Progress on all Scales
Green New Deal (GND) work is taking place at all levels, from the Federal GND legislation and GND4Cities, to regional coalitions in Appalachia and the South, to efforts in state legislatures and GND platforms for cities and towns. Each scale of engagement comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages: regional coalitions can rally around shared identities and aggregate resources, but are farther removed from frontline communities; efforts at the state level must reconcile urban and rural priorities but are crucial for freeing up funds and passing progressive legislation; and municipal level efforts benefit from being more nimble and participatory but often lack the funding mechanisms and legal authority to enact GND policies. By synchronizing their efforts and energies for maximum impact, each scale can accelerate progress toward truly transformative change. This section provides resources on the powers and limitations of cities, how municipalities can advocate at the state and national levels, and how regional coalitions can support localized solutions.
In many states, all municipal power — from levying new taxes to instituting building mandates — is derived from the state government, so local authority is limited by state laws and regulations. However, there are still many ways that cities can utilize their existing powers like issuing bonds, planning, zoning, procurement, and the allocation of city investments to promote green goals. This section includes resources that enumerate the powers that can be most useful for GND efforts at the city level.
Cities as Leaders
The Boston Green New Deal reports Cities as Leaders section illuminates both the importance of city governments taking leadership and the key levers of power possessed by most city governments to create transformative change.
Unmasking the Hidden Power of Cities
Unmasking the Hidden Power of Cities is a report that identifies seven core legal powers of local governments, steps for taking advantage of these powers, and strategies for combating state preemption.
What is New Municipalism
New municipalism is a nascent global social movement aiming to democratically transform the local state and economy. New municipalism is situated in its geographical, political-economic and historical contexts, by comparison with earlier waves of municipal socialism and international municipalism, arguing that it re-politicises traditions of transnationalism, based not on post-political policymobilities but on urban solidarities in contesting neoliberal austerity urbanism and platform capitalism.
Cities 101 — Delegation of Power
NLC provides resources to ensure Congress and the Administration partner with local governments and make local issues a priority in federal policy. This article covers some of the powers of cities through delegation.
