2015 Menino Survey of Mayors

The 2015 Menino Survey of Mayors represents the second nationally representative survey of American mayors released by the Boston University Initiatives on Cities. The Survey, based on interviews with 89 sitting mayors conducted in 2015, provides insight into mayoral priorities, policy views and relationships with their key partners, including other levels of government. Sitting mayors shared insight on their specific infrastructure needs and spending priorities, from roads and transit to water treatment and bike lanes, and reacted to police reforms proposed by the White House. They also shed light on the difficult choices they must often make, to promote affordable housing or improve the fiscal health of their city. A significant portion of the Survey is devoted to mayoral leadership, including areas of mayoral control and constituent approval, as well as constraints they confront under increasingly politicized and polarized state legislatures.Cit

Mayoral views on housing production: do planning goals match reality?

Mayoral Views on Housing Production: Do Planning Goals Match Reality? evaluates mayoral priorities relative to actual need. Based on our analysis, even the most ambitious mayors are not prioritizing sufficient development necessary to meet the demand for housing and to address the affordability crisis. The authors recommend reforming local zoning codes and reducing regulatory barriers to the construction of multifamily housing to help address this shortfall.Citi Community Development and The Rockefeller Foundatio

2017 Menino Survey of Mayors Final Report

Report on research findings.The 2017 Menino Survey of Mayors represents the fourth scientifically rigorous and nationally representative survey of American mayors released by the Boston University Initiatives on Cities. The Menino Survey, based on interviews with 115 sitting mayors conducted in 2017, provides insight into mayoral priorities, policy views and relationships with their key partners, including other levels of government. Researchers spoke with mayors about a range of topics including affordable housing, climate change, city-to-city networks, and data-driven decision-making

As the Trump administration retreats on climate change, US cities are moving forward

This article was originally published in "The Conversation" on February 20, 2018. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/as-the-trump-administration-retreats-on-climate-change-us-cities-are-moving-forward-91612https://theconversation.com/as-the-trump-administration-retreats-on-climate-change-us-cities-are-moving-forward-91612Published versio

2016 Menino Survey of Mayors Final Report

Report on research findings.The 2016 Menino Survey of Mayors represents the third scientifically rigorous and nationally representative survey of American mayors released by the Boston University Initiatives on Cities. The Menino Survey, based on interviews with 102 sitting mayors conducted in 2016, provides insight into mayoral priorities, policy views and relationships with their key partners, including other levels of government. This year's research was largely focused on Mayors' "people priorities" on subjects like poverty, immigration, inclusion, and city image. Mayors also discussed the impact of the 2016 presidential election on their cities and their hopes for the Trump administration.Cit

How exposure to conspiracy theories can reduce trust in government.

Conspiracy theories are not new – from theories about the assassination of President John F. Kennedy to concerns that 9/11 might have been an ‘inside job’, alternative explanations about important events have an appeal to many parts of the population. In new research, Katherine Levine Einstein and David M. Glick find that people who are exposed to conspiracy theories tend to trust government less. In light of these findings, they argue that the media and scholars need to think more carefully about how the reporting of conspiracy theories shapes people’s relationship with democracy

None of the remedies to political misinformation and voter ignorance are perfect, but they are worth trying

Recent events in America show that voters are increasingly the victim of misinformation, especially over issues such as President Obama’s birth certificate and the Affordable Care Act. Here, Jennifer Hochschild and Katherine Levine Einstein show that misinformation is rife in America, and propose a number of smaller remedies to at least help improve voter literacy and counter ignorance

Mayoral views on racism and discrimination

"Mayoral Views on Racism and Discrimination" details a snapshot of the current state of discrimination and equity as seen by America’s mayors. It also provides examples and strategies for how mayors across the country are addressing these issues.This report, which draws on data from the 2017 Menino Survey of Mayors, explores how mayors of medium-sized and large cities understand race, discrimination and equity in their communities and on a national level. The report cites three key findings: 1) Mayors believe that the four groups most discriminated against in their cities and across the country are immigrants, transgender individuals, black people and Muslims. In relation to these group and others, mayors perceive far more discrimination in the country as a whole than in their own communities. 2) Mayors believe that access to public services is significantly better for white people than for people of color, except for subsidized housing. More than half of all mayors report that white people have better access to jobs, educational opportunities, housing and healthcare, and are treated better by police and the courts. 3) While mayors see disparities in access to services, they overwhelmingly believe that the quality of services is largely equal across different groups of people, except for educational services, which they think is worse for people of color. The report also highlights several successful initiatives that cities, including Anaheim, Boston, Louisville and New Orleans, have undertaken in combating discrimination.The Rockefeller Foundatio

2019 Menino Survey of Mayors

The 2019 Menino Survey of Mayors represents the sixth nationally representative survey of American mayors and is based on interviews with 119 sitting mayors from 38 states. The 2019 Survey explores mayoral views on issues ranging from infrastructure and transportation priorities — including mobility and public safety — to the changing nature of work. The 2019 Survey also provides the first in-depth examination of mayors’ reactions to and expectations for the Opportunity Zones program, a significant new federal initiative to stimulate urban development. The 2019 Survey continues with the support of Citi Community Development and The Rockefeller Foundation.Citi Community Development and The Rockefeller Foundatio

Menino Survey of Mayors 2018 Results

Report on research findings.The 2018 Menino Survey of Mayors represents the fifth scientifically rigorous and nationally representative survey of American mayors released by the Boston University Initiatives on Cities and supported by Citi Community Development and The Rockefeller Foundation. The Survey, based on interviews with 110 sitting mayors conducted in 2018, reveals mayoral views on economic development—including corporate recruitment, financial incentives, the sharing economy, and social mobility—as well as public health, housing, and intergovernmental relations.Citi Community Development and The Rockefeller Foundatio