LOC News
City Day an Amazing Success
On behalf of your LOC Intergovernmental Relations team and the entire LOC staff, THANK YOU for joining us this week in Salem for “City Day at the Capitol,” and investing in advocacy for your city and our statewide critical legislative priorities.
City Day this year blew past previous registration levels, including 320 LOC members representing 120 cities across Oregon. We also had more than 80 youth council delegates from several cities participate during the day.
It was clear from anyone in the Capitol on Tuesday afternoon that cities were the dominant force and presence in the building, meeting with their legislators and ensuring city voices were heard from the Senate to the House. Based on the feedback from legislators, everyone did a great job, and for an event to kick off LOC’s grassroots work, we had a heck of a start.
What’s Next
One of the most important takeaways from City Day that cannot be stressed enough is to sustain your contact with legislators, be their local eyes and ears on the ground, and make sure you become their go-to for expertise on issues impacting cities. Here are some essential next steps for City Day attendees:
- Take time to write a note thanking legislators for their time;
- Follow up on issues and be sure to stay engaged with key legislative priorities;
- Attend town hall meetings held by your legislators and even consider offering to host a town hall meeting;
- Use the time with legislators to educate them on what's important in your community;
- Join the LOC’s weekly legislative updates every Friday at noon during the session; and
- Make sure you respond to the LOC’s legislative alerts and calls for action.
Bottom Line
Understand that City Day was not a one-and-done event. Putting time into relationship building with legislators throughout the calendar year will pay off in the end, but the end is a constant cycle of communication, education, and advocacy.
City Day Media Coverage
- Oregon cities want more money for roads and sewers, more leeway to remove homeless camps - OregonLive
- Oregon cities are asking the state to help build infrastructure, update tax, camping rules - KLCC
Contact: Jim McCauley, Legislative Director - jmccauley@orcities.org
Last Updated 1/31/25