GOP legislatures bring the boot down on liberal cities—Andrew Gillum is fighting back and so can you

When the City of Charlotte added some local ordinances to protect the LGBT community, the North Carolina state legislature stomped on its efforts—and the rights of citizens—with H.B. 2, a bill that has cost the state at least $650 million and counting. When the City of Chattanooga created a high speed Internet service for its citizens, the Tennessee state legislature threw up a ban to strip away the cheap, successful access. Smoking bans, environmental rules, and local taxes have all been subject to state legislatures stepping in to crush local control. Even something as innocuous as putting a fee on the use of plastic grocery bags has brought down the wrath of Republican legislatures in multiple states.

The count of state legislatures that have prevented localities from increasing minimum wage is now up to 20, including states such as New York, Colorado, Oregon and Rhode Island, that are not exactly soaked in deep red. Cities aren’t allowed to make any rules concerning paid leave, even for city employees, in 14 states.

States flexing their muscles over local ordinances is nothing new, but the coordinated wave of consolidating all power in state legislatures goes back to ALEC and a set of sample preemption laws that give legislators pre-packaged power over everything from wages to to soda taxes to food labeling. Cities across the nation are taking a beating, one that is breaking budgets and driving away jobs.

Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum is launching a new organization to fight back against state preemption. Keep reading for an interview with Mayor Gillum and information on how you can join the fight.