深度-NLC-2021年城市状况（英文）-2021.6-19页_19mb

State of the Cities 2021 Summary

Core Content

The State of the Cities 2021 report provides an analysis of how cities across the United States have been affected by the pandemic, highlighting key priorities, challenges, and conditions that have shaped their resilience and recovery. The report is based on survey data from over 600 cities, towns, and villages, as well as 57 mayoral speeches, and is presented by community type: urban core, suburban, exurban, and rural.

Main Views and Key Findings

1. Top Mayoral Priorities

• Infrastructure
• Budget and Management
• Public Safety
• Economic and Workforce Development
• Housing

2. Positive Conditions Supporting Communities

• Home property values increased
• Availability of parks, recreation, and green space
• Access to clean drinking water
• Remote work became more prevalent
• Sales tax collections improved

3. Negative Conditions Challenging Communities

• Affordable housing supply decreased
• Inactive/vacant commercial developments
• Infrastructure funding was limited
• Price of rentals/apartments rose
• Total general fund revenue declined

4. Community Type Overview

• Urban Core (12% of sample, average population: 103,341)
• Suburban (31% of sample, average population: 22,820)
• Exurban (21% of sample, average population: 4,666)
• Rural (36% of sample, average population: 1,691)

5. Essential Infrastructure Enables Community Resilience

• Clean water access and public spaces were identified as key to community resilience.
• Infrastructure funding was a top challenge, with 25% of cities experiencing fewer upgrades.
• Roads and bridges were the most cited areas of declining infrastructure quality.
• Broadband availability emerged as critical, with 20% of officials citing it as a positive driver and 15% as a challenge.
• Cities like San Diego and Richmond implemented programs to improve digital access and public spaces.

6. Hard-Hit Budgets Stabilizing with Federal Funding

• Budget and management became a top priority for mayors.
• General fund revenue declined for 41% of cities, but sales tax and property tax showed more stability.
• Federal funding, particularly from the American Rescue Plan Act, is helping cities like Grand Rapids, MI recover from revenue losses.
• Property tax revenue is expected to decline in the coming fiscal year due to economic lag effects.

7. Reimagining Public Safety

• Public safety is a top priority, reflecting a push for racial justice and community-centered approaches.
• Strategies such as de-escalation, body cameras, and independent oversight are being adopted.
• Crime rates have not increased significantly overall, but violent crime remains a concern in urban areas.
• Equity in policing and public safety is a major focus, with cities like Philadelphia and Baltimore implementing reforms.

8. Commercial Decline Hits Smaller Towns Hard

• Inactive/vacant commercial developments were the most significant negative economic condition.
• Remote work increased across communities, but the "outpost economy" concept has not yet materialized at scale.
• Rural and exurban communities face more severe challenges in commercial decline and new business starts.
• Economic outcomes for people of color are more negatively impacted in urban and suburban areas than in rural ones.
• There is a lack of data and understanding of racial inequities in rural communities, which hinders effective policy responses.

Conclusion

The 2021 State of the Cities report underscores the multifaceted impact of the pandemic on local communities. While infrastructure, budgets, and public safety are top priorities, economic disparities and racial inequities remain significant challenges. The urban-rural divide is widening, particularly in housing affordability and economic development, with smaller communities suffering more from commercial decline. The report calls for equity-focused policies, data disaggregation, and continued federal support to address these challenges and build more resilient and inclusive cities.