Government

What Mayors Are Talking About

In their annual state of the city addresses, mayors are calling out the elephant in the room.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti delivers his state of the city address April 16. Damian Dovarganes/AP

Two mayors deliver their annual state of the city addresses. They both acknowledge imperfect crime records and tout their hiring of police officers. They both prioritize revitalizing their streets. And they both talk about increasing the density of core neighborhoods. Put them in a room together, and they agree about most things.

But there’s one topic they frame very differently: Their relationship with their colleagues in state and federal government.