Ukiah’s bold housing policy is creating big results
Many cities in California are punching well above their weight to solve the housing affordability crisis. Ukiah (pop. 16,607) recently became one of the first rural cities to receive the state’s “prohousing” designation earlier this month. It is a remarkable accomplishment for a community that was once perceived as resistant to development. As recently as the early 2000s, developers complained about the “arduous” process…
Spend money to save money: How four cities are managing their pension obligations
California’s unfunded pension woes could become worse in the next few years. Last year, the California Public Employees’ Retirement System suffered a 6.1% investment loss in the fiscal year ending on June 30, the first such loss since 2008. Cities will not feel these impacts immediately, but they will almost certainly be felt in the next few years.
Park Social keeps San Diego artists afloat, reconnects residents with parks and each other
When COVID-19 shut down San Diego, it felt like the end of the city’s vibrant arts sector. Venues closed their doors, gigs dried up, wallets tightened, and an existential malaise swept through a community that lived paycheck to paycheck. “Our social, intellectual, and professional lives can be pretty embedded in the rhythm of art exhibitions' openings,” said Allison Wiese.
Emeryville’s Development Bonuses code lays the foundation for increased housing
Like many cities, Emeryville’s housing market is out of balance. The supply does not come close to the demand. Emeryville has roughly 30,000 jobs, but only 12,905 residents. Both are expected to increase in the coming years, especially if the city’s burgeoning research sector continues to grow. Rebalancing that ratio is tricky and will take years to fully realize.
Transformative and desperately needed: The American Rescue Plan Act one year later
In March 2021, cities across the nation breathed a sigh of relief as an economic package that included $65 billion for municipalities finally made its way through Congress and was signed into law. The American Rescue Plan Act provided badly needed direct and flexible funds to cash-strapped cities on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic since March 2020.
Oakland is closing the digital divide through Oak WiFi and education
In Oakland, as is the case for many cities, there is a strong correlation between neighborhoods with poor internet service and those that were “redlined” beginning in the 1930s. The official practice of redlining has been illegal for decades, but the negative effects still remain. For those living in formerly redlined neighborhoods, the digital divide is well documented…
Diversity, equity, and inclusion in the fire service: Seven steps agencies can take
The very things that have made fire departments successful — a strong sense of brotherhood, an emphasis on measurable operational results, and a close living-working environment — are often the very things that make attempts to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) inside fire stations uniquely challenging.
Traffic fatalities across the US rose in 2020 but not in Fremont. What did the city do differently?
In 2015, Fremont’s city council committed to a bold goal: Reduce traffic-related fatalities to zero. Even though the city was already a national leader in traffic safety, this new mindset forced officials to rethink their approach to traffic safety. Known as Vision Zero, Fremont’s traffic safety plan focuses on integrating human error into transportation systems, instead of reducing it.
Fresno gets the spotlight in a national infrastructure event
After years of stalled negotiations, a historic, bipartisan infrastructure agreement advanced out of the U.S. Senate. Last Thursday, five government leaders from across the country joined President Joe Biden for a conversation about the potential impact of the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment…