Infrastructure remains top issue for US mayors

With historic federal funding available, upgrading infrastructure is the top priority for US mayors, according to new research from the National League of Cities (NLC).

Based on analysis of mayoral speeches, the 2023 State of the Cities report finds that infrastructure took up 32 percent of the total speech time, followed by budget/management at 17 percent. Public safety took up 12 percent of speech time, economic development (11 percent) and housing (eight percent).

The research analysed 37 State of the City speeches delivered by mayors from cities of various sizes between October 2022 and April 2023.

Other themes were education, health and human services, and energy and environmen...