Ryan Friedrichs

- "In 1996, Congress enacted the Military Housing Privatization Initiative (MHPI) to enable DoD to attract private capital and expertise to address the massive family housing problem."  - "Unlike traditional government contractors, the MHPI housing companies saw themselves as long-term partners with the Services." - "MHPI achieved exceptional results during its first 20 years." - "The Military Housing Privatization Initiative (MHPI) has been transformative—significantly improving the quality of life for military families while allowing base commanders to focus on their core mission."  - "Three- and four-star admirals and generals—some of whom had been skeptical of MHPI initially—came to see it as the single most effective initiative DoD had undertaken to improve military families’ quality of life." https://lnkd.in/eXRMzin4

59

7 Comments

Commentary: Kamala Harris’ VP pick in Walz is as ‘normal’ as Trump’s choice of Vance seems ‘weird’ (Steven Okun for CNA) Gov Tim Walz’ opening performance shows he brings to the campaign a “happy warrior” vibe, one not afraid to engage in partisan combat but who can do so with a smile while still carrying a proverbial stiletto. Now, the Democrats have their most combined energy since my days on the Clinton-Gore campaign in 1992. In my snap Commentary, I discuss how in choosing Governor Tim Walz, Vice President Harris selects a person who can unify centrist and progressive Democrats, attract cross-over independents, and take the fight to Trump-Vance while portending an Oval Office driven foreign policy. Time will tell if the 2024 running mates are assets, liabilities, or largely irrelevant on election day. Given Mr Walz and Mr Vance are now the two people other than Ms Harris and Mr Trump most likely to one day serve as president, we know at least one of the choices matters a great deal. For everything else, we wait and watch to see what comes next, from the normal to the weird. Thanks Mike McCurry Peter Goelz and Thurgood Marshall Jr for feedback and quotes, Alison Jenner for your always great editing, and Mason Okun for research and proofreading. https://lnkd.in/gX7J7wCB

9

The U.S. Equalitarian Party would like to replace single choice voting with ranked choice voting in primary and general elections and replace one winner districts with larger multi-member winner districts. Learn More at: https://lnkd.in/e8f2AiAA

1

My latest on Big Tech election interference and what to do about it.

7

2 Comments

Empowering Veteran Advocacy with EPIC Policy Group: A Strategic Approach for Non-Profit Success As a leader of a non-profit dedicated to supporting veterans, you aim to ensure they receive the recognition, benefits, and support they deserve. However, influencing policy and advocating for veteran rights can be challenging due to complex legislation, securing funding, and building influential coalitions. Many non-profits struggle with: - Limited Advocacy Resources: Tight budgets and limited staff hinder comprehensive advocacy efforts. - Complex Legislative Environment: The evolving legal landscape requires specialized knowledge. - Building Strategic Alliances: Forming coalitions and partnerships is time-consuming and requires strategic insight. - Sustainable Impact: Achieving long-term, sustainable change demands a coordinated approach. EPIC Policy Group bridges these gaps, offering expertise, resources, and strategic guidance to elevate your advocacy efforts. Our services include: 1. Policy Analysis and Development: Understand the legislative landscape and develop effective policy positions. 2. Coalition Building: Form strong alliances with organizations, stakeholders, and policymakers. 3. Advocacy Training: Equip your team with essential advocacy skills and knowledge. 4. Strategic Communications: Craft compelling messages and utilize effective communication channels. 5. Legislative Monitoring: Stay informed about changes impacting your organization. Consider Arizona Veterans, a non-profit that partnered with EPIC Policy Group. They built a coalition, secured funding, and achieved legislative victories, including the Veterans Suicide Prevention Pilot Program in 2023. To take your advocacy efforts to the next level, partner with EPIC Policy Group. Contact Samuel Curry at 602.492.3449 or visit www.epicpolicygroup.com to schedule your consultation. Empower your organization. Influence policy. Make a difference for veterans with EPIC Policy Group.

3

New #GrandTamasha out now: the new NDA government has its work cut out for it--especially when it comes to the economy. Trinh Nguyen joins me to discuss the steps the new Indian government must take to create jobs. https://lnkd.in/enJVqs4n

48

1 Comment

🚨🚨🚨🗞️❎ Localis (think tank) response to #GeneralElection2024 Localis chief executive, Jonathan Werran, said: “As we awake to the new dawn, the political sky is clear, and we can start thinking of the realities of the Labour government power and what it will mean for revitalising place policy on the ground. “We can certainly look forward to a rebranding and repurposing of the department. And on the basis that there is stability in the transition from team led by deputy prime minister Angela Rayner, there will be an immediate chance to bed in pre-prepared plans to redefine the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and reintroduce strategic planning, moves which could be a gamechanger for housing supply. “Significant announcements in this direction might come as early as the King’s Speech set for 17th July. “On devolution, there will be some mopping up to do in finalizing the devolution deals in train for Lincolnshire, Hull and Lancashire that didn’t get over the line before the general election was called. “The greater task will be to deliver on the very ambitious constitutional and economic reforms that would among other things, if enacted, see English mayoral combined authorities enjoy parity with the devolved governments in the Council of the Nations and Regions. “This begs the question as to how soon will the Labour government be able to fill in the gaps in the map and cover the whole of England with a total devolution settlement to harmonise with the new statutory local growth plans, how these mesh with regional ambitions and are to be connected in turn within the overarching ambit of a revived industrial strategy? “As new Number 10 chief of staff Sue Gray assembles the centralised set of advisers gathering to deliver on the Labour government’s missions, the need to restore stability to local government finances and staunch the wounds to prevent a further cascade of section 114 notices will be high among her snag list of immediate inheritance problems. “The manifesto promised a much-desired multi-year financial settlement an end to the tournament bidding for local growth funds that bedevilled the levelling up years and served as an enemy of long-term prudential planning. “It is unlikely the sequence of fiscal events new chancellor Rachel Reeves will deliver this before December, let alone unblock the glut of audits from a system that needs the regulatory equivalent of Dyno Rod. “This will have to wait until the next full Spending Review that will take us beyond the current fiscal fantasy island of cliff edge spending cuts and perhaps even set out a direction for the promised land that a radical reform of business rates would be.”

20

2 Comments

Thanks to Bipartisan Policy Center for hosting this important conversation on the future of FEMA. There were some really thoughtful perspectives from some of the most active leaders in FEMA’s recent history. Plus, it’s always nice to see Marines like Peter T. Gaynor CEM® and Jeff Byard leading from the front and keeping the focus on outcomes - for survivors and at-risk communities. Brock Long delivered clear and critical insights (as always) about the potential moral hazards and perverse incentives of the current Presidential declaration process and the tendency of state and local governments’ to underinsure. It’s an important point, though any effort to install carrots and sticks will face the mounting crises of affordability and availability of insurance products in at-risk communities. I heard loud and clear that mitigation and resilience projects WORK - but FEMA can’t force projects and priorities on local communties. Instead, state and local governments must make resilience and mitigation local priorities; Main Street issues. FEMA’s technical assistance capabilities must do more to listen and adapt to help state and local partners name and address challenges and priorities. Stay tuned as SBP’s Resilience and Recovery Fellows Program helps make this happen in #CDRZ communities across the country including Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, the Carolinas, Massachusetts and West Virginia - in partnership with Walmart who is blazing a path for others like Liberty Mutual Insurance, UPS, and Toyota North America to invest in the capacity of communities where their employees, partners, and customers live and work. To those who tuned in to today’s discussion - what resonated most with you? Jennifer Gray Thompson, MPA, Tiffany Del Rio, Brooks Nelson Stan Gimont Kevin Bush

16

1 Comment

As the general election nears, the U.S. continues to get closer to a destruction of its democracy. Those who care for our democracy need to be vigilant and press our leaders to be likewise. #authoritarianism #maga #politicalthreats #rightwing #politics https://lnkd.in/eu4bVsig

Posting a copy of a letter that I wrote to President Biden urging support paying employees affected by the Port of Baltimore closure, and treating them to the same level of support as aviation employees during the Pandemic. Statement of Commissioner Carl W. Bentzel on Letter to President Biden on Suggested Relief for Impacted Workers and Companies Due to the Francis Scott Key Bridge Collapse Posted April 23, 2024 Today, I sent a letter to President Biden thanking him for his quick response to the tragic Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore. https://lnkd.in/erBwAsGH During the pandemic, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, commonly referred to as the CARES Act. Section 4112 of that legislation authorized and provided funding to the U.S. Department of the Treasury to make payments to workforces devastated by the massive economic swings during the pandemic. In particular, passenger air carriers, cargo air carriers, and certain contractors benefitted from the continuation of payment of employee wages, salaries, and benefits this statute provided. Collectively and over the course of the pandemic, in excess of $66 billion dollars was provided to the aviation industry between 2020 to 2022. In the wake of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse, there are local companies and workers suffering from an economic upheaval. The CARES Act can serve as a model for providing relief to impacted workers and industries. The maritime industry never stopped working during the pandemic. While other service industries, such as aviation, were forced to stay home during the height of the pandemic, it was maritime and intermodal services that kept delivering what turned out to be record setting cargo volumes. Now members of the maritime industry and community need relief. Thousands of employees in the Baltimore region are directly or indirectly reliant on the port for their livelihood. We should support them in their period of need to the same level as we did other transportation workers during the pandemic.

45

5 Comments

I was reading this great piece, nodding along and thinking of who I would send it to - and then got to the end and saw it was written by @ShamilIdriss. Of course: https://lnkd.in/gqMYG-GK

13

2 Comments

My latest substack. A plausible explanation for Keir Starmer's conduct: he is a secret anarchist.

13

2 Comments

It seems the transition plan in Ohio’s HB 427 comes up in conversation quite a bit. Here are four key areas to focus when developing an individualized transition plan versus a standardized transition plan. 1. Individual Differences. Each individual with a disability is unique and may have different needs, skills, and abilities. A standardized plan may not take into account these individual differences and could lead to inadequate support for some individuals. 2. Varied Employment Options. The job market offers a wide range of employment opportunities, including both competitive integrated employment and supported employment. A standardized plan would not consider all available options and would limit choices for individuals. 3. Complexity of Disabilities. Some disabilities may require specialized support and accommodations in the workplace. A standardized plan would not address the complex needs of individuals with specific disabilities, thus leading to potential challenges in finding and maintaining employment. 4. Community Resources. Different communities have varying levels of support and resources available for individuals with disabilities. A standardized plan would not account for these differences, resulting in unequal access to necessary services and supports. It is essential to balance individualized support with systemic approaches to ensure successful outcomes for individuals with disabilities seeking fair wages and meaningful employment opportunities.

1

Zachary Markovits, Carrie S. Cihak, and Louise Geraghty have an important message for state and local government leaders: make use of time-limited federal American Rescue Plan funds by evaluating your programs *now* to support economic mobility and advance equity in your communities for generations to come. It's also flattering to see Mathematica named in the same company as MDRC, the California Policy Lab, the Minnesota Management and Budget’s Impact Evaluation Unit, and the San Diego County’s Office of Evaluation, Performance, and Analytics, all of whom help agencies maximize impact by building evaluation capacity. https://lnkd.in/eqNDYkQC

9

🎥 *Behind the scenes of real work that happens in politics* 🤫🤫 Politics can be fast paced and exciting. But governance? The grind of policy work? That looks a little different. People often confuse the political drama they see in TV with the reality of what happens in state capitals and Washington, DC. Real change doesn’t happen on the campaign trail, it happens in the relationships you build and the commitment you make to show up when others won’t. But that type of work isn’t for everyone. That type of volunteering certainly isn’t. Want to make a difference for a cause you care about? Quit doing it alone. Join a team that knows how to help you maximize your impact while minimizing the barriers to making it happen when it works for you. Here’s the untold reality of life in politics and governance: you have to be ready to play whether it’s convenient or not. 👇🏻👇🏻

11