Chandler City Councilmember Jane Poston has been tapped to bring her local expertise to the national stage. She’s been appointed to serve on the National League of Cities (NLC) Public Safety and Crime Prevention Federal Advocacy Committee. In this role, Poston will have a hand in directing the committee’s strategy on public safety policies at the federal level, as reported by Chandleraz.gov.
"Chandler is one of the safest cities in America thanks to tremendous community support and police and fire departments who are accredited and recognized as elite providers," Poston said, as per the city's news release. Her appointment is an opportunity to not only showcase Chandler's successes but also to "advocate for sensible policy solutions" with policymakers in Washington. Poston aims to use her new platform to directly influence the public safety discourse across America’s towns and cities.
The role is a significant one, with members like Poston advocating for municipal concerns before Congress and with the federal administration. At the upcoming NLC conference, Poston and her colleagues are expected to discuss crucial public safety issues. These include bolstering mental health interventions and incorporating mental health professionals into emergency response teams, as well as revising 9-1-1 protocols.
Moreover, the committee plans to explore the potential benefits of advanced technologies and real-time crime centers as tools for local law enforcement. It will also look at innovative strategies to develop and maintain a robust public safety workforce. The importance of such committees was underscored by NLC President Mayor David Sander, who said “NLC’s federal advocacy committees play an important role in helping policymakers in Washington understand the issues and challenges facing America’s cities, towns and villages at the local level,”
Since taking her seat on the Chandler City Council in January 2023, Poston’s term is set to continue through January 2027. More information on the committee’s work and the NLC’s efforts in federal advocacy can be found on their official website.
