Latest news with #AfricanAmericanMayorsAssociation
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Mayor Van Johnson named African American Mayors Association president
WASHINGTON, D.C. (WSAV) — The African American Mayors Association (AAMA) is proud to announce that Mayor Van R. Johnson II of Savannah, Georgia, has been appointed as President of the national nonprofit organization. Mayor Johnson was officially sworn in on Friday, April 18, at the conclusion of AAMA's annual conference in Washington, DC. 'As we continue to build on the legacy of the African American Mayors Association and advocate for the needs of the over 500 mayors within our growing organization, I am delighted to welcome Mayor Van R. Johnson II as our new President,' said AAMA CEO, Phyllis Dickerson. 'Mayor Johnson's dedication to public service and his innovative approach to city leadership make him a perfect choice to lead our organization into the future. We are eager to support his vision for our member cities and communities. I also want to thank Mayor Steven Reed for his incredible service to our cities and our organization this past year. During his term, Mayor Reed elevated the organization's national profile and expanded its reach through bold initiatives centered on equity and opportunity. He convened AAMA's inaugural Voting Rights Summit in partnership with When We All Vote, brought a delegation of Black mayors to Silicon Valley to forge connections with tech and venture capital leaders, and launched The Forum with the Black Economic Alliance Foundation to accelerate Black economic mobility. 'Serving as President of the African American Mayors Association has been one of the most fulfilling roles I've ever taken on. Together, we advanced bold ideas around economic mobility, fairness, and innovation—because our communities deserve nothing less,' said outgoing AAMA President Mayor Steven Reed. As I pass the baton to Mayor Van Johnson, I do so with pride and optimism. He brings the leadership, passion, and vision needed to take this organization to even greater heights.' Mayor Johnson, a lifelong public servant and leader, has served as Mayor of Savannah since 2020. He is recognized for his commitment to equity, community engagement, and sustainable growth in one of Georgia's most historic cities. Previously, Johnson served four terms as alderman for the Savannah City Council's 1st District. Prior to his election as AAMA President, Mayor Johnson served as the organization's Treasurer and has been an active member of the Board of Trustees. 'I am deeply honored to serve as President of the African American Mayors Association,' said Savannah Mayor Van R. Johnson II. 'I look forward to working alongside my colleagues to advocate for the needs of our cities at the national level. Together, we will continue to address the pressing challenges facing our communities, from public safety and economic opportunity to health equity and infrastructure investment.' During his one-year term as AAMA President, Mayor Johnson plans to focus on strengthening public safety, supporting minority-owned businesses, fostering workforce development, and championing equitable infrastructure investments. He also aims to enhance collaboration with federal partners and drive forward policies that improve quality of life for residents in cities across the country. Mayor Johnson's 2025 AAMA policy priorities are focused on the theme 'Let's Build,' building new relationships, building AAMA's capacity areas and building AAMA's legacy. In addition to announcing its 2025 president, AAMA also approved its Board of Trustees during the Annual Conference: 1st Vice President – Mayor Brandon Scott (Baltimore, MD) 2nd Vice President – Mayor Phillip Jones (Newport News, VA) Treasurer – Mayor Errick Simmons (Greenville, MS) Secretary – Mayor LaToya Cantrell (New Orleans, LA) President Emeritus – Mayor Steven Reed (Montgomery, AL) President Emeritus – Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard (Mt. Vernon, NY) President Emeritus – Mayor Frank Scott, Jr. (Little Rock, AR) Board Member – Mayor Vince Williams (Union City, GA) Board Member – Mayor Eric Adams (New York, NY) Board Member – Mayor Kim Thomas (Richmond Heights, OH) Board Member – Mayor Vi Lyles (Charlotte, NC) Board Member – Mayor Leonardo Williams (Durham, NC) Board Member – Mayor Keith James (West Palm Beach. FL) Board Member – Mayor Victoria Woodards (Tacoma, VA) Board Member – Mayor Bruce Harrell (Seattle, WA) Board Member – Mayor Yadira Ramos-Herbert (New Rochelle, NY) Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
With echoes of Joan Rivers and Kash Patel, Eric Adams lashes out at the media in DC speech
NEW YORK — New York City Mayor Eric Adams delivered a diatribe against perceived critics and the media in a speech Friday morning at the African American Mayors Association, warning politicians in attendance a similar fate could befall them. 'Particularly if you are the first or second Black mayor, you inherit those who are part of an institution who say: 'We are going to wait you out,'' said the mayor, referring to city bureaucrats he believes are deliberately sabotaging his agenda. 'You inherit those who have their own agenda, who have long relationships with the media that they can leak and slip information and make calls on you.' In his speech, Adams accused social service providers of relishing the poverty and poor education in low-income communities because it provided them with lucrative municipal contracts. And he said he was criticized — by whom, it was unclear — for hiring a diverse set of top aides. The mayor went on to lambaste critics who have called the city chaotic despite his accomplishments that he says include Covid recovery, managing the massive influx of asylum-seekers and instilling confidence in bond rating agencies through sound fiscal management. 'The goal we must do as Black mayors, we must identify our own communication mechanism," Adams said, pivoting to a desire to circumvent traditional media. "We can no longer be defined by the eyes of those who have no desire to see or report on the success we have accomplished.' Adams sought to cast his experience atop the nation's largest city as a cautionary tale for Black mayors across the country. But many attendees have not had similarly scandal-scarred tenures. Adams made no explicit mention of law enforcement probes that enveloped his administration, including a five-count bribery indictment federal prosecutors hit him with in September. He is still grappling with the political and financial fallout from that case, which President Donald Trump's administration pushed to get dismissed. That and other corruption cases involving his closest aides — many of whom have left — helped tank his polling numbers as he runs for reelection. The mayor's dyspeptic speech also quoted late comedian Joan Rivers' signature line, 'Can we talk?,' and contained allusions to the 'deep state,' a theory that longtime government employees undermine elected officials they are supposed to serve. Adams has begun to refer to the so-called deep state since promoting 'Government Gangsters,' a book by FBI Director Kash Patel. He held up the memoir at a press conference the day a judge dropped his case, and urged all New Yorkers to read it. He subsequently refused to denounce some of the most controversial parts of the book, including Patel's belief that the committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol riot was a sham. Patel's book alleges a liberal cabal within the Department of Justice has repeatedly targeted GOP officials to help Democrats — mainstream MAGA thinking and conspiracy theory to Democrats. The mayor's claim of political persecution has been undermined by the timing of the investigation and the party affiliation of a former federal prosecutor who briefly led the case. Danielle Sassoon, a Republican and former acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District in New York, called the DOJ's move to dismiss Adams' case a quid-pro-quo and resigned in protest. The mayor has denied her allegations.
Politico
18-04-2025
- Politics
- Politico
With echoes of Joan Rivers and Kash Patel, Eric Adams lashes out at the media in DC speech
NEW YORK — New York City Mayor Eric Adams delivered a diatribe against perceived critics and the media in a speech Friday morning at the African American Mayors Association, warning politicians in attendance a similar fate could befall them. 'Particularly if you are the first or second Black mayor, you inherit those who are part of an institution who say: 'We are going to wait you out,'' said the mayor, referring to city bureaucrats he believes are deliberately sabotaging his agenda. 'You inherit those who have their own agenda, who have long relationships with the media that they can leak and slip information and make calls on you.' In his speech, Adams accused social service providers of relishing the poverty and poor education in low-income communities because it provided them with lucrative municipal contracts. And he said he was criticized — by whom, it was unclear — for hiring a diverse set of top aides. The mayor went on to lambaste critics who have called the city chaotic despite his accomplishments that he says include Covid recovery, managing the massive influx of asylum-seekers and instilling confidence in bond rating agencies through sound fiscal management. 'The goal we must do as Black mayors, we must identify our own communication mechanism,' Adams said, pivoting to a desire to circumvent traditional media. 'We can no longer be defined by the eyes of those who have no desire to see or report on the success we have accomplished.' Adams sought to cast his experience atop the nation's largest city as a cautionary tale for Black mayors across the country. But many attendees have not had similarly scandal-scarred tenures. Adams made no explicit mention of law enforcement probes that enveloped his administration, including a five-count bribery indictment federal prosecutors hit him with in September. He is still grappling with the political and financial fallout from that case, which President Donald Trump's administration pushed to get dismissed. That and other corruption cases involving his closest aides — many of whom have left — helped tank his polling numbers as he runs for reelection. The mayor's dyspeptic speech also quoted late comedian Joan Rivers' signature line, 'Can we talk?,' and contained allusions to the 'deep state,' a theory that longtime government employees undermine elected officials they are supposed to serve. Adams has begun to refer to the so-called deep state since promoting 'Government Gangsters,' a book by FBI Director Kash Patel. He held up the memoir at a press conference the day a judge dropped his case, and urged all New Yorkers to read it. He subsequently refused to denounce some of the most controversial parts of the book, including Patel's belief that the committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol riot was a sham . Patel's book alleges a liberal cabal within the Department of Justice has repeatedly targeted GOP officials to help Democrats — mainstream MAGA thinking and conspiracy theory to Democrats. The mayor's claim of political persecution has been undermined by the timing of the investigation and the party affiliation of a former federal prosecutor who briefly led the case. Danielle Sassoon, a Republican and former acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District in New York, called the DOJ's move to dismiss Adams' case a quid-pro-quo and resigned in protest. The mayor has denied her allegations.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
City of Savannah receives $125,000 grant to expand nutrition access
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) — The City of Savannah has received a $125,000 grant from the African American Mayors Association (AAMA) focused on access to healthy foods. The grant was awarded in partnership with the American Beverage Foundation for a Healthy America to support local initiatives that promote health food access, improvements to nutrition education and address affordability in underserved communities. Savannah is among seven cities nationwide selected in four categories through a competitive application process recognizing innovative, equity-driven public health strategies. A total of $600,000 in grants were issued this year. This year, New Orleans, La. and Savannah received $125,000 in the mid-size city category. Atlanta, Ga. was selected in the large-size city category, receiving $175,000. 'We have to create opportunities as a loving and just community to ensure that all young people have access to clean, good, healthy food,' Mayor Van R. Johnson, II said. 'I am so grateful, and I thank the American Beverage Foundation for a Healthy America and my beloved African American Mayors Association for helping us to be Savannah strong.' The grant announcement took place during the African American Mayors Association National Conference in Washington, D.C., April 16-18. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Governor Landry backs bill to crack down on insurance rates
NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — Governor Jeff Landry testified in support of House Bill 576 this morning, calling for major changes to how insurance companies do business in Louisiana. The bill would give the state more control over what insurance companies can charge, specifically granting the insurance commissioner greater authority to reject auto insurance rate hikes that are deemed excessive, unfair or discriminatory. Landry said the legislation is meant to remove roadblocks that have prevented meaningful rate regulation in the past—including lengthy hearings, unclear burdens of proof and automatic rollbacks of competitive market designations. Meet the man in charge of the beautiful landscaping at The Windsor Court 'I want our insurance commissioner to be successful,' Landry said. 'I really believe that there's not one person in this room, or in this state, that doesn't want him and that department to be successful. However, we are consistently top three in the nation in the highest auto insurance rates in the country.' Supporters say it's about holding insurance companies accountable and protecting consumers, however, critics, including Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple, warn the bill could actually backfire, pushing insurers out of the state, shrinking competition, and driving prices even higher. Right now, the average cost of car insurance in Louisiana is nearly $4,000 a year—more than double the national average. Homeowners are feeling it even more, with premiums nearing $14,000 annually. Mayor LaToya Cantrell to attend African American Mayors Association conference in D.C. The bill comes in response to a shrinking insurance market, a problem made worse by years of devastating hurricanes that forced many insurers to leave the state. That's left Louisiana residents with fewer options and skyrocketing premiums. 'Insurance companies continue to report record profits. I am going to beg y'all to stop the circus,' Landry said. The 2025 Regular Legislative Session must adjourn by Thursday, June Landry backs bill to crack down on insurance rates WATCH: Southeastern baseball coach Bobby Barbier previews series vs. UTRGV Meet the man in charge of the beautiful landscaping at The Windsor Court Drugs found in squash at South Texas port of entry, CBP says NFL Draft Analyst Matt Miller breaks down the New Orleans Saints' first round options Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
