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Update: Sunday, Jan. 19, 10:50 a.m.
This is my final update! Thanks for following our coverage throughout the weekend.
Update: Sunday, Jan. 19, 10:30 a.m.
Mitchell speaks about climate on a panel about the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ 2025 priorities.
Update: Sunday, Jan. 19, 9:20 a.m.
The mayors of Syracuse, Tempe, and Noblesville are talking about grants they received through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. In New Bedford, that package has helped fund planning for the city’s waterfront paths and lead pipe replacements.
Update: Sunday, Jan. 19, 9 a.m.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson kicks off the final plenary session, calling mayors “the hardest working elected leaders on the planet.”
I spotted Mayor Mitchell having breakfast earlier, though I don’t see him in the room right now
The conference’s final session is about to begin.
Update: Sunday, Jan. 19, 8:40 a.m.
It’ll be a short day today, with one morning session. Stay tuned to find out what Mayor Mitchell learned.
Update: Saturday, Jan. 18, 5:45 p.m.
It was a busy day for Mitchell, both in D.C. and back at home in New Bedford.
Update: Saturday, Jan. 18, 5:25 p.m.
After the final panel of the day, Mitchell was getting calls from Vineyard Wind leaders about the Biden Administration’s decision to lift the wind project’s suspension order.
Mitchell said that most things he heard at this afternoon’s panels on gun violence and hate were important, but not news to him.
Asked what was the most interesting thing he heard today, he referred to an earlier panel on climate.
“It’s been diminished as a political issue because some people are fatigued about hearing it,” he said.
The mayor said he learned about better ways to message on climate by keeping messages relevant and fact-based — and not coming across as a “smarty pants” about it.
Update: Saturday, Jan. 18, 4:50 p.m.
To end the day, Mitchell attended a panel on hate and extremism. Expert panelists gave an overview of the increase in antisemitism, Islamophobia, far-right anti-immigrant sentiment, and violence on college campuses.
Mitchell said it’s important to acknowledge the Jewish community’s fears of violence.
“When people are upset, you gotta show up and have their back,” he said.
He jokingly added: “I am a golem of New Bedford,” likening himself to a servant creature in Jewish mythology.
Update: Saturday, Jan. 18, 3:47 p.m.
Mayor Mitchell went to a panel on reducing gun violence.
Experts shared tips on resources cities can use to improve public safety — like federal grants. One panelist gave tips on how mayors can better communicate what they’re doing to reduce crime. Another panelist from Everytown for Gun Safety highlighted gun control measures aimed at reducing violence.
Update: Saturday, Jan. 18, 1:50 p.m.
Attendees are having lunch, hearing presentations from more sponsors. Next, the superintendent of West Point brought some cadets onstage to speak about character.
Can you spot Mayor Mitchell in the photo below? I can!
Update: Saturday, Jan. 18, 12:10 p.m.
This breakout session on the incoming Trump Administration’s immigration policy was very well attended — standing room only, even after they brought in more chairs. Mexico’s ambassador to the U.S. Esteban Moctezuma Barragán said the two countries face the same challenges and opportunities.
“Cooperation, not conflict, will make our nations stronger,” he said
Update: Saturday, Jan. 18, 11:10 a.m.
In the hallway outside the breakout rooms, Mayor Mitchell said he’s been remotely managing the city’s snowstorm prep and State Pier matters this morning. He was waiting to meet with another conference attendee — he declined to say who it was.
Mitchell said many of the conversations he has at conferences are more important than the sessions themselves. Some mayors prefer to meet with him confidentially, he added.
A snowstorm in New Bedford is forecasted for Sunday night. An inch of accumulation is expected.
Update: Saturday, Jan. 18, 10:37 a.m.
At this panel, mayors are talking about the results of their national housing survey. Most mayors who responded said that the crisis is severe, and many are taking action.
The Light has asked the city to provide a copy of New Bedford’s survey response.
Update: Saturday, Jan. 18, 10:26 a.m.
Time for breakout sessions! Still looking for Mayor Mitchell …
Update: Saturday, Jan. 18, 9:55 a.m.
The housing shortage and high housing costs continue to be a focus today. Land use and zoning policies decide what you can build where, and that’s mainly a local policy issue.
A Pew expert explained that cities building more homes have seen lower price increases. Some cities even saw rents go down.
New Bedford has already started making many of the policy changes recommended, like streamlining permitting processes and allowing more multifamily and mixed-use construction.
Update: Saturday, Jan. 18, 9:45 a.m.
So far this morning, mayors heard from:
• The mayors of Tulsa and Denver on their workforce development programs
• The mayor of Lviv, Ukraine, on how the Russian invasion has impacted his city
• Business partners from Wells Fargo and Target
• A panel sponsored by Starbucks with mayors (and a Starbucks representative), on economic development. Mayors’ strategies included small business pop-ups, infrastructure improvements in underserved communities, and partnerships with larger corporations (such as Starbucks). Starbucks gift cards were given out at many tables.
Update: Saturday, Jan. 18, 8:50 a.m.
Today’s opening session is about business. I haven’t seen Mayor Mitchell yet, but lots of attendees are still grabbing breakfast and streaming in.
Update: Saturday, Jan. 18, 8:20 a.m.
More updates coming for day two of the conference!
Update: Friday, Jan. 17, 5:20 p.m.
Day 1 is complete. Mayors learn from other mayors.
Update: Friday, Jan. 17, 5:10 p.m.
It’s the end of conference day one, and here’s Mayor Mitchell’s message from D.C. to his constituents in New Bedford:
“I think people need to hear that I spend my time here working very hard for New Bedford.”
Update: Friday, Jan. 17, 4:10 p.m.
Mayor Jon Mitchell told the panel about New Bedford’s plans to use geothermal energy in the to-be-constructed Congdon-DeValles School in the South End.
“The thing about geothermal is, it works,” he said, because it lasts long and lowers energy costs.
Update: Friday, Jan. 17, 3:45 p.m.
Mayor Mitchell is sitting on a panel about clean energy tax credits.
Update: Friday, Jan. 17, 3 p.m.
A reporter walks into a mayors’ conference …
Update: Friday, Jan. 17, 2:40 p.m.
I caught up with Mayor Mitchell after Biden spoke.
“The mayors of America have a strong working relationship with President Biden,” he said.
Mitchell had just returned from “the usual round on Capitol Hill,” meeting with Sen. Ed Markey to discuss:
• The downtown federal building
• NOAA’s future headquarters
• Offshore wind and fishing
• Port infrastructure
He said he also met with America250 to talk about how New Bedford can participate in the country’s 250th birthday next year.
Update: Friday, Jan. 17, 2:30 p.m.
President Joe Biden describes America in one word: Possibility.
The outgoing president touted accomplishments of his administration such as the American Rescue Plan Act climate investments, and efforts to lower prescription drug costs.
Biden received a standing ovation when he declared that the Equal Rights Amendment is now “the law of the land.”
Update: Friday, Jan. 17, 2:10 p.m.
The U.S. Conference of Mayors presented President Biden with its Distinguished Public Service Award, its highest honor.
Update: Friday, Jan. 17, 1:30 p.m.
Harvard housing expert Dr. Chris Herbert gave a presentation on housing affordability — a problem New Bedford knows well. He told the mayors that the country isn’t building enough homes to keep up with household formation. That has caused prices to rise faster than incomes.
Update: Friday, Jan. 17, 1:15 p.m.
Mayor Mitchell in the crowd.
Update: Friday, Jan. 17, 1:10 p.m.
The mayors of Scranton, Pennsylvania and Atlanta, Georgia spoke at a panel on food insecurity. They advocated for PUBLIC-private partnerships with food retailers and expanding federal food security programs like SNAP.
Update: Friday, Jan. 17, 12:40 p.m.
A big priority for mayors this year is housing — they want the federal government to provide more flexible funding directly to cities to build more homes. Here’s why the organization is coming together to make that push.
Update: Friday, Jan. 17, 11:10 a.m.
Breakout sessions are underway. Mayor Mitchell is scheduled to speak at a clean energy panel this afternoon, but right now he’s left the conference on his way to Capitol Hill to talk with Sen. Ed Markey about New Bedford’s downtown federal building and airport funding.
“He’s also monitoring matters back home, including preparing remarks for his address at Sunday’s MLK celebration, and keeping tabs on the potential snow situation heading into the weekend,” according to an email from the city’s public information officer.
Update: Friday, Jan. 17, 10:25 a.m.
Former Mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg makes his final official appearance as a Biden Administration official.
Buttigieg touted thousands of federally funded infrastructure projects happening across the country. Partnerships with mayors helped make that happen, he said.
“Today, every form of U.S. transportation is in better form than we got it.”
The secretary called on mayors to unite their “diverse and divided” communities by building trust.
“The community of mayors is about to matter more than ever.”
Update: Friday, Jan. 17, 10 a.m.
Mayor Jon Mitchell spotted.
Update: Friday, Jan. 18, 9:55 a.m.
U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy talks about loneliness and parenthood. He says drivers of fulfillment — relationships, purpose, and service — are missing from many Americans’ lives. “Hustle culture” doesn’t bring lasting fulfillment and it’s a driver of unhappiness, he said.
“It is up to us to rebuild community in the country we love. Mayors have a special role to play here,” Murthy said. He received a standing ovation as he finished speaking.
Update: Friday, Jan. 18, 9:43 a.m.
Hundreds of mayors, city officials, and other attendees are here. The opening session has covered a lot of topics so far, including supporting small businesses and advocating for federal resources. They also announced an upcoming Google initiative aimed at “modernizing city services” with AI.
Update: Friday, Jan. 18, 9:15 a.m.
The opening session is underway.
Update: Friday, Jan. 18, 8:55 a.m.
There’s an extra long security line because Biden is going to be here.
Update: Friday, Jan. 18, 8:35 a.m.
It’s about to begin, and one of today’s highlights will be a special speaker.
Thursday, Jan. 17: Headed to D.C.
The mayor needs to forcefully push back on Trump’s nonsense about “windmills” causing whale deaths.
Don’t forget to ask Mayor Mitchell, and Governor Healy to lower the electricity rates for Massachusettes residential & commercial rate payers, and ask them why Massachusetts has the fifth highest electricity rates in America, then ask them to push back on that nonsense when you find out that offshore wind power will increase the cost of electricity rates in Massachusetts because the private investors who financed offshore wind want the return on their investment.
I’ve been homeless since 2022 , I’m disabled and still recovering from brain surgery , I’ve done everything to apply for new Bedford housing and they keep kicking me to bottom of the list they won’t even see you for a appointment not everyone has WiFi to get online I live in a truck no bathroom,water, electricity. Can you please help. I’ve voted for you. Affordable housing fixed income thankfully you can help
Christine, l am sorry so to hear,understand. I am elderly and been living in camper for 2 years. Applied for housing 2 half years ago and still waiting? My prayers go out Linda
Also babysitting my grandson and getting him back and forth to school. I’m 58 years old.
Mayor Mitchell instead of traveling, you should be here focusing on City Business. Since the he took over from Mayor Lang, he has grown city government and doubled the city budget.
Soon it will be budget time again and this is a critical year for New Bedford Taxpayers, with no new revenue coming in (private companies contributing to the tax base) and the budget continuing to expand, come next November taxes will surely go up again unless something is done.
To Mayor Mitchell and the City Council, New Bedford needs your help, the city budget needs major reform, spending needs to be stopped, government expansion needs to be stopped, and cuts are needed to be made across the board in all departments to provide relief to the taxpayers, home owners, and small business owners of New Bedford.
Anyone else think this is creepy? How much is NB Light wasting on trips to stalk Jon Mitchell at some mayor thing? Didn’t realize they were rolling in cash- wouldn’t it be cheaper to just dig through his trash for dirt?
I am not a big fan of Mayor Mitchell, but he is right about going to conferences. You can not learn if you do not leave your bubble to seek the knowledge of others.
Grace did an excellent job reporting on the Mayor Conference in DC. Thank you Grace!