
"I wrote this article on a flight from cold, snowy Washington, D.C., as I returned from the annual winter meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM), at which mayors representing cities with populations of 30,000 or more gather to learn new ideas and better solutions to address the challenges our cities face. Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft is the mayor of Alameda."
"We heard from mayors across the country whose cities have been thrown into chaos by the arrival of federal agents from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agencies whose actions are sowing fear, mistrust and, tragically, death among residents. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, a former middle school social studies teacher, told us, Our democracy is stronger because of protests, especially with what is happening now, recalling the words of Martin Luther King Jr.,"
"I hope no more of my fellow mayors find their cities in this administration's crosshairs. But for those who do, here is my advice: The best thing you can do is to build cities that work and love those streets and those citizens above any ideology. By bringing down violent crime, Minneapolis has been able to successfully push back against those who have tried to portray our city as a post-apocalyptic hellscape."
Mayors gathered at the U.S. Conference of Mayors winter meeting to share urban policy approaches and press public safety concerns. A delegation of Ukrainian mayors attended and received a standing ovation. Multiple cities reported chaos and community harm following operations by ICE and CBP, with officials describing fear, mistrust, and fatalities. Mayors emphasized the role of protests in democracy and urged strategies that reduce violent crime, build effective housing, and create cities that serve residents above ideology. Several mayors advised focusing on practical governance to counter negative narratives and protect communities.
Read at www.eastbaytimes.com
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