Beverly Hills Mayor Sharona Nazarian traveled to Washington, D.C., to participate in the 94th Winter Meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM).
The conference is a nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more, of which there are over 1,400 in the U.S. It affords the mayors of such cities the opportunity to connect and share resources, as well as to engage directly with the president and Congress.
On Jan. 29, Nazarian participated in a panel entitled “Bridging Policy and Practice: Shaping America’s Health Future” alongside Dr. Mehmet Oz, the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and several other mayors and experts.
The panel examined the ways in which state and national health policies bolster outcomes for residents. Nazarian spoke in part about Beverly Hills’ investment in initiatives such as wraparound services for unhoused individuals, the Nurse Practitioner Program and the Beverly Hills Wellness Network.
Speaking to the Courier, Nazarian said that her participation on the panel was a chance to demonstrate “how local governments can lead in delivering effective human services and health care solutions.”
“The discussion reinforced that while policy frameworks are often set broadly, meaningful impact happens at the local level, where programs are designed with direct knowledge of community needs … other cities can learn from the importance of aligning policy with practice, building programs that are measurable and adaptable, and leading with compassion while maintaining accountability,” she said.
The meeting ran from Jan. 28 to Jan. 30 and was attended by more than 270 of the nation’s mayors. It was led by USCM President David Holt, the mayor of Oklahoma City.
“America’s mayors continue to be the most effective and unifying leaders in our nation,” said Holt in a statement. “In a time of divisive national politics, we are bringing our residents together to get things done, and we also work together as mayors across bipartisan lines. This Winter Meeting of our nation’s mayors was an opportunity for our mayors to come together to speak with one voice in the nation’s capital. It’s also an opportunity to learn from one another, exchange best practices, and support each other as peers.”
Panels held during the conference featured experts on housing, technology, safety and more. Among the conversations about technology included many discussions about artificial intelligence, seen by experts as playing a key role in the future of municipal planning.
One such panel, featuring authorities including the head of data center markets at Siemens USA and the chief legal officer of Edison Electric Institute, considered the impact of AI and other advances on the demand for electricity, energy reliability and workforce readiness.
Another featured Waymo’s regional head of state and local policy for the Eastern United States.
Nazarian said that such discussions offered information that elected officials could potentially apply to Beverly Hills.
“Engaging with mayors from across the country provided valuable insight into best practices,” she said. “I was curious to learn about how cities are using technology and emerging tools, including AI, to improve service delivery and operational efficiency.”
She was also impressed by the sense of unity among cities.
“There was clear alignment around the need for collaboration, innovation, and responsible planning, particularly in addressing housing, health care, and major global events on the horizon,” Nazarian said.
Beverly Hills will take part in hosting several major events coming to Los Angeles County over the next few years, including the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games in July 2028, and the FIFA World Cup soccer games in the summer of this year. Nazarian said that one of the most productive conversations at the conference spoke to the needs of cities during such occurrences, including ways in which cities can coordinate regionally while “still preserving local authority and community character.”
Another major issue facing Beverly Hills is Builder’s Remedy, a state law that allows developers to bypass certain local building codes in exchange for affordable housing. Some discussions at the conference spoke to this concern.
“Local decision-making remains critical, especially as cities navigate state mandates,” Nazarian said. “A recurring theme among mayors was that housing solutions must be thoughtful and context sensitive. There was broad consensus that increasing housing supply will require building vertically in appropriate areas.”
Upon leaving the conference, Nazarian said she was pleased to be able to come back to Beverly Hills with new ideas, and to leave Washington, D.C., having advocated for residents.
“Despite the extremely cold weather in Washington, D.C., the energy and purpose of the conference were unmistakable,” she said.
