The Ohio Mayors Alliance: A Bipartisan Coalition of Mayors in Ohio’s Largest Cities

June 18, 2018

THE OHIO MAYORS ALLIANCE NEWSLETTER

Welcome to the first ever Ohio Mayors Alliance Newsletter!

It is our hope that this biweekly newsletter will help Ohioans stay informed on issues that are effecting Ohio’s cities and metropolitan regions and highlight the work our mayors are doing to find solutions.

STATE OF OUR CITIES

The Ohio Mayors Alliance is a bipartisan coalition of mayors in Ohio’s largest cities. By coming together and speaking with one voice about the challenges and opportunities of cities, we can more effectively advocate for our communities and our constituents.

As leaders on the front lines of Ohio’s largest economic development opportunities, we know that cities are the engines of economic growth in Ohio. Since we formed in 2016, we have been building relationships with state and federal leaders, and finding ways to partner on issues that strengthen our cities and the statewide economy.

The Ohio Mayors Alliance directly engages lawmakers and leaders on legislation that impacts our communities. We also take a proactive approach on broader policy challenges that effect our entire state, such as the opioid epidemic and congressional redistricting reform.

On our website, you can read more about our work in the Ohio Mayors Alliance first annual report for 2016-17 and “On the Front Lines: Strategies That Local Communities are Undertaking to Address Ohio’s Opioid Epidemic.”

VISIT OUR WEBSITE

U.S. CONFERENCE OF MAYORS ANNUAL MEETING

Last weekend, mayors from the Ohio Mayors Alliance attended the U.S. Conference of Mayors Annual Meeting in Boston. They met other mayors from other cities across the United States and discussed and heard speakers on topics ranging from housing affordability to cyber attacks. During the conference, the cities of Youngstown and Dayton received Wells Fargo/USCM Community Development Grants to go towards revitalization projects in their communities.

On Saturday night of the conference, the Ohio Mayors Alliance hosted a reception and dinner for all the Ohio mayors that were in attendance. Included in the photo above (from left to right): Lima Mayor David J. Berger, Findlay Mayor Lydia L. Mihalik, Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther, Youngstown Mayor Tito Brown, Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley, Warren Mayor Doug Franklin, Kettering Mayor Don Patterson, and Lakewood Mayor Michael Summers. Also in attendance but not pictured was Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley and Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz.

2018 PRIORITIES

Opioid Crisis
As a coalition of local leaders on the front lines of Ohio’s ongoing opioid epidemic, the Ohio Mayors Alliance will continue to share best practices for responding to the opioid crisis, as well as to engage state and federal leaders for the purposes of establishing a more coordinated and comprehensive approach to confronting Ohio’s opioid crisis.

Transportation
The Ohio Mayors Alliance believes that a strong transportation infrastructure is critical to economic opportunities in Ohio and its metropolitan regions. As leaders in Ohio’s largest cities, we intend to advocate at both the state and federal level for the necessary resources to make sure that the arteries of our economy our strong.

Economy
Cities are the engines of economic growth that are driving that state economy, with over 90 percent of that state GDP generated in the largest metropolitan regions, the Ohio Mayors Alliance will continue to work to understand and communicate the unique role that cities play in the state economy, as well as to advocate for improved revenue sharing that supports business development and job growth in Ohio’s cities.

Redistricting
To ensure that our democracy is responsive and that our congressional representatives understand the challenges and opportunities in Ohio’s cites, the Ohio Mayors Alliance will engage on efforts to encourage bipartisan redistricting reform in Ohio.

Home Rule
Home rule authority for local communities is a protected right in the Ohio Constitution and the Ohio Mayors Alliance will actively oppose state legislation that undermines communities’ ability to govern themselves and erodes Ohio’s constitutional rights to home rule.

NEWS FROM OUR CITIES

State of the Cities 2018

Mayor Horrigan, Mayor Whaley and Mayor Walters were all featured in the National League of Cities’ State of Cities 2018 report, discussing topics like economic development, government efficiency, and the opioid epidemic..

L ink to full report by NLC

Gem City Market awarded $150,000 grant

In one of the state’s largest food deserts, news of the Gem City Market coming to the city’s west side is welcome news. Now, even better news as the market is awarded a $150,000 grant.

Link to full story by ABC 22

City gets $150K grant for office renovation

The Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp. was awarded a $150,000 grant from the Wells Fargo Foundation to complete the renovation of 2246 Glenwood Ave., a vacant commercial property.

Link to full story by T he Vindicator

Columbus population grows
by 42.3 each day, Census
figures show

Columbus is in the top 10 of America’s fastest growing cities, according to Census Bureau data, the only Ohio city to be in the top 10.

Link to full story by The Columbus Dispatch

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