Defending Local Democracy

A Better Balance Heads West

May 31, 2019
State Laws

ABB’s Senior Staff Attorney, Jared Make, has been based in Denver since last year, where he has become engaged in statewide advocacy on ABB’s issues. Now that Colorado’s 2019 legislative session has ended, we’re excited to share several recent policy advances with you!

Dallas Joins Austin And San Antonio in Allowing Workers to Earn Paid Sick Time

May 2, 2019
Paid Sick Time

Dallas becomes the third city in the South to pass a paid sick time ordinance. Now, workers in nine of the country’s ten most populous cities (we’re looking at you, Houston) have the legal right to earn paid sick time!

Recent Decision Affirming Birmingham’s Right to Cover Confederate Monuments Can Bolster Local Democracy Nationwide

February 11, 2019
Defending Local Democracy

We work in cities across the country to fight for fair workplace policies such as paid leave and sick time, predictable and flexible work schedules, and nondiscrimination, which often involves helping cities defend those policies against state efforts to roll them back.

Pushing Back Against Gerrymandering to Promote Local Democracy

December 20, 2018
Defending Local Democracy

We know how important it is for cities and local communities to be able to develop and implement policies that are responsive to their own needs and for their voices to be heard at all levels of government, which is why structural, pro-democratic reforms are so crucial for progressive policymaking across issues.

The 2018 Midterms Bring New Opportunities and Challenges for Women and Working Families

November 7, 2018
National Laws, State Laws

The record-breaking wave of women running for office this election season and the soaring voter turnout made a difference. Last night's election results indicate many opportunities and of course some ongoing challenges to advancing the rights of women and all caregivers across the country.

Defending Local Nondiscrimination Laws, Nashville and Beyond

October 5, 2018
Defending Local Democracy, State Laws

Tennessee has been at the center of a number of recent preemption conflicts in recent years, from the state’s 2011 law that prohibited cities from enacting nondiscrimination policies more protective than the state’s law to a bill passed this year that will withhold state funding for cities with certain “sanctuary city” policies.

With Powerful Language on the Nature of Discrimination, U.S. Appeals Court Revives Race Discrimination Case Against Alabama

August 3, 2018
Defending Local Democracy

In an exciting ruling, a federal appeals court held that a group of Birmingham, AL, residents could go ahead with their lawsuit claiming that a state law rolling back Birmingham’s minimum wage increase constituted race discrimination in violation of the Constitution.

Celebrating Victories, Energizing for the Road Ahead: Equality Federation Leadership Conference 2018

July 31, 2018
Defending Local Democracy, LGBTQ, State Laws, Uncategorized

One of the many high points at the conference was hearing about the incredible cross-movement work happening at the local level, even in the face of state interference.

Regressive State Laws Undermine Local Progress on LGBTQ Rights

May 8, 2018
Defending Local Democracy, LGBTQ

These license-to-discriminate laws allow businesses to refuse to serve individuals if doing so would be contrary to religious beliefs. While it is unfortunate that states are still working to undermine LGBTQ rights, ABB stands with those who are instead fighting for more inclusive and equitable laws.

Standing Up for Austin’s Paid Sick and Safe Time Law

May 7, 2018
Defending Local Democracy, Paid Sick Time

The challenge to Austin’s ordinance claims, among other things, that Texas’s minimum wage law limits the city’s authority to pass a paid sick and safe time law. Fortunately for Austin workers, the state’s minimum wage law—applying as it does to minimum wage, and not other employee benefits—does no such thing.

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