NLC-當今城市的前沿：創(chuàng)傷、挑戰(zhàn)和解決方案（英）-2021.11-23正式版

ONTHEFRONTLINES

OFTODAY’SCITIES:

TRAUMA,

CHALLENGESANDSOLUTIONS

NATIONAL

LEAGUE

OFCITIES

AbouttheNationalLeagueofCities

TheNationalLeagueofCities(NLC)isthevoiceofAmerica’scities,townsandvillages,representingmorethan200millionpeople.NLCworkstostrengthenlocalleadership,influencefederalpolicyanddriveinnovativesolutions.

NLC’sCenterforCitySolutionsprovidesresearchandanalysisonkeytopicsandtrendsimportanttocities,creativesolutionstoimprovethequalityoflifeincommunities,inspirationandideasforlocalofficialstouseintacklingtoughissues,andopportunitiesforcityleaderstoconnectwithpeers,shareexperiencesandlearnaboutinnovativeapproachesincities.

Authors

ClarenceE.Anthony,CEOandExecutiveDirector,NationalLeagueofCities

TinaLee,SeniorResearchSpecialist,CenterforCitySolutions

JacobGottlieb,ResearchSpecialist,CenterforCitySolutions

BrooksRainwater,SeniorExecutiveandDirector,CenterforCitySolutions

2021?NationalLeagueofCities.AllRightsReserved.

AllphotocreditedtoGettyImages,2021.

Acknowledgements

TheauthorsofferspecialthankstoKatMaramba,ExecutiveCommunicationsManager,KarenNava,VisualDesignDirectorandKatiePastor,SeniorCommunicationsSpecialistfortheirguidanceandcontributionstothisreport.Theauthorsgratefullyacknowledgesurveyrespondentsandthepublicofficialsinterviewedforthisreport.Theirwillingnesstosharecandidlyabouttheirexperiencesaspublicofficialswerepersonallyimpactfulandinstrumentaltoinformingthisreport.

Cover:ByKevorkDjansezian/GettyImagesNewsviaGettyImages

NATIONALLEAGUEOFCITIES

CONTENTS

4?FOREWORD

6?INTRODUCTION

10?BACKGROUND

15?ROOTCAUSES

24?WHYDOESITMATTER?

28?WHATCANCITIESDO?

32?RECOMMENDATIONS

34?CONCLUSION

36?APPENDIXI:AdditionalResources

38APPENDIXII:AbouttheSurveyandResults

39?ENDNOTES

Page3

FOREWORD

PERSONALattacks.Physicalassaults.Cyberbullyingdirectedatthemselves,theirchildrenandfamilies--allthewhilehavingtomanagemultiplecrisesforthoseintheircommunities.Inthepastyearandahalf,protestshavemovedfromCity

Halltolocalleaders’frontdoors.Insultshavemovedbeyondthemediaandintohomes,sometimesneedlesslyextendingtolovedones.

Thisiswhatitmeanstobeapublicservantin2021.

Localofficialsworkatthelevelofgovernmentclosesttothepeopleandwiththiscomesgreathonorandgreatchallenge.Ourlocalleadersaretheonesweknow–theyaretheoneswerunintoatthegrocerystoreandtheonesweseearoundourneighborhoods.Andwhilepartisanshipandbickeringmaybeanunwelcomedfeatureofstateandfederalpolitics,wearenowseeingthistrickledowntothelocallevelunlikeeverbefore.Ihavewitnessedandheardaboutthischangethroughmyownpersonalinteractionsinmeetingswithlocalleadersacrossthecountry.ItisclearthattheenvironmenthaschangedsincemytimeasmayorofSouthBay,Floridaalittlemorethanadecadeago.

Whiledisagreementanddebateareahealthypartofafunctioningdemocracy,civildiscourseinAmericahasbeenincreasinglyindecline–weseeitinthemediaandmorefrequently,we’reseeingitmoreinourowncommunities.Andaspoliticsbecomesincreasinglyhostile,sotoohastheseverityandquantityofthreatsandharassmenttowardsourlocalofficials.TheCOVID-19pandemicpushedmanythingstotheextremeandvitrioltowardslocalleadersisnoexception.

Ourlocalleadershavebecomeeasytargetsforfrustration,angeranddisillusion.Withthecombinedimpactofsocialmediaandpoliticalpolarization,theworkofgoverninghasoftencomeatthecostofpublicofficials’physicalandmentalwell-being.

Localleadershavefacedeverythingfromracistslurstophysicalassaultsanddeaththreats.RecentmediareportsfromtheNewYorkTimesandKaiserHealthNetwork,amongothers,highlighthowmanylocalpublicofficials—mayorsandthoseworkingintheareasofpublichealth,electionsandtheschoolboard—arechoosingtoresignornotrunforre-election.1,2

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Fromtakinganti-anxietymedication,toseekingtherapyandevenutilizingpoliceprotection,welearnedthroughoutdevelopmentofthisreportthatourlocalleadersaredoingwhattheycantoprotectthemselveswhilegettingthejobsfortheircommunitiesdone.Butitisnotenough.Ourlocalleaderscan’tandshouldn’tdothisworkalone.

Itisall-tooeasytoforgetthattheyarealsohuman.Thereismuchmoretoourlocalofficialsthantheirtitlesof“mayor,”“councilmember”or“commissioner.”Theyarealso“parent,”“daughter”,“son”,“sister,”“brother,”“friend”and“neighbor.”

Fromenactingimmediate-termprotectionsfocusedonthephysicalandmentalwell-beingofpublicofficialstodevelopingmorelong-termsolutionstobridgingthedivisionsbetweenpartiesandpeople–thetimetotakeactisnow.

ClarenceE.Anthony

CEOandExecutiveDirector

NATIONALLEAGUEOFCITIES

NATIONALLEAGUEOFCITIES

ParentsProtestMaskMandatesAtFloridaSchoolBoardMeeting(ByOctavioJonesviaGettyImages)

PagePage55

INTRODUCTION

AMERICANculturehascoarsenedinthelastfewyears,withpeopleincreasinglyresortingtoanger,vitriolandviolenceratherthandialoguetosharetheirproblemsandexpressdifferences.Thedeepentrenchmentofpoliticalideologiesintothecoreofwhoweareasanationhastakenustoaplace

insocietywhere,ratherthanviewingthosewithopposingviewpointsasourfriends,neighborsandfellowAmericans,agrowingsegmentofsocietyviewsoneanotherasenemies.Thisisdangerousfordemocracy,anditcreatesapowderkegenvironmentwherethesmallestsparkcansuddenlyexplode.

Publicserviceisnotasolelypublicendeavor,though.Thosewhorunforofficeunderstandthatputtingthemselvesinthepubliclightshinesalightonthegood,thebadandtheuglyoftheirprivatelives.Thisscrutinyisonething,butthedomainsofpubliclifethatoncestayedprivate–one’sfamily,hearthandhome–areincreasinglyextendedintothepublicrealm.Electedofficials’childrenandspouseshavebeentargetedandharassedasCityHallshaveturnedinto

discourse,aninsurrectionattheCapitolandthefightforracialjusticeinresponsetothemurdersofGeorgeFloydandBreonnaTayloramongcountlessothers,haveelevatedthechallengesfacedbypublicofficialsinourcountry.

Theimpactonourlocalleadershasbeenenormous.Ourlocalofficialsarehardatworkonthegroundincitieseveryday,andduringthislastyearandahalftheyhave

Overthelastseveralyearstherehavebeenseveralincidentsthathaveignitedthisspark,butthepandemichasservedasatinderboxthathasacceleratedexistingtrendsandsuperchargedanger,abusivebehaviorandevenviolenceagainstlocalofficials.

Localofficialshaveseenattacksagainstthemgrowaswhatshouldhavebeenamomentofcommoncausetofightbackagainstaglobalpandemichasdevolvedinsteadintoapartisandivideoverwhethertogetlifesavingvaccines,wearfacemasksinschoolstoprotectchildrenorgivelocalofficialsauthoritytokeepcommunitymemberssafe.

Eveninthisenvironment,mayors,councilmembers,schoolboardmembersandotherlocalofficialshaveoneverybigthingincommon:theyranforofficetoserveandgivebacktotheircommunities.Andourlocalofficialscontinuetoserveanddotheirjobonbehalfofallofus.Thiscalltoservice–adutytoserveone’scountryandcommunitymembers–comeswithgruelingschedulesoflate-nightmeetings,constituentcallsandanearconstantavailabilitytothecommunitymembersthattheyworkonbehalfofeverysingleday.

thefrontlawnsofcityofficials’homes,withnoareasoutofboundsinthemadnessofourcurrentpoliticalculture.Thisisanexistentialchallengetoourcommunities,oursocietyandourdemocracythatneedstobeabated.

ThenationalizationandassociatedradicalizationofpoliticsinAmericastartedatthefederallevelandfirstmadeitswaytostatehousesbuthasnowseepeddownintoourtownsandcities.Unliketheirstateandfederalcounterparts,localofficialsareheldinmuchhigheresteembecausetheyareclosertothepeopletheygovern,theyareofteninnonpartisanpositionsandconsistentpollingdatashowsthemreceivingmuchmorefavorableresults.4Evenso,

beensupportingcommunitymembersinatimeofneed,allwhilekeepinggovernmentoperationsgoingduringtumultuoustimes.Asverbalthreats–bothonlineandinperson–havegrownandassomelocalleadershaveevenbeenphysicallyassaulted,theimpactonournation’smayors,councilmembersandlocalleadersisunderstandablyimmense.Manyelectedofficialsareburntout.Mayorsandcouncilmembersarepeopletoo,andtheirphysicalandmentalwell-beingisthreatened.

Beyondtheobviousimpactsthisharassmenthasongovernmentandthelayereddifficultiesitcreatestogetthepublic’sworkdone,ithasarealhumanimpactontheselocalleaders.Itisnotwhatmostpeoplesignedupforwhenthey

“Ibelieveinpublicservice...IamverycommittedtodoingasmuchasIcaninthemoment,eveninthemidstofthischaos.”3

BatonRouge,LAMayorSharonWestonBroome

(ByParasGriffin/GettyImagesforESSENCEviaGettyimages)

growinghostilityinpoliticshasimpactedtheenvironmentlocalofficialsengageinmoreandmoredramatically.

WhileCOVID-19acceleratedexistingtrends,thisnationwidelackofcivilityhasbeenheightenedduetothearrivalofsocialmedia,growinganimositybetweenpoliticalparties,thespreadofmis-anddisinformation,systemicracism,sexismandhomophobia.Acontentiousnationalelection,yearsofleadershipthatdidnotseektostemthecoarsening

ranforlocaloffice,andtheimpactisbeingfeltbypotentialcandidateschoosingtorunforre-electionorevenrunatall,whichisafactorthatnegativelyimpactsourcommunities.

WeloseinstitutionalknowledgeinCityHallsaspeopleleavepublicoffice.Potentialcandidatesareaskingthemselves,“Isitworthmysafetytorunagain?”and“Isitworthmysafety–orpotentiallymyfamily’ssafety–tobeinthisjob?”

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Furthermore,thebudgetaryimpactonlocalitiesisveryrealifpolicemustgetinvolvedorpublicofficialsrequiresecuritydetailsduetothesethreats.Thedisproportionate

FIGURE1.Typesofharassment,threatsandviolence.

victimizationofBlack,Indigenous,PeopleofColor(BIPOC),women,membersoftheLGBTQ+communityandotherunderrepresentedgroupsmayalsohindereffortstodiversifygovernmentandcreatemoreequitablecommunities.

Citiesmustfocusonprotectingthesafetyandwell-beingofpublicofficialsintheimmediatetermwhileworkingtomendtherootcausesofthisgrowingresentmentacrossthecountry.Thatsaid,itisdifficultforlocalofficialstofacethisalone.

HARASSMENT

ONLINE

Disrespectfulcomments,beratingandunfoundedcriticismthroughtraditionalorsocialmedia(Twitter,Facebook,Instagram,etc.)

Hatefulspeech

Onlinetrolling

IN-PERSON

Disrespectfulcomments,beratingandunfoundedcriticismin-person,bothonandoffthejob

Hatefulspeech

“Toallthelocalleaders,justrememberyoudon’thavetodothisalone,thereisanincrediblenetworkthroughtheNationalLeagueofCitieswhereelectedofficialscancometogether.”5

Atlanta,GAMayorKeishaLanceBottoms

(ByElijahNouvelage/GettyImagesviaGettyimages)

THREATS

Threatstotarget,hurtorattackapublicofficialorthoseintheirimmediatecircle(staffmembers,familymembers)throughtraditionalorsocialmedia(Twitter,Facebook,Instagram,etc.)

Hatefulspeechonlinewithintenttoharm

Statementofanintentiontoinflictpain,injury,damageorotherhostileaction(deaththreats,threatsofphysicalorsexualviolence,etc.)toapublicofficialand

orthoseintheirimmediatecircle(staffmembers,familymembers,etc.)

Publicofficialsatalllevelsmustunitetoelevate–ratherthandenigrate–

Destructionofproperty

thepoliticalconversation.

OntheFrontlinesofToday’sCities:Trauma,ChallengesandSolutionslaysoutandrecommendsathree-prongedapproachtokeepourlocalofficialssafefrommentalandphysicalthreatstotheirwell-being.Thisapproachincludessecuringphysicalsafety,promotingmentalhealthandwell-being,andimprovingcivildiscourse.

ASSAULTOR

VIOLENCE

Physical,sexualor

armedassault

Unauthorizedpossessionoffirearmsor

otherweapons

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BACKGROUND

CIVILbehaviorandspeecharecriticallyimportanttoahealthy,functionalandrespectfulsociety.ThecapacityoftheAmericanpublictoengageinmeaningfulandcivildiscoursehaserodedrapidlyoverthelastfewyears.IntheAlleghenyCollege

SurveyofCivilityandCompromiseinAmericanPolitics,researchersfoundthatnearlyhalfofAmericansbelievedtherehadbeenadeclineincivilityinAmericanpoliticssincetheelectionofPresidentObama.6

Dr.MichaelMcCullough,apsychologyprofessorattheUniversityofMiami,arguesthatcivilitycanbethoughtofbroadlyundertwodefinitions.Onethatdescribesbehavior—politeness,courtesy;andonethatdepictstheorderlinessofasocietywhereintheabsenceofcivilitythereisanarchyanddisorder—creatingafragmentedsociety.7

Resultsfroma2019surveyconductedbyWeberShandwick,apublicrelationsconsultancy,foundthat93percentofAmericansbelievethatincivilityisaproblem,with68percentidentifyingincivilityasamajorproblem.8

Localofficialsareonthefrontlinesofthepublicsectorastheyarethemostconnectedandaccessibletotheircommunities.Whiletheproximityoflocalofficialstocommunitymembersisimportantforpublicservice,thissameproximityoftenexposeslocalofficialstoincidencesofincivility—whichhaveincreasinglyescalatedintoharassment,threatsandviolence.

A2019nationwidesurveyandarticlepublishedinthejournalStateandLocalGovernmentReview,foundthatfour-fifthsofsurveyedmayorshadexperiencedsometypeofpsychologicalabuse—muchofitthroughsocialmedia.9Muchhaschangedinthepoliticalenvironmentsince2019.Inthelast18months,localleadershavehadtonavigateapandemic,addressprotestsforracialequityandtheroleofpolicingincommunitiesandworkthroughheightenedpoliticaltensionsduringanelectionyear.

(ByChrisGardner/GettyImages

NewsviaGettyimages)

Forthisreport,NLCconductednineinterviewsandsurveyed112localpublicofficialstolearnabouttheirexperienceswithharassment,threatsandviolence.Eighty-onepercentofsurveyedlocalpublicofficialsreportedhavingexperiencedharassment,threatsandviolence(Figure2).Eighty-sevenpercentofsurveyedlocalpublicofficialsalsoreportedthattheyhaveobservedanincreaseinattacksonpublicofficialsduringtheirtimeinoffice(Figure3).Manysurveyedlocalofficialsanecdotallysharedthatthisbehaviorbyresidentshadbeenheightenedforafewyearsbuthasgottendramaticallyworsesincethestartofthepandemic.

FIGURE2.Morethan8in10surveyedlocalofficialsreported

experiencingharassment,threatsandviolence

81%

19%

no

yes

FIGURE3.Avastmajorityofsurveyedlocalofficialshavenoticedchangesinthelevelsofharassment,threatsandviolenceduringtheirtimeinoffice

87% 13%

yes no

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Additionally,resultsindicatethatsocialmedia(e.g.,Twitter,Facebook,Instagram),publiccitymeetings(onlineorin-person)andotheronlinevenues(e.g.,email,publicforum)arethemostcommonsettingsforincidencesofharassment,threatsandviolenceagainstlocalpublicofficialstooccur(Figure4).Harassmentandthreatsofviolenceareincrediblyhardtocombatonsocialmediagivenusers’shroudofanonymityandfreedomtosayalmostanythingonsocialmediaplatforms.

FIGURE4.Localofficialscitedsocialmediamostcommonlyregardingwheretheyexperienceincidencesofharassment,threatsandviolence

SocialMedia(E.g.,Twitter,Facebook,Instagram)

79%

Online(E.g.,email,publicforum)

66%

Publiccitymeetings(onlineorin-person)

64%

In-personoffwork(E.g.,grocerystore,home,etc.)

35%

Mail

34%

In-personduringwork(E.g.,office,on-site,visitingthecommunity,etc.)26%

Surveyedlocalofficials’responsetowheretheyhaveexperiencedharassment,threatsandviolence.

InNLC’sresearchanddiscussionswithlocalofficials,manydisturbingincidencesofharassment,threatsandviolencewereraised.Minnetonka,MNCouncilmemberDebCalvertandherfellowcouncilmembersreceivedhundredsofemailsandphonecallsthreateningandverballyabusingthemintherun-uptoandafteravoteonmaskmandates.10Anchorage,AKAssemblymemberChristopherConstant,amemberoftheLGBTQ+community,wassubjectedtohomophobicremarksandevendeaththreats.11AssemblymemberConstantalsofoundagamecamera,usedforhunting,mountedonatreeoutsidepointedathishouse(Figure5).12Bolingbrook,ILMayorRogerClaarhadhishomevandalizedandwaslikenedtoaNazibecauseofhissupportforformerPresidentTrump.13

FIGURE5.PictureofthegamecameramountedonatreeoutsideAssemblymemberConstant’shome

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Publichealthofficialshavebecomemorefrequenttargetsofharassment,threatsandviolenceduringthepandemic.AsurveyfromtheColoradoAssociationofLocalPublicHealthOfficialsfoundthat

80percentofthestate’slocalhealthdirectorssaidthattheyortheirpersonalpropertyhadbeenthreatenedsincethepandemicbegan.14Eightypercentoflocalhealthdirectorsrespondingtothatsamesurveyalsosaidtheyhadencounteredthreatstopullfundingfromtheirdepartmentorotherformsofpoliticalcoercionandpressure.15InMaryland,MontgomeryCounty’sformertoppublichealthofficialresignedinSeptember2021followingaseriesofthreats,racistandhomophobicemailsandsocialmediaattacksthatoccurredthroughoutthepandemic.16

Publicschoolofficialshavealsobecomemorefrequenttargetsofharassment,threatsandviolenceduringthepandemic.Schoolboardmeetingshavedevolvedintoscreamingmatchesbetweenschoolboardofficials,parents,educatorsandstudentsdividedovermaskmandates.Facingunprecedentedlevelsofhostility,manyschoolboardmembers,whoareoftenunpaidvolunteers,haveresigned.17TheAssociatedPressreportedthatoneNevadaschoolboardmemberhadthoughtsofsuicidebeforeresigningduetothethreatsandharassmenttheyfaced.18

Additionally,localelectionofficialsexperiencedharassment,threatsandviolenceduringthemostrecentelectioncycle.Accordingtoaspring2021surveybytheBrennanCenterforJusticeatNYULawandBenensonStrategyGroup,one-thirdoflocalelectionofficialsfeelunsafebecauseoftheirjobandone-fifthworryaboutreceivingdeaththreats.19Philadelphia,PACityCommissionerAlSchmidtreceiveddeaththreatsafterdefendingtheintegrityofPhiladelphia’selectionandwascalledatraitorbyhisownparty.20

Asshowninthepreviousexamples,mayors,councilmembers,publichealthofficials,schoolboardmembers,electionofficialsandotherlocalleadersrequireadditionalsupporttocombattherisinglevelsofharassment,threatsandviolencetheyexperience.Whilemanylocalleadersbelievethatthesurgeinharassment,threatsandviolencetheyfaceis“amomentintime”duetothepandemic,otherunderlyingfactorshavebeenpushingcommunitymemberstodemeantheirlocalofficials.Tomeaningfullyaddresstheissueofrisingharassment,threatsandviolenceagainstlocalofficials,itisimportanttounderstandtheunderlyingdriversofsuchbehavior.

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ROOTCAUSES

THEdeclineincivilityandgrowthofharassment,threatsandviolenceagainstpublicofficialshasbeenunderwayfordecades.Thereisacomplexnetworkofcausalandinfluentialfactorsatplayincludingpolarization,spreadofmis-

anddisinformationandthegrowinginfluenceandpowerofsocialmedia.

Polarization

ThePewResearchCenterdefinespoliticalpolarizationas“thevastandgrowinggapbetweenliberalsandconservatives,RepublicansandDemocrats.”Whiledifferencesanddisagreementinideologyandpolicy—ideologicalpolarization—arenormalandhealthyinademocracy,thegrowingantagonismbetweenpeopleandpartiesisnot.Inresponsetothequestion“Whatdoyouthinkinfluencesorexplainsthisbehavior[harassment/threats/violence]?,”manyNLCsurveyrespondentscitedfactorssuchaspartisanpolitics,partisanallegiance,politicaldivideandpolarization.

Partisanidentificationisnolongercontingentonpolicyviews;instead,ithasmorphedintoasortingacrossracial,religious,educational,generationalandgeographiclines.21Asaconsequence,otherpartymembersaremorelikelytosaytheopposingpartyishypocritical,selfish,close-mindedandunwillingtosocializeacrosspartylines.22ThisalignmentwithpoliticalleaningshasledtomorethanhalfofRepublicansandmorethan40percent

ofDemocratstothinkoftheotherpartyas“enemies”ratherthan“politicalopponents,”accordingtoaCBSNewspollconductedinJanuary2020.23

AccordingtoastudyfromtheUniversityofVirginia,labelingpoliciesas“Democratic”or“Republican”caninfluencepolicysupportitself,erodingtheabilityforcitizensandgovernmentofficialstohaveproductiveconversationsaboutpolicy.24Forexample,whileamajorityofRepublicansagreedthatclimatechangeishappening,supportdeclinedwhenpolicysolutionswerepresentedasassociatedwithDemocrats.25

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(PhotobyDanKitwood/GettyImageNewsviaGettyImages)

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Thisinabilitytoseethosewithdifferentaffiliationsaspeople,andsubsequentincreaseinadversarialrelationships,hasledtoarapiddeclineincivility.AmajorityofAmericanssaidthatotherAmericanswerethegreatestthreattothecountry,accordingtoaJanuary2021CBSNewspoll.26AccordingtoarecentPoliticosurvey,morepeoplethaneverviewviolenceasjustifiableforpoliticalmeans.27LillianaMason,associateprofessorofGovernmentandPoliticsattheUniversityofMaryland,CollegeParkandauthorofUncivilAgreement:HowPoliticsBecameOurIdentitysaysofpartisanidentitystrength:“Asidentitygrowsstronger,andconflictintensifies,peoplewillbegintoapproveofviolence.”28

Sincethe2016election,Americansaremorelikelytoactivelyendorsetheideaofintergroupviolence—aggressivebehaviorcommittedbyonegroupagainstanotherthatisintendedtocausephysicaland/orpsychologicalharm.29Manylocalleaderssurveyedspecificallypointedtohowpoliticalrhetoricfromournationalleadershasbecomemoreextremeandhostileinthelastfiveyears,andthatmanycitizenshavemodeledthiskindofbehaviorwhenengagingwiththeirlocalleaders.

“Asthingsonthenationallevelstartedtogetmoredivisiveandmorepainful,that’swhenIstartedtoreceivethreats.”

WestWendover,NVMayorDanielCorona

PushbackAgainstInclusive

PoliticalParticipation

Thisisnotthefirsttimeourcountryhasexperiencedasurgeinpolarization.Inresponsetothe1960scivilrightsmovementand1970swomen’srightsmovement,polarizationgrewaroundchanginggroupstatus.30AsAmericadiversifiesacrossreligion,genderandrace/ethnicity,thistoohasbecomeanadditionalpolarizingissueinU.S.politics.31AsthemostrecentlyreleasedCensussuggests,thisgrowingdiversificationisnotslowingdown.32

Despitegrowingcallsformorerepresentativegovernmentatthelocal,stateandfederallevel,theU.S.isfarfromreachinggenderandracialparityamongthosewhoholdoffice.AccordingtoBrianSchaffner,authorofHometownInequality:Race,Class,andRepresentationinAmericanLocalPolitics,AfricanAmericanandLatinxofficialsareelectedtoofficeatalowerratethantheirshareofthepopulationincitiesandtowns.33Acrosscommunities,Whiteofficialstendtomakeupmoreoflocalcityandtowncouncilsthantheyshouldiftheirrepresentationwasproportionaltopopulationshare.34

Althoughsomewhatdated,researchfromDemosin2014showedthatmorethan1.2millionAfricanAmericansin175communitiesacrossthecountryhavecouncilsthatarenotrepresentativeoftheirshareofthepopulation.35TheCenterforAmericanWomenandPoliticsreleasedasurveyin2021showingthatnationwide,womenholdonly30.5percentofmunicipaloffices–mayoraloffices,citycouncilsandothersimilarbodies.36

NLCsurveyresultshighlightthatsurveyedlocalofficialsfeeloppositiontomoreinclusiveandrepresentativepoliticalparticipation.NumerouslocalleadersNLCsurveyedfelttargeteddueinparttotheirvaryingidentitiesaspartoftheLGBTQ+community,aspeopleofcolorand/oraswomen.Thesegroupsarebeingdisproportionatelytargeted,andperpetratorsofharassment,threatsandviolencecapitalizeontheidentitiesofpublicofficials.

NLCsurveyresultshighlightthatsurveyedlocalofficials

feeloppositiontomoreinclusiveandrepresentativepoliticalparticipation.

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Inresponsetothequestion

“Whatdoyouthinkinfluencesorexplainsthisbehavior?,”

SpreadofMis-andDisinformationOnline

SOCIALMEDIA

surveyedmemberssaid:

“NotknowingsomeonepersonallywhoisLGBTQ+,alackofeducationandbias.”

“IthinkthecommunityfeelstriggeredbymebeingLGBTQ+andapersonofcolor.”

“Thepolarizationofourpolitics,aswellasfeelingthatitiseasiertopushwomenaround.”

“IthinkpartofitisthatIamawoman;mymalecounterpartshaven’texperiencedthelevelofaggressionIhaveexperiencedandIhaveheardfrommyfemalecolleagues.Ialsothinkpeopledon’tlikethechangeinleadership(morewomen)andthedirectionthecityismoving.Whenpowerstructureschangeitnolongerservesthedominantculture(males).”

Growingpolarizationandpushbackagainstchangingdemographicsandpowerdynamicsissustainedbytheproliferationandpowerofsocialmedia.Whilesocialmediamaybeviewe