All articles tagged with #mayors
London Mayor Sadiq Khan and NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani share similarities as Muslim, progressive leaders of diverse cities facing common issues like crime and housing, but differ in their political backgrounds and approaches, with Khan offering lessons on managing city challenges amid criticism and racism.
A survey reveals a significant gender gap in political harassment, with female mayors experiencing pervasive online abuse and threats, leading to increased security measures and impacting their ability to serve effectively. The report emphasizes the need for stronger protections, legal measures, and public support to prevent violence and harassment against politicians, especially women.
The National Guard has arrived in Washington DC amid warnings from Democratic mayors that President Trump’s deployment of federal troops and law enforcement into the city and other major cities represents an overreach of power, raising concerns about potential authoritarian tactics and the undermining of local authority.
Three Turkish mayors from the opposition CHP party have been arrested amid ongoing government crackdowns, following the arrest of Istanbul's mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu over corruption charges, which sparked protests and political tensions ahead of the 2028 presidential election.
Turkish authorities have detained five mayors and issued arrest warrants for dozens of opposition officials, including Istanbul's mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, amid a crackdown that has sparked protests and economic instability, with critics accusing President Erdoğan of authoritarianism and weaponizing the judiciary.
Forty-five mayors in Ecuador have requested police protection in the past year as violence grips the country, with 22 local officials dying in violent circumstances since 2023. The mayors face threats and violence from organized crime groups, with the country's ports becoming hubs for drug smuggling. President Daniel Noboa declared a state of emergency and designated 22 gangs as terrorist groups after a series of violent incidents, including the recent killing of the 27-year-old mayor of San Vicente and her communications director.
President Biden did not attend a meeting with Democratic mayors seeking $5 billion in funding for local services to support migrants released at the US-Mexico border. Instead, White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients and senior adviser Tom Perez met with some of the mayors. New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who was scheduled to attend, abruptly canceled and returned to New York as the FBI raided a campaign fundraiser's home. The mayors had previously written to Biden requesting a meeting to discuss coordination, support, and resources for the growing number of asylum seekers. The White House has requested $1.4 billion from Congress for shelter and services, but the mayors argue that more is needed to properly care for the migrants entering their communities.
Several Democratic mayors, who previously welcomed a surge of migrants into their sanctuary cities, are now requesting $5 billion in federal aid from the Biden administration to support these new residents, rejecting the proposed $1.4 billion. The mayors of Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, and New York urgently requested a meeting with President Biden, stating that their city budgets and local taxpayers are bearing the burden of the ongoing federal crisis. They argue that additional resources are needed to properly care for asylum seekers entering their communities, as relying on municipal budgets is not sustainable and has forced them to cut essential city services.
French President Emmanuel Macron met with mayors of 220 towns affected by violent protests following the fatal police shooting of a teenager. Macron assured the mayors that the peak of violence had passed and announced new laws to expedite the reconstruction of damaged areas. However, many mayors expressed the need for more action to restore order and address the underlying issues that contribute to urban riots. The unrest was driven by a predominantly teenage backlash in suburban and urban housing projects, fueled by perceived discrimination against young people with immigrant backgrounds.
French President Emmanuel Macron met with hundreds of mayors to discuss the reasons behind the recent riots in the country following the killing of a teenager by a police officer. Macron declared that the peak of the riots had passed, but emphasized the need for a lasting republican order. The government reported a decrease in overnight violence, with 72 arrests made, bringing the total to almost 3,500. Macron expressed the intention to find real solutions and proposed quick-fire fines for parents of children involved in vandalism or robberies. The meeting with mayors did not result in unanimity, with right- and left-wing officials pointing fingers at each other. Macron also promised to fast-track a new law to assist with rebuilding damaged infrastructure.
Miami Mayor Francis Suarez has announced his candidacy for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, becoming the first sitting mayor to do so. Despite the historical precedent of presidents coming from higher-profile positions, Suarez believes his experience leading Miami has prepared him to tackle issues facing most Americans. He faces tough competition from former President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who are currently leading in early primary polling. While mayors have become major candidates in recent history, the odds for a sitting mayor to become president remain long.
Tuesday's off-year elections produced several firsts, including the election of the first woman of color as mayor of Philadelphia, the first Black male as mayor of Colorado Springs, and the first Democratic mayor in decades in Jacksonville, Florida. Republicans also had some successes, including nominating the first Black Republican for governor in Kentucky. The results demonstrate the vulnerability of Republicans in the Donald Trump era, with Democrats flipping the biggest city Republicans controlled in Jacksonville.
Attacks against mayors in France are increasing, with many feeling abandoned and left to fend for themselves. The mayor of Saint-Brévin, who lost his home in an arson attack, resigned citing a lack of support from the state. Mayors across France are becoming frequent targets of abuse and attacks, with 1,500 reported assaults on municipal officials in 2022. The rise in attacks is attributed to persistent tensions in French society, including growing mistrust in institutions and a decline of trust and respect towards hierarchical authority. The government is working on better protecting mayors, with a law aimed at providing better support for elected officials already in effect.
The mayors of Sacramento and San Francisco engaged in some playful trash talk ahead of the Warriors-Kings NBA playoff series. San Francisco Mayor London Breed started it by questioning if anyone ever visits Sacramento, to which Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg responded by praising his city and subtly criticizing San Francisco's problems. Both mayors' teams ended up losing after their comments.
Israeli opposition leader Benny Gantz criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for excluding three mayors he had met with from a security call with local leaders amid a spate of violence. Netanyahu vowed to restore calm during the call and thanked the mayors for their citizens' "steadfastness" during rocket fire from Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria. The leaders of three northern communities and regions that took rocket fire this week said they had not been invited to the call. Gantz likened Netanyahu's call to his decision to fire Defense Minister Yoav Gallant last month.