The Strange, Troubled History of Pedestrian Malls
A few of them have worked out well. Most of them have been failures. But the idea of building new ones has never died, and there are signs of still another incarnation.
The Need for Increased Cybersecurity Against QR Code Abuse
QR code use is growing as a convenient input mechanism to make mobile transactions more efficient. But Qshing, or QR code abuse, is also becoming a cyberthreat.
THE FUTURE OF What’s Happening Now
How State Policies Are Worsening Our Doctor Shortage
Licensing requirements preventing physicians from practicing across state borders have been relaxed during the pandemic. Utah's approach points the way to a more sensible permanent licensing regime.
Gutenberg to Zuckerberg: A Tale of Two Revolutions
The printing press and social media democratized communication in their respective times. They both turned the order of things on its head — for good, for ill, and forever.
THE FUTURE OF What’s Happening Now
Why Cities Have More People but Less Clout
Cities have always gotten less than their share from states. As they've become wealthier and more Democratic, they've come increasingly under attack.
THE FUTURE OF What’s Happening Now
Government Has a Trust Problem. It Will Take Time to Restore
The route to trust in our institutions is through candor, competence and a clear sense of mission. Two examples, from Indiana and West Virginia, show how trust can be rebuilt one careful step at a time.
Maryland’s Digital Ad Tax May Receive Legal Pushback
Maryland made history last week, becoming the first state in the country to codify a tax on digital ads. The move would have a significant financial impact on big tech, but the bill will probably face multiple legal challenges.
The amount per kilowatt-hour that some Texans were charged as their variable-rate plans spiked to reflect the lack of supply across the state. The usual average price per kilowatt-hour for electricity in Texas in the winter is about 12 cents.
Despite Security Concerns, Online Voting Advances
In nine states, some jurisdictions have allowed voting via computer or app.
THE FUTURE OF What’s Happening Now
The Learning Agenda Every Public Agency Needs
It's an important tool for evidence-based decision-making and program management. Asking agency leaders one simple question can start the process of building it.
THE FUTURE OF Community Design
California’s Unplanned City in the Sonoran Desert
Slab City, a do-it-yourself, free-wheeling community, has been functioning to some degree for decades. Without any infrastructure or civic institutions, such as police or fire services, it exists by defying normalcy.
THE FUTURE OF Community Design
The Promise a Local Politician Can Keep: a Clean City
Every neighborhood should be free of litter, debris and property- and housing-code violations. There's plenty that government can do, including helping residents understand their own role.
Gutenberg to Zuckerberg: A Tale of Two Revolutions
The printing press and social media democratized communication in their respective times. They both turned the order of things on its head — for good, for ill, and forever.
