Community
Explainer
The Mechanics of Campaign Finance: Comparing Hard Money, Soft Money, PACs, and Super PACs
6 sources · 7d ago
Explainer
The Mechanics of Community Benefit Agreements: How Local Development Projects Negotiate Community Investment
5 sources · 7d ago
Explainer
The Mechanics of Land Value Tax: How It Works and What the Economic Evidence Says
9 sources · 7d ago
More in Community
ExplainerHousing Affordability
The Mechanics of Community Land Trusts: How Neighborhoods Preserve Affordable Housing
Affordable Housing Advocates 40%Housing Researchers 35%Community Stewards 25%
3 sources · 7d ago
ExplainerTimebanking
The Mechanics of Timebanking: How Communities Trade Skills Instead of Dollars
Community Advocates 45%Public Health Researchers 35%Economic Historians 20%
5 sources · 7d ago
ExplainerSurvey Methodology
The Mechanics of Polling Bias: How Sampling Methods and Weighting Affect Public Opinion Surveys
Probability Traditionalists 40%Opt-In Panel Innovators 30%Methodological Standards Advocates 30%
8 sources · 8d ago
ExplainerLand Use Law
The Mechanics of Zoning Variances and Conditional Use Permits: How Property Owners Seek Exceptions to Local Land Use Rules
Property Rights Advocates 35%Municipal Regulators 35%Land Use Consultants 30%
10 sources · 8d ago
ExplainerMunicipal Law
The Mechanics of Dillon's Rule vs. Home Rule: Comparing the Legal Basis of Local Government Authority
Local Autonomy Advocates 40%State Sovereignty Proponents 40%Labor and Civil Rights Groups 20%
8 sources · 8d ago
Housing AffordabilityPolicy Decision
Texas Law Forces Nearly 400 Cities to Reverse Zoning Bans on Manufactured Homes
Housing Advocates & Buyers 40%Local Municipalities 30%Real Estate Legal Experts 30%
4 sources · 8d ago
ExplainerProperty Rights
The Mechanics of Eminent Domain: How Local Governments Take Private Property and Determine 'Just Compensation'
Property Rights Advocates 40%Municipal Planners 35%Legal Scholars 25%
8 sources · 8d ago
ExplainerCivic Infrastructure
The Mechanics of Special Districts: How Quasi-Governmental Bodies Finance and Deliver Essential Local Services
Local Control Advocates 40%Transparency Watchdogs 40%Municipal Planners 20%
10 sources · 8d ago
ExplainerHOA Governance
The Mechanics of Homeowners Associations: How CC&Rs and State Law Govern Community Life
Property Rights Advocates 35%Community Management Professionals 35%Statutory Reformers 30%
9 sources · 8d ago
ExplainerCivic Mechanics
The Mechanics of Direct Democracy: Comparing Local Initiatives, Referendums, and Veto Referendums
Direct Democracy Advocates 40%Municipal Governance Critics 30%Legal & Procedural Scholars 30%
9 sources · 8d ago
ExplainerTax Assessment
The Mechanics of Property Tax Assessment: How Local Governments Determine Value and How Homeowners Appeal
Local Government Assessors 35%Taxpayer Advocates 35%Housing Equity Researchers 30%
6 sources · 8d ago
ExplainerSharing Economy
The Mechanics of 'Libraries of Things': How Neighborhoods Are Scaling the Sharing Economy
Sharing Economy Advocates 40%Public Health & Equity Analysts 30%Platform & Logistics Providers 30%
3 sources · 9d ago
ExplainerMunicipal Finance
The Mechanics of Municipal Bonds: How Local Governments Finance Infrastructure and What Investors Actually Buy
Tax-Advantaged Investors 40%Municipal Planners 35%Fiscal Conservatives 25%
7 sources · 9d ago
ExplainerMunicipal Governance
Comparing the Three Major Forms of US Municipal Government: Strong Mayor, Weak Mayor, and Council-Manager
Professional Management Advocates 40%Executive Accountability Proponents 35%Structural Neutrality Analysts 25%
2 sources · 9d ago
Civic InfrastructureExplainer
Michigan Rural Townships Face Unprecedented Shortage of Elected Officials Amid Financial Strain
Rural Township Officials 40%Good Governance Advocates 30%State Policymakers 30%
5 sources · 9d ago
Midway RedevelopmentPolicy Explainer
San Diego City Council Repeals Voter-Approved Midway Height Limit After Judge Rules Environmental Review Failed
City Officials and Developers 40%Community and Environmental Activists 40%State Legislators 20%
2 sources · 9d ago
Municipal FinanceExplainer
New Orleans Announces Major Sanitation Fee Reset to Close $24.7 Million Funding Gap
City Administration 35%Frustrated Ratepayers 35%Fiscal Watchdogs 30%
5 sources · 9d ago
ExplainerData Centers
Why City Councils Are Unanimously Blocking Hyperscale Data Centers
Local Communities 40%Industry & Developers 30%Systemic Analysis 30%
7 sources · 10d ago
Homelessness PolicyExplainer
LA City Council Votes to Roll Back Controversial Anti-Camping Zones in District 13
Service-First Advocates 40%Public Space Defenders 40%Pragmatic Centrists 20%
5 sources · 10d ago
ExplainerHousing Policy
New York Lawmakers Propose 'State of Yes' Bill Package to Override Exclusionary Zoning
Housing Advocates 40%Local Municipalities 30%State Progressives 30%
4 sources · 7d ago
Urban HousingPolicy Rollout
Singapore Expands Mandatory Mediation and Enforcement Unit Nationwide to Resolve Neighbor Disputes
Public Housing Residents 50%Social Service Agencies 30%Government Regulators 20%
4 sources · 7d ago
Stadium DevelopmentPolicy Decision
Tampa City Council Approves $2.36 Billion Rays Stadium Deal, Swing Vote Cites Community Benefits Over Baseball
Community Investment Advocates 40%Fiscal Skeptics 30%Regional Baseball Supporters 30%
6 sources · 10d ago
Abuse LitigationPolicy Compromise
California Compromise Averts Local Government Bankruptcy from Abuse Lawsuits
Victims' Advocates 35%Local Governments 35%State Legislators 30%
4 sources · 9d ago
ExplainerProperty Taxes
How Florida's Proposed $250,000 Homestead Exemption Threatens Local Municipal Budgets
Policy Analysts 40%Tax Relief Advocates 30%Local Government Officials 30%
5 sources · 10d ago
ExplainerDisaster Recovery
How the SBA's Disaster Rebuilding Rule Preempts Local Zoning Through Self-Certification
Local Governments & Code Officials 40%Federal Administrators & Proponents 35%Legal & Constitutional Scholars 25%
8 sources · 11d ago
ExplainerBallot Measures
California Voters to Decide on Constitutional Amendment Requiring Voter ID and Mail-In ID Digits
Access and Equity Advocates 35%Electoral Integrity Proponents 35%Policy and Administration Trackers 30%
5 sources · 11d ago
ExplainerMunicipal Finance
How an Unintended Flaw in California's Funding Mechanism Created a $226 Million Shortfall for San Mateo County
San Mateo County Municipalities 40%State Budget Administrators 30%Public Education Advocates 30%
6 sources · 11d ago
ExplainerZoning Reform
How Asheville's Zoning Overhaul Eliminates Parking Minimums and Expands Duplexes
Urban Planners & YIMBY Advocates 45%Legacy Neighborhood Advocates 35%Municipal & State Policymakers 20%
5 sources · 11d ago
Municipal LaborPolicy Decision
St. John's City Council Ratifies Four-Year CUPE Contract Despite Taxpayer Concerns
Municipal Administration 50%Taxpayer Advocates 50%
3 sources · 8d ago
Municipal FinancePower Shift
Chicago Faces $680 Million Gap After City Council's Alternative Budget Takes Effect
City Council Reformers 35%The Mayor's Administration 35%Business Advocates 30%
3 sources · 11d ago
ExplainerMunicipal Finance
How California Cities Are Rushing Tax Measures to Beat the Two-Thirds Majority Requirement of Proposed Prop 43
Taxpayer Protection Advocates 50%Local Fiscal Flexibility Advocates 50%
4 sources · 11d ago
Civic EngagementCourt Ruling
Judge Forces Newport Beach Charter Reforms Onto 2026 Ballot, Citing Council's 'Abuse of Discretion'
Citizen Reform Advocates 60%City Administration 40%
3 sources · 10d ago
Data Center ZoningExplainer
How Local Voters Are Using Ballot Measures to Ban New Data Centers
Local Residents & Advocates 45%Tech Industry & Developers 30%State Policymakers 25%
7 sources · 12d ago
ExplainerMunicipal Surveillance
Asheville Terminates Flock Surveillance Contract Amid Growing Debate Over Municipal Privacy
Civil Liberties Advocates 40%Law Enforcement & Security 35%Technology Providers 25%
3 sources · 12d ago
Municipal ReformPolicy Explainer
Houston Voters to Decide on Charter Amendment Banning No-Knock Warrants and Decriminalizing Marijuana
Justice Reform Advocates 40%State Law Enforcement Officials 35%Local Municipal Leadership 25%
6 sources · 12d ago
ExplainerMunicipal Governance
How Houston Voters Overhauled the Strong-Mayor System to Empower City Council Agenda-Setting
Decentralization Advocates 45%Executive Efficiency Proponents 30%Municipal Legal Experts 25%
4 sources · 12d ago
Brown Act OverhaulPolicy Decision
California's New Brown Act Overhaul Mandates Teleconference Access and Curbs Official Social Media Use
Open Government Advocates 40%Local Agency Administrators 30%Elected Officials & Legal Counsel 30%
8 sources · 12d ago
Municipal GovernancePolicy Dispute
Community Division Over Growth Boundary Triggers Near-Total Collapse of North Plains City Government
Smart Growth Advocates 50%Departing City Officials 50%
6 sources · 11d ago
ExplainerZoning Preemption
New Analysis Reveals 500+ State Bills in 40 States Sought to Preempt Local Land Use Authority in 2025
State Preemption Advocates 50%Local Control Defenders 50%
2 sources · 12d ago
ExplainerSanctuary Policies
The Mechanics of New York's Sanctuary City Policy and the 69% Voter Backlash
Pragmatic Enforcement Advocates 69%Sanctuary Defenders 31%
4 sources · 12d ago
Federal GrantsExplainer
Cities Sue DHS Over Withholding of Anti-Terrorism Grants Tied to Local Election Changes
Local Governments 45%Federal Security Agencies 45%Voting Rights Advocates 10%
5 sources · 13d ago
City BudgetExplainer
How Portland's Mayor Used the City's New Tiebreaker Power to Finalize the 2026 Budget
Moderate Council Bloc 40%Progressive Council Bloc 40%Labor Unions & City Workers 20%
6 sources · 13d ago
Building CodesExplainer
Federal Judge Upholds Denver's Local Ban on Natural Gas Appliances Against Industry Lawsuit
Municipalities & Environmental Advocates 45%Commercial Developers & Restaurant Industry 40%Legal & Regulatory Analysts 15%
7 sources · 13d ago
ExplainerCivic Reform
How Los Angeles is Rewriting Its City Charter: Ranked-Choice Voting, Council Expansion, and Independent Redistricting
Civic Reformers 50%Incumbent Council Members 30%Good Government Watchdogs 20%
4 sources · 13d ago
Tax PolicyExplainer
Oklahoma Voters Decide Constitutional Amendment on Tax Reimbursement for Local Governments
Legislative Proponents 33%Public Education Advocates 33%Local Government Officials 33%
7 sources · 13d ago
Water RightsPolicy Explainer
Nevada Sues Federal Government Over Colorado River Water Cuts, Challenging New Operating Rules
Lower Basin Municipalities 40%Federal Regulators 40%System-Wide Observers 20%
5 sources · 14d ago