2019/02/27 Council Agenda Packet

efforts with bipartisan mayors,we are close to having landmark legislation introduced that would create a new federal program for housing paired with health and supportive services targeted to the homeless and underserved areas. Our partner in this effort,the National League of Cities,has helped ensure that the voices of smaller and medium-sized communities are represented and elevated in this effort. In addition,our partner,the National Alliance to End Homelessness,has provided technical and policy support as we develop this legislation. We currently have 23 bipartisan mayors,including Mayor Franklin, representing 16 million Americans as part of this endeavor. As legalized cannabis has become a critical issue for several of our local government clients,we also created the Government for Responsible U.S.Cannabis Policy Coalition (GRUPC),which counts Mayor Franklin as a member. GRUPC is a first-of-its-kind bipartisan coalition that provides an opportunity for local governments to share best practices and to advocate for policies to help protect public safety and commerce in communities with legalized cannabis. The group launched in June 2018 and introduced a resolution through the U.S.Conference of Mayors outlining key policy reforms,which included supporting legalized banking and removing cannabis from the schedule of the Controlled Substances Act. The resolution was unanimously adopted by over 200 mayors,both Democratic and Republican. In addition,Holland&Knight partnered with the House Cannabis Caucus to host a briefing on Capitol Hill to educate congressional members and staff about legalized marijuana issues facing local governments. Earned and Social Media. Holland&Knight's team offers relationships with journalists,editors, producers,and bloggers at news outlets all over the world. These include: CNN,BBC,Reuters,AP, Bloomberg, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal,Time,Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, USA Today,Politico, 60 Minutes,NPR,NBC,ABC,CBS,FOX News,and MSNBC. We achieve these results through an efficient and integrated approach so that communications and lobbying efforts are complementary. This sort of collaboration,early on,results in messaging that is consistent with legal,regulatory,and/or policy objectives and helps spotlight key City priorities. Grass-Tops and Grass-Roots Engagement. Holland&Knight understands the value of deploying grassroots and how best to leverage thought leaders and validators. Throughout our engagement, we will continually advise Everett officials when and how best to enagage grassroots and grasstops to meet your legislative,policy,and regulatory objectives. We will assist you in message development,so that it is concise and easy for Everett officials and allies to articulate on Capitol Hill. Holland&Knight will also help you extend your political reach to secure high-level meetings not otherwise achieveable and to leverage key grasstops in key meetings based on your legislative priorities. Bipartisan PAC. The Holland&Knight Committee for Effective Government is our firm's federal PAC. As noted previously,it is the top PAC in the United States for contributions to federal candidates and party committees. We have hosted or co-hosted over 60 events in Washington,D.C., and other firm offices in the 2017-2018 election cycle,raising nearly$2 million for members and senators with clients at those events. Holland&Knight Confidential Presentation for the City of Everett I 17