http://www.governing.com/authors/rss/rss/?a=87483622 Alan Ehrenhalt is a contributing editor for Governing. http://www.governing.com/columns/col-school-scandals-reveal-testing-ignorance.html We measure school performance by test scores because it’s easy. But no simplistic set of A-F grades can ever account for all the intangible ways schools nurture their pupils. http://www.governing.com/columns/col-states-want-autonomy-but-boss-localities-around.html One minute, states are complaining about the federal government meddling in their business. The next, they're imposing dictatorial mandates on localities. http://www.governing.com/columns/col-streetcar-route-drives-arlington-county-into-conflict.html The wealthy Virginia county outside Washington, D.C., has been free of the nasty political environment home to its neighbors – until now. Causing the controversy is a proposed streetcar, which nearly a dozen cities are building. http://www.governing.com/topics/politics/col-supermajorities-not-always-super.html Quite often, fighting breaks out within the parties -- not just between them. http://www.governing.com/columns/col-chicago-paradox.html Despite its high murder rate, dysfunctional schools and aging transit, the central area of Chicago is growing faster than any other big city. http://www.governing.com/columns/col-innovations-unexpected-return-to-states.html The laboratories of democracy have reopened after the recession. But they’re not delivering the results that most experts have been conditioned to expect from them. http://www.governing.com/topics/economic-dev/gov-cities-of-future-may-soon-look-like-past.html Urbanist Alan Ehrenhalt explains how America’s cities are changing, why and what this means for urban life in the future. http://www.governing.com/topics/mgmt/A-Job-Even-Mr-Rogers.html On a wall at my neighborhood community house, in Arlington County, Virginia, there are two gold plaques with 43 names on them. They are the names of all the people who have served as president of the Lyon Village Citizens Association since 1926, the year the neighborhood was created. http://www.governing.com/topics/mgmt/Mayor-Manager-Conundrum.html El Paso has always been a little bit eccentric. When the state university campus was built there, in the 1920s, the local leaders chose Bhutanese architecture, based on an obscure style used in the Himalayas in medieval times. El Paso has always been a little bit eccentric. When the state university campus was built there, in the 1920s, the local leaders chose Bhutanese architecture, based on an obscure style used in the Himalayas in medieval times. El Paso has always been a little bit eccentric. When the state university campus was built there, in the 1920s, the local leaders chose Bhutanese architecture, based on an obscure style used in the Himalayas in medieval times. El Paso has always been a little bit eccentric. When the state university campus was built there, in the 1920s, the local leaders chose Bhutanese architecture, based on an obscure style used in the Himalayas in medieval times. El Paso has always been a little bit eccentric. When the state university campus was built there, in the 1920s, the local leaders chose Bhutanese architecture, based on an obscure style used in the Himalayas in medieval times. El Paso has always been a little bit eccentric. When the state university campus was built there, in the 1920s, the local leaders chose Bhutanese architecture, based on an obscure style used in the Himalayas in medieval times. El Paso has always been a little bit eccentric. When the state university campus was built there, in the 1920s, the local leaders chose Bhutanese architecture, based on an obscure style used in the Himalayas in medieval times.