Over the past three years, Politico Magazine has periodically surveyed mayors across the country, on topics from policing to health care to millennials’ importance to the economy. For our new Cities Issue, it was only natural to go back to those leaders—all the more so at a time when many of their cities have emerged collectively as a counterbalance to the Trump administration, sparking fights over everything from labor to immigration. Are cities really now at war with Washington, we asked, and what are the most pressing crises they face?

Mayors from Silicon Valley to the Rust Belt, and from cities deep blue like Portland, Oregon, and redder like Tulsa, Oklahoma responded to the survey, which was conducted in late May. Their answers make clear the unique role cities play in our political life, driving innovation in criminal justice reform, homelessness, good-old-fashioned infrastructure and more.


But if there’s a common thread among them it’s an anxiety that the endless tumult of the Trump era may be a roadblock.

“Used to be relative consensus [about] what had to be done, but shortage of resources,” Mayor Paul Dystra of Niagara Falls, New York, wrote in his responses. “Now, [we’re] at war over where we’re trying to go.”

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1. Are America’s cities at war with Washington?



No, but Washington seems to be picking fights with America’s cities. We are having to defend ourselves. —Eric Garcetti, Los Angeles

Yes. We cannot receive any money from Washington. —Frank C. Ortis, Pembroke Pines, Fla.

The current administration in D.C. is at war with many of the values we hold dear. —Barbara Halliday, Hayward, Calif.

Our city certainly isn’t. I think a lot of the municipal rhetoric toward D.C. is a factor of so many major-city mayors being Democrats, who view criticizing the Trump administration as an easy way to score points. —G.T. Bynum, Tulsa, Okla.

No, but it is incredibly challenging to work with a federal government whose policy positions are quite often counter to the good of the vast majority of people who live in our cities. —Keisha Lance Bottoms, Atlanta

The people of America simply want their government to work on their behalf. Our cities and our mayors do not have the luxury to wait on Washington while they sort out political fights. —LaToya Cantrell, New Orleans



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2. What’s the biggest uncovered urban crisis right now?



The use of state law to preempt municipal authority. —Steve Adler, Austin, Texas

The often-invisible effects of a lack of affordable housing. Stable housing strengthens families, improves education outcomes, reduces crime and drug abuse, and supports a healthy community. —Ted Wheeler, Portland, Ore.

This idea that every piece of information that comes from government must be fake rolls downhill from Washington to local municipalities. This creates distrust. —Thomas McNamara, Rockford, Ill.

The state of education and workforce development. —Mike Rawlings, Dallas



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3. One new idea for bridging the urban-rural divide in the United States?



A domestic “Sister Cities” program, which would allow major U.S. cities to partner with rural municipalities that are, on the surface, far different. —Jim Kenney, Philadelphia

“Field-to-fork” programs that directly connect farmers to urban restaurants and healthy lifestyle organizations in food desert neighborhoods. —Paul Dyster, Niagara Falls, N.Y.

Make education affordable and accessible—at colleges and universities, or vocational training and apprenticeship programs. —Thomas McNamara, Rockford, Ill.

Well-funded public transportation systems [so] all residents can conveniently access job centers and educational opportunities. —Keisha Lance Bottoms, Atlanta

Partnering on economic incentive packages, which might include regional asset mapping and workforce planning. —Steve Adler, Austin, Texas

When rural communities don’t have even the FCC’s minimum standard broadband, they are being denied access to the national conversation, news, information, even critical health care services. —Ted Wheeler, Portland, Ore.



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4. What policy idea should Washington take from your city?



Instead of periodically celebrating meaningless “infrastructure weeks,” make actual investments in infrastructure. —Noam Bramson, New Rochelle, N.Y.

End veteran homelessness. Through unprecedented community collaboration between the public, private and nonprofit sectors, Austin has provided housing for 682 veterans since October 2014. —Steve Adler, Austin, Texas

Using data, evidence and evaluation to bring people together on a bipartisan basis to solve specific problems. —G.T. Bynum, Tulsa, Okla.

Criminal justice reform. We have eliminated cash bail in Atlanta for minor offenses. We are training nonviolent detainees for jobs and placing them in employment, and working to end the cycle of recidivism. —Keisha Lance Bottoms, Atlanta

A sustained commitment to funding community policing. —Mike Rawlings, Dallas

Treat diversity as an asset, not a liability. (By the way, it’s the principle our country was built on.) —Paul Dyster, Niagara Falls, N.Y.



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5. Which mayor would you like to see run for president in 2020?



Pete Buttigieg of South Bend is smart, inclusive and innovative. Eric Garcetti of L.A. is an experienced politician who’s worked on a large stage with a large economic footprint and exceptionally diverse citizenry. Finally, Greg Fischer of Louisville is a genuinely good man who is smart, compassionate, decisive and knows business. —Sly James, Kansas City, Mo.

Libby Schaaf of Oakland, California, for her remarkable courage and compassion in standing up for the safety and security of her city and its residents. —Barbara Halliday, Hayward, Calif.

Ithaca, New York’s, Svante Myrick offers humble origins, religious roots, youthful energy, charismatic personality, ethics, intelligence, innovation and progressive values. —Paul Dyster, Niagara Falls, N.Y.

Eric Garcetti. —Noam Bramson, New Rochelle, N.Y.

Mitch Landrieu, former New Orleans mayor. —Frank C. Ortis, Pembroke Pines, Fla.;Thomas McNamara, Rockford, Ill.; Mike Rawlings, Dallas

Anyone who can win. —Jim Kenney, Philadelphia