Ebonni Chrispin is the founder and managing director of the management firm We Are Ideas, which helps government and nonprofit leaders move from vision to execution for social change.
From threats to federal grants to city budget gaps, state and local policymakers face no shortage of challenges. But the most serious problem for policymakers is losing sight of the communities and constituents they are tasked to serve.
This is not entirely their fault. Most elected officials were residents and community advocates before they got into office. They have a genuine desire to make a difference. But they don’t practice radical honesty when in office. They don’t level with constituents about obstacles to reform and what it will take to overcome them.
Elected officials often get into office with plenty of gusto after running on real change. They promise to address the dire need for affordable housing, for example, but they can’t make headway once they’re inside the “system.” They start turning their back on the values that got them elected in the first place.
This is because the job comes with a real fear of losing the job, so elected officials avoid the risks that real change requires. Maybe it’s refusing to confront a local real estate developer on luxury housing. Maybe it is ignoring the zoning process that seems too cumbersome or too deferential to special interests. Perhaps the elected official gets dragged into the drama of local politics rather than the work at hand.
Policymakers may want to keep their campaign promises, but the current political (dis)incentive structure can get in the way. Pushback from special interests gets the best of even well-intentioned reformers, as complaints pile up and force potential changemakers to back down. According to Princeton University researchers, over three-quarters of elected officials report they’re less willing to engage with the community because of hostility.
Local leaders often have to navigate state or federal politics that are out of their control. Complicated state laws can tie a local commissioner’s hands. Elected officials may be afraid of being punished or losing support if they diverge from their party. As a result, they can become disconnected from the community itself, reconnecting only when it is campaign season again.
Community over party
At the same time, most voters feel frustrated. Nearly 70% of U.S. residents are dissatisfied with how democracy is working in 2026. They want changemakers.
True reformers focus on what is best for the people. These leaders stick to a discipline that balances what the people need, the letter of the law and party affiliation — but only if the party fits into the bigger picture.
In the age of anti-establishment politics, we have seen Democrats and Republicans buck party pressure to do the right thing. Party affiliation cannot be the primary driver; the needs of constituents must remain the central consideration.
This will lead to enemies, including the entrenched interests that benefit from stymieing reform. But true reformers can find plenty of allies with local clout if they have the courage to seek them out. Housing authorities, statewide coalitions and forward-thinking community groups are potentially valuable resources with real skin in the game. Through facilitation, changemakers can find allies that bring political party and principle together.
To get unstuck, changemakers need to seek out local experts who understand the community.
On behalf of local housing authorities and global health organizations, I regularly dig into outdated ordinances that prop up the status quo, using that research to shift the law or strip out flawed components. Efforts such as coordinating lobby visits to the state capitol, educating voters about policy language and engaging with local businesses that want zoning reform can break down the barriers to change.
True reformers need to center community and put political parties aside when it prevents progress, bring the right people to the table and be honest about obstacles. Identifying when progress is stuck and fostering collaboration to clear the bottleneck is the better way forward.
Reform may feel like swimming against the tide, but socioeconomic progress is a winning issue. Let’s be radically honest. Constituents and communities deserve nothing less.
