Initiatives by Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick have reduced the city’s debt and sparked economic development, but the prognosis for Motor City is still unclear.
Professional Organizations
Watchdog Group Finds New Orleans Unified Plan Lacking
Citing a need for a more practical and concrete recovery strategy for the City of New Orleans, the Bureau of Government Research recommends that the City Planning Commission take control of the planning process.
Glendale, Arizona Scoring Big as New Sports Mecca
New sports venues to accommodate the 2008 Super Bowl and spring training for Major League Baseball teams are expected infuse over $1 billion into the Glendale, Arizona economy over the next couple of years.
Residents Say “Aloha” to Redesigned County Web Site
Progressive leadership and a strong technology team are evidenced by the success of Kauai County’s recent web site redesign. The revamped web site features a new look, along with enhanced content and navigational tools.
Boston Web Site Sports New Look, Enhanced Features
City podcasts, searchable property assessment data, detailed neighborhood information are all just the beginning … Boston’s new web site is packed with great content organized in an intuitive, easy-to-use format.
Oregon Pilots Mileage-Tax Program
Oregon is testing a program that could replace its gas tax with a mileage-based fee system. Funds collected from the program would be used to finance road maintenance in the state.
Portland Mayor Offers Personal Perspective in Blogs
Portland Mayor Tom Potter could be pioneering a new trend in government communication … his blog is an effective way to foster two-way communicate with citizens.
Detroit Mayor Calls for Lower Salaries for City Employees
Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick is asking municipal employees to take a pay cut and contribute more to their health care as part of his plan to reduce the city’s budget deficit. Things continue to get tougher in a city already facing serious financial challenges.
Indiana Toll Road on Verge of Going Private
Indiana is in the final stages of considering the privatization of the Indiana Toll Road. The privatization of public infrastructure is emerging as a trend in many parts of the country.
Two Mississippi Cities Consider Historic Merger
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, two Mississippi cities – Bay St. Louis and Waveland – are considering the consolidation of local government serivces. This merger would be the first in the state, which currently carries a law that prohibits this type of union.