Local Government: Social Equity “First Responders”

Public administrators at all levels are discussing implications of President Trump’s proposed budget. While eventual outcomes remain uncertain, a recent interview of a panel of local government practitioners highlighted that when such reductions occur, local governments often operate as “first responders” in serving the most vulnerable residents within their respective communities. They run toward the potential equity crisis rather than away, in part because they see those affected as neighbors. In essence, their focus on social equity includes an emphasis on direct services as well as trust building. The panel also highlighted the importance of trust building and leadership for sustainability of social equity work and noted assessment and performance improvement as a key opportunity for academic/practitioner collaboration.