John Bailey Email & Phone Number

San Antonio, Texas Area

Working with NRDC's national and state teams to ensure federal infrastructure funding supports better climate and equity outcomes for people and communities.

San Antonio, Texas Area

I currently serve as a Climate Advisor to the City of San Antonio, TX through the American Cities Climate Challenge (ACCC), which is a project of the Natural Resources Defense Council supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies. The ACCC’s focus is to support mayors in their efforts to accelerate action on climate change. In this role, I work closely with the office of Mayor Ron Nirenburg, city staff, and other public agencies and non-profits where I lead efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through smarter transportation policies. Specifically, this has meant building a successful campaign to dedicate additional funding for public transit; providing technical support to the city to provide over fifty publicly accessible vehicle charging stations; founding a new community supported organization to advocate for transformational investments in safe bicycle infrastructure throughout the city, and several other initiatives and projects. All these efforts have included the recruitment of diverse community partners and city staff to implement. I have developed equity-based program criteria to ensure that all our interventions are supported by the entire community. I have used my term-limited position to bring national resources to the City of San Antonio, to establish more robust community-led institutions that can carry the work into the future, and to ensure that interventions are equitable and community-supported.

Saint Paul, Mn

Clients have included Smart Growth America, Urban Land Institute (ULI) Minnesota, Family Housing Fund , Greater Minnesota Housing Fund, Fresh Energy, and East Metro Strong. Specialties encompass policy analysis, campaign strategy, coalition building, and communications.

Saint Paul, Mn

Organized and led several policy initiatives relating to transit funding, transportation reform, housing, and natural resources. Primary author of “Investments for a Competitive and Healthy Minnesota,” which is a strategic plan for how a new gubernatorial administration can get more cost-effective and sustainable outcomes from its infrastructure investments. All of these efforts required frequent testimony, both oral and written, before legislative committees, gubernatorial staff, and Metropolitan Council hearings and staff briefings.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

Founding executive director of the Smart Growth Alliance (SGA), a unique partnership of the DC area’s leading environmental organizations and business/real estate interests. Managed and implemented the following initiatives: a recognition program for exemplary private sector development proposals, an annual award program for conservation initiatives, and a region-wide visioning process. Raised over $500,000 from foundation and government grants and corporate contributions. Prepared and delivered testimony at city and county hearings on development proposals. Facilitated on-going dialogue between elected officials, real estate executives, and neighborhood organizations around development issues. Developed extensive outreach campaigns for each of the SGA’s initiatives, securing placements on National Public Radio, the Washington Post, and other local media.

Washington, D.C.

Managed the National Vacant Properties Campaign, an initiative providing technical assistance to local governments to reclaim vacant properties. Primary responsibilities included developing communications plan, coalition building and fundraising for the Campaign. Co-authored and developed media strategy for groundbreaking research on the effects of urban sprawl on drought conditions, resulting in coverage from national TV, radio, and press outlets. Drafted proposals for foundation and governmental grant programs. Administered coalition building efforts for a group of more than 100 national, state and local organizations around the country. Reviewed and edited numerous local, federal and other non-profit reports and publications.

San Francisco Bay Area

Primary responsibilities were to promote the completion of the Bay Area Ridge Trail to relevant governmental bodies and private landowners.