Cover Story
Outside Disneyland, a Reminder for Governments to Be Careful What They Wish for
BY John Buntin
Cities have become increasingly focused on doing whatever it takes to attract large corporations. But it's hard to govern a one-company town. Just ask Anaheim.
FEATURES
Public Safety & Justice
Why There Are So Many Bad Sheriffs
In a job with tons of power and practically no oversight from voters, law enforcement or politicians, corruption can be easy to get away with.
BY Alan Greenblatt
Infrastructure & Environment
The Four-Letter Word Changing Daily Commutes
Paying an extra toll for rush hour driving isn’t a popular idea with many motorists. But its time seems to have come. Is it here to stay?
BY Daniel C. Vock
Management & Labor
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.
BY J. Brian Charles
OBSERVER
Public Safety & Justice
A Whopper of a Court Case: Can Citizens Sue States?
In a handful of states, they can't. A lawsuit involving Burger King was supposed to settle the debate in Arkansas.
BY Alan Greenblatt
Infrastructure & Environment
After Wildfires, Housing Crisis Complicates California’s Rebuild
In a region that values open space, the idea of expanding the housing supply is a tough sell -- even after the disaster destroyed 5,000 homes.
BY Alan Greenblatt
Politics & Elections
Secretive Kansas Starts to Open Up
After the Kansas City Star revealed a deep culture of secrecy in the state’s government, politicians have started to address the lack of transparency.
BY Alan Greenblatt
Politics & Elections
When Lieutenant Governors Leave, Some States Struggle to Fill the Position
It’s the second highest-ranking job in state government, and yet, no one seems to want it.
BY Alan Greenblatt
POLITICS + POLICY
Commentary
City or Suburbs? What Do Millennials Really Want?
Turns out, the answer isn’t either-or. Rather, it’s a question with 80 million answers.
BY Alan Ehrenhalt
Commentary
For Future Federal Drug Policy, Look to California
The problems associated with legalizing marijuana are seen on a much bigger scale in the state.
BY Donald F. Kettl
Politics & Elections
Why It’s So Hard for Lawmakers to Win Governor’s Races
"I can count on one hand the number of top [legislative] leaders who have successfully run for major statewide office."
BY Alan Greenblatt
Health & Human Services
Assisted Living: A $10 Billion Industry With Little Oversight
It’s largely up to states to regulate these facilities -- many of which don’t even employ full-time nurses.
BY Mattie Quinn
Infrastructure & Environment
After Carbon Tax Fails in Washington, Focus Turns to 9 Other States
Washington state won’t be enacting the nation’s first tax on greenhouse gas emissions this year. But the idea has grown more popular in the states since President Trump pulled out of the Paris Climate Agreement.
BY Elizabeth Daigneau
Transportation & Infrastructure
The Broadband Boost Small-Town America Needs
Publicly owned internet networks are giving some rural regions an advantage over even the techiest big cities.
BY Alex Marshall
Commentary
How to Test Your Economic Development Strategy
It’s not about how successful any business is but what the city has left after it leaves.
BY William Fulton
PROBLEM SOLVER
Public Safety & Justice
With Fewer Police Applicants, Departments Engage in Bidding Wars
Hiring police officers is much harder than it used to be. To stay competitive, some are offering generous pay increases and bonuses.
BY Mike Maciag
Smart Management
One of Affordable Housing’s Biggest Problems: Poor Management
Most of the problems are rooted in false or missing data.
BY Katherine Barrett & Richard Greene
On Leadership
Job Licensing Requirements Need Serious Scrutiny
Should you really need a license to teach hair braiding?
BY Mark Funkhouser
Public Money
Partners at Last: CIOs and CFOs 4.0
Chief information officers and chief financial officers haven’t always gotten along. That’s not true anymore.
BY Justin Marlowe
Urban
Behind the Lens: The Best Designed Basketball Courts in the World
According to Vogue anyway.
BY David Kidd
PUBLISHER'S DESK
Publisher's Desk
Is That Really a P3?
What Anaheim has been doing to keep Disney happy is mischaracterized as a public-private partnership.
BY Mark Funkhouser
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