http://www.governing.com/authors/rss/rss/?a=87483592 Zach Patton -- Executive Editor. Zach has written about a range of topics, including social policy issues and urban planning and design. Originally from Tennessee, he joined GOVERNING as a staff writer in 2004. He received the 2011 Jesse H. Neal Award for Outstanding Journalism http://www.governing.com/topics/education/gov-hoopla-like-netflix-for-libraries.html Library systems in cities across the country are debuting Hoopla, a free and unlimited streaming service for music and movies -- though the selection won’t be quite the same as Netflix or Hulu. http://www.governing.com/topics/politics/gov-treasurers-caught-in-politics-crosshairs.html As finances grow tighter and pension liabilities stay in the spotlight, treasurers in several states have been clashing with their peers about how best to manage the money. http://www.governing.com/topics/politics/gov-does-puerto-rico-really-want-to-be-51st-state.html For the first time ever, a majority of the island's voters favor statehood. But while many think it's the answer to the territory's economic woes, others disagree. http://www.governing.com/blogs/politics/Puerto-Rico-statehood-vote.html Residents of the territory voted affirmatively to become the 51st U.S. state, but the island's political future remains unclear. http://www.governing.com/topics/health-human-services/housing/gov-new-york-apartments-go-micro.html The city is looking to develop apartments the size of a couple parking spaces to accommodate its 1.8 million one- and two-person households. http://www.governing.com/topics/finance/david-walkers-plan-to-fix-america.html After stepping down as head of the Government Accountability Office, David Walker started drawing the nation’s roadmap to fiscal sustainability that’s also applicable to states and cities. http://www.governing.com/topics/economic-dev/gov-chatype-nations-first-municipal-font.html Chattanooga, Tennessee raised more than $10,000 to support its efforts to become the first U.S. city with its own font. http://www.governing.com/topics/public-justice-safety/gov-trees-equal-less-crime.html In Baltimore, a new study showed that a 10 percent increase in tree cover yielded at least a 12 percent decrease in crime. http://www.governing.com/topics/energy-env/gov-parklets-next-big-idea-in-urban-planning.html Cities from coast to coast are giving up parking spaces (and the revenue that comes from them) to create green public places for people to sit. http://www.governing.com/topics/politics/lawmaking/gov-50-state-legislation-now-searchable-by-smartphone.html The new Open States app lets users identify and contact their state reps, scroll through voting records and follow bills through the legislative process. http://www.governing.com/topics/transportation-infrastructure/gov-san-francisco-parking-program-eases-congestion.html San Francisco hopes that by raising some prices based on supply and demand, it can ensure there’s always at least one open spot on every block. According to a New York Times analysis, it may be working. http://www.governing.com/topics/health-human-services/gov-new-orleans-latino-population-boom.html After Hurricane Katrina, Latinos moved into the city in record numbers and have transformed the disaster-struck town. http://www.governing.com/topics/transportation-infrastructure/promoting-road-safety-in-new-york-city-via-haiku.html New York City streets are getting a little more literary. The city Transportation Department has partnered with an artist, John Morse, to create a series of graphic, pop-art signs encouraging drivers, cyclists and pedestrians to be more careful. http://www.governing.com/topics/politics/gov-boss-of-boston-mayor-thomas-menino.html Boston's longest-serving mayor has started to think big. (But he still sweats the small stuff.) http://www.governing.com/topics/mgmt/citizens-performance/gov-dearborn-michigan-sells-florida-apartment-building.html In what may have been the only arrangement of its kind, the Midwestern city owned waterfront vacation property in Florida. The sale of it added $6 million to this year’s budget.