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Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Local officials are looking for ways to keep political polarization at bay
Local officials are looking for ways to keep political polarization at bay as it continues to rage around them in the wider world, according to a new survey by the nonprofit research organization CivicPulse. Just under a third of local government leaders who took part in the survey, which was commissioned by the Carnegie Corporation of New York and released Tuesday, said political polarization negatively affects their communities "a great deal" or "a lot" — matching the 31% who said the same in an earlier survey by the nonprofit groups before the 2024 election. While their perceptions have held steady, local officials are seeking new ways to prevent what 83% of them called the substantial harmful impact of polarization on the nation from seeping into their communities. The survey of nearly 1,300 community leaders from around the country, conducted from January through March, is the second in a three-part series on the local impact of political polarization. The results, drawn from municipalities of a few thousand people to tens of thousands, again suggest local governments — especially in smaller communities — are more insulated from the negative effects of polarization than state and national ones. Still, the responses showed that local leaders believe the negative community impact hasn't subsided even after the conclusion of last year's heated election, driving a variety of mitigation efforts. They include focusing on hyperlocal policy areas that the public, regardless of party affiliation, can agree on; emphasizing neutral language, evidence and community benefits in communications; hosting community events to raise awareness of what local government is doing; and introducing volunteering opportunities and civics education. 'The finding that perceptions of political polarization are slow to change confirms the need for sustained commitments,' Louise Richardson, president of the Carnegie Corporation, said in a statement. 'Evidently local government leaders are looking for ways to foster more cohesive environments, and in so doing are providing examples for other communities.' Just under half of respondents, or 48%, said they choose to devote their time to policy topics that universally affect the community, like infrastructure, housing and public safety, to avoid potential politicization. Local leaders said that when opinions on topics could fall along national party lines, they try to reframe the issues to lessen any divisiveness, with 57% reporting they considered the challenges of polarization in deciding how to communicate about their work. James Hely, a Town Council member in Westfield, New Jersey, provided one example. He said that he and the mayor favor building affordable housing in their community but that the term can be politically charged. "You have to be very liberal to say I want the town to have a lot of affordable housing," said Hely, a Democrat. Instead, he reframes the issue to focus on local control of zoning. That's because New Jersey enacted a law, known as the "builder's remedy," that allows developers to sue municipalities to build affordable housing when such accommodations are lacking, sometimes overriding local zoning restrictions and the community's wishes. "Rather than say we want to make sure we have affordable housing, you turn that around to say, one, we want to stop the builder's remedy; we want to prevent builders from coming in and crashing our zoning code," he said. In addition to reframing potentially polarizing topics, council members typically stick to an agenda that focuses on hyperlocal issues, Hely said. 'I counted up the votes that are put before the Town Council,' he said. 'About 98% to 99% [of the votes] there's 100% unanimity, because it just involves how much do you pay the police and how many traffic lights we need — things have nothing to do with ideology.' Hely, whose Town Council consists of five Democrats and four Republicans, said partisan political rhetoric is seen as counterproductive on the council and is considered off-limits when community issues are discussed. 'On the formal Town Council meetings, if anyone were to say, you know, 'Trump is evil' or anything critical on the national level, you'd be seen as out of bounds,' he said. 'You know — why are you talking about that? We're here to solve local problems.' Zoe Warner, a member of the Malvern Borough Council in Pennsylvania, echoed Hely. She said it's easier for council members to do their work when their constituents understand 'we don't have control over those larger issues' that plague discussions of national politics, such as immigration or cuts to federal agencies. 'So [we're] trying to work together to find solutions for things that we really do have control over, like a building going up,' despite potential disagreements over things like the potential impact on traffic congestion, said Warner, a Democrat. The things that help enlist community support are 'being transparent about it, providing as much information, having the developer meet with these people, trying to find as much common ground as we can," she said. Forty-four percent of the survey respondents also cited long-term volunteering opportunities as a way to fight polarization in local communities, while 38% of the school board officials surveyed described civics education as helpful. Still others said staying connected with residents is key. Forty-six percent of local leaders said hosting community events 'strongly' or 'somewhat' decreased the negative effects of polarization. A high proportion also pointed to other methods of engagement as effective, such as hosting open meetings, holding informal office and coffee hours (where residents meet with leaders in informal settings) and inviting people to participate in things like budget planning by joining special commissions. 'It's really quite simple,' said Jon Keeney, the mayor of Taylor Lake Village, Texas. 'I am and my council are 100% transparent. There's not anything that's done behind closed doors in the city.' Keeney said that while he has been active in the Texas Republican Party for a long time, he has never let those political beliefs affect his agenda for the city. 'I have both Democrats, Republicans and actually independents on my council, and I could care less what their ideology is,' he said. He added: 'I never tried to influence any of my council members on what I put on the agenda in terms of how they would vote. So there's no backroom stuff going on in that respect.' Carleigh Beriont, a Democratic town selectwoman in Hampton, New Hampshire, agreed with the survey's findings that community engagement is critical. 'Listening is just really key," Beriont said. "Like, the more I've listened to residents, the more I've come to understand that their views are not really represented by partisan ideology, right? 'I really do think that listening and being humble and organizing people in the community can be a great way to get things done,' she added. 'I'm not making decisions that I think will benefit my Democratic neighbors or my Republican neighbors. I try to make decisions that I know will benefit as many people as possible and be as transparent and accountable and open to exchange as I can be.' This article was originally published on
NBC News
20-05-2025
- Politics
- NBC News
Amid continued political polarization, local leaders seek out the best ways to mitigate
Local officials are looking for ways to keep political polarization at bay as it continues to rage around them in the wider world, according to a new survey by the nonprofit research organization CivicPulse that was commissioned by the Carnegie Corporation of New York. Just under a third of local government leaders who took part in the survey, which was released Tuesday, said political polarization negatively affects their communities "a great deal" or "a lot" — matching the 31% who said the same in an earlier survey by the nonprofit groups before the 2024 election. While their perceptions have held steady, local officials are seeking new ways to prevent what 83% of them called the substantial harmful impact of polarization on the nation from seeping into their communities. The survey of nearly 1,300 community leaders from around the country, conducted from January through March, is the second in a three-part series on the local impact of political polarization. The results, drawn from municipalities of a few thousand people to tens of thousands, again suggest local governments — especially in smaller communities — are more insulated from the negative effects of polarization than state and national ones. Still, the responses showed that local leaders believe the negative community impact hasn't subsided even after the conclusion of last year's heated election, driving a variety of mitigation efforts. They include focusing on hyperlocal policy areas that the public, regardless of party affiliation, can agree on; emphasizing neutral language, evidence and community benefits in communications; hosting community events to raise awareness of what local government is doing; and introducing volunteering opportunities and civics education. 'The finding that perceptions of political polarization are slow to change confirms the need for sustained commitments,' Louise Richardson, president of the Carnegie Corporation, said in a statement. 'Evidently local government leaders are looking for ways to foster more cohesive environments, and in so doing are providing examples for other communities.' Choosing topics to transcend polarization Just under half of respondents, or 48%, said they choose to devote their time to policy topics that universally affect the community, like infrastructure, housing and public safety, to avoid potential politicization. Local leaders said that when opinions on topics could fall along national party lines, they try to reframe the issues to lessen any divisiveness, with 57% reporting they considered the challenges of polarization in deciding how to communicate about their work. James Hely, a Town Council member in Westfield, New Jersey, provided one example. He said that he and the mayor favor building affordable housing in their community but that the term can be politically charged. "You have to be very liberal to say I want the town to have a lot of affordable housing," said Hely, a Democrat. Instead, he reframes the issue to focus on local control of zoning. That's because New Jersey enacted a law, known as the "builder's remedy," that allows developers to sue municipalities to build affordable housing when such accommodations are lacking, sometimes overriding local zoning restrictions and the community's wishes. "Rather than say we want to make sure we have affordable housing, you turn that around to say, one, we want to stop the builder's remedy; we want to prevent builders from coming in and crashing our zoning code," he said. In addition to reframing potentially polarizing topics, council members typically stick to an agenda that focuses on hyperlocal issues, Hely said. 'I counted up the votes that are put before the Town Council,' he said. 'About 98% to 99% [of the votes] there's 100% unanimity, because it just involves how much do you pay the police and how many traffic lights we need — things have nothing to do with ideology.' Hely, whose Town Council consists of five Democrats and four Republicans, said partisan political rhetoric is seen as counterproductive on the council and is considered off-limits when community issues are discussed. 'On the formal Town Council meetings, if anyone were to say, you know, 'Trump is evil' or anything critical on the national level, you'd be seen as out of bounds,' he said. 'You know — why are you talking about that? We're here to solve local problems.' Zoe Warner, a member of the Malvern Borough Council in Pennsylvania, echoed Hely. She said it's easier for council members to do their work when their constituents understand 'we don't have control over those larger issues' that plague discussions of national politics, such as immigration or cuts to federal agencies. 'So [we're] trying to work together to find solutions for things that we really do have control over, like a building going up,' despite potential disagreements over things like the potential impact on traffic congestion, said Warner, a Democrat. The things that help enlist community support are 'being transparent about it, providing as much information, having the developer meet with these people, trying to find as much common ground as we can," she said. Public engagement is critical, respondents say Forty-four percent of the survey respondents also cited long-term volunteering opportunities as a way to fight polarization in local communities, while 38% of the school board officials surveyed described civics education as helpful. Still others said staying connected with residents is key. Forty-six percent of local leaders said hosting community events 'strongly' or 'somewhat' decreased the negative effects of polarization. A high proportion also pointed to other methods of engagement as effective, such as hosting open meetings, holding informal office and coffee hours (where residents meet with leaders in informal settings) and inviting people to participate in things like budget planning by joining special commissions. 'It's really quite simple,' said Jon Keeney, the mayor of Taylor Lake Village, Texas. 'I am and my council are 100% transparent. There's not anything that's done behind closed doors in the city.' Keeney said that while he has been active in the Texas Republican Party for a long time, he has never let those political beliefs affect his agenda for the city. 'I have both Democrats, Republicans and actually independents on my council, and I could care less what their ideology is,' he said. He added: 'I never tried to influence any of my council members on what I put on the agenda in terms of how they would vote. So there's no backroom stuff going on in that respect.' Carleigh Beriont, a Democratic town selectwoman in Hampton, New Hampshire, agreed with the survey's findings that community engagement is critical. 'Listening is just really key," Beriont said. "Like, the more I've listened to residents, the more I've come to understand that their views are not really represented by partisan ideology, right? 'I really do think that listening and being humble and organizing people in the community can be a great way to get things done,' she added. 'I'm not making decisions that I think will benefit my Democratic neighbors or my Republican neighbors. I try to make decisions that I know will benefit as many people as possible and be as transparent and accountable and open to exchange as I can be.'
Boston Globe
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
‘Superheroes are not born in quiet times': BC graduates enter a turbulent world with a call to lead
'You look resplendent in your brightly-colored maroon and gold robes, rather like superheroes with capes,' the Irish-born scholar and philanthropist told thegraduates seated beneath brightskies , their gowns billowing behind them. 'This is not an idle comparison,' said Richardson, the first woman to lead the New York-based philanthropic foundation. '...As freshly-minted graduates, you are the new guardians of this galaxy.' Dame Louise Richardson, president of the Carnegie Corporation in New York, received a honorary degree from BC President William P. Leahy. David L. Ryan/Globe Staff Richardson, a terrorism expert, was the first woman vice chancellor at Oxford University in England and at St. Andrews University in Scotland. BC awarded her an honorary doctorate on Monday. The students are poised to start their careers in an era of unprecedented uncertainty. In recent months, the Trump administration has moved to slash scientific research funding, shrink the the federal workforce, and provoke a global trade war. Advertisement In her address, Richardson pointed to broader international concerns, such as 'clouds of misinformation' and the mounting challenges of climate change. 'Superheroes are not born in quiet times,' Richardson said. 'As new graduates going out into a difficult world, unstable and divisive and in need of fresh ideas... with you lies the burden of difficult responsibility. With you a marvelous universe of infinite possibility.' During the nearly 90 minute ceremony, families cheered as graduates' faces appeared on the jumbotron, bright with excitement as they waved and embraced one another. Advertisement BC, run by the Society of Jesus, is the largest Catholic university in New England. The school, whose sports teams are known as the Eagles, has long instilled in its students a mission of service. The university's president, the Rev. William P. Leahy, called on the class of 2025 to become 'engaged citizens and to use their talents to help transform existing issues,' from age-old problems like violence and poverty to contemporary conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, Haiti, and Sudan. Graduates held on to their caps during gusty winds at the BC commencement. David L. Ryan/Globe Staff 'You graduates of Boston College are more needed today than ever,' he said. 'I pray that you strive to be forces for good and powerful examples for those around you.' Abby Duffy, 21, of Wellesley, who graduated Monday with a degree in criminal and social justice, said the Jesuit philosophy of 'It's about reaching out, bridging divides, and supporting those in need,' said Duffy, who plans to attend law school at the University of California-Irvine in the fall. Meghan Heckelman, 22, of Mineola, N.Y., who earned degrees in political science and applied psychology and human development, said BC 'inspired me to always put people at the center of my work.' A family huddled under an umbrella providing shade while seated in the bleachers at Alumni Stadium. David L. Ryan/Globe Staff 'At BC, the Jesuit ideals are really infused in everything,' Heckelman said. 'Even in the business school, there's an intense emphasis on ethics and understanding the human condition. Honorary degrees were also awarded to Richardson, Boston's Archbishop Richard G. Henning, presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, educator and activist Geoffrey Canada, and Salim Daccache, S.J., rector of Saint Joseph University of Beirut, Lebanon. Advertisement Speaking after the ceremony, Henning described the honor as a testament to Boston College's status as a 'world class university,' dedicated not only to professional training but also to nurturing students' spiritual growth and compassion for others. 'I am still very new to the city,' added Henning, who was installed as Archbishop of Boston last October following Cardinal Seán O'Malley's 20-year tenure. 'So I'm at the beginning, too, of a long journey of making my contributions.' Doris Kearns Goodwin was an honorary degree recipient. David L. Ryan/Globe Staff In a separate interview, Goodwin— known for her biographies of the Kennedy family and presidents including Lincoln, Roosevelt, and Johnson - offered her own advice to the graduates. 'I hope they can find a sense that they're part of something that's larger than themselves, and they're able to contribute and make a difference,' said Goodwin, who 'History shows that leaders matter, but citizens matter as well. We can't just depend right now on the leaders, we have to depend on us,' Goodwin said. 'This generation has what FDR said about an earlier generation—a rendezvous with destiny. And we old people are depending on them,' she laughed. 'So I'll be glad to see them battle for their values.' Undergraduate Malaine Diop from Texas waved to family and friends during the Boston College commencement. David L. Ryan/Globe Staff Rita Chandler can be reached at
