Cover Story
How Obama Changed the Relationship Between Washington, the States and the Cities
BY Daniel C. Vock
States haven’t been the willing political partners President Obama once hoped they would be. He’s found some ways to work around that.
FEATURES
Elections
LGBT Battle Underscores the Powerlessness of Being Governor in North Carolina
The real power lies with the state’s increasingly conservative legislature, which may be hurting Gov. Pat McCrory’s chances of re-election in November.
BY Alan Greenblatt
Management & Labor
Who’s an Employee? The Uber-Important Question of Today’s Economy
Sharing economy companies like Uber and Lyft claim that the people who work for them are “independent contractors,” thus ineligible for most employee benefits. That argument may prove difficult to sustain.
BY J.B. Wogan
Infrastructure & Environment
Streetcars: If You Build It, Will They Come?
Slow to build and expensive to operate, streetcars could be the most maligned mode of transportation in America. Still, cities keep building them.
BY Daniel C. Vock
Management & Labor
Sweat the Small Stuff
At Denver’s innovative Peak Academy management program, there’s a big focus on celebrating small-scale wins.
BY Brian Elms With J.B. Wogan
OBSERVER
Finance
Why States’ Tax-Cut Fever Has Subsided
After watching tax-slashing states struggle financially, some governors and legislators have stopped calling for cuts. But that doesn’t mean they won’t start again.
BY Alan Greenblatt
Management & Labor
Why Mixing Business With Politics Is Becoming More Popular
Taking a stance can not only benefit a cause but also a company.
BY Alan Greenblatt
Education
A School Construction Mess Proves Money Doesn’t Solve Everything
Despite $1 billion worth of investment, San Diego’s school buildings are still in disrepair.
BY Alan Greenblatt
Public Safety & Justice
The Death Penalty’s New Skeptics
In states across the country, conservatives are starting to question the cost and legality of capital punishment.
BY Alan Greenblatt
POLITICS + POLICY
Assessments
Why Affordable Housing Is Hard to Build
There are lots of ideas out there. None of them are working very well.
BY Alan Ehrenhalt
Washington Watch
Lobbyists Leave Capitol Hill for the States
Money that lobbyists once spent in Washington is being redeployed to fight battles in state capitals.
BY Donald F. Kettl
Elections
Uncontested Legislative Races Are Becoming More Common
Some say political parties are missing opportunities to boost their numbers. But others argue quality is more important than quantity.
BY Alan Greenblatt
Public Safety & Justice
How Jails Are Violating the Law
Most corrections facilities detain mentally ill people instead of providing them with timely care.
BY Mattie Quinn
Infrastructure & Environment
Simulating a World Without Climate Change
A new tool could help cities test whether (and how much) specific energy policies can slow global warming.
BY Elizabeth Daigneau
Transportation & Infrastructure
Immigration and Income Inequality
Are mayors' open-door policies for illegal immigrants hurting their efforts to raise wages?
BY Alex Marshall
Urban Notebook
The Urbanization of the 'Burbs
Regardless of where they live, urban amenities are no longer a bonus but a requirement for many millennials.
BY William Fulton
PROBLEM SOLVER
Education
The Regional Job Credentials Gap
More and more employers are demanding college degrees -- but not all are created equal.
BY Mike Maciag
Smart Management
The Tricky Trend That’s Blurring Budget Transparency
Governments’ increasing reliance on special funds can put them in financial and legal trouble.
BY Katherine Barrett & Richard Greene
On Leadership
A Mayor's Real Job
Running a city is mostly about building community -- and that's never easy.
BY Mark Funkhouser
Tech Talk
Dot-Govs Get a Much-Needed Facelift
Several big cities are decluttering and redesigning their government websites to make them easier to use.
BY Tod Newcombe
Public Money
3 Ways to Take P3s to the Next Level
"Blended" models have the potential to bridge some big gaps in infrastructure finance.
BY Justin Marlowe
Infrastructure & Environment
Introducing the World’s “New” Longest Floating Bridge
The titleholder has been replaced -- by itself.
BY Elizabeth Daigneau
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REPRINTS
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