In this week's episode, host and NewDEAL CEO Debbie Cox Bultan speaks with New Rochelle Mayor Yadira Ramos-Herbert -- the first woman and person of color to hold this office in a fast-growing city. Ramos-Hebert details her path to elected office and how she engages with her constituents to make them feel heard. Amid national concerns about housing costs and barriers to building, she describes"The New Rochelle" model for promoting smart development and talks about how being pro-housing has helped her city. Additionally, the Mayor explains how funding for projects has been impacted by the passage of the One, Big Beautiful Bill and how she is navigating the support of immigrants in light of recent ICE incidents. Tune in to learn what she thinks her 16-year-old self would feel about everything she has achieved so far.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [01:48] Welcoming Mayor Yadira Ramos-Herbert to the show.

• [02:24] Mayor Ramos-Herbert tells us about her city, New Rochelle.

• [03:50] What 'the New Rochelle model' is and how they're avoiding displacement.

• [08:16] How Pro-Housing has helped Mayor Ramos-Herbert with these developments.

• [09:06] Why engagement is important and her 'Coffee with the Mayor' initiative.

• [13:14] The New Rochelle rent decrease and how that proves that her model works.

• [16:21] Mayor Ramos-Herbert tells us what is at the top of her constituents' minds right now.

• [20:24] The funding issues she is facing at the moment because of the One, Big Beautiful Bill.

• [25:29] How she is supporting immigrants in the current political climate of the USA.

• [27:32] How Mayor Ramos-Herbert ended up in politics.

• [33:02] What our guest believes her 16-year-old self would think of her achievements.