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City-Led Response: Mayoral Leadership, Strategic Communications and Key Decision Points for Healing and Long-Term Social Cohesion

Publication Date:

18/04/2024

Content Type:

Event Reports

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City-Led Actioncity-led responseMayoral LeadershipNational League of CitiesSocial CohesionStrategic Communications

Event Report

— 4 minutes reading time

Event Details

Description: To inaugurate their strategic partnership, the Strong Cities Network and the National League of Cities (NLC) co-hosted a webinar on ‘City-Led Response: Mayoral Leadership, Strategic Communications and Key Decision Points for Healing and Long-Term Social Cohesion.’ The event focused on how mayoral leadership in the aftermath of a hate- or extremism-motived incident – and in the longer term – can support resilience and strengthen social cohesion. The executive directors of Strong Cities and the NLC joined Mayor Tim Kelly of Chattanooga (Tennessee), Deputy Mayor Erin Bromaghim of Los Angeles (California) and Deputy Mayor Lakeesha Eure of Newark (New Jersey) to discuss their experiences and how local leaders can most effectively prepare their cities and communities of such incidents and then effectively manage the response in the wake of such tragedy. Speakers shared insights on how hate and extremism, particularly aimed at historically marginalised communities, are affecting their cities as well as strategies and examples for laying the proper groundwork for ensuring social cohesion in advance of, and following, such incidents. 

Where & When: 27 March 2024, virtual

Cities Represented:

• Chattanooga (Tennessee)  
• Los Angeles (California)
• Newark (New Jersey)

Key Takeaways

For Mayors & Cities:

• When hate and extremism-motivated incidents occur, it is cities that are most impacted. Though federal and state authorities are usually the ones mandated with immediate post-incident response, it is local communities within cities that are most impacted by such incidents. Therefore, mayors and other elected local leaders and local government leaders have a central role to play in maintaining cohesion within and among communities in their city, both before any crisis as well as to support recovery over the long-term, well after the attention of federal and state authorities has moved on to another crisis. 
• The threat is real and so preparation and coordination are key. Given rising levels of hate and even threats against government officials themselves, local leaders should ensure that all building blocks are in place to mitigate the risk of a crisis in their cities when an incident occurs. To do this, city leaders need to “lock arms” with others in coordination. This includes making sure that all local government agencies in their cities are prepared and that the crisis response and management mechanisms and plans to enable effective coordination with other relevant stakeholders (whether federal, state, county, or other local governments within the county) are in place.  
• Communication from local leadership and providing outlets for communities to raise their voice and be heard are essential. Mayors and other city leaders need to reach out to their communities through multiple channels to ensure that all residents are reached, including those from historically marginalised neighbourhoods and non-English speaking populations. Conversely, local governments should provide community members with spaces to share their concerns. Community organisations, ‘aggregators’ and ‘people’s assemblies’ can play a key role in ensuring that local leaders hear from all communities across the city. 
• Local leaders should appreciate how communities understand their own sense of safety and address their needs and priorities. A ‘public health’-informed approach allows cities to address the drivers of violence and other public safety issues (e.g., homelessness) by addressing root causes, such as mental health, trauma and socio-economic circumstances unique to each individual. Investing in community wellbeing and relieving chronic societal stresses helps prevent incidents from the outset and helps communities feel safe according to their own needs. 
• Local leaders should bring residents together in a shared community and stand up for that community and its values. Reinforcing to residents that they are all members of a shared, singular city community is essential, especially in polarising times. And when outsiders attempt to demonise specific communities or demean a city’s values, it is up to mayors and other city leaders to stand up on behalf of those being targeted and uphold those values, even in the face of political pressure. 

Next Steps

• This webinar was the inaugural event of the new strategic partnership between the Strong Cities Network and the National League of Cities. The partnership is aimed at supporting cities and local governments to tackle rising hate, extremism and polarisation with new key resources and member networks of cities – including those across the globe – facing similar struggles. Information on future programmes and activities will be forthcoming. 

Additional Resources

• A Guide for City-Led Response, Strong Cities Network (March 2024) 
• Responding to a Terror Attack: A Strong Cities Toolkit, Strong Cities Network (January 2020) 
• A Guide for Cities: Preventing Hate, Extremism & Polarisation, Strong Cities Network (September 2023) 
• A Guide for Mayors: Preventing and Responding to Hate, Extremism and Polarisation, Strong Cities Network (September 2023) 
• Preventing and Responding to Election Disruption and Violence: Ten Considerations for Cities, Strong Cities Network (March 2024) 
• Navigating Local Impacts of Global Crises: Ten Considerations for Mayors and Cities – Lessons from the Israel-Gaza Crisis, Strong Cities Network (December 2023) 

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