June 3, 2019 – More than half of mayors (57%) discussed infrastructure at length during their annual State of the City addresses this year, according to a new report by the National League of Cities. That made it the second-most popular topic for the second year in a row, trailing only economic development. Mayors gathered in Washington, D.C., recently to discuss the report and how they’re handling infrastructure in their cities. It’s no surprise that infrastructure ranks high among mayors’ concerns. But mayors are talking about it more often than in recent years. Only 31% of mayors discussed infrastructure in their annual speeches in 2016, climbing to 48% in 2017 and reaching roughly 60% in the last two years, the NLC noted. The mayors shared their infrastructure concerns following a White House meeting on infrastructure ended abruptly, leaving many to speculate whether or not we will even see a bill this year.
We Mayor May Not Get a Bill
