Our policy research is informed by our commitment to policies that promote equity, sustainability, and efficient democratic government. We focus on concrete, implementable recommendations for mayors and city leaders.
By Topic
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Under Pressure: How the Unique Challenges Faced by Women Mayors Undermine Democratic Governance. Mayors Innovation Project.This report, produced by the Mayors Innovation Project’s Women Mayors Network, explores the unique challenges faced by women mayors across the United States through a national survey and in-depth interviews. The findings reveal that women mayors reported more frequent and severe harassment than their male counterparts, both during campaigns and while in office. They also faced disproportionate criticism related to their appearance, competence, emotional state, and family responsibilities, often navigating a “double bind”—at times being perceived as too weak and at other times too strong. These experiences not only impact the personal well-being of women mayors but require them to devote extra time and energy refocusing attention to their work.
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Investing in Police-Community Relations to Advance Public Safety. Mayors Innovation Project.Ensuring public safety is the first task of government. But since our country’s founding, the behavior of police in carrying out this role has been a perennial point of debate, social contest, and often violence. In the wake of the widely publicized police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in 2020—and in response to years of frustration with the effectiveness of police, jails, and prisons in enhancing public safety—we look at the many ways cities across the country are rethinking how they allocate police resources to respond to crime.
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2024 Year In Review. Mayors Innovation Project.This publication highlights the key projects, innovative policies and programs, and meaningful partnerships that contributed to our progress in 2024. From panels on transformative placemaking and violence prevention to tours of Knoxville’s urban wilderness to researching the barriers mayors face while campaigning and governing—we’re proud of the impact we’ve made and grateful for all of the mayors, city staff, sponsors, and partners that have supported our work.
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Advancing Local Wealth and Opportunity: Key Takeaways from the MIP W25 Panel. Mayors Innovation Project.Wealth inequality in the United States has reached unprecedented levels, leaving millions of Americans struggling to achieve economic stability, much less access economic mobility. This article summarizes the strategies shared by panelists at our Winter 2025 Meeting that mayors can use to advance local wealth and opportunity for residents.
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Data, Financing, and Leadership Solutions for Flood Resilient Infrastructure. Mayors Innovation Project.Climate change continues to pose unprecedented challenges for cities, and the 2024 hurricane season reminded us that flood resilient infrastructure is critical—and increasingly complicated to fund, implement, and manage. This article is a summary of the data, financing, and leadership tools that mayors need to plan for and implement projects to help their cities withstand and recover quickly from floods.
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