9 Mayors on What Washington Can Learn From Local Government

Our national political environment might be paralyzed by partisanship, culture-war posturing, and erratic leadership, but our cities tend to be resilient, even when they’re flash points for national disasters, both natural and man-made. At least that’s the perspective of many mayors. One Saturday morning in early August, nine who were in New Orleans for the U.S. Conference of Mayors gave…

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Mayor of Columbia says statue of J. Marion Sims should come down

By Caitlin Byrd cbyrd@postandcourier.com Aug 16, 2017 The Confederate battle flag came down from the South Carolina Statehouse grounds two years ago, but Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin said Tuesday night that another controversial marker in the state capital should be removed. “There are some statues on our Statehouse grounds that I find wholly offensive,” the mayor told MSNBC host Chris…

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What does it mean for Columbia that its mayor was chosen to lead national group?

Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin is next in line to become the president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors and to bring a leadership meeting here next year. The advocacy group for municipalities on Monday elected Benjamin its vice president Monday during its annual meeting in Miami Beach, his office announced. “This is a wonderful and unique opportunity for our city…

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City Officials Push Back Against Trump’s Proposed Grant Cuts

City of Columbia offcials are rallying behind federal grant programs that are facing elimination or deep cuts from President Donald Trump’s administration. Mayor Steve Benjamin and Councilmen Sam Davis and Howard Duvall, among others, met with reporters Monday morning to stump for the continued flow of federal Community Development Block Grant and HOME housing funds. Trump’s proposed budget would eliminate…

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