Clarence Anthony Live in Boston

NLC CEO and Executive Director Clarence Anthony and Boston Fox 25 reporter Crystal Haynes as part of a fireside chat recorded in Boston, with our friends and partners, the Massachusetts Municipal Association, at their annual Connect 351 conference. Clarence covers a range of topics facing local leaders, including fiscal challenges, incivility in public life, the growing influence of artificial intelligence, the housing crisis, and explains why he is optimistic about the future of local government. 

For more information, visit us at nlc.org.

Transcript

Melanie Fonder Kaye, Senior Executive and Director, Digital Engagement, Marketing & Communications at National League of Cities 0:07

Welcome back to CitySpeak. I am your host, Melanie Fonder Kaye, Senior Executive with the National League of Cities. CitySpeak gives listeners an insider view of what local leadership in America means today and features conversations with government leaders and policy experts regarding the biggest issues and challenges facing America's cities, towns, and villages. This week we're sharing a captivating discussion between NLC CEO and Executive Director Clarence Anthony and Boston reporter Crystal Haynes as part of a fireside chat recorded with our friends and partners, the Massachusetts Municipal Association, at their annual Connect 351 conference. Clarence covers a range of topics facing local leaders, including fiscal challenges, incivility in public life, the growing influence of AI, housing, and he explains why he's optimistic about the future of local government. The episode begins with Massachusetts Municipal Association CEO, Adam Chaptolane, introducing Crystal Haynes for her conversation with Clarence Anthony. Enjoy the show and join us again next week for another episode of Citiespeak.

Adam Chapdelaine, CEO, Massachusetts Municipal Association 1:24

So today we're going to hear a conversation between Clarence Anthony, Executive Director and CEO of the National League of Cities, and Emmy Award-winning journalist Crystal Haynes. It's a conversation that I really believe will resonate with you as you lead your communities during challenging times. Crystal Haynes is a senior director for communications at the United Way of Massachusetts Bay. She has served as the host of programs such as Greater Boston and Basic Black on GBH, and she spent 12 years as a reporter and weekend anchor on Boston 25 News. Please join me in welcoming Crystal.

Boston reporter Crystal Haynes 2:12

Hello. Good morning, good morning, good morning. I love that my intro is nice and tight and sweet so we can get to the conversation. I appreciate that. You know, it's a pleasure to introduce a leader whose career really speaks directly to the moment that municipal leaders are facing right now. Our keynote began his public service journey in South Bay, Florida, where he was just 24 years old and then served 24 years in his community. From there, he rose to lead the Florida League of Cities, became president of the National League of Cities as an elected official, and then later returned to NLC as its CEO and executive director. Today, he leads the nation's largest organization representing America's cities, towns, and villages, helping secure historic federal investments for local communities and elevating a national conversation about civility, dignity, and the health of our democracy at a local level. He brings a rare perspective as a former mayor, a national advocate, and a trusted partner to leaders like those gathered right here in this room this morning. At a time when local government is being asked to do more with less. Amen. So please join me in welcoming CEO and Executive Director of the National League of Cities, Clarence Anthony.

Music 3:56

Oh, thank you so much.

Clarence Anthony, CEO & Executive Director, National League of Cities 4:03

All right, good morning.

Boston reporter Crystal Haynes 4:07

All right, Clarence. So let's jump right in. Um let's talk a little bit about your history. Your your your, you know, we did a little bit of a bio here. What inspired you to step into local politics? And then how did that experience sort of shape the way you lead now?

Clarence Anthony, CEO & Executive Director, National League of Cities 4:25

Yeah, I got into politics uh really at a very young age. Um, and I know many of you probably had that same journey. Uh, president of student body in high school, uh, went to college and got involved. But the reason I ran for public office when I went back home was um I went to a city council meeting, and my mom had talked to me about uh drugs being sold in our local community down the street from where we lived. So I went there and uh on the public comments, uh the mayor said, Any member would like to address the city commission, please step forward and state your name. So I did that, and I told him that drugs were being sold on my uh street. Uh and he looked at me, he said, Mr. Anthony, welcome back home. We got a lot of things going on in the city, and uh yeah, it's just we're gonna try to get to that. And I looked at him and I said, Is he telling me my mama's issue is not important?

Boston reporter Crystal Haynes 5:36

Right.

Clarence Anthony, CEO & Executive Director, National League of Cities 5:36

And that began my political career. So I guess the point of that is don't tell any public official or a resident that you don't care about their issue because then they're gonna run against you. And and I ran uh at I declared at 23 and I won at 24, and I had a mandate when I got elected. I won by 33 votes. And one vote is a mandate. But what I what I really felt, and I feel many of us have a story of our why. And my why was I wanted to go back home uh after going to grad school and see what I could do to make my community better, and especially people of color who had not been on the city commission at that time, and then to be so young, um, I look back and I I sometimes question whether I was prepared. But these kinds of conferences, uh, Connect 351 is important to your ability to truly lead your community. Uh, you have to learn, you have to share and network. And if you do that correctly and leave it all out on the field when you come here and go to every session, you're gonna be a better leader. And honestly, our our citizens deserve that. I I take my job very seriously, and I know you do too, because you're here, so that's my why, and that's how I got into this journey.

Boston reporter Crystal Haynes 7:15

I love that. Um speaking of getting into local politics, we know that there's a polarization happening across the country. We know that this is this is a difficult time, I think, for some folks to consider going into local government. And you know, personally, I just to speak to for myself, like I'm running for school committee in my town, and people said, Why are you doing that? Like, people are like, girl, are you crazy? Like, this is this is nuts. Like, why do you think it's still important to get involved in local government? And what are the the things that you say that maybe the elected leaders in this room can say to their constituency on getting them involved?

Clarence Anthony, CEO & Executive Director, National League of Cities 7:56

Well, first of all, let me acknowledge, and uh you know, I'm gonna be as direct and candid because we're in a conversation, and I feel like all of us are in here together. It is tough right now. And it is tough to be a public servant even back in 1984, 85, when I got involved, balancing your personal life, your business life, your professional life, and then there is public service. I do believe that you have to be prepared to jump into being a public servant. It is not something that you just raise your hand and it comes very easy. And I will tell you that this is the most important time, however, to have public servants that are committed to the work, not committed to the ego of the honorable and going to all of the receptions and things like that, but doing the work. And I look back on my life and I think about again being 24 and doing it. I'm not sure I would have done it at 24 if I had to look back. I think being ready and prepared to lead is something that it to me it takes a journey to be able to, or thought to be able to really be prepared to run. But I think at this time, there's no level of government that needs great leaders than local government. Because you are the most trusted level of government in our country, and you guys hear this all the time. All politics is local, all issues are local, and we know what our communities need are, whether we are a big city or a small town where I came from, I was a mayor of 9,000 people. But when I walked in a room, you thought I was mayor of Boston. You know, I thought a mayor is a mayor, so let me just say it like that. Um and I think that given that we really need to start owning our responsibilities as local leaders. You need to walk in there knowing that you are a town manager, you are a select person, you are a mayor, and you are just as important as a congressional member, a state house member, a senator, because you represent people and you know them better than anybody else. That's what we need right now. Empowered leaders who understand their role, who have studied what they need in their communities, and making sure that when you go in rooms and advocate, you go in there with power. You don't go in there just taking pictures. And I remember so many times I see people go in and take a picture with the senator, and they get the group picture, they get the individual picture, and then the senator says, Oh, thank you all so much for coming, because we have spent so much time taking a picture.

Boston reporter Crystal Haynes 11:23

Right.

Clarence Anthony, CEO & Executive Director, National League of Cities 11:24

And then you leave, and then you ask yourself, What did I accomplish? Well, I'm being I'm being direct. Take the damn picture but get to work.

Boston reporter Crystal Haynes 11:35

Yeah, there you go.

Clarence Anthony, CEO & Executive Director, National League of Cities 11:36

Take the picture but get to work because we need you to be able to represent your residence. That's why you're in this room, and that's why you uh took on this role.

Boston reporter Crystal Haynes 11:49

Well, in that same vein, why is it so important to build that bench, right? To to also send an elevator down, bring people up with you so that they can continue to fill these roles.

Clarence Anthony, CEO & Executive Director, National League of Cities 11:59

You know, I I think uh it's uh always said, and folks say this, uh, yeah, I want to build the bench, and I want to make sure somebody is there to take my spot until they run against you.

Boston reporter Crystal Haynes 12:13

That's right.

Clarence Anthony, CEO & Executive Director, National League of Cities 12:13

And then you're like, why are they running against me? So let's be candid in this room. It is very hard to give up these roles uh where you get access to the leaders of uh of the Commonwealth, the governor, the lieutenant governor, you get to walk in and meet senators. I think though, uh, and I've seen this, especially in Congress, a lot of folks are dying in office instead of moving over and providing new opportunities for leaders. They're sitting in these meetings sleep sometimes because they're still not strong enough to run um their, to do the business that they need to do. I think in a way I stayed too long, uh 24 years, and the only reason I got out was my wife said to me, Are you gonna run again? And I said, I'm not sure. She said, Well, you've been there half of your life, so and that was the wake-up call. I had more to do, and I could do more on the national stage than in my little small community. So think about do you still have the passion of the why? If you still have that passion of why you ran, and you still think you are viable intellectually and have the energy to do it, keep doing it. But I do think there comes a point where we do need new blood in local leadership. And oftentimes all some of us will stay there saying nobody else, I don't see anybody else could can do it. Well, I know a lot of people who uh probably went to their graves saying nobody can do this. And guess what? The world kept going.

Boston reporter Crystal Haynes 14:14

We figured it out. We figured it out.

Clarence Anthony, CEO & Executive Director, National League of Cities 14:16

So I don't want you guys to take from what I'm saying that I'm telling all of you to not stay in public office. But you know your why and you know how long you want to serve and you're passionate about serving. Uh that's the point when you start looking for new leadership in your community.

Boston reporter Crystal Haynes 14:37

Absolutely. As we talk about what's changed in public service, right? What challenges do you tend to hear about most consistently from local leaders across the country? Because we know things, the landscape has changed a lot.

Clarence Anthony, CEO & Executive Director, National League of Cities 14:53

Yeah, it it has changed, uh, and um I'm not saying it's changed. Uh some things have changed for the good, and some things are more difficult for us and you in particular. When I was elected, City Hall business occurred at City Hall. Uh people didn't come on my front lawn protesting, uh bringing City Hall issues. Um I know leaders all over America that have had rocks thrown in their windows. Um, I've seen where 79% of local elected officials in America are saying they've been harassed or their kids have been bullied through social media. And it's having a negative impact on public service. What we're finding uh is more women are saying, I'm out of here. I didn't sign up for this, I'll stay focused on my family. Uh people of color are also being attacked more. Um, we also have an increase of anti-Semitism in terms of attacks of public officials. Um, I also will say some of us on our diocese are not as civil as we used to be uh in regards to the way in which we disagree with each other. So I would say that has changed significantly, but what has really improved is the access to information and better decision making at times using data. Uh being able to be more transparent to the public through sharing information uh is a positive thing for local leadership. And I also would finally uh say that we have more possibilities to be the leaders that America need than in the past. And I go back to this. Your residents in America all over, especially in the Commonwealth, they're gonna trust you at this time more than every other level. And so we have to model civility, we have to model inclusivity, we have to model making good decisions based upon information and data. And we have to model what Tim Schreiber talked about yesterday, uh, which is sometimes not easy, uh, but we have to model the dignity of work, the dignity of home ownership, just the dignity of love. And again, I don't use that word lightly, but every time I use it, I I I get emotional about it because you can't you can lead people, but if you get a chance to meet people, that whole word just resonates and put a face on their name. Uh, and that's what local leadership is all about. And I'm so proud um to be here at this conference because the energy is so amazing. What Adam and his team have done, the love I see, the hugging and all of that stuff. I was like, gosh, I didn't know folks from masks actually hug.

Boston reporter Crystal Haynes 18:31

Right?

Clarence Anthony, CEO & Executive Director, National League of Cities 18:33

Yeah, they they usually get in your face. I'm I'm a Tom Manino guy.

Boston reporter Crystal Haynes 18:37

Yeah. Yeah.

Clarence Anthony, CEO & Executive Director, National League of Cities 18:38

And so when I was mayor, I worked with Tom Manino, and when I walked into this uh exhibit hall, I was like, oh my gosh, this is named Mayor Manino. And when I was president of National League of Cities, he wanted a project done nationally with the National League of Cities. He met with me. Um, I think it was 20 minutes in, I understood what he was saying. Because he was saying some shit, I mean some stuff that I was like, I don't even know what Tom was saying, but he was so big and mean looking. I was like, yes, Mayor, we're gonna do that. And to this day, uh the National League of Cities has an institute uh called the Institute Youth Education and Families. And Tom Anino, that's his idea. He created that uh for us, found seed money uh for us to create it, and now we're bringing in 20, 30 million dollars a year uh because of local leadership. And I tell you guys that because there, again, walking around here hearing your conversations, you are right on uh track in terms of what is important in your communities. Transportation, the housing issues, working with the governor and the lieutenant governor. Um I don't know if you guys know how special your partnership is. Yeah, because I go to other states and you all read this. It there's nowhere way close to what you guys do together. And I want you uh to um pause at times and appreciate that. Yeah. I'm sorry, I'm going off because I'm just thinking about a couple of applications.

Boston reporter Crystal Haynes 20:28

You know, my town y friends would say, folks from Massachusetts are kind, but we're not nice. Meaning we'll change a tire for you, but then we'll cuss you out for getting stuck in the first place. So you Yeah, that's my friends in the neighborhood.

Clarence Anthony, CEO & Executive Director, National League of Cities 20:42

Yeah, that's the kind of kind of experience that I've had. That's at dinner last night. Um, they were talking about the Pats and the Denver game, and they said, Well, who are you pulling for? And I paused, then they said, the pets. They just they're just like the pets.

Boston reporter Crystal Haynes 21:01

Yeah.

Clarence Anthony, CEO & Executive Director, National League of Cities 21:02

Thanks, Giana. So uh, but went right at me, so I got afraid there flicking, but I I love being here. I have enjoyed so much.

Boston reporter Crystal Haynes 21:13

Good. We love having you. You know, we know that so many uh cities and towns across Massachusetts, they have a lot of stressors right now. Fiscal stressors, uh, the cost of workplace uh things, insurance, um rising expectations with limited resources, right? Especially as some federal funding is pulled away from key essential programs here. Um how should local leaders think about fiscal health in this moment without losing sight of their broader mission? And I will also mention the MMA recently documented some of these serious fiscal uh constraints uh through their their report, reporting here.

Clarence Anthony, CEO & Executive Director, National League of Cities 21:52

Well, first of all, that report, uh the pathway uh report is just important to put in. Data to issues, and then the navigation piece really shows a vision on how you can get there. That's an excellent report. And if I was still in office, that would be one of the things that I would do a town hall with my residents to really talk about what we are facing as town and city leaders. I wish I could uh tell you and give you a silver bullet around these times of fiscal responsibility that you have as a local leader, but it's it's you it's really about you setting priorities because you will have some commitment and partnership and monies that's gonna come from the state to help you address uh some issues. You may, some of you may even get money from the federal government, and if you do that, I know you'll be good stewards with both the the state and the federal dollars. I want to be candid and tell you you gotta be creative on your own at this time. Uh I think the state level is going to be a good partner with you. But if you're looking at the rising cost of infrastructure, housing, uh, insurance, um, we're all gonna have to look at our budgets and tighten up and make a decision of what your priorities are. Uh, and that's the way we're gonna have to be self-sustaining in a way. Because there have been times, I'd say the last uh decade or so where we had strong partnerships uh at the federal level. Um that is not so much, and that's not partisan. It is just the facts that we do not have that now. And I think sometimes we got spoiled and said, ah, we can get money from the federal government, we can get money from here. Uh but I want you to go back home, thinking of ways how you become more self-sustainable. Um, as our president is a town manager, uh our Adam is a former town manager, partnering with our finance people to really think about your bond structures, your stacking on your housing, what does economic development really mean? It just doesn't mean putting downtown together and investing there. It means the whole city and not just one neighborhood. So a comprehensive vision for your community and how you are gonna fund that is gonna be important for the future because I don't want to tell you somebody is gonna come to save you. We're gonna save ourselves as local leaders because that's what we're elected for. That's what we're elected for.

Boston reporter Crystal Haynes 25:04

Very well said. I mean, from your national vantage point, how pervasive is this issue across the country in terms of this fiscal responsibility piece, this thinking through how to do more with less?

Clarence Anthony, CEO & Executive Director, National League of Cities 25:17

Yeah, I think uh it has always been the case of local leaders having to do more with less. Your residents expect so much from you than they do the senators uh and the congressional members. I think uh as I look and travel around America, um, and you're not gonna believe this, but you're in better shape in terms of your partnership with your governor and your lieutenant governor um and your state house than most states are. Uh and that brings, though, for other communities, um, more of a challenge because the I'm just gonna say the the partisanship is just causing us a lot of problems in America right now. And I don't see it at as much here. I don't see it as much. It doesn't mean it doesn't exist, uh, but there are other states like my home state of Florida. Uh the cities and the governor are at odds. Um you can go to other states and you see the same thing, but you guys are very lucky that at least you have a seat at the table uh and you can talk to your leadership. And that's what I wish for everybody. Uh but even with that, keep fighting uh because you gotta make sure you get the money you need in order to address the issues you're you're challenged with.

Boston reporter Crystal Haynes 26:48

Yeah. Tim Striver was on this stage uh yesterday morning talking about the dignity index. You mentioned it earlier. Why are civility and dignity essential? Not just next to him, of course, uh, for effective local governance.

Clarence Anthony, CEO & Executive Director, National League of Cities 27:04

Well, first of all, I'll tell you, Adam and I was talking about Tim Striver. Did you see all the hair he has on his head?

Boston reporter Crystal Haynes 27:12

It's beautiful.

Clarence Anthony, CEO & Executive Director, National League of Cities 27:13

I did it. It's not beautiful.

Boston reporter Crystal Haynes 27:17

My husband would be grateful for had a hair like that. Uh-huh.

Clarence Anthony, CEO & Executive Director, National League of Cities 27:21

He spent more time, you know, doing this than he did talking. Now, what did you what was your question again?

Boston reporter Crystal Haynes 27:29

Why, why is civility and dignity so after I did all of that cracking on him, civility and dignity.

Clarence Anthony, CEO & Executive Director, National League of Cities 27:35

I know.

Boston reporter Crystal Haynes 27:37

One question I didn't ask um his wife in the Wiimo luncheon was like, you know, I always vacillate somewhere between Michelle Obama and Cardi B. Uh-huh. When we talked about, like, for folks who don't know the Cardi B reference, she was like, when they go low, I take them to hell.

Clarence Anthony, CEO & Executive Director, National League of Cities 27:51

Yes.

Boston reporter Crystal Haynes 27:52

Michelle Obama wants us to go high when they go low. So sometimes I vacillate between, but why is that so important as an elected official? Because you're gonna get it left, right, and center, to maintain that dignity to come back and bring people with you as a municipal leader.

Clarence Anthony, CEO & Executive Director, National League of Cities 28:09

No, it it is important again, it's it's that thing called responsibility that I won't let you guys off the hook when I say this to you. Um, you you are in the face of your residents every day. Um, and if you don't model civility, uh you don't model dignity and respect, your residents won't uh be able to do that as well. And back in the day when I was elected, it was even something that impacted your bond rating, believe it or not, because companies don't want to come in a community that is divisive. They don't want to come in a community that the leaders themselves don't know the vision of where they want to go. Our kids look at TV and they see us more so than they see other levels of government. So, why is it important? There's a business reason why it's important, and I want to make sure we understand that, making sure that we can get the business of the town and the city done in an effective, efficient, successful way with outcomes. The other way is that, other reason is, man, you will spend so much time debating each other and not debating the issues. And that's so inefficient and not helpful for your residents. Um I also will tell you that when I hear people say I am this party or that party at the local level, when there's no partisan election, it surprises me. Because all of us are there to get public service done, public safety. I hope that when your officers show up at the door, the residents don't ask, are you Democrat or Republican or Independent or Libertarian or whatever? They just want somebody to take care of them. I hope that when the fire truck comes out to your house or your business, can you hold on a second? What party are you, sir, before they get that fire done? I mean, your clerks. All of those folks don't ask your party. It's not important at the local level. We're here to address the issues of all residents, all neighbors. And if we could do that while everybody else on the federal level is distracted with all of the stuff, but we bring comfort to our community leaders, that's our responsibility. And you may ask me why I feel so passionate about it, because the minute you raised your hand to say that you were gonna run for office and then you got elected, is the minute you stopped being selfish so much about yourself, and you became more selfish about what is more important to your community than sometimes your own decisions and yourself. And if we can keep that northern star out there about why am I doing this, because as CEO, my personal feelings right now is something I separate from my responsibility to you as members of the National League of Cities. Because sometimes I wake up as a black man and I see some of the news that's and things that are happening in America. I want to go to work and I want to be that advocate. But I have to separate that. And I want you to be able to separate sometimes your personal feelings from what is right for your community. When we can do that, we're gonna be successful in every city and town in Massachusetts. But if we don't do that, you're gonna see more disruption, polarization, and it's gonna happen because you're not leading and you're being focused on what is good for you. So I'm not I'm look really imp I don't have much empathy about people complaining because we got work to do, y'all. That's right. We just got work to do, and so let's just get to work with respect and dignity around each other.

Boston reporter Crystal Haynes 32:56

I love that. Uh let's talk about that federal and local partnership. Uh historically, how do these partnerships ebb and flow? Where are they right now? We talked a little bit about this, but how do you strike that balance as a municipal leader with having to manage both of those responsibilities in some way?

Clarence Anthony, CEO & Executive Director, National League of Cities 33:14

I think the the important thing is let's not uh, and I guess I'm being repetitious in a way, um, when I meet with members of Congress, senators, congressional members, uh, I meet with them in a partisan way. And what I mean by that, I am partisan toward cities and towns. I am partisan toward cities and towns. We don't have time right now, given all of the issues that we are facing, to get involved in the partisanship. You we need to go up there as one MMA, all focused on all 351 municipal, local government structures in this state, in this commonwealth. And don't let people separate you as a group, because if they're able to distract us, they're able to win and splinter us. So, what are our priorities? We go in focused, whether it's the state or federal level. So, partnership is very important to getting more things done quicker. Um, we did, and we fought when uh President Trump was president the first time, we fought to get the CARES Act money into the hands of local governments. When President Biden got in office, we fought with Congress and the Senate to be able to get the ARPA dollars directly in the hands of every municipality in America so that you can address the issues that we had going on in the pandemic. What does that say to you? What Clarence does, he is partisan towards cities. You could be the next president, and I'm gonna work with you because that's what we do as local leaders. Let's not get mixed up in the partisanship that is occurring, but focus on what is important to your communities and your residents, and we will be more successful if we do it that way.

Boston reporter Crystal Haynes 35:45

As we think towards the future, we know that there are so many more tools available to us. More of our constituency are digital natives. So let's talk about AI. I know this is something you spoke about uh before. What role do you believe that local governments are uniquely positioned to play in shaping inclusive growth? And that includes utilizing AI, whether it's in the systems, like in local and even in federal government.

Clarence Anthony, CEO & Executive Director, National League of Cities 36:13

Yeah, everything I'm saying today was created by AI. No, I'm just joking. Sometimes I do though. Um I would tell you, you know, a few years ago, um when AI became a thing, um I just was like, ah, that's gonna go away. It's a fad. It is not gonna be something that we're gonna have to worry about. And I sit here today and say to you all as uh municipal leaders, uh, embrace it. It's here. Uh figure out a way to put policies together in your local government that puts frames around it. Because Europe and other places in the world, they're far ahead of us in terms of creating frameworks and structures and how do you use it in your local government. We have to catch up. And we have to talk to our residents, but more so our employees, about the fact that this is not, we're not using this because we're trying to lay employees off. We're not trying to restructure any part of the government. We're using it because it creates an opportunity to be more efficient and let's spend time on things that can be more innovative for the community. Because right now I can put something in AI, ChatGPT, or any other uh pilot uh tool, and I can say I want a resolution for Connect 351 that celebrates their anniversary, da-da-da, and I only want it to be five paragraphs. Press. That thing shoots out everything I need right there, and I could do that over and over again. So what I hope we'll do is think about ways in which we can create transparency, use the tool to be more efficient, look at our procurement process, those things that we do over and over again, that we can use that tool, our permitting processes, because we are always blamed for low, slow permitting processes. There are things that we can do with AI that I think will help us. Now, I also will say um it makes me nervous uh because um I've seen things in pictures that my daughter will create herself sitting on the couch, eight of her sitting on a couch.

Boston reporter Crystal Haynes 39:05

Yeah.

Clarence Anthony, CEO & Executive Director, National League of Cities 39:06

Seriously.

Boston reporter Crystal Haynes 39:06

Yeah, I've seen it, yeah.

Clarence Anthony, CEO & Executive Director, National League of Cities 39:08

Um actually, Andrew, I'm gonna tell him the truth. The photo I made him take down of me in the turtleneck, the body is not mine. The head is mine.

Boston reporter Crystal Haynes 39:20

Right.

Clarence Anthony, CEO & Executive Director, National League of Cities 39:20

And I didn't like it. And I keep telling it, I don't want to use that anymore because that doesn't feel like it, it doesn't look like me. We have to be very, very careful on how we use it in our communities. But I'm again as I started, but we have no choice, y'all.

Boston reporter Crystal Haynes 39:37

Right.

Clarence Anthony, CEO & Executive Director, National League of Cities 39:38

We have to jump on board and we need to put policies in place in our communities around AI, or we're gonna fall further behind.

Boston reporter Crystal Haynes 39:48

Yeah. Let's talk about optimism in Massachusetts specifically. Massachusetts uh communities they face intense pressure. We talked about this. Housing affordability, we're always on that list as a place that people cannot afford to live. Um, what advice would you offer leaders who are navigating challenges like housing, workforce needs, things like that, specifically to Massachusetts?

Clarence Anthony, CEO & Executive Director, National League of Cities 40:12

Well, that is first of all, you have to know that you're not alone. Um, every community in America is struggling with the issue around housing. But in different ways. I mean, uh Brookings had a report out as well as Pew that showed that we have an abundance of housing being built in communities all over America. In Boston, in this region, it's it was increasing. The issues are not just the supply, it's the affordability of the housing in your communities. And I think that as we look at that issue, um, we have to figure something out because you and I are losing our future leaders and graduates from colleges to other communities because they can't live in your community. And so what I'm optimistic about is that each of you have to focus on ways in which to address that issue that's works for your community. I know there's some state legislation going on that connects the with transit, um, which I think communities are also working with transit authorities to help them pay for housing and bill housing as a partner with the town and city. So you gotta be really creative. And I think that I'm very optimistic uh because at these conferences you're listening to each other, you're learning from what another town is doing, and be very open to that and don't close your mind to the fact that uh maybe you have to create better stacks or better ways to use municipal bonds and other financial techniques uh to achieve the housing challenges. Um I think what scares me most is the health care uh increase. Uh please pay attention to that uh because uh sometimes in public sector uh we don't get paid as much as private sector, but that health care and retirement system is a value add. And uh taking care of our employees is very important. Uh so I'm optimistic though that in America um we're gonna be able to, as local leaders, address it. Um, but we're gonna have to find uh some local resources, and it may even include um increases increasing taxes, uh increasing assessments, uh, and other things, but you've got to sell it to your residents uh in an in a way that they see that it's reinvesting in their community for the future. That's not easy.

Boston reporter Crystal Haynes 43:15

Oh, no, it's not. Uh we've talked about a lot of things over the last uh 45 or so minutes. In the last five minutes that we have. Talk to me about what gives you hope for municipal governments, for cities and towns that you're traveling the country for from Massachusetts. What gives you hope?

Clarence Anthony, CEO & Executive Director, National League of Cities 43:34

So I gotta stand up for that.

Boston reporter Crystal Haynes 43:38

I love it. Okay, okay.

Clarence Anthony, CEO & Executive Director, National League of Cities 43:40

So let me let me just talk to you for a second because I do um my team will tell you, I'm passionate about what I do. I believe in what we do as municipal officials. I do believe because of my journey in a lot of ways, because that neighborhood, that Small rural community that I grew in, grew up in, the per capita income was twelve thousand dollars a year. It was rural Florida, sugarcane fields, celery, the winter vegetable capital of the world is the community I grew up in. And I recognized that public policy was my way out. And it was people and leaders like you in this room that helped create public policy so that my family could afford a house in the projects in Palm Beach County. That housing and urban development department that was created created housing for everybody. And then as I think about public policy in my education, I would not have been able to go to college, to grad school, undergrad, if it was not for political leaders who said that we need the basic equal opportunity grant program that was going to be able to help everyone to be able to find their way into community college and then onward. So those things were so important and it was developed by public leaders. And finally, me being elected to office was a miracle, but it was a miracle because political leaders thought it was important through the Civil Rights Act and other legislation to be able to say everybody can run for public office. Everybody should have that right to vote in America. And in 84, I'm sitting there looking at Jesse Jackson on TV running for president of the United States. And then I was dumb enough to think that I could be mayor as well. And guess what? I stepped up and I did it and I won. This is our time for as local leaders to step up again, to recognize that in our time, we're gonna look back and we're gonna say, we were there in 2026 at Connect 351, and I got 20 to 30 new ideas that I can take back to my residence and make my community stronger. You're gonna look back at 2026 and you're gonna think about the challenges you face as a local leader, and you're gonna be able to say, I made a difference by improving transportation and connectivity to jobs, not just create housing, but create housing that was affordable. You're gonna be able to look back and think about how you were able to look at the issue of AI and said, ah, I don't have a choice. I gotta stand up and lead. So as I leave this stage, I want to be really, really, really direct with you and say you don't have a choice. We need to stand up. We need to be stronger about what we do and why we do it. We need to tell the stories that we see in our communities. You need to tell that on Beacon Hill as well as in Washington, D.C. Because sometimes when we don't tell our story of what we see, they don't even know about it. You tell them about your water quality issues, you can tell them about your disconnect between transportation and jobs and housing, and you can also tell them why you need them to work together in Washington, D.C. to address the challenges we have. I gotta tell you, I'm so proud of you all. I know it's very tough. And the last five to ten years, I can tell you that the pandemic changed all of us. It made us appreciate who we are, it made us appreciate life. I want you to breathe. I want you to pause, but once you leave this conference, I want you to go out there and kick butt. I want you to go out there and kick butt. And because I'm in mass, there was another word. Somebody I started praying and it gave me butt. But y'all need to go home and kick some ass.

Boston reporter Crystal Haynes 49:06

Yeah.

Clarence Anthony, CEO & Executive Director, National League of Cities 49:07

And leave. All right, thank you all so much. Thank you. Crystal, thank you. You're so nice.

National League of Cities 49:22

Thanks for listening to City Speak with Clarence Anthony. If you like the show, let us know. Share this episode with your friends, and make sure to subscribe. We're curious to hear what you think, what you want more of, and how we can improve. If you have feedback or an idea for a guest you'd like Clarence to sit down with, send us your thoughts at Cityspeak Podcast at nlc.org. Join us next month for a new episode. Like and subscribe here or wherever you get your podcast. See you next time.