Dear Gov1 Subscriber, It could easily be said that we're at a turning point in this country concerning how much better, or unfortunately worse, the pandemic gets from here. Not only are case counts and positivity rates trending into dire territory in a significant number of states, but protections put in place for vulnerable populations are on the verge of expiring, if they haven't already. But local governments are still on the front lines, creatively finding solutions for their most at-risk residents. Case in point: The City of Ithaca, New York, may become the first city in the nation to institute a rent forgiveness program. The City of Milwaukee, in partnership with community organizations, is also lending a helping hand; its Brew City Match program is helping minority-owned businesses weather the pandemic while revitalizing the city, one historic corridor at a time. And last but not least, Michael Kirby shares more insight from the nation's capital as he considers lessons learned from our collective pandemic responses over the past six months. — The Gov1 Team