Governing: State and local government news and analysis
This week in state and local politics: San Francisco Mayor London Breed is in real trouble while there's handwringing over hand-counting ballots.
Local governments are considering rent control initiatives to protect struggling tenants, but some analysts say restrictions only exacerbate the housing crunch and others have questioned if the true beneficiaries are actually low-income renters.
The city’s Revenue Stabilization Workgroup was tasked with crafting progressive taxes. Here’s what they came up with.
Many sites tied to the national mental health crisis hotline transmitted information on visitors through the Meta Pixel analytics tool despite promises of anonymity to their users.
Data from cities, counties and states reveals the roles they have the toughest time filling (and they’re not just in cybersecurity). Here are some of their innovative approaches to navigating these workforce shortages.
Some states have taken steps to shield their election workers from intimidation and harm, but there’s a lack of urgency at the federal level. A nationwide threat requires a nationwide response.
Boston has a new tax incentive program to help developers convert downtown office space to housing. Conversions remain relatively rare, but more cities are looking at ways to push them forward.
It offers significant cost, efficiency and sustainability benefits, but its widespread use is hampered by a patchwork of state and local regulations. Regulatory consistency could help builders deliver the housing we need.
The work that public health officials do is determined by policy, but engaging with policymakers hasn’t been a strong suit for the field. A new book aims to help them do better.
The governor’s ambitious plan bets heavily on competition, through vouchers and school choice, but there’s no reliable evidence that competition can make a real difference.
The state lets workers own and register their vehicles, but they aren’t allowed to drive them, forcing many farm workers to risk fines and arrest. “It’s a Catch-22 for a lot of folks,” advocates say.
Hasan Ikhrata recently announced his resignation, ending five years of acrimony with local officials around transportation policy. Left unresolved is how the region will fund its highways and transit systems long term.
The local figures who used to move their communities forward are in painfully short supply.
Following labor unrest with writers, actors and hotel workers, a one-day strike by city workers in Los Angeles was aimed at getting stalled negotiations going again. It also reflected a desire for respect.
Having mayors run school districts became a big trend 30 years ago. Now most cities are returning power to independently elected school boards.
A training program operated by the National League of Cities helps small cities apply directly for federal infrastructure funding. Participating cities have won $428 million since last summer.
Private credit has gained a growing share of pension portfolios over the past decade. It’s time to take a second look under the hood.
The state brought together a remarkable coalition and waived red tape to get traffic on I-95 moving again just 12 days after a bridge collapsed. That kind of focus on results, not procedures, can help restore trust in government.
They can help public health departments overcome staff shortages and reach those most at risk. Food programs in San Antonio are a case study in what’s possible.
Managed charging, battery storage and other technologies will be key to helping utilities build electric grid resiliency and stability.
Current government budgeting processes are not up to the demands of a world where the future looks less and less like the past.
There’s more to the elite college admissions game than a tilted playing field. It’s also about zoning squabbles and NIMBYism. State governments should take a larger role in land-use policy and overrule local stakeholders.
Stories and statistics point to mixed success since the new 3-digit number launched last July.
Currently, abortion is legal in Ohio until 22 weeks. Meanwhile Michigan Democrats' have a fragile majority, other election action and the death of a trailblazer.
Transit agencies are facing worker shortages around the U.S. A new report says reforming human resources practices can help hire, train and retain workers of all types.
Ghana's spirituality informs its approach to governing. It shows up in everything from the way streets are used to the belief that unity is strength.
It’s the only city in the U.S. to own an interstate railway. Now Cincinnati wants to sell to Norfolk Southern and create an infrastructure trust fund. But first, voters need to give the plan their OK.
After an unsuccessful attempt to identify their unsheltered population in January, one Pennsylvania county hopes for better results in the summer.
Across the country, turnover and vacancies are high. Counties are raising salaries but still can't compete with the private sector.
It's the world’s most popular music genre, and some of its stars are making big investments in their communities. People who work on building local economies should pay attention and nurture this opportunity.
