Jon Mitchell Shows the Way on Offshore Wind

Today on the show, host and NewDEAL Leader Ryan Coonerty talks with Jon Mitchell, the mayor of New Bedford, Massachusetts, about how his city is leading the way in offshore wind projects and mitigating the effects of climate change. He also shares his advice for leaders looking to tackle climate change by transitioning to new industries as seamlessly as possible, drawn from his four terms of experience as mayor. Ryan and Mayor Mitchell discuss how rural towns, small cities, and superstar cities are catered to differently by political parties and what federal and state policymakers should know about small cities to improve the lives of the residents. Mayor Mitchell also discusses the erosion of trust in institutions and why transparency is key to building trust during times of change like we are living in now. Finally, he touches on stories from his time as a prosecutor for high-profile cases, including his work with the task force searching for Boston mob boss James “Whitey” Bulger. Stay tuned to the end of the episode to hear about the great balance of big and small city life that you can find in a trip or move to New Bedford, plus the great seafood!