John Park, mayor of Brookhaven, joined more than 250 mayors at the 93rd annual winter meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Washington, D.C.

They discussed shared challenges and innovative solutions from addressing aging infrastructure to advancing public safety technology and combating the housing affordability crisis. Park emphasized the importance of collaboration and forward-thinking strategies.

"We have infrastructure that's old that we need to replace, and those things cost money," Park pointed out. "And not only is it finding resources to pay for it but it's also doing it the right way, doing it in a sustainable way so we're not right back here in the future."

Park explained Brookhaven is already revamping its stormwater management and connectivity projects by integrating sidewalks, greenways and multiuse paths with infrastructure upgrades to improve sustainability and enhance residents' quality of life.

Park highlighted the importance of addressing the housing affordability crisis, noting it is not just a local issue but a national one. He stressed cities like Brookhaven must work hand-in-hand with federal agencies to find solutions.

"We have to find ways to fight that affordability problem," Park acknowledged. "And we can do that through policymaking and coordinate that policymaking with national resources."

Brookhaven's public safety initiatives stood out as a highlight Park shared with fellow mayors. He described the city's 911 system, which has drastically improved response times.

"When a caller dials 911, the geocoded police officer in the area can listen on the conversation," Park explained. "They can't interact with it, they can listen and understand what's going on and actually arrive before the call is completed."

Park emphasized innovative practices not only improve response times but also demonstrate how Brookhaven is leveraging technology to build safer communities. He said other ways they're using technology is through its drone programs and artificial intelligence.


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With rates of homelessness on the rise, advocates are decrying plans to remove a long-standing camp from the Sandy River Delta, also known as Thousand Acres.

The Department of State Lands is planning to remove the encampment this week, along with its residents, some of whom have been there for decades. In response, residents have filed an injunction.

One Joint Office of Homeless Services outreach worker, who would prefer to stay anonymous fearing backlash, has been working with the 30-some residents of Thousand Acres for the past year. They said the state has failed to connect residents to promised resources and the people living there have nowhere else to go.

"They can offer you a bed in an overcrowded, low-quality shelter, or they can offer you to get on a housing waitlist that will last for years," the worker explained. "It's really not a legitimate option at all."

The state said the camp is making the area unsafe and they need to close it temporarily to restore the land. New data show Oregon saw a 13% increase in people experiencing homelessness in 2024 alone.

Residents of Thousand Acres have created a Cooperative Stewardship Proposal, which they are providing as an alternative to eviction from the site.

Tyrell Graham, a musician, has lived at the park for more than three years.

"People have been peaceful down here, been peaceful for a long time and this is like a sanctuary," Graham emphasized.

Advocates for the unhoused say the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office has been leaving people at Thousand Acres when they have no other options, including after their release from Multnomah County Jail. The outreach worker argued evicting people who have nowhere else to go is inhumane.

"People aren't trash. You can't just pick them up and throw them away," the worker stressed. "They've created a home there and they've lived there for decades, and you can't just disrupt that on a whim."

The number of people experiencing homelessness once again set a record last year, nearing 775,000 nationwide.


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Laramie, Wyoming is short on affordable housing but a new partnership aims to help.

Albany County's population grew nearly 7% between 2010 and 2021 and many newcomers are remote workers, according to a statewide needs assessment. Because the county is home to Laramie, the state's only bona fide college town, many homes are rentals occupied by students, adding to a housing crunch for vital workers such as teachers and nurses and the schools and hospitals working to retain them.

Todd Feezer, assistant city manager of Laramie, and others have eyed the site of the former Slade Elementary School, due to be demolished soon, for housing built under a new partnership model.

"Really, I think we've got a good team that's all pulling together," Feezer observed. "As long as that team can continue to pull together, we should be able to see some success in this, hopefully within the next year to 18 months."

He noted the school district is appraising the property to see what is possible. Feezer pointed out the public-private partnership taking on the project includes the City of Laramie, Albany County School District, Laramie Chamber Business Alliance, Ivinson Hospital and WyoTech.

The exact mechanics of the project are still in the works but Feezer stressed he hopes to add 34 workforce-attainable housing units to the mix.

"We're excited for the interest in our project," Feezer emphasized. "This isn't the solution but this is a start for us to try to create solutions to the housing issue here in Laramie."

According to the statewide needs assessment, Wyoming in 2030 will need between 21,000 and 39,000 more units than it had in 2021 to cover housing needs.


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Contractors have broken ground on a tiny-home village in Branson, where poverty is a growing concern.

While tourists flock to Branson by the millions, many frontline workers can't afford to live in the city they serve.

One in five Branson residents lives below the poverty line - and more than 1,500 people, including 300 children, reside in substandard housing such as weekly motels.

These statistics are what motivated Elevate Branson co-founder and CEO Bryan Stallings to envision a five-acre tiny-home development.

Backed by grants from the state of Missouri and private foundations, Stallings said the 70-home project will become one of the largest permanent tiny-home communities in the country.

"So most tiny homes are on wheels. These are not," said Stallings. "These are on permanent foundations, 400 square feet or less. So, they're a single bedroom and bath, water, sewer - all the stuff you would have in your normal home. They're just smaller."

Low-income residents can rent a fully furnished tiny home for $400 a month, utilities included. Sponsorships are also available at $45,000 per home.

Stallings said he anticipates they'll be move-in ready sometime in 2026.

Branson currently needs more than 2,200 additional housing units to meet existing demand. Stallings acknowledged that the new tiny-home village is only a piece of the solution.

He emphasized that the project's impact reaches beyond providing shelter.

He said his vision is to create a community where residents can elevate their lives through connecting with others and have access to vital resources.

"We'll have some micro-businesses," said Stallings, "some opportunities for them to not only have employment training, but places for them to work in the village itself."

As of 2024, there are more than 10,000 tiny homes across the country. Surveys reveal that 73% of Americans would consider living in a tiny home, with Gen Z and millennials showing the most interest.



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