIES 2023 29Economic development continues to be a major topic of discussion for mayors.It is a vital component of urban planning and policy-making.The economic development of cities across the United States is not uniform.Some cities thrive with high incomes,advanced infrastructure and diverse o

96、pportunities,while others struggle with low wages,poor services and limited prospects.Governments across America are also struggling to recruit and retain government employees34.Economic development indicators are myriad.Unemployment data can be a proxy to measure economic development reflecting the

97、 availability and quality of jobs in an economic region.A high unemployment rate indicates a lack of productive opportunities for the labor force,which can negatively affect the populations income,consumption and well-being.On the other hand,a low unemployment rate suggests a high demand for labor a

98、nd that workers can find jobs that match their skills and preferences.Therefore,unemployment data provides a picture of productivity,income and welfare.Median Unemployment Rates(%)in Cities By Region(2022)North Central:4.5Northeast:6.5South:4.6West:5.7E C O N O M I C D E V E L O P M E N TNLC STATE O

99、F THE CITIES 2023 30Using census data,Figure 5 compares the average unemployment rate in cities of different census regions.Municipalities in the Northeast and West census regions tend to have higher average unemployment rates.In contrast,cities located in the South and North Central regions seeming

100、ly have lower unemployment rates on average.35 These differences may affect the resilience of the regional economies to external shocks,such as the COVID-19 pandemic,inflation or a recession.The lower unemployment rates in the south and north-central regions may reflect their ability to adapt to cha

101、nging economic conditions.Another indicator of economic development is parks and recreation areas,which enhance residents quality of life and a citys economy.They help attract and retain businesses and workers for growth and competitiveness.Based on NLCs ARPA Investment Tracker,many(92)large cities

102、and consolidated city counties allocated nearly$496 million of their ARPA funds toward public spaces.These facilities can be a good proxy to measure economic development in a city because they can influence various aspects of economic performance,such as business attraction and retention,job creatio

103、n and income generation,innovation and entrepreneurship.Investing in park and recreation facilities and programs can be a wise strategy for fostering economic growth and competitiveness in a city.According to a study by the National Recreation and Park Association(NRPA)and George Mason Universitys C

104、enter for Regional Analysis,72%of communities use images of urban parks,public spaces,outdoor amenities,and recreational and cultural facilities in their economic development marketing materials36.These amenities can help create a positive image and reputation for a city,as well as increase the sati

105、sfaction and loyalty of existing residents and businesses.Additionally,they may serve as opportunities to creatively address environmental hazards and risks due to climate change by improving tree canopy cover.36%positive sentiment and dialogue around parks,community and urban agriculture found by Z

106、en City,using 2022 online data collected from city social media portals and local news agencies.E C O N O M I C D E V E L O P M E N TNLC STATE OF THE CITIES 2023 31Using census data,Figure 6 shows the percentage of a municipal jurisdiction covered by parks.As the figure indicates,larger cities in th

107、e sample tend to have higher percentages of their jurisdictions covered by parks and recreation areas.This may indicate higher levels of economic development in larger size municipalities because parks and recreation areas require land,resources,and maintenance that smaller municipalities may need h

108、elp to afford.Park Coverage by City Population(2018)E C O N O M I C D E V E L O P M E N TNLC STATE OF THE CITIES 2023 32CONCLUSIONFamily walking down Michigan Avenue in ChicagoNLC STATE OF THE CITIES 2023 33The State of the Cities report provides valuable insight into the current challenges and oppo

109、rtunities facing Americas cities,towns and villages,and their visions and plans for the future.By analyzing a wide range of data,including the annual speeches of mayors from different sizes of municipal governments and regions,this years report reveals the common themes and priorities that local lea

110、ders share,and the unique perspectives and solutions they bring to challenges.The report also highlights the importance of federal support and partnership for local governments,especially in times of crisis and recovery.The report shows how mayors address key issues with innovative and collaborative

111、 approaches,leveraging the unprecedented funding opportunities from the American Rescue Plan Act and the Infrastructure Investment&Jobs Act.We have also seen how mayors are striving to improve the quality of life and well-being of their residents,with a focus on equity,inclusion,and sustainability.T

112、he State of the Cities report shows that our local leaders are resilient,optimistic,and determined to rebuild their communities better than before.They are also eager to work with their federal counterparts to advance their shared goals and interests.NLC STATE OF THE CITIES 2023 34APPENDICES Appendi

113、x A:MethodologyThis report analyzed 37 mayoral speeches and utilized publicly available Census data from MySidewalk37.Findings offer insights into mayors priorities and regional variations.Additionally quantitative analysis explored indicators such as crime rate,unemployment rate,park coverage,cost

114、of living,and home affordability.Mayoral State of the City speeches:The 2023 State of the City report is based on a comprehensive content analysis of 37 mayoral speeches delivered between October 2022 and April 2023.38 These speeches represent cities of various population sizes and geographic region

115、s,providing a diverse sample for analysis.The dataset includes cities from four population categories,namely below 50K,50K-100K,100K-300K,and above 300K,as well as four geographic regions:Northeast,Midwest,South,and West.Qualitative content analysis identified plans,goals,and impacts for nine topics

116、.39 To conduct the analysis,the mayoral speeches were coded into nine predefined topics which encompassed various aspects of city governance and development including infrastructure,economic development,budgets and management,public safety,health and human services,housing,energy and environment,gov

117、ernment data and technology,and education.The coding approach focused on identifying statements regarding three key elements:specific plans,goals/objectives,or impacts for 2023 or the future.We excluded any content related to the mayors summary of past project accomplishments.Plans involve the mayor

118、s presenting a timeline,funding strategy,and overall roadmap for action regarding a particular topic.Objectives referred to the mayors long-term and/or short-term planning goals for the city,while impacts represented the anticipated effects of policies,projects,and development plans on the citys fut

119、ure.To quantify the emphasis placed on each topic,we calculated the word count for each topic as well as the total word count of the overall coded content in each speech within the remaining future-oriented text.We then determined the proportion of each topic by dividing its word count by the total

120、number of coded words.This approach enabled us to gauge the relative importance of each topic in the 2023 state of the city mayoral speeches.A higher percentage indicated a greater emphasis on the topic,suggesting that more plans,goals,and impacts were associated with it.Conversely,a lower percentag

121、e indicated less frequent mention of the topic.If a topic had a percentage of 0,it indicated that the mayor did not address any plans,goals,or impacts related to that topic in 2023.By employing this rigorous coding and analysis approach,we gained insights into the priorities and visions of mayors ac

122、ross different cities in 2023.The findings shed light on the topics that received greater attention and were deemed critical for the future development and well-being of these cities.Census data(provided by mySidewalk):Indicators from census data were chosen to capture key aspects of city conditions

123、 and provide a NLC STATE OF THE CITIES 2023 35comprehensive understanding of the selected areas and examined across population size and geographic regions.These datasets encompassed a range of relevant indicators,including violent and property crime rates,unemployment rates,percent area covered by p

124、arks,and median housing costs as a percentage of income.The analysis sought to identify any notable differences or commonalities between cities that could inform decision-making processes and city planning efforts.It is important to note that the studys methodology relied on the data provided by MyS

125、idewalk,which may have inherent limitations.These limitations could include potential data gaps,reliability of the data sources,and potential variations in data collection methodologies across different regions.It is also of note that the census data are drawn from different time periods due to avai

126、lability of data for various categories of indicators,in this analysis we use the most recent data for each topic available.Therefore,careful consideration of these factors is necessary when interpreting the findings.Community sentiment analysis(provided by ZenCity):The third set of data used allowe

127、d us to examine residents sentiments 40 toward key topics discussed in this report.We secured data from ZenCity on the following two topics:Public Safety and Economic Development during 2022 for 135 US cities.The variables used from the ZenCity database to account for the residents sentiment toward

128、Public Safety were“public violence and crime”and“general public safety”while the variables used to gauge sentiment towards Economic Development were“parks and community gardening”and“urban agriculture”.The data is collected from public forums like Citys social media pages or local news organizations

129、 and decode the interactions in these forums according to topic and sentiment(positive,negative,or neutral).ZenCity defines sentiment as a measure of resident satisfaction on topics related to their community.It is important to note that measuring sentiment has its limitations due to the subjective

130、element on the definition of sentiment.41Sample of Cities by population:For this report,we targeted all municipalities larger than 1000 in population.As shown in the table below,approximately half of all the governments were smaller than 1000 population.We did not include them in any of our analysis

131、 mostly due to lack of data availability.Appendix Table 1SAMPLE OF CITIES BY POPULATIONNLC STATE OF THE CITIES 2023 36Appendix B:Mayors Priorities Over the Last DecadeNLC has conducted the State of the Cities report for 10 years.In this figure we provide the priorities of mayors in our sample across

132、 the decade.Power BI DesktopRankings of Priorities 20152023NLC STATE OF THE CITIES 2023 37Appendix C:Learn more about our partnersMySidewalkAt mySidewalk,our mission is to democratize data storytelling and equip Changemakers like you with tools to build stronger communities.No matter which area you

133、work in or the kind of community you serve,mySidewalk has the most relevant data from trusted sources and the tools that make it easy for you to tell powerful stories about missions that matter most to your community.WhereHouse is the most complete,consistent and connected community data library on

134、the planet structured for search by who,what,when and where.Query from 4+billion data values spanning 40 years,450K geographies and 8K indicators that fit your compliance and regulatory environment.Learn more at myS.Learn more about mySidewalk here:ZenCity 360 The Platform for Community TrustIn the

135、creation of this report,Zencity proudly supported the National League of Cities by providing both resident sentiment analysis and national survey data.Sentiment Analysis was completed by Zencitys proprietary generative AI and Natural Language Processing(NLP)models designed to surface meaningful insi

136、ghts on civic issues from 135 communities.Zencity collected,sorted and anonymized the data from social media for these communities to recognize the main topics and assign positive/negative sentiment in the discussion prioritizing by volume of conversations.Zencitys National Survey digitally recruite

137、d 6,245 respondents to build a representative sample by matching respondent data to the U.S.Census Bureaus race,ethnicity,age,and gender distributions in each state.Rake-weighting was applied as a statistical safeguard to balance out any remaining discrepancies in distribution,so no demographic grou

138、p is overrepresented or underrepresented in the final scores.Learn more about Zencity here:NLC STATE OF THE CITIES 2023 38Endnotes1 The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law(BIL)is a legislation that authorizes funds for various infrastructure projects in the United States.It was passed by Congress on Novem

139、ber 6,2021,and signed into law by President Biden on November 15,2021.The BIL provides$550 billion in new federal investment over five years for roads,bridges,transit,water,broadband,resilience,and other sectors.It is the largest long-term investment in the nations infrastructure and economy in hist

140、ory.2 The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021(ARPA)is a US$1.9 trillion economic stimulus bill passed by the 117th United States Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden on March 11,2021.The bill provides additional relief to address the continued impact of COVID-19 on the economy,public hea

141、lth,state and local governments,individuals,and businesses.3 McBride,J.,&Siripurapu,A.(2021).The state of U.S.infrastructure.Council on Foreign Relations.https:/www.cfr.org/backgrounder/state-us-infrastructure4 The US Department of Transportation(USDOT)defines deficient bridges as follows:,“The clas

142、sification of a bridge as in poor condition or structurally deficient does not imply that the bridge is unsafe.Instead,the classification indicates the extent to which a bridge has deteriorated from its original condition when first built.A bridge with a classification of poor might experience reduc

143、ed performance in the form of lane closures or load limits.If a bridge inspection determines a bridge to be unsafe,it is closed.”Please see Report to Congress(C&P)-24th Edition(dot.gov)5 Rojas,R.(2021).Seven infrastructure problems in urgent need of fixing.The New York Times.https:/ McBride,J.,&Siri

144、purapu,A.(2021,November 8).The State of U.S.Infrastructure.Council on Foreign Relations.https:/www.cfr.org/backgrounder/state-us-infrastructure7 U.S.Department of Transportation,Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration.(2021).Status of the Nations Highways,Bridges,and Transi

145、t:Conditions&Performance Report to Congress,24th Edition.https:/doi.org/10.21949/1521794.8 ASCE.(2021).2021 Report Card for Americas Infrastructure.https:/infrastructurereportcard.org/9 As part of Municipal Infrastructure Conditions survey questionnaire,municipal finance officers were asked to rank

146、and prioritize their governments infrastructure priorities based on availability of budgets/funds,community needs,among other factors.10 UN News.(2022).Adapt and survive:5 ways to help countries cope with the climate crisis.Retrieved from https:/news.un.org/en/story/2022/10/112953211 WastewaterSCAN

147、team.(n.d.).Wastewater Monitoring:A Valuable Public Health Tool for City Leaders.National League of Cities.Retrieved May 17,2023,from https:/www.nlc.org/article/2023/04/27/wastewater-monitoring-a-valuable-public-health/12 Grist.(2022).Cities are investing billions in new sewage systems.Theyre alread

148、y obsolete.Retrieved from https:/grist.org/cities/cities-are-investing-billions-in-new-sewage-systems-theyre-already-obsolete/13 KWCH Staff.(2023,May 21).Homeowners in El Dorado are requesting help from the city after experiencing water issues.KWCH.Retrieved from https:/ ASCE News.(2022).How to make

149、 infrastructure more resilient against climate change.Retrieved from https:/www.asce.org/publications-and-news/civil-engineering-source/civil-engineering-magazine/issues/magazine-issue/article/2022/01/how-to-make-infrastructure-more-resilient-against-climate-change15 Bartash,J.(2023,June 6).The U.S.

150、isnt in a recession and it may not be headed for one.MarketWatch.https:/ The U.S.Bureau of Labor Statistics(BLS)Consumer Price Index(CPI)12-month change for selected categories(not seasonally adjusted)for April 2023 were respectively 4.9%and 7.7%for All Items and Food categories.See the full breakdo

151、wn here:CPI Home:U.S.Bureau of Labor Statistics(bls.gov)17 Fortune.(2022).Cities prepare for a recession that will bring in less tax revenue and smaller budgets.Retrieved from https:/ Volcker Alliance.(2022).Special briefing on inflation and recession risks for states and cities.Retrieved from https

152、:/www.volckeralliance.org/events/special-briefing-inflation-and-recession-risks-states-and-cities19 Firstpost.(2023).Explained:Why a recession is likely to hit the US.Retrieved from https:/ A C-Tax is a consolidated tax that is distributed among Nevadas municipalities based on six different taxes,in

153、cluding cigarette tax,liquor tax,real property transfer tax,and vehicle privilege tax.Fernley,NV,a city that incorporated in 2001,receives a very low share of the C-Tax revenues compared to other cities in the state.According to Goodman(2015),Fernley receives only$144,000 out of a total fund of$1.28

154、8 billion,which is equivalent to$7 per resident.This amount is insufficient to support the citys infrastructure and growth needs.References:Goodman,L.(2015,April 28).Fernley group addresses C-Tax inequity.Reno Gazette Journal.Retrieved from https:/ STATE OF THE CITIES 2023 3921 Ors,Y.(n.d.).NLC Memb

155、er Survey:Governing Local Public Safety and Law Enforcement Programs.National League of Cities.Retrieved May 17,2023,from https:/www.nlc.org/article/2022/02/16/nlc-member-survey-governing-local-public-safety-and-law-enforcement-programs/22 Data collected by ZenCity in 2022 shows 7%positive and 21%ne

156、gative sentiment for”Violence and Crime”category;and 7%positive and 18%negative sentiment for”Public Safety”category.23 National League of Cities.(2021).Reimagining public safety:A toolkit for cities and towns.https:/www.nlc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Reimagining-Public-Safety-Toolkit.pdf24 Poli

157、ce1.(2021).Building a diverse workforce in law enforcement.Retrieved from https:/ EEOC.(2016).Advancing diversity in law enforcement.Retrieved from https:/www.eeoc.gov/advancing-diversity-law-enforcement26 National League of Cities.(2020).Public Safety A Reflection on the State of the Cities.https:/

158、www.nlc.org/article/2020/10/05/public-safety-a-reflection-on-the-state-of-the-cities/27 National Low Income Housing Coalition.(2021).The gap:A shortage of affordable homes.https:/reports.nlihc.org/gap28 White House Council of Economic Advisers.(2021).Alleviating supply constraints in the housing mar

159、ket.https:/www.whitehouse.gov/cea/written-materials/2021/09/01/alleviating-supply-constraints-in-the-housing-market/29 Freddie Mac.(2021).The major challenge of inadequate U.S.housing supply.https:/ Fannie Mae.(2021).Americas housing shortage:Measuring the magnitude of the problem and its economic i

160、mpact.https:/ Pew Research Center.(2022).Key facts about housing affordability in the U.S.https:/www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2022/03/23/key-facts-about-housing-affordability-in-the-u-s/32 Glaeser,E.L.,&Gyourko,J.(2018).The economic implications of housing supply.Journal of Economic Perspectives,

161、32(1),3-30.33 To learn more about Home rule municipal status,please see NLCs Principles of Home Rule for the 21st Century”report located at https:/www.nlc.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Home-Rule-Principles-ReportWEB-2-1.pdf34 National League of Cities.(2021).The municipal workforce through the pand

162、emic:Where are we now?https:/www.nlc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/NLC-Municipal-Workforce-Through-the-Pandemic-Where-Are-We-Now.pdf35 Bureau of Economic Analysis.(2020).Gross domestic product by state(Third quarter 2020).https:/www.bea.gov/news/2020/gross-domestic-product-state-third-quarter-20203

163、6 Clower,T.,&White,M.(2018).Promoting parks and recreations role in economic development.National Recreation and Park Association.https:/www.nrpa.org/publications-research/research-papers/promoting-parks-and-recreations-role-in-economic-development/37 MySidewalk is a powerful software platform which

164、 merges,synthesizes and makes it easy to access many data sets including those that are available through the US Census,Department of Transportation and other sources.The benefit of using MySidewalk data is that the data from disparate sources has been matched by geography and across time,substantia

165、lly cutting down on the preparation and cleaning necessary for analysis.”38 The mayoral speeches were collected from the“Sate of the City Address”speech that each mayor presented.39 The nine topics for the quantitative analysis are:city governance and development(including infrastructure),economic d

166、evelopment,budgets and management,public safety,health and human services,housing,energy and environment,government data and technology,and education.40 ZenCity is a platform that collects and analyzes the sentiments of the residents so the government officials can identify priorities and make decis

167、ions based on the voices of their residents.The data is collected from public forums like Citys social media pages or local news organizations and decode the interactions in these forums according to topic and sentiment(positive,negative,or neutral).ZenCity defines“sentiment”as a measure of satisfac

168、tion from the residents regarding topics related to their community(public safety,for example).41 To know more regarding the work of ZenCity please review Appendix C.NLC STATE OF THE CITIES 2023 40NOT AN NLC MEMBER?Join today.NLC is the leading resource for local leaders,advocating relentlessly for Americas cities,towns,and villages and delivering best practices to build thriving communities.Join at www.nlc.org/membership