Government / Politics

Satirizing Mayors Who Campaign for President During a Flood
The Onion took some shots at presidential hopeful and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio after summer rain showers flooded streets and sent water cascading into the city's subway system.

Hastily Constructed, Thoroughly Opposed: MTA Restructuring Plan Still Approved
The MTA board approved a new restructuring plan despite not hearing any words of support from the public.

Scooter Companies Convene Advisory Groups to Promote Safety
Both Bird and Lime have organized boards of experts to conduct research and advise the companies as their micromobility ventures grow.

L.A. Program Brings Earthquake Preparedness to Neighborhoods
A new Los Angeles initiative looks to neighborhood councils to lead disaster planning efforts that involve more residents.

S.F. Bay Area City Says It Wants More Housing—But Votes Down Project
The project included everything San Bruno and residents asked for, and it would have helped the city make significant progress in addressing its growing housing crisis. Still, it was voted down.

Fewer People Parking at Denver Airport, While Ride Hailing and Rail Numbers Are on the Rise
More people are using the A-Line, Uber, and Lyft to travel to and from Denver International Airport (DIA). With parking numbers down, DIA has scrapped plans for two new parking garages.

The Free Public Transit Debate
The pros and cons of fare-free transit involve a range of issues, from operations logistics and outcomes to costs and fiscal priorities.

D.C.-Area Residents Want Bus Lanes and Free Transfers, Survey Shows
New survey findings identify transit priorities among residents in D.C. and surrounding areas, and indicate broad support for public investments.

In Crosswalks, Public Art Meets Transportation
Colorful, engaging crosswalks aren’t the norm, but they’re popping up around the country. And while they aren’t in line with federal guidelines, they have transformed streets and intersections.

Shuttering a Large Coal Plant: A Tale of Two States
Environmentalists in California are upset that Los Angeles will build a new 840-megawatt natural gas plant to replace a 1,800-megawatt coal plant. The coal plant has been crucial to the economic development of Millard County, Utah.

The Post-Wildfire Dilemma: Rebuild or Retreat?
Even after experiencing devastating wildfires, residents are often willing to take the risk to return and start over.

Et Tu, Portland?
Opinion: The Rose City joins the nationwide attack on neighborhood-scale public involvement—and throws its pioneering model of grassroots democracy under the bus.

The Car-Centric World and the Ongoing Expansion of Police Powers
While cars are still equated with freedom of mobility and personal liberty, they've also offered courts the chance to expand police powers in the public realm, time and time again.

Tampa's 'All for Transportation' Sales Tax Clears Post-Election Obstacles
The "All for Transportation" sales tax in Hillsborough County, Florida, survived a revolt and legal challenge from conservative county commissioners, despite earning 57 percent of the public vote.

Opinion: Here’s Hoping the New BART Inspector General Can Help Get the Agency Back on Track
BART is a financial and operational mess, and its new inspector general has a slew of major issues to tackle.

No More 'Manholes' in Berkeley
In removing all gendered language from its civil code, the city of Berkeley is tossing out some familiar nomenclature.

U.S. Economic Growth Shows Urban-Rural Divide
The economy is improving in places like Texas, but a closer look indicates that cities are taking off while rural areas are lagging behind.

Toronto Could Give Buses and Streetcars Priority
In a shift away from subway expansions and upgrades, Toronto looks to improve the bus and streetcar systems.

More EV Charging Coming to San Francisco Private and Public Parking Facilities
To reach an ambitious net-zero target for transportation emissions in San Francisco, Mayor Breed and two supervisors introduced legislation to require large parking facilities provide electric vehicle charging for 10% of spaces.

Uncertain Future of Portland’s Neighborhood Associations Causing Controversy
A proposal to dissolve the groups has led to a debate about their purpose and who really benefits from them.
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