Internet Explorer 11 is not supported

For optimal browsing, we recommend Chrome, Firefox or Safari browsers.
1901_Brian 27a

J. Brian Charles

Contributor

J. Brian Charles, is a journalist who writes about urban affairs, education, criminal justice, race and inequality. His work has appeared in The Trace, Vox, Governing, Playboy, Wired and the Baltimore Beat. 

The city keeps getting slapped for the poor condition of its public housing. Nothing has changed so far.
With 8,700 low-income communities competing for private investment, some places are topping on the incentives to make themselves stand out.
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.
The biggest school reform movement in the past decade is taking some hits.
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.
It's the first in the nation to pass a rent control law that covers tenants across an entire state.
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.
After experiencing explosive growth in recent years, the city is tripling its spending to address the shortage of lower-income units.
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.
A new program may be a boon to struggling cities -- if it targets the right ones.