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Welcome back to The Weekly Wrap, our Friday roundup of stories that explain the problems oppressing people in cities and elevate the solutions that bring us closer to economic, environmental and social justice.
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By the way, we extended the application deadline to join us for Next City’s annual Vanguard conference in Philadelphia. Apply by May 9!
One Foundation Is Stepping Up Funding for Nonprofits
The Marguerite Casey Foundation plans to donate $130 million to nonprofits this year, AP reports. That’s up from the $23 million to $57 million that the foundation has doled out annually since 2019. The increased donations are meant to help nonprofits respond to policy changes from the Trump administration.
“We are stepping in to provide resources where organizations see an opportunity to fill in an information and an organizing void,” Carmen Rojas, president and CEO of the foundation, told the outlet.
How Tariffs Will Impact Farmers and Consumers
While the tariff situation in the United States is still evolving — the Trump administration announced them, then put the import taxes on a 90-day pause — some experts have a sense of how they will impact farmers and consumers.
Three potential impacts are: (1) higher costs and lower profits for producers, (2) higher prices for consumers and (3) empty shelves due to shortages, according to reporting from Sentient. On the first point, because our modern economic markets are so internationally connected, even producers who don’t think of themselves as importers or exporters will feel the effects of the tariffs. That’s according to Andrew Muhammad, professor of agricultural and resource economics at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, who spoke to the outlet. And those effects will then impact the costs and availability of food in grocery stores.
Federal Judges Continue to Bar Trump Administration’s Actions
On Thursday, at least two Trump directives were barred by federal judges. In New Hampshire, U.S. District Court Judge Landya McCafferty blocked the administration’s guidance that threatened to cut grants and contracts for public schools with diversity, equity and inclusion programs, according to AP.
In California, U.S. District Judge William Orrick barred the federal government’s attempt to deny federal funds to ‘sanctuary’ cities that limit immigration cooperation. San Francisco and more than a dozen other cities and counties sought the injunction on this directive. And another judge ruled to block Trump’s efforts to add a proof of citizenship requirement to the federal voter registration form, which advocates say would disenfranchise a lot of voters.
As the Frequency of Wildfires Increases, Utilities Want Protections
In recent years, electric utilities have had to pay up when their power lines were found to be a cause of wildfires. Power companies in the West are now advocating for “state lawmakers to grant them legal immunity or limit damage payouts if their equipment sparks a blaze” through legislation, according to Stateline. Wildfire victims, insurance companies and trial lawyers strongly oppose potential laws, noting that they do not do enough to protect residents who might be impacted by fires.
Trump-Era DOT Eliminating Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has ended the Biden-era rule that required states to monitor and report transportation-related emissions on interstate highways and other major roads, Smart Cities Dive reports. While the rule was in place, it was never actually implemented because of political opposition and lawsuits.
MORE NEWS
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Black mayors urge resistance, resilience, and thriving in Trump’s America. The Emancipator
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Should NYC pensions pay for universal child care? Brannan pitches $500M investment. Gothamist
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What it means to tell the truth about America. The Atlantic
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Trump cuts federal grants to plantation museum focused on the reality of slavery. The Guardian
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New York nonprofits race to prepare for Trump assault. The City
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Cuts to LADOT could hurt Olympics and safety goals, department warns. Los Angeles Times
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Louisiana state laws on short-term rentals could change this year. Here’s how. Verite News
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Insurance delays and denials leave Eaton Fire survivors in limbo. AfroLA
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As Trump guts support for disabled students, their families are fighting back. Truthout
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Is DOGE coming after NeighborWorks? Shelterforce
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After the wildfires, this high school needed a campus. It found a Sears. The New York Times
OPPORTUNITIES & RESOURCES
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Lincoln Institute of Land Policy is recruiting for its Vibrant Communities Fellows Program, which is focusing on land and water planning. Apply by April 27.
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The National Community Reinvestment Coalition is accepting applications for its Fellowship for Equitable Development. Apply by April 30.
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The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Evidence for Action has a call for proposals for two types of research to advance racial and Indigenous health equity: rapid response research and new research support. Learn more by attending a May 2 info session and apply by May 28 and July 16, respectively. (Disclosure: RWJF currently funds Next City.)
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The Tow Foundation’s Innovation Fund is open to proposals from organizations advancing youth mental health in California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New York or Pennsylvania. Attend a May 7 info session and apply by May 23.
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Check out Next City’s jobs board for new opportunities.
EVENTS
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May 7 at 3 p.m. Eastern: Join Next City for a discussion with Oscar Perry Abello and Andre Perry about power, race, structural inequality and community. We’ll explore histories and solutions to economic inequality in the United States.
- May 8 at 1 p.m. Eastern: Join Next City for a conversation about new models for sustaining culture in cities — from cultural land trusts to guaranteed income for artists — amid rising costs and unstable arts funding.
This article is part of The Weekly Wrap, a newsletter rounding up stories that explain the problems oppressing people in cities and elevate the solutions bringing us closer to economic, environmental and social justice. Click here to subscribe to The Weekly Wrap newsletter.
This post was originally published on Next City.