Housing and Urban Issues
Stresses on urban communities continue to affect housing, food security, child services, homelessness, business development and crime. Coverage includes stories about new solutions to how cities are run, how they develop as urban centers and about the people who live there.
Matt Privratsky was appointed to serve as an interim city council member in St. Paul after the previous member resigned. He’ll cast some consequential votes.
The results of a first-ever statewide broadband survey found that 37.2 percent of residents were unaware of the advertised speeds they are paying for and 23.7 percent reported speed dissatisfaction.
With its residents upset by crime, homelessness and high taxes, it’s become a depressed and discouraging place. Can it once again be a shining exemplar of modern urbanist success?
Amid changing travel behavior, many transit agencies are projecting bus and rail passenger growth based on a range of best-case and worst-case scenarios.
She has been secretary of state for New Jersey since Gov. Murphy took office in 2018 and will lead the National Association of Secretaries of State, the oldest organization of major public officials in the country.
New federal funding presents opportunities to help families in affordable housing gain high-speed internet and all the benefits that come with it.
For years, countries in Europe and Latin America have out-innovated the U.S. in providing quality bus service. Now, Many U.S. cities are coming around to the idea that buses are the future of public transit.
Out of the 236 races for the state’s General Assembly that occurred last year, just five of them had competitors’ final tallies within seven percentage points. Eighteen district races were competitive the year prior.
The gap between Black and white homeownership rates in 2022 was wider than it had been in 1960. Habitat for Humanity is leveraging a generous donation and government assistance to expand the number of homeowners in priority markets.
In an effort to revitalize the largely empty mall, the California county is looking to revitalize the retail space by adding up to 3,000 residential units, 425 hotel rooms and a surrounding 17-acre park.
Americans can learn some valuable lessons from motorcyclists south of the border.
To reverse the effects of redlining, new housing policies will soften rules to allow taller buildings and more backyard units in areas within 1 mile of mass transit. But critics say the changes won’t make a difference.
The number of Black-owned banks has decreased from 48 in 2001 to just 20 now, four of which are in Atlanta. But to keep the institutions alive, Black banks need to modernize their services to keep up with other competitors.
A bill would require jails to establish polling places exclusively for prisoners to ensure those in detention centers are able to enact their right to vote. The legislation does not extend to those convicted of a felony.
The First Step Act was meant to compassionately release people from federal prison who are terminally ill or aging and who pose little to no safety threat. But data shows that judges rejected more than 80 percent of requests.
Hardscaped schoolyards present health risks in a warming world. A school forest initiative in California reflects a potential national trend to change the character and function of outdoor spaces.
Just four members of the public were allowed to speak on a bill that would increase penalties for inciting a riot, allows police and prosecutors to determine what constitutes a riot and escalates punishment for property damage.
Urban leaders like to complain that suburbs are a drain on their prosperity. The facts are otherwise.
Despite the Federal Communications Commission’s map of available consumer broadband at 100 percent across the state, the state’s broadband office argues that rural areas are still left out, challenging 2 million addresses.
A proposed bill would allow state and local agencies to close certain meetings to the public for various security reasons and it would allow officials to deny citizens from viewing or accessing certain records.
Jim Kenney went all in on a $400 million plan to fix neighborhood parks, rec centers and libraries. Now entering his last year in office, what is there to show for it?
City Council President Paul Krekorian believes that when it comes to establishing a redistricting commission, state lawmakers may not be aware of or understand the nuances of making good policy at the city level.
The Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit has had a good week. Two major financial wins will give the system millions of dollars to come and its ridership continues to rebound, with two days seeing the highest ridership rates since COVID began.
Gov. Kathy Hochul’s affordable housing plan would give the state power to bypass local zoning laws, but local officials want to maintain control of what is built in their communities. The state is in historic need of more housing.
A group of bipartisan state legislators have announced support for 13 bills that would ease permitting, zoning or other regulations to increase housing availability. Some estimate Washington currently needs 150,000 new housing units.
There’s a botany boom going on in Latin America’s most exclusive neighborhoods. It should be happening in parts of the U.S., but a difference in civic and governing culture has stymied its growth.
The office recession is real, with downtowns in major cities still missing a majority of their pre-pandemic workforce. San Francisco offers a case study in terms of the consequences.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is backing a return of rent control, decades after it was banned in a state referendum. But disappointment among tenant activists raises questions about what rent control is supposed to achieve.
Restrictive codes can severely limit housing development, but a new survey of mayors finds that few take them into account in their plans to address homelessness.
The urban park was designed to connect residents and improve quality of life but has increased housing costs and pushed out low-income households. Amid a national housing crisis, the U.S. must now learn from Atlanta's experience.
Food-related businesses are especially accessible for aspiring entrepreneurs, but there aren’t nearly enough shared-use food facilities. Supporting and promoting them is an opportunity for local governments.
