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In Focus
Below are recent studies, reports, magazine articles, and other resources that MRSC has collected regarding local government topics.
All links go to external websites. Please note that these links were valid at the time of their original posting, but because websites and addresses may change, we cannot guarantee that all links still work.
Browse In Focus Articles by Topic
State and local government job growth lags as economy recovers (September 17, 2021)
While private employers add workers, multiple factors hold back return of public noneducation jobs. More from PEW
Lessons from the Rise and Fall of the Pedestrian Mall (September 16, 2021)
Car-free shopping streets swept many U.S. cities in the 1960s and '70s, but few examples survived. Those that did could be models for today's "open streets." More from Bloomberg CityLab
One Answer to Government's Cybersecurity Talent Gap (September 15, 2021)
With staffs stressed by the pandemic and threats growing, managed security service providers can bring up-to-date expertise to bear while helping governments hold down costs. More from Governing
Four Takeaways on Public Space Investment for Placemakers (September 14, 2021)
Recent research charts a path forward for more equitable and effective placemaking. More from Brookings
What city leaders need to know about community land trusts (September 13, 2021)
COVID-19 has demonstrated the potential of collective action and community empowerment, which are foundational to the community land trust housing model. More from NLC CitiesSpeak
California cities look to incorporate digital public engagement beyond the pandemic (September 10, 2021)
Increased participation will lead to informed decisions that advance the public good. More from ICMA Blog
How Local Governments Can Help Minority-Owned Businesses Gain Access to Public Contracts (September 9, 2021)
Procurement of goods and services by localities totals $2.5 trillion annually, but people of color struggle to gain access to lucrative public contracts, according to the National League of Cities. More from Route Fifty
How should cities spend billions in aid? Ask people who live there (September 8, 2021)
Some state and local governments are turning to Zoom and Survey Monkey polls to ask residents how to use their federal Covid relief aid More from Bloomberg CityLab
The Workforce Has Changed: Ensure Your Employees Are Prepared (September 7, 2021)
Now, with many companies planning to maintain a hybrid work environment that blends on-site and off-site work, ensuring an aligned culture that applies to the entire workforce while supporting the values of the organization is crucial. More from Gallup Workplace
How to Boost Economic Equity by Supporting the Informal Economy (September 3, 2021)
Informal Fines, fees, and strict regulations burden street vendors and other small-scale entrepreneurs. Here's what planners and policymakers can do to change that. More from Planning Magazine
Best practices for eviction prevention and diversion (September 2, 2021)
Research from the American Bar Association found that eviction mitigation programs are widespread outside of government and can be used beyond court filings to successfully enhance housing stability More from Route Fifty
Commerce Releases Behavioral Health Ordinance/Toolkit (September 1, 2021)
The state Department of Commerce has recently developed a behavioral health model ordinance and communications toolkit for cities and counties interested in siting community-based behavioral health facilities within their jurisdiction. More from Washington State Department of Commerce
Is Child Care a Key to Building the Public Workforce? (August 31, 2021)
Labor market shortages and private-sector competition compel states and localities to get creative. Removing a major impediment to filling vacant jobs seems worth a look. More from Governing
Making Extreme Heat Less Deadly (August 30, 2021)
After a record-breaking June heat wave in the Pacific Northwest, U.S. state and local governments are making preparations to keep people safer next time. More from Bloomberg CityLab
The public sector retirement explosion (August 27, 2021)
For years, human resources officials worried about an alarming exodus of government retirees. Now it's here - and it's because of COVD-19 More from Route Fifty
How to build a water-smart city (August 25, 2021)
As water shortages and drought become increasingly common, cities will need to invest in infrastructure and find ways to recycle their supply. More from Bloomberg CityLab
7 Trends Knocking at the Planning Office Door (August 24, 2021)
In today's complex world, balancing everyday activities, near-term plans, and visioning for the future is more challenging than ever. More from Planning Magazine
How the Infrastructure Proposal Would Fund Roads, Bridges and Public Transit (August 23, 2021)
The proposal puts $150 billion in new funding toward surface transportation and transit, but won’t close the backlog in maintenance and capital costs. More from Route Fifty
What Will It Take to Defend Public Water from Cyber Attacks? (August 20, 2021)
Water may be among the least cyber-defended critical infrastructure sectors. Keeping it safe may include channeling more funds and training to tiny agencies and establishing voluntary guidelines. More from Governing
What It Looks Like to Reconnect Black Communities Torn Apart by Highways (August 19, 2021)
As a legacy of federal transportation policies many historically Black neighborhoods were demolished or cut off from the rest of the city by a highway. More from Bloomberg CityLab
Factory-built affordability: Are we there yet? (August 18, 2021)
After more than a decade of sporadic advancements, the factory-built cottage idea may finally have arrived. This development could make a difference in quality affordable housing across the US. More from CNU Public Square
The Many Flavors of 'Transformative' State and Local ARPA Spending (August 17, 2021)
Transformative government projects using American Rescue Plan Act funds can run the gamut from improving a local park, to spending tens of millions to alleviate homelessness More from Route Fifty
The Power of Getting Paid Not to Park at Work (August 16, 2021)
Subsidizing employer-paid parking clogs streets, boosts emissions and isn’t fair to commuters who can’t use this perk. But there’s an easy way to fix it. More from Bloomberg CityLab
Digitalization and Implications for Planning (August 13, 2021)
One of the most notable impacts on planning and communities from the COVID-19 pandemic is the rapid shift away from the use of physical spaces and toward digital and virtual spaces. More from APA Blog
Pandemic lessons: Improving your municipality’s continuity and coordination of services after COVID (August 12, 2021)
As COVID recedes, it’s crucial for governments to take stock of what they learned—and update their processes accordingly. More from American City & County
More remote work means need for more virtual trainings (August 11, 2021)
San Diego County created its own Managing Remote Employees training to equip supervisors and managers with the tools needed to properly manage employees in a virtual environment. More from NACo
How to Manage Federal Funds to Ensure Sustainability (August 10, 2021)
Here’s what state and local government leaders can do to effectively use the American Rescue Plan Act funding and show voters long-lasting results. More from Route Fifty
Extreme droughts target West ahead of wildfire season (August 9, 2021)
Counties in New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, California, Oregon and Washington are experiencing "exceptional drought" conditions, the worst on the scale. More from NACo
An Overlooked Economic Powerhouse for Small Cities (August 6, 2021)
More small cities are making small-scale manufacturing a priority in their economic development plans — to not only create these businesses but also encourage them to scale. More from Next City
Changing 50 years of Washington state criminal records proves less than simple (August 5, 2021)
A Washington State Supreme Court decision on drug possession is forcing county court systems to examine 50 years' worth of criminal records, an effort that could cost hundreds of millions of dollars. More from NACo
How City Governments Are Using Data (August 4, 2021)
The initiative What Works Cities has awarded certifications to 16 additional local governments for how they use data in decision-making. More from Bloomberg CityLab
Lack of Federal Firefighters Hurts California Wildfire Response (August 3, 2021)
Roughly a third of all federal firefighters work in California, where more than 142,447 acres have burned this year. More from Route Fifty
How One State Plans to Use Federal Relief Money to Shore Up Child Care Options (August 2, 2021)
Montana will leverage more than $31 million to establish grants for child care centers to increase pay, expand capacity and offset tuition rates. More from Route Fifty
Report: With Digital Divide Widening, Accessible Broadband Access is a Top Equity Issue Facing America’s Counties (July 30, 2021)
A new report by the National Association of Counties’ Broadband Task Force highlights significant gaps in broadband access, barriers to filling those holes, and a path forward to addressing the digital divide More from NACo
New Ransomware Self-Assessment Tool (July 29, 2021)
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has added a new desktop software tool to help organizations better assess how well they can defend against and recover from a ransomware incident. More from Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency
Rhode Island Becomes First State to OK Drug Injection Sites (July 28, 2021)
Advocates say sites where people can use drugs under supervision can save lives. But cities that have tried to establish such centers have faced opposition from their states and the federal government. More from Route Fifty
We Can Zone Our Way Out of a Downtown Recession (July 27, 2021)
There’s plenty of demand for space in central cities. We just need to stop dictating what it can be used for. More from Governing
A 5-Step Guide to Spending the American Rescue Plan Money (July 26, 2021)
States and localities have an enormous opportunity to create a better future if they spend the federal rescue funds wisely. Here’s how to do that. More from Route Fifty
Rent catches up to pre-pandemic estimates, except in big cities (July 23, 2021)
The median monthly rent in the U.S. is now in line with pre-pandemic projections, but that’s still not the case in some of the country’s largest markets. More from Bloomberg CityLab
Tactical Urbanism comes of age (July 22, 2021)
One clear lesson from the pandemic: Experimentation with streets may yield tremendous benefits with less downside than previously thought. More from CNU Public Square
Nowhere Is Ready for This Heat (July 21, 2021)
The Pacific Northwest is melting now, but all across America the infrastructure we have was built for the wrong century. More from The Atlantic
Condo Buildings Are at Risk. So Is All Real Estate. (July 20, 2021)
The disaster in Surfside, Florida, focuses attention on condominiums’ flaws, but all forms of property ownership carry the potential for ugly surprises.More from Route Fifty
Pricey Lumber Is Making It Harder to Build Low-Income Homes (July 19, 2021)
Affordable housing builders are being forced to scale back projects amid escalating construction costs. More from Bloomberg CityLab
The Beginning of Housing Reparations (July 16, 2021)
In a growing trend, both local and state governments are addressing the nation's huge racial wealth gap by working to reverse the legacy of discriminatory housing and lending policies. More from Planetizen
How dangerous heat waves can kill (July 15, 2021)
This sort of abrupt climate shift is what we are now up against, not just the slow rise in average global temperature. More from Route Fifty
Condo Collapse Could Be Result of Weak Building Inspections (July 14, 2021)
There are high-tech tools that allow inspectors to better analyze a building's structural integrity, but neither Miami-Dade County nor Florida requires them. Some experts believe they should. More from Governing
Planning for New Mobilities: Preparing for Innovative Transportation Technologies and Services (July 13, 2021)
New mobilities—emerging transportation technologies and services—have tantalizing potential. They allow people to scoot, ride, and fly like never before. However, they can also impose surprising problems. How should communities prepare? More from Planetizen
Pandemic lessons: Improving your municipality’s continuity and coordination of services after COVID (July 12, 2021)
As COVID recedes, it’s crucial for governments to take stock of what they learned—and update their processes accordingly. More from American City & County
The U.S. Needs More EV Charging Infrastructure (July 7, 2021)
A Lot More. Officials from the electric vehicle industry say the nation needs some $87 billion in charging infrastructure investment in the next 10 years to get it on the path to 100 percent EV sales by 2035. More from Government Technology
Oakland Moves $18.4 Million from Police to Social Programs (July 6, 2021)
The city has approved a two-year budget that will cut millions from the police department budget and reallocate the money to fund violence prevention programs and other social services. More from Governing
Suburbs' arrest rates surpass urban cities (July 2, 2021)
Suburban cities saw a higher arrest rate than urban cities, despite having substantially fewer violent crime arrests, according to a new finding from a policy group that monitors criminal justice and racial disparities. More from Axios
Equity and Climate Action Planning (July 1, 2021)
In 2021, Aspen will update its CAP for the third time since the plan's inception in 2006. This time around, Aspen will follow the example of cities that are leading the way by centering the work of climate planning in equity principles. More from ICMA Blog
The 15-minute City is the New 5-Minute Walk (June 30, 2021)
Proximity and human-scale are still vitally important for sustainability, and yet the geography of our lives has gotten bigger. That is why we need the 15-minute city. More from CNU Public Square
A Powerful Tool for Overcoming Vaccine Hesitancy (June 30, 2021)
A recent research project involving 18 cities clearly showed that when elected officials combine the right words with good policies, they can influence public behaviors and produce healthier outcomes. More from Data-Smart City Solutions.
How to Manage Federal Funds to Ensure Sustainability (June 29, 2021)
Here’s what state and local government leaders can do to effectively use the American Rescue Plan Act funding and show voters long-lasting results. More from Route Fifty.
Big Little Towns: The Growing Reality of Western Gateway Communities (June 29, 2021)
In recent years, some western gateway communities have surged in popularity, becoming both a destination for tourists and a rural respite for people seeking to escape urban areas. However, these guests and amenity migrants do not come alone. More from APA Blog
Why Diverse, Active Citizen Commissions Are Important (June 25, 2021)
Local government must meet residents where they are for effective policy and project implementation. More from ICMA Blog.
More Remote Work Means Need for More Virtual Trainings (June 23, 2021)
San Diego County created its own Managing Remote Employees training to equip supervisors and managers with the tools needed to properly manage employees in a virtual environment. More from NACo's County News.
The Clouded Legacy of ‘Broken Windows’ Policing (June 22, 2021)
It's been with us for nearly four decades, but we still can't definitively answer the question of whether it prevents crime in our cities. More from Governing.
The U.S. Doubled Down on its Housing Problems During the Pandemic (June 18, 2021)
Even as construction of single-family homes booms, a new report paints a troubling portrait of racial and generational gaps in homebuying — and a severe lack of housing where it’s needed most. More from Bloomberg CityLab.
An Overlooked Economic Powerhouse for Small Cities (June 17, 2021)
More small cities are making small-scale manufacturing a priority in their economic development plans — to not only create these businesses but also encourage them to scale. More from Next City.
How Public Opinion on Policing Has Shifted (June 16, 2021)
George Floyd’s death changed how Americans, particularly white Americans, see race relations and policing. More from The Atlantic.
Reinvesting in Urban Cores Can Revitalize Entire Regions (June 15, 2021)
Seventy years of disinvestment in the nation’s urban cores has occurred at the same time as people excluded from the economic mainstream—particularly people of color—became increasingly concentrated in those cores. More from Brookings.
The Debate Over Qualified Immunity Is at the Heart of Police Reform. Here’s What to Know (June 10, 2021)
As calls for greater police accountability gained momentum in 2020, the decades-old doctrine that protects officers from some lawsuits came under fresh scrutiny. More from TIME.
Cities Consider Taking Police out of Traffic Stops (June 9, 2021)
Localities like Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, and Berkeley, California, are re-imagining traffic enforcement amid national calls for police reform. More from Smart Cities Dive.
ARPA Local Recovery Funds: What’s in it for Connectivity and Technology? (June 4, 2021)
COVID-19 encouraged cities to more fully embrace technology. The American Rescue Plan Act funds can support this continued harnessing of technology to meet community needs, support investment in longer-term solutions, and strengthen digital services. More from NLC's Cities Speak.
Post-COVID-19, Government Takes a New Look at Work (June 3, 2021)
Now that the dust is settling after the rush to pivot to remote work for as many public-sector staff as possible, tech leaders look at what a hybrid workforce future may hold for state and local government. More from Government Technology.
How Cities, States, and Tribes Can Boost Entrepreneurship Via the American Rescue Plan (June 2, 2021)
While a significant amount of attention has gone to the $350 billion in flexible funding provided to local governments in the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, this historic bill also contains an important separate investment aimed at supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses. More from Brookings.
City/County Coordination is Vital for America’s Recovery Plan (May 28, 2021)
City and county leaders should communicate and understand what they are planning and align efforts to best address the needs of residents and communities. More from NLC's Cities Speak.
Preparing your City Workforce for COVID-19 Vaccines (May 27, 2021)
In addition to their important public health role, as major employers in their communities, municipalities must also provide support and guidance about the vaccine to their workforce. More from NLC's Cities Speak.
Vaccination Efforts Focus on the Incarcerated (May 26, 2021)
County jails are essentially high-risk congregate shelters where COVID-19 could spread rapidly. More from NACo's County News.
When Cities Say No to New Transportation Technology (May 25, 2021)
From steam carriages to e-scooters and flying cars, new mobility innovations haven’t always been welcomed by cities — for some good reasons. More from Bloomberg City Lab.
Water Treatment, Pipelines, and Email…. Oh My! (May 21, 2021)
The Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack is keeping cybersecurity at top of many minds. More from NACo's County News.
Local Government Customer Experience (May 19, 2021)
How customer journey mapping can enhance service delivery. More from ICMA Blog.
America’s Failed Experiment in Public Housing (May 14, 2021)
It leaves families living in squalid conditions, trapped in segregated neighborhoods. More from Governing.
Cities Say They Badly Need Critical Infrastructure Funding (May 13, 2021)
The vast majority of city officials say infrastructure funding is a top priority, according to survey data released Monday by the National League of Cities, which represents 19,000 cities, villages and towns. More from PEW.
The Underbelly of Ransomware Attacks: Local Governments (May 12, 2021)
Local governments are under siege by ransomware. A new set of recommendations released by the Institute for Security + Technology’s Ransomware Task Force seeks to address the problem. More from The Council on Foreign Relations.
Local Corrections Costs Rose by $25 Billion in Last 40 Years (May 6, 2021)
But the coronavirus has ushered in creative lower-cost alternative jail programs that could last long after the pandemic, local leaders say. More from Route Fifty.
The Feds Are Investigating Local Police Departments Again. Here's What to Expect. (May 5, 2021)
After a four-year hiatus under President Donald Trump, the federal government will once again investigate local law enforcement agencies for systemic constitutional violations, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced last month. More from Stateline.
Vaccination Efforts Focus on the Incarcerated (May 4, 2021)
As the COVID-19 vaccine distribution rollout continues and more than 212 million doses have been administered throughout the country, counties are making sure populations within detention centers and correctional facilities have the option to receive a dose. More from NACo's County News.
Research Says Body Cams Are Good Public Safety Investment (April 30, 2021)
A new study suggests the potential benefits of police body cameras — including reduced use of force — outweighs the costs of the technology. More research about body cams, however, is strongly recommended. More from Government Technology.
Cities Need Housing. Parking Requirements Make it Harder. (April 28, 2021)
California was a pioneer in minimum parking mandates, which drive up housing costs and climate emissions. Now the state is ready to lead the nation in reclaiming our cities from parking lots. More from Bloomberg CityLab.
Do Multiple Sustainability Objectives Affect the Speed of Local Procurement Processes? (April 27, 2021)
Researchers at Arizona State University share results on public procurement efficiency. More from ICMA Blog.
Shaping the Future of Municipalities Through Investment in Shared Spaces (April 23, 2021)
Massachusetts' Shared Streets and Spaces grant program offers a look at improving quality of life by investing in public spaces. More from APA Blog.
The Pandemic Prompts Cities to Rethink the Parking Spot (April 21, 2021)
Some urban designers have long wanted to reduce the area set aside for cars. Covid is giving them a chance. More from Wired.
Washington Has Supplied the Dollars to Save Small Businesses, But Local Leaders Need to Supply the Strategy (April 20, 2021)
As of March 2021, 44% of small business owners reported operating below capacity compared to a year ago, and 53% expected it would take at least four months to return to normal operating levels, if ever. More from Brookings.
Leading in the Middle: Managing Up and Down in Local Government (April 16, 2021)
Four skills for mid-career managers to master their current role and prepare for future executive leadership. More from ICMA Blog.
Kansas Remote Tampering Case Raises Water Treatment Concerns (April 15, 2021)
A former employee of the Post Rock Rural Water District is accused of tampering with water treatment systems after leaving the job two months earlier. The incident, and others like it, raise serious cybersecurity concerns. More from Government Technology.
Addressing Vaccination Hesitancy in Public Employees (April 14, 2021)
Local government managers are bridging the gap to a 100% vaccinated workforce. More from ICMA Blog.
Cities' Pandemic Struggle to Balance Homelessness and Public Safety (April 13, 2021)
Addressing homelessness has taken on new urgency in cities across the country over the past year, as officials grapple with a growing unhoused population and the need to preserve public safety during the coronavirus pandemic. More from Axios.
Settling Conflicts in a Remote-Work World (April 8, 2021)
Now that COVID-19 has introduced a widespread telecommuting culture that many workplaces plan to continue, new problems are arising for managers. More from SHRM.
Can Planting More Trees Keep Cities From Heating Up? (April 7, 2021)
Creating an urban forest can be trickier than it seems. More from Popular Science.
How to Bring Manufacturing Back to Cities — and Bring People of Color Along Too (April 6, 2021)
Here are four solutions to help BIPOC manufacturers gain a foothold in the quickly-growing space of small-scale manufacturing and product businesses. More from Next City.
5 Reforms for Cities to Increase Affordability (April 2, 2021)
Salim Furth, Senior Research Fellow at Mercatus Center at George Mason University, discusses barriers to building more affordable communities and highlights a few easy-to-implement solutions to alleviate housing affordability issues. More from Multi-Housing News.
Struggling Counties Get a Boost from Stimulus Windfall (April 1, 2021)
The pandemic and vaccine rollout remain the top priority for counties. Federal stimulus dollars will help with that, along with other responsibilities, including public safety and schools. More from Governing.
Los Angeles’s Standard Plan Program for ADUs Takes Aim at the Housing Crisis (March 31, 2021)
In response to the growing popularity of ADUs as a way to boost affordability, the city’s plan includes 20 pre-approved designs contributed by 14 firms. More from Metropolis.
How Should Local Leaders Use Their American Rescue Plan Funding? (March 25, 2021)
The decisions made in the coming weeks— and over the next year regarding the second tranche of funding—will determine whether cities merely enjoy a brief stimulus or seed a new trajectory of inclusive economic growth. More from Brookings.
Ripe for Innovation: Alternative Service Delivery in Local Government (March 24, 2021)
Survey conducted by ICMA provides data on changing alternative service delivery trends due to COVID-19. More from ICMA Blog.
Managing Hostility in Public Discourse (March 23, 2021)
How do we manage the differing opinions and behaviors of our community members and channel their intense civic passion into effective decision making that can actually benefit our communities? More from ICMA Blog.
How Pre-Approved ADUs Will Tackle California’s Housing Shortage (March 17, 2021)
Aiming to fast-track permits for accessory dwelling units, the city of Los Angeles launches a program that offers a variety of pre-approved single-family homes designed by esteemed firms. More from Surface.
Why Local Leaders Are Declaring Racism A Public Health Crisis (March 16, 2021)
The devastating impact of the pandemic on communities of color has prompted a new examination of public health crises leading to over 90 cities publicly declaring racism a public health crisis in 2020. More from CitiesSpeak.
Overcoming vaccine hesitancy requires two-way communication (March 12, 2021)
Overcoming vaccine hesitancy takes patience, understanding, cultural competence and a united message with health care providers and social and community partners. More from NACo's County News.
Bay Area Cities Go to War Over Gas Stoves in Homes and Restaurants (March 11, 2021)
Environmentalists say gas appliances spew greenhouse gases and exacerbate asthma. Restaurant owners and chefs say you can’t cook food properly with electricity. More from U.S. News & World Report.
Where the ‘15-Minute City’ Falls Short (March 10, 2021)
Urban experts warn that a popular post-pandemic design principle may not translate well from Europe to North America, and could exacerbate inequality. More from Bloomberg CityLab.
New Index Ranks State Efforts to Alleviate Youth Homelessness (March 9, 2021)
The research findings suggest it’s an area where many states have room for improvement. More from Route Fifty.
Hack of Florida Water Treatment Plant Should Be a Wake-Up Call, Experts Say (March 5, 2021)
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency should be involved every step of the way, a former presidential adviser said. More from Route Fifty.
How Cities Can Make Cybersecurity a Top Priority (March 4, 2021)
Recent cyberattacks have underlined risks to local infrastructure. Some of these attacks might have been prevented with “basic digital hygiene,” experts say. More from Bloomberg CityLab.
For Cities, Less Traffic Means Lost Revenue (March 2, 2021)
Cities have seen parking fee and traffic fine collections drop during the pandemic as commuters and tourists stay home and enforcement is relaxed. More from Route Fifty.
Failed Poisoning Attempt Shows Vulnerability of Smaller Water Systems to Hackers (February 26, 2021)
While cybersecurity resources can be scarce at small agencies, there are some basics steps they can take to protect themselves. More from Route Fifty.
Equity Budgeting in Cities: Directing Dollars Where They’re Needed Most (February 24, 2021)
A growing number of cities are turning to their budget offices to help treat historically underserved communities more fairly. More from Route Fifty.
The Future of "Smart" Cities is in Street Lights (February 23, 2021)
Cities are rushing to replace their legacy street lights with "smart" LED fixtures that could one day be able to find you a parking space, monitor air quality, and announce an oncoming thunderstorm. More from Axios.
Pandemic Fundamentally Alters Transit Systems (February 22, 2021)
County transit systems across the country have watched their ridership plummet in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. More from NACo's County News.
The Danger of Conflating State and Local Pandemic Relief (February 19, 2021)
Although state and local relief have been grouped together in terms of a Federal recovery bill, states and cities have different revenue streams, muddying the picture of the true impact of the pandemic at the local level. More from CitiesSpeak.
Boise’s Affordable Housing Land Trust Strategy Includes Office Conversions (February 18, 2021)
More cities around the country are looking into the possibility of converting unused office space into affordable housing. More from Next City.
County Officials Face Threats Amid Divisiveness (February 18, 2021)
County leaders are facing pressure and threats to their safety they had never imagined in their line of work. More from NACo's County News.
Lessons from the Pandemic on Keeping People Housed in a Crisis and Beyond (February 16, 2021)
The pandemic catalyzed many emergency initiatives to address housing instability. Cities and communities stood up new rental assistance programs, passed temporary laws, implemented new policies, and built partnerships between providers both within and outside local governments. More from CitiesSpeak.
Building COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence Through Effective Communication and Community Engagement (February 12, 2021)
Ensuring acceptance and trust for the COVID-19 vaccines is critical to achieving herd immunity, protecting the most vulnerable populations, and reopening social and economic life. More from CitiesSpeak.
Evidence on Post-Pandemic Telecommuting (February 11, 2021)
More studies have been published indicating that telecommuting is likely to be far more important after the pandemic than it was before. More from New Geography.
Digitization Helps Ohio Fire Department Save on Costs (February 10, 2021)
The Parma, Ohio, Fire Department’s transition to an all-digital operation became official late last year with Fire Chief Michael Lasky touting a more than $10,000 annual savings for the city. More from Government Technology.
5 Lessons Trader Joe’s Can Teach the City of the Future (February 9, 2021)
Making the cities of tomorrow more resilient to pandemics and other threats won’t require completely rethinking planning and design as we know them, but it will require functional problem-solving, practical solutions, better data mining and analysis, and more flexibility. More from Urban Edge.
Surveying Restrictive Regulations: What Do Planners Know? (February 5, 2021)
How do researchers inventory restrictive regulations and assess their relationship to the underproduction of housing? More from APA Blog.
Four Goals to Realize a Commitment to Equity (February 4, 2021)
Normalize, organize, operationalize, and assess. More from ICMA Blog.
We Know How to Do This: Managing Vaccine Distribution for the Common Good (February 2, 2021)
Recent experience shows public managers should strategically consider seven lessons we have learned from other local government service delivery practices to better handle our vaccination programs. More from ICMA Blog.
The Urban Play Framework: An Approach for Understanding the Play Experience in Cities (January 29, 2021)
In order to thrive in today’s rapidly changing world, children need rich learning opportunities in and out of school that allow them to adapt and engage in independent and lifelong learning. More from Brookings.
Make Way for the ‘One-Minute City’ (January 28, 2021)
While the “15-minute city” model promotes neighborhood-level urban planning, Sweden is pursuing a hyper-local twist: a scheme to redesign every street in the nation. More from CityLab.
Charlotte May Have Cracked the Code on Affordable Housing. Here’s how (January 27, 2021)
A $58 million fund is being used to buy up affordable buildings and keep the rents low. More from Fast Company.
Communication Campaign for Vaccines: ‘Most Important One We’re Going to Do’ (January 26, 2021)
Counties are handling most of the communications and logistical work needed to get residents set up for COVID-19 vaccinations. More from NACo's County News.
Poll: Growing Share of Americans Would Choose Towns, Rural Areas Over Cities, Suburbs (January 22, 2021)
A Gallup poll found 48% of Americans in 2020 preferred to live in towns or rural areas, compared to 39% in 2018. More from Route Fifty.
Report: Stop Lines do Little to Encourage Drivers to Stop (January 21, 2021)
Stop lines, the thick white bars painted ahead of intersections, do little to prevent crashes or influence driver behavior, a 14-year study found. More from Route Fifty.
Mid-Size Jurisdictions Accelerate Cloud Adoption (January 20, 2021)
Lessons from the COVID-19 response push cities and counties toward a multicloud future. More from Government Technology.
New Law Aims to Help Localities Shift to '.Gov' Web Addresses (January 19, 2021)
Many local governments rely on “.com” or “.org” URLs, making it easier for cyber criminals to trick users with imposter websites. More from Route Fifty.
How Downtowns Can Rebound After the Pandemic (January 15, 2021)
They have to offer more than office space. More from Route Fifty.
Cutting-edge Financial Technology is a Must for Local Governments Recovering from the Pandemic (January 14, 2021)
States and municipalities who have had to adopt remote services amid the coronavirus pandemic should scale up their digital infrastructure to maintain their ability to collect and reconcile payments. More from Route Fifty.
Silo Busting: The Challenges and Successes of Intergovernmental Data Sharing (January 13, 2021)
This report offers a rich description of what intergovernmental data sharing can offer by describing a range of federal, state, and local data sharing initiatives in various policy arenas, such as social services, transportation, health, and criminal justice. More from the IBM Center for the Business of Government.
‘Slow Streets’ Disrupted City Planning. What Comes Next? (January 11, 2021)
In many cities, the swift rollout of car-restricted streets at the start of the pandemic faced fierce community resistance. Now planners are changing their playbook. More from CityLab.
With COVID-19 Limiting Shelter Capacity, What Will It Mean for People Experiencing Homelessness? (January 8, 2021)
A looming eviction crisis is rightfully garnering a lot of attention, but another crisis is unfolding that’s received much less attention: homeless shelters are closed or operating at limited capacity. More from The Urban Institute.
Report Lays Out Framework for a Cascadia High-Speed Rail Authority (January 6, 2021)
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) recently released a report laying out a framework to advance Cascadia’s high-speed rail hopes. More from The Urbanist.
Survey: Residents Prefer Multiple Ways to Access Local Government Services (January 5, 2021)
But the specific type of access that residents prefer—in-person visits, phone calls, or digital—depends on where they live and how old they are. More from Route Fifty.
The Post-Pandemic Street (December 30, 2020)
For cities around the world, the pandemic created the space to accelerate ambitious goals and programs for transforming city streets. More from Planetizen.
In 2020, a Reckoning for Law Enforcement and Tech Ethics (December 29, 2020)
From worldwide protests to policy moves from technology giants like IBM and Amazon, the past year saw police use of tools like facial recognition and body cams come under scrutiny like never before. More from Government Technology.
Cloud 101 for City and County Managers (December 28, 2020)
According to Gartner, up to 60% of government organizations will use an external service provider’s cloud-managed service by 2022, doubling the percentage from 2018. More from ICMA Blog.
The State of Local Government in the Pandemic Era: Read the Survey Results (December 24, 2020)
The local government survey of U.S. cities and counties reveals trends around COVID, remote work and digital infrastructure investments. More from Governing.
Tackling the Legacy of Persistent Urban Inequality and Concentrated Poverty (December 23, 2020)
Over the past several years, the research literature pointing to the relationship between racial segregation, enduring concentrated poverty, and long-term socioeconomic inequalities in the United States has been rapidly growing. More from Brookings.
Big, Open Data Offers New Tools for Transit-Oriented Development (December 21, 2020)
As big and open data becomes more accessible, planners have new tools to revalidate or reexamine existing planning principles concerning transit-oriented development. More from APA Blog.
Preparing Utility Assistance for a Cold Winter (December 18, 2020)
Winter is coming and so is the increasing need for utility assistance. More from ICMA Blog.
Swift Shift to Telework Proves Public-Sector’s Agility (December 17, 2020)
Many public leaders long believed that the people’s business could not be done from outside the walls of government buildings, but COVID-19 showed government can function from anywhere — quickly. More from Government Technology.
Washington’s COVID-19 Alert App Is Promising (December 16, 2020)
Washington's long-awaited COVID-19 notification app WA Notify was launched recently by the state's Department of Health, and iPhone users were sent a message asking them to opt in or out by toggling a switch. More from Government Technology.
Relief Against the Piercing Cold: Homeless Shelters and Warming Centers During COVID-19 (December 15, 2020)
Local governments have capacities and programs to blunt the “bleak, dark, and piercing cold” for many homeless populations. More from ICMA Blog.
How Localities Continually Adapt Enterprise Strategies to Manage Natural Disasters (December 11, 2020)
The authors of this report delve into city-level surveys of hundreds of communities, conducted by the International City/County Managers Association, to learn firsthand what challenges face local leaders and how they prepare in advance to blunt the effects of natural disasters. More from The IBM Center for the Business of Government.
Incorporating Drones Into Planning Practice (December 10, 2020)
As technology continues to advance, drones and other autonomous aircraft present opportunities and challenges for planners. More from APA Blog.
What Makes a Community Livable? (December 9, 2020)
Few moments in history have made the importance of cities, towns and villages more clear than now, amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. More from NLC's Cities Speak.
Counties Address Pandemic Housing Needs (December 4, 2020)
Counties are tailoring housing stabilization and homeless services to stem the tide of home losses as eviction moratoriums end. More from NACo's County News.
The Affordable Housing Solution Hiding in Plain Sight (December 2, 2020)
This building type can easily be converted into new housing. And thanks to COVID-19, there’s an abundance of it. More from FastCompany.
Counties Sound Alarm About Holidays, ‘COVID-19 Fatigue’ (December 1, 2020)
As the nation enters its ninth month of coronavirus restrictions amidst rising case numbers, “COVID fatigue” is setting in right when it can be most dangerous. More from NACo's County News.
The High Cost of a Looming Eviction Wave (November 20, 2020)
With millions of people behind on rent, there could be a lot of evictions this winter. A new report suggests the cost of these evictions on the social safety net could be astronomical. More from Route Fifty.
Election Day Spotlight Falls on County Polling Places (November 19, 2020)
In an election held during a pandemic and already charged with enthusiasm, county election departments around the country went the extra mile to maintain a sense of calm, reliability and a little levity in the face of an election that had many on edge. More from NACo's County News.
Cities Are Eyeing Microtransit During COVID-19 Pandemic (November 18, 2020)
From Los Angeles to Abu Dhabi, transit authorities are creating on-demand systems. But experts say there are tradeoffs. More from Smithsonian Magazine.
Here Are the Local Ballot Measures That Passed and Failed (November 17, 2020)
County and state referenda this election year included spending and policy questions on drugs, abortion, taxes and transportation. More from Bloomberg CityLab.
Puget Sound Regional Growth Draft Plan Centered Around Transit (November 13, 2020)
The Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) has put out a draft proposal for VISION 2050, the multi-county policy document to guide regional growth through the Year 2050. More from The Urbanist.
In the Shift to Telework, Can We Secure the Virtual Office? (November 12, 2020)
The COVID-19 pandemic caused a massive move to telework for government workers and opened up new avenues for hackers to infiltrate systems — and it’s a situation that’s lasting longer than anyone expected. More from Government Technology.
COVID-19 Pandemic Shines a Light on the Need for Strong State-Local Partnerships (November 10, 2020)
Strong state-local relationship built over many years a true difference maker. More from ICMA Blog.
10 Common Outcomes of COVID-19 on Local Government Budgets (November 9, 2020)
Local jurisdictions must adapt their operations to new COVID-19-related fiscal and service constraints. There’s no single impact or response, but there are a few commonalities. More from ICMA Blog.
5 Leadership Lessons from the Coronavirus Pandemic (November 6, 2020)
How city and county managers addressed the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and what strategies were most effective. More from ICMA Blog.
Shopping Behavior Keeps Evolving as the Pandemic Continues (November 5, 2020)
Recent studies reveal dramatic shifts in consumer shopping habits with 58% of consumers saying they expect to do more online shopping after the pandemic than they did before it. More from Digital Commerce 360.
Counties grapple with fall COVID spike (November 4, 2020)
Counties in nearly half the country are battling with a spike in COVID-19 cases, according to the latest updates last week from the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center. More from NACo's County News.
Slow Streets Were A Success. Should Cities Keep Them? (November 3, 2020)
A recent study examined projects to reduce car use and increase walking and biking on neighborhood streets in five cities, offering a look into how transportation data can be used to craft similar future projects. More from Government Technology.
Report: Land Use Reforms for Housing Supply (October 30, 2020)
This report provides insights into the factors that go into first passing and then implementing land use reforms to increase housing production and advance equity through two case studies. More from The Urban Institute.
Flu Shots Serve As a ‘Rehearsal’ for COVID Vaccine Delivery (October 28, 2020)
Counties are using this opportunity to test mass distribution plans for a possible COVID-19 vaccine on the horizon. More from NACo's County News.
Leaning on Partnerships Shores Up City Cybersecurity (October 27, 2020)
Local government IT teams often don’t have the resources close at hand to ensure their systems are ready to stand up to new threats, but can take advantage of state and federal resources to boost their cyberposture. More from Government Technology.
Five Charts That Explain the Homelessness-Jail Cycle—and How to Break It (October 22, 2020)
People experiencing homelessness are more likely to interact with the justice system because being forced to live outside can lead to citations or arrests for low-level offenses like loitering or sleeping in parks. More from The Urban Institute.
You Want “the Cloud?" So, Now What? (October 21, 2020)
“The Cloud” offers massive benefits to organizations and companies seeking to increase their effectiveness. Understanding the types of cloud services and the cloud deployment models that exist should help identify how your organization will function in the cloud. More from the IBM Business of Government Blog.
8 Things to Know about Vaccine Planning (October 20, 2020)
With the possibility of one or more COVID-19 vaccines becoming available before the end of the year, here are 8 things you need to know about where those plans currently stand. More from the CDC.
Using Data to Understand Your Local Eviction Crisis (October 15, 2020)
By taking these steps, cities will begin to have an up to date picture of their local eviction crisis and will be able to co-develop with residents and community stakeholders an anti-eviction strategy that works for their community. More from NLC's Cities Speak.
Counties to Play Role in Vaccine Program (October 13, 2020)
Counties will play a large role in the implementation of a COVID-19 vaccination program, as a number of the community sectors that have been identified as critical to the execution of this strategy are county owned or operated. More from NACo's County News.
Whitman County Evacuated Entire Town Ahead of Wildfires (October 9, 2020)
A combination of strong winds and dry conditions created a perfect storm for a trio of wildfires that simultaneously burned in Whitman County, Wash. on Labor Day. The first fire started in the county seat of Colfax. More from NACo's County News.
The Challenge of Revitalizing Urban Boulevards (October 8, 2020)
This article takes a tour of three places on the West Coast where the retail is at right angles to the big boulevard, including one area in Vancouver, BC where the multi-family towers have been brought into the neighborhood itself. More from New Geography.
Why Finding a Police Chief Just Got a Lot More Complicated (October 7, 2020)
Experts warn that finding the perfect police chief in the era of ‘Black Lives Matter’ is easier said than done. More from U.S. News & World Report.
New Climate Action Toolkit Will Help King County Cities Develop Customized Climate Strategies (October 6, 2020)
If approved by the County Council, the new Climate Action Toolkit that King County Executive Dow Constantine recently announced will be available at no cost to all 39 cities. More from King County.
How to Harness the Digital Transformation of the Covid Era (October 2, 2020)
To reshape technology as a job creator, it’s important to understand what, exactly, the current wave of technology is changing, and how policy makers and businesses can adapt to it. More from Harvard Business Review.
How Much is COVID-19 Hurting State and Local Revenues? (October 1, 2020)
This Q&A examines the fiscal impact that COVID-19 has had on state and local governments and is drawn from “Fiscal Effects of COVID-19,” presented at the Brookings Papers on Economic Activity on September 24, 2020. More from Brookings.
How to Make Sure City Budgets Prioritize Racial Equity (September 30, 2020)
Budgets reflect cities’ values. Places like Austin, Louisville and Fairfax County are trying new approaches to consider equity in spending plans. More from Bloomberg CityLab.
How Remote Work Can Transform Smaller Cities (September 29, 2020)
Telecommuters will transform American communities – if city leaders can persuade them to come, and stay. More from U.S. News & World Report.
How Local Governments Can Get Feedback From a More Diverse Range of Residents (September 23, 2020)
Participation in local government often skews heavily toward white residents, elderly people, and homeowners. More from Route Fifty.
Inclusion Starts with Better Management (September 22, 2020)
To fully tap into the positive outcomes of diversity, organizations need to focus on inclusion. Here's what employees say about making diversity work. More from Route Fifty.
4 Cost-Effective Ways Planners Can Boost Census Response (September 18, 2020)
The countdown to September 30 — the last day when people in the United States can complete the 2020 Census — is on. More from APA Blog.
What Does It Take to Launch a Tiny Home Village of Permanent Supportive Housing? (August 31, 2020)
As the need for affordable housing has increased nationwide, so too have innovative ideas to help people experiencing chronic homelessness. Tiny homes have emerged as one promising—but understudied—solution. More from The Urban Institute.
Four Tips for Mission and Values Statements in Local Government (December 12, 2019)
Local governments need a mission and values statement that guides employee behavior, from the front lines of the organization to the manager’s office. More from ICMA Blog.