Leaning on the Land
More and more communities are considering reviving an old tax idea that’s been tried in only a few places.
Authors
J. Brian Charles |
Email : jbcharles@governing.com Twitter : @JBrianCharlesAs Governing’s urban policy writer, Brian covers a broad array of issues affecting the nation’s cities. Before joining Governing, Brian was an opinion editor with The Hill newspaper, where he focused on publishing op-eds on criminal justice, race and education. He also written extensively on police reform and public health.
Coastal Cities Rethink Zoning Regulations in Fight Against Climate Change
From Boston to Miami, coastal cities are changing where and how developers can build in order to protect homes and property from future flooding.
Will Up-Zoning Make Housing More Affordable?
Making neighborhoods denser is an idea with growing appeal. The question is whether it works.
Absenteeism Costs Schools Money. A Simple Change Can Reduce It.
It involves tweaking the tone and the look of letters home to parents.
Right to an Attorney? Most Tenants Face Landlords Without One.
But a handful of cities are starting to provide counsel in civil court.
Cities Are Hiring a New Kind of CEO
Chicago's new mayor is the latest to carve out a position for a chief equity officer who focuses on racial and economic diversity and discrimination.
Human Composting, Liquid Cremation: States Search for Greener Funeral Options
Washington just became the first U.S. state to sanction "human composting," the latest eco-friendly alternative to traditional burial and cremation.
After Second Ransomware Attack in 14 Months, Baltimore Refuses to Pay
The city is the latest government to be targeted by hackers and forced to decide whether to pay to restore vital public services.
Denver Voters Deny Homeless the 'Right to Survive.' Here's What That Means.
Initiative 300, a first-of-its-kind ballot measure that even divided advocates for the homeless, failed on Tuesday by an overwhelming margin.
Mold, Rats and No Hot Water: Will Federal Oversight Improve Public Housing in New York?
The city keeps getting slapped for the poor condition of its public housing. Nothing has changed so far.
States, Cities Add Sweeteners to Attract 'Opportunity Zone' Investors
With 8,700 low-income communities competing for private investment, some places are topping on the incentives to make themselves stand out.
How Charter Schools Lost Democrats' Support
The biggest school reform movement in the past decade is taking some hits.
NYPD's Big Artificial-Intelligence Reveal
The nation’s largest police force has developed a first-of-its-kind algorithm to track crimes across the city and identify patterns. Privacy advocates worry it will reinforce existing racial biases.
Mortgage No More: Baby Boomers Who Rent Are On the Rise
In the past decade, there was a 43 percent increase in renters over the age of 60. The trend brings with it new challenges -- and benefits -- for cities.
Will Statewide Rent Control Catch On Beyond Oregon?
It's the first in the nation to pass a rent control law that covers tenants across an entire state.
Amazon HQ2 Was an 'Unfortunate Distraction' From 'Needy Communities'
The online retail giant's plans in New York attracted bad PR for a new federal program aimed at helping economically distressed areas like Long Island City.
Affordable Housing Crisis Reaches a Tipping Point in Charlotte, N.C.
After experiencing explosive growth in recent years, the city is tripling its spending to address the shortage of lower-income units.
The Criminal Justice Reforms Trump Didn't Mention in His State of the Union
The president touted a bipartisan bill he signed to reduce sentences for nonviolent drug offenders. But he's been quiet about his support for a new juvenile justice law that could impact more people.
As Airbnb Battles Cities Trying to Regulate It, One State Joins the Fight
A new law in Massachusetts aims to curb short-term rentals, which critics say are limiting the affordable housing stock and turning residential property into unregulated hotels.
Distressed Cities Find Hope in Federal 'Opportunity Zones'
A new program may be a boon to struggling cities -- if it targets the right ones.
How Police and Anti-Crime Measures Reinforce Segregation
Cities' efforts to get tough on crime can make it harder for low-income residents to find good jobs and housing.
How Housing Policies Keep White Neighborhoods So White (and Black Neighborhoods So Black)
Decades of local zoning regulations and land-use policies have kept racial segregation firmly rooted in place.
Still Separate After All These Years: How Schools Fuel White Flight
Segregated schools aren’t just the products of segregated neighborhoods. In many cases, predominantly white schools are driving the racial divide.
How States and Cities Reinforce Racial Segregation in America
The black-white divide is still a major problem. Government policies are partially to blame.
During Shutdown, Mayors Show What Bipartisanship Looks Like
The U.S. Conference of Mayors gathered in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday to discuss its agenda and tout its members' ability to work across party lines -- even on immigration.
Can California and NYC Afford Their Near-Universal Health-Care Plans?
Gov. Gavin Newsom and Mayor Bill de Blasio initiated ambitious plans this week to cover drastically more residents, including undocumented immigrants who are not currently eligible for subsidized insurance.
No More Muzak: Alaska's Hold Music Now Features Local Bands
Goodbye, elevator music!
To Fight Blight, One City Turned to Courts
In less than four years, St. Petersburg, Fla., has reduced the number of vacant homes by more than 75 percent.
A Growing Response to School Shootings: Panic Buttons -- on Phones
Washington, D.C., is the latest school district to adopt the technology in an effort to improve emergency response times.
Who Needs the State? New York City Goes Rogue to Reform Bail
While state lawmakers have been locked in a stalemate on the issue, the city has implemented new rules and programs that have helped it achieve the lowest incarceration rate of any big U.S. city.
Can Paying for the Poor to Have Lawyers Actually Save a City Money?
Lawyers in Philadelphia think so. They want the city, which is suffering from an eviction crisis, to spend more on helping people fight landlords in court.
Why Losing Out on Amazon HQ2 Isn't So Bad for Cities
A new study points to evidence that luring a large corporation isn’t the best way to spur job growth.
Set Up to Fail? How High Schools Aren't Preparing Kids for College
Small schools and high poverty schools are putting their students at the biggest disadvantage, according to a new report.
No More Clock Changes? California Chooses Year-Round Daylight Saving Time
But the voter-approved measure still faces several major hurdles.
Ten Commandments Amendment Cruises to Victory in Alabama
The constitutional amendment, allowing religious monuments in government buildings, will almost surely wind up in court.
On Felons' Rights, 2 States Take 2 Different Directions
Florida voters opted to automatically restore voting rights to former felons, affecting some 1.4 million residents. In Louisiana, voters instituted a five-year waiting period for felons to seek political office.
Despite Sky-High Rents, California Voters Reject Rent Control
It was supported by many city and county officials but opposed by Gavin Newsom, the newly elected Democratic governor.
South Carolina Voters Refuse to Give Up Their Power to Elect School Superintendents
Voters overwhelmingly rejected a ballot measure that would have made the position appointed.
For College Towns, Having a World-Famous University Is a Mixed Blessing
Just ask New Haven, the home of Yale.
Looming Teachers Strike Brings Political Risk to 2020 Hopeful
If Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti intervenes in the labor dispute, political observers say practically every potential outcome could hurt his future.
How Education Reform Taught Teachers to Cheat
In school districts across the country, being held accountable for grades and graduation rates has motivated educators to tamper with results. Some places are starting to crack down on this temptation.
Florida Republicans' Recipe for Passing Controversial Ballot Measures: Just Add More
What do offshore drilling and vaping have to do with each other? Nothing, except that they appear together on one ballot question in Florida, which appears to be ground zero this year for legal battles over ballot language.
Los Angeles Will Be the First City to Use Body Scanners on Subways. Which Could Be Next?
Several cities and transit agencies have been working with the TSA to test the security devices.
As Amazon Enters Government Purchasing Market, Signs of a Bad Deal Emerge
The online retail giant's new relationship with public schools and agencies raises concerns that the company is cornering the marketplace and costing taxpayers more money.
Are Smartphones Speeding Up Gentrification?
Location-based apps like Yelp and Foursquare might be exacerbating housing problems in transitional neighborhoods.
The Downsides of Property Tax Caps
They have created fiscal stress for states and municipalities, and exacerbated inequality. A new report offers a simple solution to alleviate those issues.
With an NBA Assist, All-Star Host City Aims to Help Minority-Owned Businesses
Charlotte, N.C., is using the sporting event as an opportunity to close the investment gaps between businesses owned by white women and people of color.
The Janus Ruling Is a Blow to Public Unions. It's Especially Bad for Black Women.
The Supreme Court's decision could weaken unions' collective bargaining power, which has historically benefited women of color more than most.
One Woman's Quest to Fight Gentrification by Asking Residents How
Cat Goughnour is pushing several cities to give community members more say in urban design.
Can Gentrification Be Illegal?
A lawsuit alleges that Washington, D.C., illegally wooed "creative-class" millennials at the expense of longtime residents. Others argue, "this is not a conspiracy. This is capitalism.”
After Decades of Reform, Has Chicago Finally Learned How to Fix Education?
Some promising signs suggest the city may be turning around its troubled school system. It offers lessons for other struggling districts.
Breaking Up Is Hard to Do: Why Some States and Cities Want to Secede
The push to form new governments is heating up in places from Georgia to California.
To Pay Minimum Wage or Not? Debate Over Tipped Workers Heads to D.C.
There's a growing movement to eliminate the so-called tip credit for bartenders and servers. Washington, D.C., could be next to outlaw the practice.
For New Generation of Black Mayors, Focus Is on Balance
San Francisco just elected its first black female mayor at a time when the number of big-city black mayors has been on the decline. Their leadership style has changed, too.
Beyond Books: How Libraries Are the Latest Front in the Opioid Fight
Libraries across the country are training their staff to administer the drug that can reverse an overdose.
Mayors' Priorities Aren't Changing, But Their Attitudes Are
The annual National League of Cities report reveals a shift in the way mayors talk, especially about infrastructure.
Can a Business Exec Save One of the Largest School Districts in America?
Austin Beutner, the new leader of Los Angeles schools, is the latest big-city superintendent with no education experience. Some say that -- and his ties to charter schools -- are cause for concern.
Cities Now Use Taxes to Fight Blight. Is It Working?
Land use experts question whether vacant property taxes are the right way to spur development.
Beer Boom: How One City Used Suds to Brew Up a New Economy
Roanoke, Va., is betting big on beer.
Housing Discrimination Still Hurts Home Values in Black Neighborhoods
Despite an urban real estate boom, the home-values gap for traditionally African-American neighborhoods is actually getting worse.
This Small Southern City Is the Most Innovative in the Country
Fayetteville, N.C., earned the top honors in the annual Equipt to Innovate report, a joint study from Governing and the nonprofit Living Cities.
Supreme Court Could Reshape Texas Political Districts for Midterms
The justices will hear oral arguments on Tuesday in a case over the state's legislative and congressional maps, which have been accused of discriminating against black and Latino voters.
More States Forcing Prosecutors to Hand Over Evidence -- Even When It Hurts Their Case
The Supreme Court required prosecutors to do this decades ago, but they don't always follow the rules. New York is the latest state to strengthen them.
As Fair Housing Act Turns 50, Landmark Law Faces Uncertain Future
Under the Trump administration, and most Republican White Houses, enforcement of the 1968 anti-discrimination law has weakened. Housing advocates say the constantly changing federal approach has held back progress.
How Police in One City Are Using Tech to Fight Gangs
Predictive technologies promise to let police fight crime before it happens. But do they work?
To Pay or Not to Pay Hackers? Ransomware Poses a Dilemma for Governments
Baltimore's 911 system and a range of city services in Atlanta were hijacked in the past week.
Despite Legal Protections, Black Families Face Housing Discrimination
A new study is the latest to show that landlords often discriminate against minorities and people who use rental vouchers.
How ‘Service Design’ Is Changing the Way Cities Work
New York City is betting that it can learn important lessons from the way the private sector runs. The bet is starting to pay off.
Which States Are Most Dependent on the Gun Industry?
A new report ranks states' economic reliance on firearms, taking into account jobs, sales and political contributions.
If Trump Axes Public Media Funding, Rural Areas Could Lose Government News
The president doesn't want the federal government to help fund public radio and TV stations anymore. Such cuts could exacerbate the already sharp decline in coverage of state capitols and city halls.
California's Biggest (and Most Surprising) Marijuana Opponent
As an African-American Democrat, Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas isn't like a lot of other anti-drug advocates.
Black Students Have Longer Commutes Under School Choice
Of the cities studied, only in New Orleans did white students travel farther than their black peers.
Daylight Saving Time? Some States Could Soon Ditch It.
Florida is closest to ending the clock-changing practice, but other states have flirted with the idea.
Connecticut Goes to War With NRA
The NRA has "in essence become a terrorist organization," said Gov. Dannel Malloy, who is considering cutting it out of the state's gun permitting process. It's not the only state, however, that directs funds toward the group.
With Some Homeownership Incentives Gone, Will More Americans Actually Rent?
Republicans eliminated some of the tax benefits for owning a home. But experts aren't sure how much that will matter.
3 Cities Lead Fight Against Human Trafficking
Atlanta, Chicago and Minneapolis have won funding to better identify and help victims.
So Many Tweets and Calls, So Little Time: How Governments Can Manage It All
Emails, voicemails, texts, Facebook and Twitter have made it easier for residents to reach out to governments -- and harder for governments to respond.
Mainland Mayors Partner With Puerto Rico Leaders to Help Rebuild
More than 40 city leaders have joined a new exchange to share disaster relief expertise with their local counterparts on the island.
Do School Vouchers Help Kids Get to College? Studies Offer Mixed Results.
New studies suggest that school vouchers have minimal impact on college enrollment and even less of an effect on college graduation rates.
Is Flint's Water Crisis Leading to Lower Test Scores?
Barely one in 10 students scored proficient on recent state reading exams.
This Anti-Violence Program Has Been Proven to Cut Crime. Can It Work in Baltimore?
The Roca program has helped keep hundreds of youths out of jail in Massachusetts. Now officials want to transplant that success to one of the toughest crime cities in the nation.
Trump Proposes Unprecedented Expansion of School Choice
The president's budget calls for a $1.1 billion investment in school choice.
In School Funding Fight, Connecticut Weighs Uncertain Next Steps
Everyone agrees the state's education system isn't working. But no one can agree on how to fix it.
Murder, Scandal and a State Intervention: What's Going on With Baltimore's Police Department?
Homicide rates are at an all-time high in the city, and its police department has been mired in turmoil. The state is stepping in.
Children May Suffer Worst Effects of Housing Crunch
The number of children packed into overcrowded homes remains high and comes at a tremendous social cost.
Cold-Weather Closures Expose Years of Underinvestment in Urban Schools
Thanks to a generation of underfunding, many big-city school districts now face deteriorating buildings and billions of dollars in maintenance needs.
GOP Tax Law Could Starve Cities of Revenue
Housing experts predict that the tax overhaul will spur home values and property tax revenues to drop, forcing cities to find new ways to raise money -- or to cut spending.
Cities May Be Facing a New Housing Crisis
As rents and demand for renting increase, millions of Americans are being evicted -- sometimes with only a few days' notice.
With Recount Over, Atlanta's Next Mayor Faces a Changing City
The recount on Thursday confirmed Keisha Lance Bottoms' lead, likely keeping the city's decades-long tradition of black mayors alive. But shifting demographics will change how people lead it.
To Reduce Recidivism, New York City Tries a Bold New Approach
The city is eliminating short-term jail sentences for low-level misdemeanors. Other cities will undoubtedly be watching the impact.
As Bill de Blasio Enters Second Term, Progressives Push for More
After four years in office, the New York mayor has a mixed reputation among liberals. But he seemingly has a chance to change that.
Columbus Day? In More Than 50 Cities, It's Indigenous Peoples Day.
What started as a fringe movement has gained steam in recent years.
Before Las Vegas Shooting, Nevadans Voted for Stricter Gun Control. Then the State Refused to Enforce It.
Nevada's recent politics suggest just how difficult it can be for states to enact gun control measures -- even when a majority of citizens favor them.
Justice Department Ends Era of Pushing Police Reform
The Trump administration's latest reversal of Obama policing strategies instead puts an emphasis on tough-on-crime policies. But the shift will undermine efforts to rebuild relations between communities and police, say many law enforcement officials and experts.
For Political Refugees, Hurricanes Pose a Special Threat
When Hurricane Harvey hit Houston, it hit one of the country's biggest gateways for refugees -- a population that has already had to rebuild their lives and will now struggle to do it again.
Wilmington's Solution to the Opioid Crisis
A coastal North Carolina city ranks first in the nation in opioid abuse. Now it wants to become an innovation hub for battling the crisis.
Harvey Has Many Asking: How Hard Is It to Evacuate a Major City?
Houston is the nation's fourth largest city. While all urban areas present unique evacuation challenges, some are bigger than others.
A Plan to Combat Gun Violence That Doesn't Focus on Guns
New York City is taking an innovative approach that relies on street-level "violence interrupters" to curb crimes involving weapons. Chicago's been doing it for years.