In Focus

Building Cities of Opportunity: Putting Residents at the Center of Cities Work (May 20, 2022)
A pillar of NLC’s Cities of Opportunity (CoO) initiative is to support municipal government leaders in meaningfully and authentically engaging with city residents to work together on policy and system changes to improve health and equity. More from National League of Cities

Local Governments Seek Other Options Amid Cyber Insurance Woes (May 19, 2022)
As insurance costs and requirements rise, some municipalities are looking to self-insurance and service providers' cyber incident warranties to help in cases of ransomware and other incidents. More from Governing

Allcove, the next step in youth mental health (May 18, 2022)
Santa Clara County created wraparound services to support children and teens before they encounter a crisis. More from NACo

Ambitious plan to replace tree canopy lost to storm (May 17, 2022)
In just over an hour, Cedar Rapids lost more than half of its trees - the recently adopted plan has lessons for many cities. More from CNU Public Square

Infill Development Supports Community Connectivity (May 16, 2022)
Identifying new uses for underutilized land helps fill gaps in the community fabric and offers opportunities to create health, social, economic, and enviornmental benefits. More from APA Blog

Converting strip malls into mixed-use development could address California's housing crisis (May 13, 2022)
Turning underutilized shopping centers into mixed-use housing developments will require cities to change their land-use policies, housing experts said at an Urban Land Institute meeting. More from Smart Cities Dive

Extreme Heat Is a Disease for Cities. Treat It That Way (May 12, 2022)
The "urban heat island effect" creates extra-hot temperatures that kill. But cities can prescribe powerful treatments, like green spaces and reflective roofs. More from Wired

On Streets With Pavement Art, Study Finds Drop in Crashes (May 11, 2022)
There was an especially sharp reduction with pedestrians and cyclists getting struck by cars, according to a new report. The art projects include things like intersection murals and colorfully painted crosswalks. More from Route Fifty

How Cities Are Engaging in the Metaverse (May 10, 2022)
Virtual communication technology is constantly evolving to be more seamless and lifelike. Platforms like Zoom, Facetime and Google chat became essential during the COVID-19 pandemic, but these technologies fall short in replicating the experience of real-life interaction. More from National League of Cities

Should State and Local Governments Care About the Metaverse? (May 9, 2022)
Governments may be reluctant to invest in metaverse-based services without a clearer sense of how the space is forming and how residents want to use it. These early days could be time for learning what the technologies might offer and how interventions could encourage equitable development. More from Government Technololgy

A new era of downtown opportunity (May 6, 2022)
Despite the pandemic's devastating impact on the office market, downtowns and nearby walkable neighborhoods are looking forward to two decades of growth driven by demographic and economic change. More from CNU Public Square

The Top 5 Ways Cities Are Addressing Climate Change (May 5, 2022)
NLC examined 50 recent climate action, sustainability and resilience plans to better understand the major themes and concepts cities are including to make their communities greener. More from National League of Cities

States and Local Governments Win SCOTUS Sign Case (May 4, 2022)
This decision impacts most local governments because most sign codes have different rules for on-premises and off-premises signs. More from ICMA Blog

Planning for Urban Heat Resilience (May 3, 2022)
This report provides holistic guidance to help practitioners increase urban heat resilience equitably in the communities they serve. More from APA PAS Report

As cities redesign bus networks, planners stress community engagement (May 2, 2022)
"A lot of agencies haven't looked at their system holistically in a long time," said one transportation planner, as many major ciites undertake complex and potentially more equitable systems. More from Smart Cities Dive

Tackling DEI from the inside out in Hennepin County, Minn. (April 29, 2022)
County Commissioner Angela Conley is a living, breathing example of the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion or more commonly called by its acronym "DEI." More from NACo

Confronting Spatial Inequalities (April 28, 2022)
A recent article suggests three ways that planning can shape this conversation - applying a place-based approach, advocating for a multiscalar lens, and advancing holistic models of development. More from APA Blog

River Scenes: How Rivers Contribute to More Vibrant Urban Communities (April 27, 2022)
The role of rivers in urban areas shifted in recent years from production to consumption. Now, access to a river's waterfront has become a highly valued amenity within cities. More from Planetizen

How Cities are Tapping Federal Aid to Make Major Tech Upgrades (April 26, 2022)
Some of the spending is geared towards adding online access to services like building permits and dog licenses. Other investments focus on areas like remote meetings and cybersecurity. More from Route Fifty

6 Pandemic-Proof Ways to Engage Youth in Comprehensive Planning (April 25, 2022)
From TikTok challenges to movie screenings, use these tips to connect with your community's youngest residents. More from Planning Magazine

How to foster a more innovative culture at city hall (April 22, 2022)
Report includes a framework for implementing and assessing change in a city's organizational culture, defined as "the set of rules - formal or informal, written or not - that determine how works get done." More from Smart Cities Dive

Government trends report highlights the pandemic's profound impact on public service (April 21, 2022)
Trends include building resilience, the overhaul and integration of digital systems and data sharing, and making programs and services equitable and inclusive. More from American City & County

Five Critical Things to Know About Identity Verification for Government (April 20, 2022)
Digital identity is complex, particularly when verifying for government agencies. To understand the constantly changing identity landscape, it is important to consider five critical factors that have shaped government verification requirements. More from Government Technology

How Local Governments Can Keep Firefighters Physically and Mentally Healthy (April 19, 2022)
Actionable steps to reduce risk of cancer and stigma of mental health. More from ICMA Blog

Successful Strategies for Attracting and Retaining Public Employees (April 18, 2022)
Some department vacancies are 20% to 30%, but governments are making headway filling positions and keeping workers with signing bonuses as high as $20,000 and big hourly wage hikes. More from Route Fifty

Cumberland County, Pa. partners with mental health provider for first responders (April 15, 2022)
Facing growing levels of "compassion fatigue," the county decided to create a peer support network that could ease the burden of a difficult job. More from NACo

Designing Transit Safety for Americans with Disabilities (April 14, 2022)
Cities, towns and villages must consider how those with disabilities interact, remain safe and use public transportation systems to experience the same sense of mobility and freedom that those without disabilities experience. More from National League of Cities

Addressing Small Town Needs with Preservation Planning (April 13, 2022)
A pilot program from APA's Urban Design & Preservation Division addresses the needs of underserved residents in Colorado. More from APA Blog

Transit-oriented development catches on as cities need to boost ridership and housing supply (April 12, 2022)
Cities are opting to build mixed-use developments near public transportation, but experts in Seattle, Atlanta and elsewhere say getting it right is a big challenge. More from Smart Cities Dive

Ventilation optimization: The key to decarbonizing public buildings (April 11, 2022)
Not only does optimizing ventilation with centralized demand control ventilation (DCV) create a healthier space for occupants, but it is also arguably one of the best ways to meet sustainability goals relating to the built environment. More from American City & County

Phishing Scam Targets Election Officials, FBI Warns (April 8, 2022)
Election officials in at least nine states received emails with attachments that redirected to credential harvesting sites. More from Route Fifty

Charging Forward: A Toolkit for Planning and Funding Rural Electric Mobility Infrastructure (April 7, 2022)
The toolkit is meant to be a one-stop resource to help rural communities scope, plan, and fund EV charging infrastructure. More from U.S. Department of Transportation

Easing the Burden of High Gas and Housing Costs for Low-Income Households (April 6, 2022)
Low-income families suffer most from dramatic spikes in housing and transportation costs, but governments can soften the impact through a series of actions. More from Planetizen

HHS announces new funding opportunities to strengthen mental health services for youth (April 5, 2022)
Counties are eligible for 4 of the 7 new opportunities, totaling $27 million. Grant deadlines vary by program and span from April 18 to May 31. More from NACo

Millions of Renters Fall Short of a Comfortable Standard of Living (April 4, 2022)
Pandemic-related income losses, rising housing costs, and inflation in the cost of basic necessities have put a comfortable standard of living out of reach for many Americans. A newly published paper found that even before the pandemic more than 19 million working-age renter households struggled to meet their expenses. More from JCHS

Nashville, Tenn., Sees E-Bikes as Essential Part of Future (April 1, 2022)
Bicycle and transportation researchers in Nashville, Tenn., are pointing to the growing phenomenon of electric bikes as the Music City develops its multimodal approach to transportation. More from Government Technology

Denver turns to 'safe parking' program as homelessness strategy (March 31, 2022)
The city is seeking proposals from service providers to administer a program that would allow people experiencing homelessness to stay overnight in private vehicles. More from Smart Cities Dive

To Retain Women, Workplaces Need To Fight Burnout (March 30, 2022)
Pandemic burnout is leading to devastating consequences for women, and it could set gender equality back a generation, a sociologist warns. More from Route Fifty

Houston Hopes Kiosks Will Boost Equity, Smart City Appeal (March 29, 2022)
Houston, Texas, has started deploying digital kiosks throughout the city. In addition to offering wayfinding services and municipal resources to residents and visitors, they also serve as Internet connectivity hubs. More from Governing

5 Ways Cities Led in Pandemic Recovery (March 28, 2022)
Cities hit the ground running, implementing a host of innovative policies and practices designed to flatten the curve, maintain core government services, protect small businesses and much more. More from National League of Cities

Nontraditional hiring practices and cooperative buys can help procurement teams reduce backlogs (March 25, 2022)
Cooperative buys and piggybacking may help lessen procurement workloads. More from American City & County

Promoting Youth Voices in Local Decision-Making (March 24, 2022)
To help ignite diverse youth engagement in your community, ICMA partnered with the National Democratic Institute to develop a Global Youth Council Guide to help promote youth voices in local decision-making. More from ICMA Blog

Washington state legislators again mandate 100% electric new car sales by 2030 (March 23, 2022)
The target was included in a broader, nearly $17 billion transportation package that included funding for infrastructure, greenhouse gas emissions reductions, and addressing the harmful impacts that the transportation system has on communities of color. More from Smart Cities Dive

Libraries Hiring Social Workers as Mental Health Issues and Homelessness Soar (March 22, 2022)
The placement of full-time licensed social workers in public libraries nationwide will become even more pronounced in the next few years, experts say. More from Route Fifty

Telework is here to stay, but what does that mean for wage tax revenue? (March 21, 2022)
Commuter-driven revenue, such as sales tax on morning coffee, parking fees and tax on wages earned inside municipal limits, is a budgetary staple for many cities. When the pandemic set in, many communities were forced to slash budgets and adapt. More from American City & County

The current battle in the cyber war front needs immediate attention (March 18, 2022)
Political, socio-economic and catastrophic incidents correlate with a rise in cyber attacks, making cybersecurity crucial for every county right now given the conflict in Eastern Europe. More from NACo

The Threat of Environmental Hazards to The Rental Stock (March 17, 2022)
About 40 percent of the nation's occupied rental stock, representing 17.6 million units, are located in areas that will experience substantial annual losses from increasingly common environmental hazards, according to a new report. More from JCHS

How El Paso is Supporting Small Businesses (March 16, 2022)
The infusion of federal relief the city is receiving from its ARPA and CARES Act funding is enabling it to address some of the most pressing challenges its small businesses faced during the pandemic. More from National League of Cities

Federal Highway Administration Moving Toward Complete Streets (March 15, 2022)
FHWA released a report to Congress that takes initial steps toward making complete streets the default model for funding and designing federally controlled roads. More from Planetizen

How Montgomery County, Maryland can increase equitable access to transit by improving walkability (March 14, 2022)
Transit has the potential to connect people to places in a sustainable, affordable manner - but only if riders can access it. More from Brookings

Building the Broadband Trifecta: Maps, Equity, Infrastructure (March 11, 2022)
Getting All Americans connected is about more than running fiber to every house. Who needs it, who's paying for it and whether everyone has the skills to use it area all critical considerations as broadband networks expand. More from Government Technology

Land-Use Characteristics Contributing to Region-Wide Housing Inequities (March 10, 2022)
A recent paper examines land use characteristics of 180 cities in the Southern California region to study how they contribute to region-wide housing inequities. More from APA Blog

Transit-oriented model for economic development in the suburbs (March 9, 2022)
The Blue Line Corridor sets the stage for substantial transit-oriented suburban retrofit in a growing region. More from CNU PUblic Square

Global sustainability network helps local governments share green procurement practices (March 8, 2022)
ICLEI offers standards, tools, and programs that can help communities reduce emissions and protect natural resources. More from American City & County

The Rise of Tiny Housing Villages in the Fight Against Homelessness (March 7, 2022)
More cities are turning to the small-sized structures as an alternative to group shelters. But critics have likened them to "sheds" that fall well short of permanent affordable housing. More from Route Fifty

Small cities seek to compete for historic infrastructure funds (March 4, 2022)
Under new White House guidance, smaller communities, like Mount Vernon, Washington, may have an easier time applying for grant funding. More from Smart Cities Dive

HUD's Evolving Approach in Helping Communities Cope With Disasters (March 3, 2022)
The agency is moving to incorporate mitigation into recovery efforts, with a particular focus on the needs of underserved communities and resilience in the face of climate change. More from Governing

Report: County Frameworks for Recovery Fund Investments (March 2, 2022)
Developed by NACo and Brookings Metro, this report examines strategies for investing funds with an eye towards equity. More from NACo

CIE Spotlight: Monmouth, Oregon's Approach to Growing its Economy from Within (March 1, 2022)
The city recognizes the need to diversify its economic base through entrepreneurship. More from National League of Cities

Struggling Hotel Becomes Housing for People Experiencing Homelessness (February 28, 2022)
A nonprofit is using adaptive reuse, zoning tools, and a Housing First model to reduce homelessness in Massachusetts. Here's where they found the funding. More from Planning Magazine

Biden Administration Outlines Plans for National EV Charging Network (February 25, 2022)
Federal officials detailed how they expect states to spend $5 billion from the new infrastructure law to place electric vehicle chargers along key interstate highways. More from Route Fifty

As Violent Crime Falls in Dallas, Answers Go Beyond Policing (February 24, 2022)
As other major U.S. cities double down on policing in response to an increase in homicides and violent crime, Dallas officials are taking a different approach. More from Bloomberg CityLab

Five Innovative Budgeting Practices to Strengthen Your Community (February 23, 2022)
Local governments all over the world are taking an innovative approach to curating budgeting strategies that fit their communities, and we have gathered five standout practices that add an innovative touch to the budgeting process. More from ICMA Blog

Cooperative agreements can be a timesaver as public procurement workloads increase (February 22, 2022)
Thousands of supplies, equipment items and other purchases are available to governments and other public entities under national, state, local and regional cooperative contracts. More from American City & County

Counties transform, modernize human services delivery systems (February 18, 2022)
County human services delivery systems are a critical touchpoint for children and families, especially those who are experiencing economic hardship and the negative impacts of COVID-19 More from NACo

New Opportunity: Cities Connecting Children to Nature (February 17, 2022)
Cities Connecting Children to Nature (CCCN), a joint initiative of the National League of Cities Institute for Youth, Education, and Families and the Children & Nature Network, helps city leaders and their partners ensure that all children have the opportunity to play, learn and grow in nature. More from National League of Cities

The City of Phoenix Is Finding and Training a New Generation of Farmers (February 16, 2022)
Phoenix's new Urban Agriculture Fellowship Program will pair nine residents between the ages of 18 to 24 with local farms and pay them to work and study under some of the most knowledgeable growers in Arizona. More from Governing

$50 Billion 'Wildfire Risk Strategy' Targets the Wildland-Urban Interface (February 15, 2022)
The U.S. Department of Agriculture in January announced an ambitious, and only partially funded, new plan to reduce wildfire risks for communities around the United States. More from Planetizen

Why Turning Motels Into Housing Could Outlast the Pandemic (February 14, 2022)
States and localities looked to motels and hotels early in the Covid-era to house the homeless and people needing to quarantine. Now some of the programs show signs of becoming more permanent. More from Route Fifty

Virgina County Pilot Offers Training to Bridge Digital Divide (February 11, 2022)
Digital Prince William, a program in Prince William County, Va., launched a pilot project offering free technology classes to older adults to teach them the digital skills necessary to operate mobile technology. More from Government Technology

As Entrepreneurship Grows, Public Libraries Fill the Gap (February 10, 2022)
With new businesses surging during the pandemic, many libraries have asserted themselves as key players in the economic development community. More from Bloomberg CityLab

Government work might not always pay as well as the private sector, but the benefits are better (February 9, 2022)
The report comes as the employment outlook—after several uncertain years brought on by the ongoing pandemic—is continuing to brighten across all sectors. More from American City & County

A growing share of Americans say affordable housing is a major problem where they live (February 8, 2022)
Prospective homebuyers and renters across the United States have seen prices surge and supply plummet during the coronavirus pandemic. More from Pew Research Center

The Built Environment in 2022: Challenges and Opportunities (February 7, 2022)
As climate change, the pandemic, and a historic housing crisis continue to impact the nation, experts weigh in on the issues that could shape the future of the built environment in 2022. More from Planetizen

7 Game-Changing Trends and How to Plan for Them (February 4, 2022)
From the Great Resignation to the metaverse, your foresight-driven compass for the new year and beyond. More from Planning Magazine

How Cedar Rapids Created Mobile Resilience Hubs (February 3, 2022)
In response to the worst thunderstorm in United States history, the city, non-profits, and volunteers rapidly coordinated to create five neighborhood resource centers in the city's most at-risk neighborhoods. More from National League of Cities

How Six States Could Transform the U.S. Trucking Industry (February 2, 2022)
California, Oregon, Washington, New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts are requiring a growing percentage of all medium- and heavy-duty trucks sold to be zero-emission starting in 2025. More from Bloomberg Green + CityLab

Department of Energy Launches New Program to Overhaul US Electrical Grid (February 1, 2022)
Engaging local, state and tribal governments will be a hallmark feature of the new initiative as the federal government works to expand access and make systems more resilient. More from Route Fifty

Building a sustainable behavioral health crisis continuum (January 31, 2022)
Recent interest in many communities, coupled with new policy actions and federal resources, offer the potential to expand access to evidence based treatment, including building behavioral health services that represent a crisis service continuum. More from Brookings

Saving Birds By Design (January 28, 2022)
Reflective glass high-rises kill millions of birds each year, but bird-friendly design can save birds and reduce energy consumption More from Planetizen

In 2022, public employers face hiring challenges, opportunity (January 27, 2022)
Given the shifting economic landscape, the Mission Square Research Group recently released a series of recommendations to help local governments "manage and support their current workforce while positioning themselves to attract new, key talent" in the coming year. More from American City & County

2022 Brings Hope for State and Local Broadband Progress (January 26, 2022)
​While states and localities still have a long way to go toward getting everyone access to high-speed Internet, efforts at all levels of government, and especially federal funding, promise positive progress. More from Governing

10 Ways Local Governments are Using Census Data (January 25, 2022)
The decennial census and other Census Bureau surveys provide critical information needed to make informed decisions and policies. More from National League of Cities

NOAA releases new mapping tool to identify county susceptibility to climate and weather hazards (January 24, 2022)
Counties knowing their vulnerability to environmental disasters is a critical component of preparedness. More from NACo

How Waterfront States and Cities are Harnessing Their Blue Economies (January 21, 2022)
Communities are becoming strategic about planning the use of their shorelines rather than relying solely on tourism and recreation to generate water-related revenue. More from Route Fifty

Cities lack sufficient data to monitor their progress toward climate goals (January 20, 2022)
Report - More than a third of the nation's 100 large cities have failed to establish overall community-wide climate goals, and just 19 of the 38 that have data available on their efforts to date were on track to meet their goals. More from Smart Cities Dive

After Years of Inconclusive Data, New Evidence Suggests that Seattle's Soda Tax Is Working (January 19, 2022)
And it's working really well. Armed with three years of grocery shopping data, researchers found that total sugar sales are down by almost 20 percent, driven largely by falling soda purchases. More from Governing

Eight ways for 'receiver cities' to prepare (January 18, 2022)
Great Lakes communities are prominent examples of what new urbanists often refer to as "receiver cities, towns, and villages." They can prepare for migration by promoting growth that improves the quality of life of existing inhabitants. More from CNU PUblic Square

Cabrini-Green: A History of Broken Promises (January 14, 2022)
Transforming Chicago’s most famous public housing complex will cost taxpayers $2 billion. It also came with often-unkept promises of jobs, city contracts and homes for those forced from the neighborhood. More from Better Government Association

Infrastructure Bill Promises Historic Boost for Digital Equity (January 13, 2022)
"The exciting nature of it is that it opens up so many opportunities for state and local innovation around this issue," said Amy Huffman, policy director for the National Digital Inclusion Alliance. More from Government Technology

Anatomy of a Bad Road (January 12, 2022)
Perilous to cross and unpleasant to drive, ride or walk along, Brooklyn’s Atlantic Avenue badly needs a safety-minded makeover. Here’s how transportation advocates would do it. More from Bloomberg CityLab

States and Localities Seek Unified Front Against Ransomware Threat (January 11, 2022)
Ransomware attacks can cause serious headaches for governments and their residents. Can greater collaboration between jurisdictions help prevent the cybersecurity breaches? More from Route Fifty

Living wage ordinances' greatest effect may be on public opinion (January 10, 2022)
A small number of workers benefit from these city and county policies, but the efforts help build the case for higher minimum wages, researchers say. More from Smart Cities Dive

On the Frontlines of Today’s Cities: Trauma, Challenges and Solutions (January 7, 2022)
A new report on how governments can minimize harassment of public officials. More from National League of Cities

Four key elements to building community trust and transparency in strategic plans (January 6, 2022)
Increasingly, residents are demanding more transparency and accountability to ensure funds are being used appropriately. Thus, strategic plans must now be both agile and transparent to build community trust. More from American City & County

How City Leaders Can Help Bridge the Digital Divide (January 5, 2022)
As federal agencies prepare to launch new grants programs that fund broadband infrastructure, communities that have taken steps to learn about digital equity and assess local needs will be ahead of the competition when seeking federal or state support. More from National League of Cities

What Will Working for Government Look Like in 2022? (January 4, 2022)
After the successful shift to remote work for many government agencies in 2021, the public sector has begun to weigh the benefits of hybrid work environments and reassess hiring practices. More from Government Technology

Seattle Implements ADU Strategy with GIS to Expand Housing Choices (January 3, 2022)
To provide more information about accessory dwelling units to the public, the city's Office of Planning and Community Development and Department of Construction and Inspections created ADUniverse, a website that they built using Esri's ArcGIS Hub. More from APA Blog

Cities Need More Robust Data and Analysis to Better Address the Eviction Crisis (December 30, 2021)
A new report says that localities should build partnerships with courts and organizations to capture more types of data to spot and stop evictions. More from Route Fifty

Digital Cities 2021: Winners Deliver on Critical IT Services. (December 29, 2021)
The top performers in this year's Digital Cities Survey from the Center for Digital Government pushed through the challenges of COVID-19 while continuing to innovate and engage with residents. More from Government Technology

County Levers to Drive Economic Mobility: Local Solutions and Strategies (December 28, 2021)
Counties advance economic mobility across seven key issue areas. More from NACo

What Can Local Government Do to Avoid Inequitable Tech? (December 27, 2021)
As use of new technology by government continues to increase, experts and advocates in the space say that public servants should be keenly aware of the potential to exacerbate long-standing biases. More from Governing

Green Roofs in the Time of COVID-19 (December 23, 2021)
Green infrastructure, like parks, green roofs, rain gardens, trees, and permeable pavement, are vital and effective tools for making our urban landscapes healthier, more climate resilient, and stronger in the long term. More from National League of Cities

Have More People Moved During the Pandemic? (December 22, 2021)
While there were temporary spikes in mobility during the pandemic, mobility is a multifaceted behavior that responds to a host of different factors - of which a world-upending pandemic is only one. More from Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University

The Silver Linings of Asset-Based Community Development (December 21, 2021)
ABCD is a framework to discover and mobilize assets or resources available in a community and how to use them to benefit residents. More from APA Blog

A Look at How 150 Governments are Planning to Use ARPA Funds (December 20, 2021)
A new online dashboard offers insights into what cities and counties intend to do with the federal pandemic aid. More from Route Fifty

America's Aging Airports Prepare for Takeoff (December 17, 2021)
Some airports accelerted infrastructure improvements during the pandemic, while others grounded critical projects. As travel rebounds, what will it take to modernize? More from Planning Magazine

Work and Wages: Improving Resident and Business Economic Resilience (December 16, 2021)
Funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) can help cities support local businesses to stay afloat and hire and retain employees. Combined with policies that ensure workers receive family-sustaining wages, these programs can potentially put millions of Americans back on a path toward economic mobility. More from National League of Cities

Data Drives Housing, Planning Decisions in Baltimore (December 15, 2021)
To support its goals and revitalize neighborhoods, the Baltimore City Department of Housing and Community Development uses GIS and location data that keeps records up to date and transparent for all stakeholders. More from Government Technology

State and Local Policymakers Honored for Effective Solutions (December 14, 2021)
Five innovative policymakers were recently honored for their proposals that would best improve Americans' economic well-being and overall quality of life, and make government work more effectively to meet communities' needs. More from Governing

What U.S. Mayors Are Really Worried About (December 13, 2021)
​A survey of 126 mayors reveals that city leaders are more concerned about the long-term mental health consequences of the pandemic than other headline-grabbing issues. More from Bloomberg CityLab

Massive Budget Bill Would Open Even More State and Local Funding (December 10, 2021)
​In a year that's already seen a major infrastructure package signed into law and billions in pandemic aid, domestic spending legislation the U.S. House approved last week promises to direct additional federal cash towards state and local priorities. More from Route Fifty

Modernizing American Infrastructure Requires People and Procurement, Not Just Dollars (December 9, 2021)
The first comprehensive infrastructure bill in a generation includes over $500 billion in new spending to upgrade broadband, roads, bridges, public transit, energy, clean drinking water, and other infrastructure systems. Building those kinds of transformative infrastructure projects will require modernizing workforce development systems and procurement techniques. More from Brookings

How a Massachusetts town is investing in social infrastructure to rebuild its Main Street (December 8, 2021)
Investing in social infrastructure in struggling downtown areas can support artists, provide a hub for businesses and local entrepreneurs, empower teens, and increase downtown vibrancy. More from Brookings

Inflation Has Risen Around the World, but the U.S. Has Seen One of the Biggest Increases (December 7, 2021)
The annual rate of inflation in the United States hit 6.2% in October 2021, the highest in more than three decades. Understanding why the rate of inflation has risen so quickly could help clarify how long the surge might last – and what, if anything, policymakers should do about it. More from Pew Research Center

Trails, Greenways and Parks Infrastructure Projects Boost Economic Activity and Healthy Recreation (December 6, 2021)
These spaces have become a new version of 'living rooms' due to communities' needs for open spaces that allow room to social-distance during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. More from American City & County

Community Land Trusts Provide What ARPA Seeks to Foster (December 3, 2021)
Few housing models embrace the ethos of stability and resilience more than community land trusts. More from NLC CitiesSpeak

It's Time for Public Participation to Evolve With Transportation Planning (December 2, 2021)
A manifesto by planning and transportation professionals committing to hearing all voices during public engagement processes. More from Planetizen

How State, Local Government Can Fight Disinformation (December 1, 2021)
To combat false narratives and foster trust in reliable information, governments can invest in local news, support empathy-building initiatives, and ensure election processes are traceable, a new report says. More from Government Technology

For City Leaders, an Upbeat Moment Mixed With Challenges Old and New (November 30, 2021)
Historic amounts of federal funding are flowing to the local level. But cities are also grappling with a host of difficult problems. More from Route Fifty

Aging Population Needs Walkable, Bikeable Cities (November 29, 2021)
Seniors have the most to gain from pedestrian and cycling improvements - yet they often feel threatened by changes that provide alternatives to driving. Here are ways to include seniors in active transportation planning. More from CNU Public Square

Michigan Bill Would Ban Agencies from Using Messaging Apps (November 24, 2021)
If signed into law, House Bill 4778 would ban state agencies from using apps like Signal, Telegram and Wahtsapp on government-issued devices to avoid Freedom of Information Act requirements More from Government Technology

7 Ways the New Infrastructure Package Invests in Planning (November 23, 2021)
More than just a highway bill, the legislation is injecting billions of federal dollars into environmental justice, climate action, and local planning efforts. Here's how it all shakes out. More from American Planning Association

Government Can Use Tech Solutions to Lower Motor Vehicle Fatalities (November 22, 2021)
Despite the growing number of communities committing to Vision Zero, an initiative to eliminate traffic fatalities and severe injuries, the numbers show there is still work to do. More from American City & County

These Cities Raised Wages for Municipal Workers to $15 an Hour (November 19, 2021)
To attract and keep employees in a tight labor market, some local governments are bumping up hourly pay. More from Route Fifty

CISA Awards $2 Million To Bring Cybersecurity Training To Rural Communities And Diverse Populations (November 18, 2021)
As part of its mission to recruit diverse cybersecurity talent and build the workforce of the future, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has awarded $2 million to two innovative organizations for development of cyber workforce training programs. More from Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency

A Novel Pilot Brings Vertical Farms to Public Housing (November 17, 2021)
Jersey City is trying a new approach to bring healthier eating to low-income communities: on-site indoor farms. More from Bloomberg CityLab

Should Employers Add Booster Shots to Their COVID-19 Vaccine Policies? (November 16, 2021)
As the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves booster shots, employers may be wondering if they should require workers to get an extra jab to be considered "fully vaccinated." More from Society for Human Resource Management

2020 Census: Big cities grew and became more diverse, especially among their youth (November 15, 2021)
The 2020 Census shows that, when looking at the 2010-2020 decade, many major cities grew faster than the previous decade and most registered increased racial diversity. More from Brookings

Leveraging State and Local Buying Power to Improve Resilience and Sustainability (November 12, 2021)
Carefully spent, purchasing dollars can be one of the most potent tools to help the nation combat its environmental concerns. More from Route Fifty

A Crucial Lifeline for Opioid Recovery: Supportive Housing (November 10, 2021)
State and local governments should devote a substantial share of the billions in opioid settlement funds to get victims of the epidemic housed in settings where they can get the help they need to recover. More from Governing

How Will Transportation Tech Evolve Over the Next Decade? (November 9, 2021)
​Electrification, congestion pricing and how streets are used could all greatly influence the future of transportation in cities, say speakers at the Smart Cities Connect Conference and Expo. More from Government Technology

SCOTUS Case Could Upend Sign Regulations (Again) (November 8, 2021)
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral argument in the case of City of Austin v. Reagan National Advertising, Inc. The Court is being asked to determine whether the Austin, Texas, sign code's distinction between on–and off–premises signage is permissible under the First Amendment. More from APA Blog

Tree canopies make us safe; Here's how to grow them throughout cities (November 5, 2021)
A previous article explained how planting street trees helps adapt to and mitigate climate change. Trees also bestow health, safety, and economic benefits. More from CNU Public Square

Jaywalking reform efforts see mixed results across states, cities (November 4, 2021)
Advocates for safe and equitable walking infrastructure shared their experiences working for reforms to longstanding jaywalking laws during a virtual event hosted last week by America Walks, a national nonprofit focused on mobility justice. More from Smart Cities Dive

The Future of Work Is Hybrid - Here's an Expert's Recommendations for Success (November 3, 2021)
Even when the pandemic ends, the vast majority of U.S. companies are expected to let many employees continue to work at least part time from home. More from Route Fifty

U.S. household growth over last decade was the lowest ever recorded (November 2, 2021)
​Growth in the number of U.S. households during the 2010s slowed to its lowest pace in history, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of newly released 2020 census data. More from Pew Research Center

Data Mapping the Social Determinants of Public Health (November 1, 2021)
A commission created by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation argues that tracking metrics reflecting the social factors of health is integral to reforming the current disjointed public health data system. More from Governing

Understanding child-friendly urban design (October 29, 2021)
​A framework to measure Playful Learning Landscapes outcomes. More from Brookings

The Power of Electric Bike Libraries (October 28, 2021)
Climate-friendly e-bikes are a key part of plans to decarbonize urban transportation. To speed adoption, more cities are offering lending programs that can expose more riders to this new mode. More from Bloomberg CityLab

In-Person Conferences Are Back - What Can We Expect? (October 27, 2021)
The National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) Annual Conference was held this past week as a live event in Seattle for the first time in two years. What happened, and what's next? More from Government Technology

Sharing Data for Equitable Outcomes (October 26, 2021)
Current data collection and management practices are creating disparities in communities because they often overlook minority groups. More from National League of Cities

Restaurants Urge Mayors to Extend Outdoor Dining Through Winter (October 25, 2021)
The National Restaurant Association sent a letter to the U.S. Conference of Mayors warning that thousands more restaurants could close without support to keep outdoor dining going. More from Route Fifty

Report: Green infrastructure can mitigate flooding, increase resiliency in underserved communities (October 22, 2021)
A report issued by a collaboration of New Orleans-based nonprofits shows how smaller green infrastructure initiatives can help neighborhoods mitigate the effects of localized flooding. More from American City & County

Street trees: A wonder of climate adaptation (October 21, 2021)
Street trees have many benefits, but their climate impact is becoming more important all the time. More from CNU Public Square

NASCIO Survey Finds Government Remote Work Here to Stay (October 20, 2021)
Most state CIOs expect remote work to continue and for digital services to keep proliferating. That introduces a host of shifting priorities, including a renewed need for cybersecurity enhancements and identity tools. More from Governing

Organizations Across Sectors Partner to Improve Health Equity in Communities (October 19, 2021)
New grant supports projects addressing food and water security, green space, and language access. More from PEW

IT Now Engaged Early and Often Due to Pandemic-Era Needs (October 18, 2021)
Indiana Chief Information Officer Tracy Barnes discusses how the need to deliver quickly in response to COVID-19 has elevated the role of state IT, bringing them into conversations earlier on and throughout the process. More from Government Technology

4 Ways to Achieve Equitable Sustainability Resilience (October 15, 2021)
Cincinnati’s sustainability team has outlined a citywide goal to operationalize sustainability and resilience strategies that foster more equitable and inclusive programs and practices. More from National League of Cities

5 Tips for Planning Safe Post-Pandemic Events (October 14, 2021)
As community events start move off-screen and become available to the public again, here are five ways organizers can ensure public health and safety. More from Planetizen

How the Pandemic Can Help Government Prepare for Future Crises (October 13, 2021)
A new report provides a dozen lessons learned from Covid-19 that can help governments at all levels deal with diseases and natural disasters to come. More from Route Fifty

Agencies that need to staff up procurement should recruit from within and expand the pipeline (October 12, 2021)
The pace of baby boomer retirements has been accelerating, according to Pew Research, and that includes retirements in government. More from American City & County

After biking boom, some cities beef up infrastructure (October 11, 2021)
From bridges to boulevards, Chicago, New York City and Washington, D.C., are among the major cities spending on protected bike lanes. More from Smart Cities Dive

Partnering with Universities Advance Project Development (October 8, 2021)
Cities can achieve real, tangible, positive impacts at scale through partnering university faculty and students with community leaders in search of project assistance. More from National League of Cities

How to Design a Post-Pandemic City (October 7, 2021)
​Architects and public health experts in Baltimore have released a guidebook of 10 concepts that reimagine urban living for an era defined by social distancing. More from Bloomberg CityLab

New Interactive Map Shows Impacts of Federal Flood Insurance Rate Changes (October 6, 2021)
New interactive maps created by the Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM), with support from The Pew Charitable Trusts, are helping bring clarity to how Risk Rating 2.0: Equity in Action, the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s updated rate-setting methodology, will affect flood insurance rates. More from PEW

Hackers Attack When Communities Are Most Vulnerable (October 5, 2021)
Natural disasters like hurricanes and wildfires are increasingly followed by ransomware attacks. Full-scale drills will help states be prepared to fight back when hackers take advantage. More from Government Technology

Creativity Sparks Economic Renewal (October 4, 2021)
A recent analysis by economist Douglas Noonan at Indiana University investigates how the arts interact with the broader economy after acute shocks. More from National League of Cities

3 years later, city leaders still debating scooter regulations across the US (October 1, 2021)
While many have taken a proactive approach to permitting and instituting safety rules, guidance still varies across state and city lines and is often subject to change as transportation departments adapt to the vehicles’ growing use. More from Smart Cities Dive

The Rise of the Pandemic Dashboard (September 30, 2021)
Governments around the world have created online tools for the public to view the latest data on Covid-19, but some platforms are better than others. More from Bloomberg CityLab

A Free Tool to Help Cities Take Full Advantage of Federal Aid (September 29, 2021)
The collaboration between Bloomberg Philanthropies and the U.S. Conference of Mayors lets city leaders search information and ask questions about rules and regulations related to coronavirus relief money. More from Route Fifty

Critics Say It's Time to Stop Using the Term 'Food Deserts' (September 28, 2021)
But improving healthy and affordable food access goes beyond what's in the name. More from Governing

The art of the public art installation: Building a vision with communities (September 27, 2021)
Some of us view public art installations simply as points of interest when we tour unfamiliar neighborhoods. But there’s nothing simple about these installations. For municipalities, they can foster a sense of community and belonging, or they can backfire and become a source of controversy. More from American City & County

As traffic deaths climb, NTSB chair calls for 'fundamental rethink' of transportation planning (September 24, 2021)
The safe system approach, which originated in Scandinavia and has been adopted in some form in several other countries, takes a holistic approach to designing traffic systems to minimize crashes and make any accidents that do occur less harmful. More from AMPO

Self-Guided Delivery Robots Are Getting Wider Deployments (September 23, 2021)
​Detroit will be one of three cities to launch autonomous delivery programs using Kiwibots. The small, electric devices will travel on city sidewalks and partner with businesses to explore automated deliveries. More from Government Technology

Why and How Local Governments Across the Country Are Reforming Fines and Fees (September 22, 2021)
The status quo is often inequitable and inefficient. The change process begins with data analysis and careful engagement of both local government stakeholders and impacted residents. More from ICMA Blog

County fights against vaccine misinformation start in California (September 21, 2021)
San Diego County declared COVID-19 vaccine misinformation a public health crisis, starting what leaders hope is a national conversation among local governments and taking action to address myths head-on. More from NACo

How Philadelphia Housing Repairs Drove Down Crime (September 20, 2021)
As U.S. cities explore criminal justice reform amid a spike in homicides, a new study offers insight into the kinds of investments that might help. More from Bloomberg CityLab

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

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

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

Ten social benefits of walkable places (August 26, 2021)
We shape our cities and then they shape us. More from CNU Public Square

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.

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.

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.

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.

Local Government Customer Experience (May 19, 2021)
How customer journey mapping can enhance service delivery. More from ICMA Blog.

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.

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.