I’ve been in office for a little over a month & every week or so I hold a virtual roundtable with a different group. Two weeks ago, for instance, I met with a group of mayors from small cities. One was Mayor Nic Hunter of Lake Charles, Louisiana...
When someone inevitably writes the book of what it was like to live through the past year, they might want to begin the story in Lake Charles.
In addition to COVID, the city has endured 4 federally declared disasters in 12 months. The region’s mortality rate shot up 25% in 2020.
In addition to COVID, the city has endured 4 federally declared disasters in 12 months. The region’s mortality rate shot up 25% in 2020.
“If the federal government can do something to help my city return to a semblance of normalcy, they should do it.”
I don’t think Mayor Hunter is alone in feeling this way.
Not many cities suffered as much as Lake Charles did during 2020, but all cities suffered.
I don’t think Mayor Hunter is alone in feeling this way.
Not many cities suffered as much as Lake Charles did during 2020, but all cities suffered.
Compared to the start of 2020, there were 1.4 million fewer state-local government employees by year’s end.
And these weren’t dispensable employees.
Most of them were teachers.
If the federal gov’t can do something to help cities operate normally, we should do it.
And these weren’t dispensable employees.
Most of them were teachers.
If the federal gov’t can do something to help cities operate normally, we should do it.
That’s not only an understandable request after such a horrific year, it’s also good economic policy.
During the Great Recession, when cities & states were facing similar revenue shortfalls, the federal gov’t didn’t provide enough aid to close the gap. It was a profound error.
During the Great Recession, when cities & states were facing similar revenue shortfalls, the federal gov’t didn’t provide enough aid to close the gap. It was a profound error.
But I don’t think history will repeat itself in 2021: The American Rescue Plan provides $350 billion to state & local gov’ts. @USTreasury will work to get this funding out to communities as fast as possible to produce maximum impact.
Economics is sometimes considered a dry subject, but I have always tried to see the humanity beneath the numbers.
That’s why I’m supportive of mayors.
The work of the city is often where those two things meet. Economic policymaking finds its humanity in the city budget.
That’s why I’m supportive of mayors.
The work of the city is often where those two things meet. Economic policymaking finds its humanity in the city budget.
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