Can you turn around a place whose name is synonymous with urban blight? Surprisingly, yes. Example: Camden, New Jersey, the played-out factory town across the river from Philadelphia.

There's something about the subject of public housing that saps the enthusiasm of even the most dutiful students of government. Self- described policy wonks who have little trouble discoursing on the Medicaid dual-eligible problem or the mass transit mode split start to fidget when anybody brings up Section 8 or Hope VI.

What would happen if you built a light-rail line and hardly any passengers showed up?

State cedes power to get new toll roads built.

Over the past 40 years, the IT industry has done more to shape state and local governments than the other way around.