The Ferguson Group Blog

Wednesday News Roundup

Every Wednesday, the TFG Blog posts a series of articles published over the previous week that discusses topics of interest to local governments. Learn about emerging trends and keep up on key policy issues by browsing the TFG Wednesday News Roundup! 

Taxes, Stopgap Spending Confront Congress in Lame-Duck Session

When lawmakers return to Washington next week, expired tax breaks and a stopgap spending bill will be first on the docket for consideration. Congress must pass a continuing resolution by December 11 to avoid a federal government shutdown. Read more...

Smart Cities: Understanding the Untapped Value of Sensor Data

This fall, Chicago will install a network of 40 sensors to discover how new data sets can inform decisions that make the city a better place to live. The Array of Things initiative will begin with devices being installed on light poles that cover the city’s central business district. Every 15 seconds, the sensors will collect and report data on temperature, humidity, carbon monoxide, vibration, light and sound.  Read more...

Grey Water Systems Becoming More Popular Due to Drought

Grey water systems that take spent water from showers, bathroom faucets and washers and use it to quench the landscape are seen by some as the next step in sustainability. Southern California is Exhibit A for grey water use. Read more...

How GIS Can Aid in Emergency Management

Susan Cutter, a geography professor at the University of South Carolina, discusses the use of GIS in emergency management and the ‘why of the where’ when working with maps. Read more...

Combating Blight with Carless Development

A hamlet in Long Island is being transformed into a thriving urban center amid suburban settings. The downtown development features amenities seen in dense cityscapes, aiming to pull the neighborhood out of blight and into prosperity with economic development. Developers have acknowledged the projects design is based on the growing trend of carless neighborhoods, which are centered around major transit points for trains and buses. Read more...

Wednesday News Roundup

Every Wednesday, the TFG Blog posts a series of articles published over the previous week that discusses topics of interest to local governments. Learn about emerging trends and keep up on key policy issues by browsing the TFG Wednesday News Roundup! 

Seattle Adopts an Old Way to Pay for New Parks

Seattle is joining cities like Chicago, Washington, D.C., and nearby Tacoma by funding its parks through the creation of a metropolitan park district. The crucial difference between funding parks though a metro park district and the regular way is that the taxes it collects will bypass the general fund and go directly to parks. Park advocates consider this a huge win, but the model has its drawbacks. Read more…

3 States Consider Ways to Maximize Existing Transportation Money

Voters in Louisiana, Maryland, and Wisconsin will all weigh in on proposals that supporters say will make existing transportation resources go further. Louisiana lawmakers want to create a state infrastructure bank. Meanwhile, Maryland and Wisconsin legislators want to seal off transportation money from being used for other purposes. Read more…

Gaming: A New Way to Engage Citizens in Problem-Solving

Sometimes there’s no better way to kill citizen engagement than by actually engaging citizens. Using gaming to increase engagement has been propelled by the Engagement Lab, a research unit house at Boston’s Emerson College that focuses on the development and study of games technology and new media to improve civic interaction. Read more…

USDOT Local Government Safety Plan to Reduce Pedestrian and Bicyclist Accidents

Last month, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced a national road safety improvement campaign to cut down on the increasing number of pedestrian and bicyclist injuries and fatalities across the country. If local governments follow this 18-month strategy, DOT expects traffic crashes to reduce by an average of 29%. Read more…

Next-Gen 911: Two States, Two Approaches to Implementation

Connecticut and Kansas are working to install next-generation 911 telephone systems, which may become necessary for all in an ever-growing wireless mobile society. The next-gen system has the capacity to receive mobile texts and videos to 911 centers, which can then be passed to police and emergency responders before they arrive on location, creating seamless information sharing between 911 centers and response teams. Read more…

Wednesday News Roundup

Every Wednesday, the TFG Blog posts a series of articles published over the previous week that discusses topics of interest to local governments. Learn about emerging trends and keep up on key policy issues by browsing the TFG Wednesday News Roundup! 

2014’s Most Competitive Races

With the 2014 midterm elections less than two weeks away, prognosticators have a clear picture of which races will be the ones to watch. Politico’s Election Central can keep you up to date on all the important House, Senate and Governor races. Read more...

 

New Digital Tool Will Help Houston Firefighters Battle Building Blazes

Fire departments in the five-county Houston area have used a federal anti-terrorism grant to develop a digital database of high-risk structure. The database, accessible by tablet, will allow firefighters to access information en route to the scene as opposed to waiting for hardcopy building information that often takes an hour to arrive to an incident. Read more...

 

How New Orleans is Winning a War against Murder

In 2011, New Orleans yet again earned the title “murder capital of the U.S.,” recording more murders than any other city in the country. Just two years later in 2013, the city saw its lowest number of homicides in 30 years. Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s approach to tackling the raging structural and leadership issues created a better, faster, and cheaper way to deal with crime in his city. Read more...

 

Solidifying Sludge - Water Utility Saves with New Centrifuge

A couple years ago, a wastewater treatment plant in Kenosha Wisconsin made the decision to add a thickening centrifuge (which increases digestion capacity) to its arsenal. The innovative technique saves the utility $420,000 a year while promoting a more environmentally efficient process. Read more...

 

Can Homeless People Move Into Baltimore’s Abandoned Houses?

With a surplus of vacant homes, and a significant homeless population, Baltimore could be one of many cities that use innovative policies to create affordable housing and decrease homelessness. Baltimore has a few programs to deal with both problems, but community organization say there is more to be done, and more to be learned from what other cities are doing.  Read more...

Wednesday News Roundup

Every Wednesday, the TFG Blog posts a series of articles published over the previous week that discusses topics of interest to local governments. Learn about emerging trends and keep up on key policy issues by browsing the TFG Wednesday News Roundup!

Cuts to Child Welfare Force States to Spend Smarter

In the wake of several reports indicating that federal spending on child welfare programs has decreased significantly, some states are piloting programs to develop cost-effective strategies in helping the disadvantaged youth population. New programs are not only focused on creating new program strategies, but also data-driven strategies aimed at saving money and creating efficiencies. Read More…

First Responders Left in the Dark on Public Safety Network

The early stages of the FirstNet public safety network haven’t looked too promising as first responders and emergency managers have been lightly consulted since the beginning. But recent changes in the upper ranks of FirstNet management is hoping to change the trend, putting FirstNet back on the right track. Read More…

Pentagon Warns Climate Change Will Intensify Conflict – Unveils Adaption Roadmap

According to the 2014 Climate Change Adaption Roadmap released by the Pentagon on Monday, climate change has the potential to intensify global instability, disease, poverty and conflict, citing the issue as a serious national security risk. The report outlines the ways armed forces will be affected by climate change domestically and abroad in both the near and long terms. “Politics or ideology must not get in the way of sound planning,” Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel expressed. Read More…

Mayors to Convene in Louisville to Meet on Entrepreneurship

More than three dozen mayors will be in Kentucky this week to discuss entrepreneurship, the “Maker Movement,” and to learn how entrepreneurship is transforming cities, spurring economic growth and innovation. The week-long event aims to create a network of mayors across the country who are champions of entrepreneurship in their cities. Read More…

White House Announces $170 Million Push to Help Long-Term Unemployed

On Wednesday, the White House announced $170 million in grants and partnerships aimed at helping the long-term unemployed get back to work. The funding will go to programs in 20 states, funding apprenticeship programs, career service opportunities with private companies, mental health options, and early education programs, among other resources. Read More…

Wednesday News Roundup

Every Wednesday, the TFG Blog posts a series of articles published over the previous week that discusses topics of interest to local governments. Learn about emerging trends and keep up on key policy issues by browsing the TFG Wednesday News Roundup!

10 U.S. Supreme Court Cases that Matter for State and Local Governments

The State and Local Legal Center (SLLC) has identified 10 upcoming Supreme Court cases that might affect state and local governments on topics ranging from religious freedom in state prisons to water apportioning agreements between states. Governing gives an overview of each upcoming case, but if you are interested in a more in-depth review of implications for states and localities, SLLC is hosting a free webinar on October 16. Read more…

IRS Warns of Delays if U.S. Congress Fumbles Tax ‘Extenders’

Chairman of Senate Finance and the IRS are warning Congress that severe tax refund delays and inconveniences for millions of taxpayers could result if Congress fails to deal with more than 50 expired tax laws. If Congress does not make a decision on these tax extenders by the end of November, the uncertainty could force the IRS to postpone the opening of the 2015 filing season. Read more…

Kansas Names October Zombie Preparedness Month

Kansas is taking a unique approach to encourage residents to prepare for emergencies. The Kansas Division of Emergency Management and Governor Sam Brownback proclaimed October “Zombie Preparedness Month” to create a more lighthearted and engaging way for Kansans to prepare for typical emergencies like tornadoes, flash floods, earthquakes and winter storms. Read more…

Warren Buffett Says Time is Right to Revamp Corporate Tax Rules

In an interview Monday with Politico, billionaire investor Warren Buffett said that the White House action to curb tax evasion provides a good “time out” for Congress to work on reforming corporate tax rules. Buffet, who is critical of the tax code for undertaxing the wealthy, also said it is probably easier to reform the corporate tax code separate from the tax code for individuals. Buffet’s sentiments are similar to those of White House Economic Advisor Jeffrey Zients, who said last week he is optimistic for corporate tax reform this year, but individual tax reform is politically more difficult. Read more…

Cuomo Proposes NY Create Own Ex-Im Bank

Tuesday, New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) outlined a proposal to create the first state-run Export-Import Bank, modeled after the one run by the federal government. Cuomo says the Bank would help New York businesses sell their products in foreign markets and motivate companies abroad to move to New York. The Governor’s proposal comes as conservative voices push to end the federal Export-Import Bank, saying it provides unfair subsidies at the taxpayers’ expense. Read more…

Wednesday News Roundup

Every Wednesday, the TFG Blog posts a series of articles published over the previous week that discusses topics of interest to local governments. Learn about emerging trends and keep up on key policy issues by browsing the TFG Wednesday News Roundup!

With Millions to Give, Foundation Takes Urban-Improvement Ideas from Anyone

The Knight Foundation begins accepting applications for its new Cities Challenge Program today, but unlike most other competitive grant programs, anyone can apply. The Program will give out $15 million in grants over the next three years to fund projects designed to make cities function better. Read more...

The Long-Term Cost of Building Transportation Projects on the Cheap

Factoring in the lifetime cost of new construction is considered good practice in the transportation industry, but surprisingly few government agencies do it. A recent survey conducted by the Governing Institute found that only 59 percent of responding agencies used some form of life cycle analysis. Cheap construction can eventually mean a lot of wasted money. Read more...

Governments Working to Reduce Food Waste

Americans throw away approximately 35 million tons of food a year, which is not just a waste of resources, but results in huge environmental issues when that waste is transferred to landfills. Landfills are the largest producers of the harmful greenhouse gas methane. Instead of sending food waste to landfills, governments are using policy changes and technology to combat the issue. Read more...

Tax Credits for Urban Farmers

States and cities are creating tax incentives to encourage the development of urban farming. Urban farming not only encourages the redevelopment of blighted property, it also promotes community-building, environmental education, and provides an additional source of fresh produce to city dwellers. Read more...

Wednesday News Roundup

Every Wednesday, the TFG Blog posts a series of articles published over the previous week that discusses topics of interest to local governments. Learn about emerging trends and keep up on key policy issues by browsing the TFG Wednesday News Roundup!  

2014 Senate Race Ratings

Politico is keeping readers up-to-date on all things elections this fall. Check out their Senate Race Ratings map and chart to see which way your states’ Senate elections could sway this November. Read More...

A Mayoral U.N.?

It is no secret that local governments are the breeding grounds for policy innovation. The “Global Parliament,” an idea envisioned by a small group of urbanists, would be a global network of cities – similar to a “U.N. for mayors” – where cities could ensure best practices and shared resources. The idea may sound a little far-fetched, but it’s not too far from reality. Read More...  

The Indianapolis Plan for 100% Recycling

Indianapolis is launching a program to bring recycling to all single family homes, increasing the amount of material recycled in the city by up to 500 percent at no additional costs to the city or residents. The city hopes this project will act as a model for sustainability methods to effectively recycle and reduce energy consumption for other cities. Read More...

Austin Turns to Crowdsourcing to Improve Traffic Congestion

Austin, Texas plans to re-time traffic lights on the fly based on data from drivers’ smartphone locations. The technology will track how fast motorists are going, how many motorists are in a certain location and which directions they are traveling so traffic lights can adjust. If you are from Austin, this could be a welcome change; Austinites know how it feels to sit in traffic jams after University of Texas football games. Read More...

Facing Climate Change, Cities Embrace Resilience

Lacking substantial state or federal support, local governments throughout the country are using natural disasters as a way to get their infrastructure, personnel and budgets better prepared for the next. Restructuring cities to be prepared for the increasing effects of climate change has become a top priority. Check out what cities across the country are doing to prepare. Read More...

Wednesday News Roundup

Every Wednesday, the TFG Blog posts a series of articles published over the previous week that discusses topics of interest to local governments. Learn about emerging trends and keep up on key policy issues by browsing the TFG Wednesday News Roundup! 

Connecticut Exchange Leader Named CEO of HealthCare.gov

On Tuesday, the Department of Health and Human Services announced a new CEO for HealthCare.gov. Kevin Counihan, who led one of the country’s most successful Obamacare exchanges, will take over as CEO before the next insurance sign-up season. Read More…

To Prevent Long Power Outages, Communities Look to Microgrids

As severe weather becomes more common, microgrids are gaining popularity as a way to keep the power on at critical facilities during widespread blackouts. Microgrids, which are self-contained systems for generating and distributing power, are especially catching the eye of emergency managers looking to build more resilient and reliable power systems. Read More…

Bold Approach Needed to Tackle City Congestion

New technologies like intelligent software and cloud-based solutions are revolutionizing mobility, ensuring more efficient traffic management in all types of metropolitan areas. Luckily a tight budget doesn’t have to be an obstacle. Self-financing and energy-saving solutions combined with forward-looking parking space and street light management can help the refinancing of traffic infrastructure. Read More…

Charlotte ‘Pay as you Throw’ Hopes to Cut Costs, Increase Recycling

Charlotte, North Carolina – like many other cities – is hoping to cut costs and increase recycling by switching from a flat fee for garbage collection to a new “pay as you throw” fee structure that charges residents on how much garbage they produce. A “pay as you throw” vendor that presented to the city said that the cities using its program have reduced what they send to landfills by an average of 44 percent. Read More…

Mesa Saves $5M Using Volunteers

By creating a community-based volunteer initiative, the city of Mesa, Arizona has saved millions of dollars by having citizens engage in community projects that city-paid workers would have done. Mesa volunteers do everything from run committees, plan city events, clean graffiti, and paint community spaces. Check out how Mesa and other cities are getting their citizens engaged!  Read More…

Wednesday News Roundup

Every Wednesday, the TFG Blog posts a series of articles published over the previous week that discusses topics of interest to local governments. Learn about emerging trends and keep up on key policy issues by browsing the TFG Wednesday News Roundup!

Climate Push Takes Center Stage

Can you put a price on climate change? Well, the White House did. A new White House report concludes that inaction on climate change could cost the American economy $150 billion a year. Read More...

City Pilot Uses Late Water Bills to Help the Poor

While Detroit used unpaid bills to cut off water service to thousands of people, five other cities are using those same outstanding payments to identify and help people in need. These cities are participating in a two-year pilot program, LIFT-UP, that aims to improve payment rates while helping residents achieve economic stability. Read More...

Cities Launch Anti-Poverty Centers

With federal support for social service programs dwindling, cities are looking for new ways to combat poverty. The New York City Center for Economic Opportunity (CEO) model program has inspired other cities to take the initiative in alleviating poverty in their communities. Read More...

FirstNet Begins State Consultations

After years of planning, FirstNet is making progress toward its goal of creating a nationwide first responder communications network by conducting its first in-person state consultation with Maryland on July 29. The meetings will be used to gather information on project specifications in advance of the draft RFP release, which is expected to be released sometime before March 2015. Read More...  

Crowdfunding Matches Residents with Local Projects

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation has launched a crowdfunding and matching grant initiative to help communities statewide fund public space projects. The funding effort is designed to drive local growth projects, which will attract entrepreneurs and businesses to Michigan communities and aid in economic sustainability. Read More...

Wednesday News Roundup

Every Wednesday, the TFG Blog posts a series of articles published over the previous week that discusses topics of interest to local governments. Learn about emerging trends and keep up on key policy issues by browsing the TFG Wednesday News Roundup!

Reid Sets Up Highway Vote

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) announced a deal with Republicans on Wednesday that paves the way for a final vote on a bill to fund federal transportation projects through next spring. The vote could come as early as Thursday. Read More...

House GOP Offers Border Fix Plan

On Wednesday, House Republicans unveiled a dozen policy recommendations to fix the border crisis before time runs out for Congress to agree on a deal before the month-long August recess.  The proposal provides $1.5 billion in emergency funding, which of course, will be offset with spending cuts. Read More...

Finding the Money for Water Infrastructure

As officials contemplate how they will finance water infrastructure improvements against constrained budgets, the newly created Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan program is of particular interest. Modeled after the successful Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan program, WIFIA is expected to fill a huge void in water infrastructure funding that is greatly needed by localities. Read More...

San Jose and Nashville Ask Citizens for Poverty Solutions

San Jose and Nashville are known for their originality and ingenuity, and their innovations are reaching beyond Silicon Valley tech and world-famous recording studios. True to their creative roots, both cities hope to leverage the innovative ideas and talents of their constituencies to solve a major problem that plagues both of their streets: poverty. Read More...

Congress and Biden Aim for Job Training that Actually Leads to Jobs

On Tuesday, President Obama signed the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act into law, streamlining and updating the nation’s outdated job training programs after 11-years of inaction. President Biden has been on the road for months, looking to learn what displaced American workers really need from federal job training programs. Read More...