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alan-greenblatt

Alan Greenblatt

Alan Greenblatt is a former editor of Governing. He is the co-author of a standard textbook on state and local governments. He previously worked as a reporter for NPR and CQ and has written about politics and culture for many other outlets, print and online. He can be reached at Alan.greenblatt@outlook.com and on X at @AlanGreenblatt.

As represented by statues and school names, American history has long overlooked the flaws of mostly dead white males. Taking down their monuments risks a different kind of simplification.
After years of leading through intimidation, New York's Democratic governor faces sexual harassment allegations and charges of covering up thousands of deaths.
New mayors will be elected this year in New York, Seattle, Boston and other cities. Given problems with budgets and crime, why would anyone want the job?
Cities have always gotten less than their share from states. As they've become wealthier and more Democratic, they've come increasingly under attack.
Over the past decade, states have preempted cities across a broad range of policy areas, including policing and health. If anything, the pandemic has only accelerated the trend.
Cities and counties face budget shortfalls in the billions, leading to furloughs and hiring freezes. Absent federal aid, further cuts are certain.
Around the country, legislators who backed the attempt to overturn the presidential election are being stripped of powerful posts. Some are seeking to adopt the mantle of political martyrs.
Michael Madigan and Mike Miller are the most prominent among a host of legislators who held office for decades and have recently been ousted from leadership, retired or passed away.
States and localities tried for years to figure out ways to tax online sales, without success. The Supreme Court gave them a green light in 2018, which has proven key to surviving the pandemic financially.
State legislatures will have a lot on their plates. They’ll deal with issues in wildly differing ways. We set the context for the 2021 session with an overview of everything from abortion to redistricting.