Sustainable Communities

• San Diego Mayor Building Economic Bridges to Tijuana
• Source: The New York Times   |   San Diego, Calif.   |   May 13, 2013
• Satellite city offices are not uncommon for large cities, but San Diego Mayor Bob Filner’s newest outpost is in another country. By opening San Diego’s Tijuana office this year, the mayor hopes to promote cross-border relations and foster economic partnerships.

• Obama, Perry Both Take Credit for Impressive Texas Jobs Growth
• Source: Time   |   Texas   |   May 10, 2013
• Texas has been a monster job creator over the past ten years with steady employment growth despite massive increases in the state's labor pool and a spike in unemployment in 2009.

• Downtown Detroit Projects Derailed Over Financing
• Source: The Detroit Free Press   |   Detroit, Mich.   |   May 10, 2013
• The reluctance of banks and major pension funds to underwrite loans for downtown projects has been a consistent problem for the struggling city.

• Controversial Port Rail Yard Wins Approval of L.A. City Council
• BY: McClatchy News   |   Los Angeles   |   May 9, 2013
• The project would improve freight rail connections to the nation's largest port complex, but it could spur court challenges alleging violations of environmental and civil rights laws.

• How Boomers, Millennials and Immigrants Are Changing America
• BY: Peter Harkness   |   May 2013
• These demographics will have a profound effect on the needs of the country, and state and local officials need to take notice.

• Chicago Prepares to Launch Bike-Sharing Program
• BY: McClatchy News   |   Chicago, Ill.   |   April 25, 2013
• The long-anticipated launch of the Chicago program appears to be set for June. Initially the program will be federally funded, but officials say eventually it will pay for itself as it expands.

• Water, Water Everywhere and Not a Drop to Waste
• BY: Bob Graves   |   April 22, 2013
• An engineering feat more than a century ago created a host of problems for communities that depend on Lake Michigan for their water. But those problems also present opportunities.
• 2 Comments

• California Has 37% of Nation's Solar Jobs
• Source: Sacramento Bee   |   California   |   April 19, 2013
• California ranks first in the United States with 43,700 solar energy-related jobs, according to a new report by the Solar Foundation.
• 1 Comments

• Michelle Obama Praises Maryland's New Veteran Employment Law
• BY: McClatchy News   |   Maryland   |   April 18, 2013
• First lady Michelle Obama praised a new Maryland law, saying it sets a national standard for removing barriers for veterans in transition to the civilian workforce.
• 1 Comments

• Paid Sick Leave Gaining Momentum in Massachusetts
• Source: Boston Globe   |   Nation   |   April 15, 2013
• A nearly decade-long effort to require Massachusetts employers to offer paid sick days is gaining momentum as lawmakers pass similar proposals across the country.

• Miami Seeks to Alter Homeless Protection Act
• BY: McClatchy News   |   Miami, Fla.   |   April 12, 2013
• Concerned that loitering homeless people are stunting downtown growth, the city will go to federal court in an attempt to undo major provisions of a 15 year-old legal agreement has protected the homeless from undue arrest and harassment by police.

• 1st Gun Manufacturer Leaves Connecticut in Wake of New Law
• Source: Hartford Courant   |   Connecticut   |   April 11, 2013
• Under the new law, the sale of most military-style rifles is banned, but firms are allowed to make and ship firearms that are banned in the state. Gun makers, though. say they may be forced to leave by a backlash from customers.
• 3 Comments

• Washington Targets Veterans for State Employment
• BY: Heather Kerrigan   |   April 10, 2013
• As troops begin returning home from Afghanistan, states are looking for ways to reduce veterans' high unemployment rate. Washington state wants to hire them.
• 2 Comments

• Obama's Budget Targets Wealthy, Social Security to Lower Deficit
• BY: Liz Farmer   |   Nation   |   April 10, 2013
• President Obama's fiscal plan for 2014 contains a mix of tax increases and breaks that some are concerned could mean increased costs for states and localities.
• 1 Comments