All Publications

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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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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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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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.

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.

High-speed internet is a necessity in everyday life for all Americans, yet many across the country lack access to affordable, reliable internet service. Less than fifty percent of Americans have access to fiber-optic broadband, the fastest and most reliable form of connection. This article shares the innovative measures cities have used to bring broadband to their communities.

Across the country, workers in many industries face wage theft in one form or another. When looking towards accountability, agencies at all levels are often impeded by state-level preemptive laws that prevent local governments from enacting ordinances that would guarantee fair labor practices and access to secure wages. Though many cities face this barrier, there are still a number of effective strategies that local leaders can implement to combat wage theft.

As President Trump’s deportation plans begin to take shape, refugee and immigrant communities across the country face fear and uncertainty. This article shares five timely recommendations for what cities and local leaders can do to dispel fear and promote a culture of welcoming.

In celebration of National Welcoming Week, a time to celebrate the diversity of communities and commit to making cities safe, welcoming, and inclusive places where everyone has the opportunity to thrive, this article provides best practices for local governments to support and protect immigrant communities.

Child care in America has long had issues as costs are steep for providers and parents. In most US states, child care costs exceed the cost of college tuition. This article shares how cities and local governments are implementing innovative ways to make child care more affordable and accessible.