ADVOCACY
LEGISLATURE
Grassroots Action
by Scott Dudley Florida League of Cities
Cities continue to make their voices heard
I
n my 35 years in politics, I can count on one hand the number efforts. Another group of potential allies is former elected offiof times I have had a legislator implore me to “please ask your cials in your city. For the time they served on their council or people to stop calling me. I know your position. I am on your side commission, they were part of our team fighting for Home Rule. now, and I will do everything I can to help you achieve your objecJust because they no longer hold office doesn’t mean that they tive.” These are some of the sweetest words any advocate can hear. have forgotten the importance of being responsive to their citThanks to your efforts and the Building Stronger Cities camizens or the recognition that the level of government that best paign, the Florida League of Cities advocacy team and Florida’s fosters such responsiveness is municipal government. cities had a successful legislative session. The FLC LegislaIn polling done over the years, when educated on the role of tive Department was able to local government, the averkill numerous bad bills or to age citizen understands and amend them substantially to supports the concept of local have fewer adverse impacts decision-making. During the on your cities. They also succoming months, we need you cessfully advocated for legisto help us educate, recruit and lation that will help your citengage your citizens so that ies. The success of the session next session, we can bring is a direct reflection of the efeven greater numbers of voices fort that each of you put into to the fight. Reach out to your building your relationships neighborhood associations, – Margaret Meade with legislators and reaching homeowner groups, civic clubs out to them to let them know and other organizations and how a particular piece of legencourage these already active islation might impact your city and the citizens you represent. citizens to lend their voice to the effort to protect Home Rule. As you know, this year we turned up the heat on legislators a League staff can help prepare presentations for you (or us) to little more by asking you to engage your citizens in our advocacy speak to these groups. If each of the approximately 2,500 muefforts. An unprecedented number of citizens weighed in with nicipal elected officials can add one additional engaged voice to their legislators through emails, letters and phone calls advocatour advocacy effort, think of what we can accomplish. ing on behalf of local decision-making. To all of you who helped Ask your citizens, your fellow council member, the person in your engage these citizens in our fight, we are grateful. civic club or even a former elected official from your city to text Of course, our work is not (ever) done. Each of you must hold “Home Rule” to 50457 so they can become part of the effort to save your legislators accountable for their votes – the bad votes against local control. Go to BuildingStrongerCities.com for more information. Home Rule as well as the votes they made to support cities. Continue to offer yourselves as a resource for your legislator; invite them Scott Dudley is the director of field adto your council/commission meeting to talk about why they cast the vocacy and federal affairs at the Florida votes they did. Publicly thank them, encourage them and admonish League of Cities. QC them for their representation of your city – and your citizens. We also are asking you to talk to the other members of your council/commission and ask them to get involved in our advocacy
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Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens
can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.
46 QUALITY CITIES | SECOND QUARTER 2021
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QC
