By Mary Carr Lee, Mayors Innovation Project During her two terms in office, Mayor Katjana Ballantyne helped steer Somerville through rapid change while keeping equity and inclusion at the center of city decision making. Drawing …
Month: January 2026
A Legacy of Place-Making: Outgoing Blacksburg Mayor Reflects on Growth, Sustainability, and Quality of Life
By Mary Carr Lee, Mayors Innovation Project As Leslie Hager-Smith’s tenure as Mayor of Blacksburg winds down, she leaves behind a town that feels both fundamentally transformed and fiercely protected. After eight years of public …