Table of Contents

• Product News!

• Spotlight: Local Politics and Governance

• We Need Your Help

We’re not late! If you’re receiving this email in the evening, that’s because we’re A/B testing the optimal newsletter post times!

By the way, I’m not sure why a portrait of me keeps showing up at the top of the emails - I’ll try to get that fixed. In the meantime, please ignore my face!

🚀 Alpha Launch + Early Momentum

We officially launched TownhallOS v0.0.1 Alpha last Monday, and we’re off to a strong start!

Traffic Highlights:

• 175 unique visitors

• 51% bounce rate

• Device breakdown: Mobile 55%, Desktop 45%, Tablet 1%

• Lots of feedback from users and site visitors

We currently have 22 active users, with more expected as we scale outreach and partnerships.

📊 Key Metrics We’re Tracking

As we build, we're keeping a close eye on these metrics to ensure we’re improving the user experience week over week:

• Time to onboard – How long does it take a new user to get set up and start engaging?

• Profile completion rate – What percentage of users complete their setup?

• Bounce rate – Tracking how engaging our landing experience is.

• Returning visitors – Helping us measure early stickiness and interest.

• Bug reports logged – To see if improvements are holding up in the wild.

These metrics will guide our prioritization of product improvements and user engagement strategies.

🔧 Product Update – v0.0.2 is Live!

Most significant updates in this release:

1. Feature Request Form – Users can now submit feature suggestions directly from the site. link

2. Faster, simpler onboarding – Revamped flow gets users started in less time and requires less information upfront. Please complete your profile if you haven’t!

3. Dashboard refresh – Cleaned up and now fully responsive across screen sizes.

4. Accessibility improvements – Ongoing effort to ensure usability for everyone.

5. Lots of bug fixes – Random (but annoying) bugs have been squashed!

📱 Growth + Community Building

• We’ve launched our Instagram account to boost outreach. We are now active on three social media platforms: Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

• This week, we will begin recruiting social media interns to help scale content and comms while the core team focuses on product and nonprofit partnerships.

🤝 New Partnership

We’re proud to announce our official partnership with the Youth Advisory Council of Loudoun County’s Policy and Activism Committee!
They have already QA-tested the platform and provided valuable feedback that is shaping the next phase of development!

🧠 Strategic Shift: LC3 Exploration

We’re in talks with a generous lawyer about potential corporate restructuring into an LC3 corporate model. This could unlock new funding opportunities while keeping mission alignment at the core.

Stay in Touch! Send Us Feedback!

Please email us at [email protected] with any feedback, suggestions, or comments about features and the product. We would love to hear from you and learn about the needs of your community.

Spotlight: Local Politics Around the Country

April 20–27, 2025

Los Angeles County, CA

Mayor Karen Bass Proposes Budget Cuts Amid $1B Shortfall

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced potential layoffs of over 1,500 city workers and the elimination of vacant positions to address a $1 billion budget deficit. The cuts, detailed in her April 20 State of the City address, could impact public services, including street repairs, animal shelters, and safety programs. The deficit stems from slowed housing construction, declining film industry activity, and shifts in federal policy affecting trade and tourism. A City Council review of union salary agreements is underway to mitigate financial strain. Source

Second Chance Month Initiatives

Los Angeles County expanded its reentry support programs during Second Chance Month, hosting resource fairs that linked formerly incarcerated individuals to housing, employment, and healthcare services. The Board of Supervisors emphasized the need to reduce systemic barriers to reintegration. Source

Cook County, IL

Second Chance Month Resolution Passed

The Cook County Board designated April 2025 as Second Chance Month, promoting reentry programs like Cook County Reconnect and the Road Home Program. The resolution, sponsored by Commissioner Michael Scott, aims to address employment and housing barriers for returning citizens. Source

Harris County, TX

Interim County Administrator Named

Harris County Commissioners Court appointed Jesse Dickerman as Interim County Administrator on April 21. Dickerman will manage infrastructure projects, including the $11 million Seamist Drive reconstruction, and advance the Climate Justice Plan launched earlier this month. Source

Maricopa County, AZ

Public Input Sessions for Framework 2040 Plan

Maricopa County launched the second round of public meetings for its Framework 2040 Comprehensive Plan on April 24. The sessions focus on land use, transportation, and environmental strategies for unincorporated areas, with a virtual event drawing over 500 participants. Source

I-10 Closure for Broadway Curve Project

A 10-mile stretch of eastbound I-10 closed April 25–28 for drainage work and lane striping, part of the $1.2 billion Broadway Curve Improvement Project. Detours redirected traffic through Loop 202 and US 60, impacting commuters and freight routes. Source

San Diego County, CA

Border Barrier Construction Proposal

U.S. Customs and Border Protection solicited public feedback until May 8 on a proposal to build 2.5 miles of new border barriers near Jacumba Hot Springs and Otay Mesa. The project aims to enhance security, but it faces concerns regarding environmental and community impacts. Source

Have a Local Story to Share?

If you know of noteworthy developments in your community or want us to spotlight a specific issue, we’d love to hear from you! Please send us details at [email protected].

We Need Your Help: Connecting with Local Leaders

As we prepare for the Alpha launch, we seek connections with local lawmakers, representatives, and civic organizations that share our commitment to a transparent and accessible government. If you have contacts interested in partnering with TownHallOS, we’d love to hear from you! Please reach out to [email protected] with any relevant introductions or suggestions.

Join Us in Building the Future of Civic Engagement

TownHallOS isn’t just a platform — it’s a movement to make democracy more accessible and responsive. Together, we can create a society where every voice matters and every voice becomes action.

Thank you for being part of our story. Stay tuned for updates as we approach launch day!

Your TownHallOS Team

Where your voice becomes action.