California's $15 minimum wage begins this year. Debate on the next increase has already begun.

Advocates say the change is needed to keep up with living costs, but one management-side attorney said municipal governments may struggle to adapt.

By Ryan Golden • Feb. 25, 2022

Philadelphia maps out its first-ever digital equity plan

The five-year plan aims to target the digital divide with certain smart city solutions, including piloting the use of city assets like transportation infrastructure and street furniture to enable new fixed wireless networks.

By Cailin Crowe • Feb. 23, 2022

Small cities seek to compete for historic infrastructure funds

Under new White House guidance, smaller communities, like Mount Vernon, Washington, may have an easier time applying for grant funding.

By Austyn Gaffney • Feb. 17, 2022

Strategies that make universal broadband access a reality are needed

As the federal government readies $65 billion for broadband adoption, local leaders should make thoughtful, culturally-responsive strategies that connect all of our communities, writes the CEO of the Hispanic Heritage Foundation.  

By Antonio Tijerino • Feb. 16, 2022

Sheltered homelessness down 8% amid COVID emergency measures: HUD report

Advocates say the decrease in people experiencing homelessness shows the need for permanent government aid. 

By Jason Plautz • Feb. 15, 2022

Two years out, transportation leaders reflect on pandemic changes

Faced with a drastic loss of riders and revenues in early 2020, transit executives refocused their planning around equity, economics and community engagement, they said in a recent webinar.

By Dan Zukowski • Feb. 15, 2022

Local leaders offer incentives to boost public engagement in city planning

Cities are offering gift cards, checks, food and services to residents to achieve more equitable participation in planning. But true engagement needs to be more than transactional, community organizers say.

By Danielle McLean • Feb. 15, 2022

Replica CEO talks data privacy and lessons learned from Portland Metro project

As the world nears the two-year anniversary of pandemic lockdowns, Nick Bowden discusses how COVID-19 has impacted urban planning and offers advice for city leaders to respond with privacy-friendly data practices. 

By Cailin Crowe • Feb. 14, 2022

To confront gun violence, San Jose, California, tries requiring insurance

The city, which has seen three mass shootings in three years, is one of several localities to try new approaches to prevent gun violence with the help of new funding from the Biden administration. 

By Austyn Gaffney • Feb. 10, 2022

To prevent evictions, cities should take a multifaceted approach, NLC report says

A new National League of Cities report says cities can tailor eviction policies to meet the unique needs of their communities with interventions such as legal and financial assistance, hotlines, and resources.

By Jason Plautz • Feb. 7, 2022

San Francisco mayor proposes loosening landmark surveillance ordinance

The proposal aims to provide law enforcement with real-time access to camera footage in a bid to address increased rates of crime. But privacy experts caution it would result in significant civil liberties consequences. 

By Cailin Crowe • Feb. 4, 2022

NYC mayor reshapes climate approach to put environmental justice at the fore

Climate progress requires "driving resilience, decarbonization, and environmental justice into daily city operations," said the city's newly appointed chief climate officer, a C40 Cities and Sidewalk Labs alum.

By Maria Rachal • Feb. 3, 2022

These local governments are blazing the trail for cryptocurrency adoption

From New York to Williston, North Dakota, some municipalities aim to integrate crypto into their operations, in part to attract tech-savvy businesses. But obstacles like fluctuating regulatory environments stand in the way.

By Karen Kroll • Feb. 2, 2022

Smart Cities Dive 2022 Outlook

In the year ahead, city leaders will continue preparing for the electrification of cars, buses and buildings, while also tackling the complex challenges of crime, growing inequities, labor shortages and extreme weather.

Feb. 2, 2022

Resilience work expands as definition and dollars do, too

The pandemic made it impossible to ignore how connected social and environmental challenges are in cities, while also illuminating the need for partnership within and among local governments, resilience advisers say.

By Maria Rachal • Jan. 31, 2022

In the push for equitable and transparent governance, more cities turn to data

The proportion of cities using data to monitor and analyze progress on key goals has more than doubled in the past six years, a marked difference from almost a decade ago, when the push began for more data-informed decisions.

By Danielle McLean • Jan. 28, 2022

Connected vehicle tech at impasse as NTSB, FCC fight over spectrum issues

Two federal agencies can't agree on data communications spectrum needs for vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communications that experts say will save lives.

By Dan Zukowski • Jan. 28, 2022

8 trends shaping cities in 2022

Cities continue to confront challenges surrounding the pandemic, the climate crisis, rising inequality and public safety this year.

By Cailin Crowe, Danielle McLean, Maria Rachal, Dan Zukowski and Jason Plautz • Jan. 26, 2022

It's been 3 years since Microsoft pledged to tackle Seattle's housing crisis. Here's where the effort stands.

Microsoft unveiled its Affordable Housing Initiative in 2019 to respond to the area housing crunch, which was heightened by tech workers. So far, it's resulted in the creation or preservation of about 9,200 housing units, it says. 

By Jason Plautz • Jan. 26, 2022

DC to provide new mothers with monthly cash payments

Programs like the federal Child Tax Credit and universal basic income pilots have shown the power of direct cash assistance, but the initiatives still face limitations.

By Jason Plautz • Jan. 24, 2022

Philadelphia's smart streetlight pilot aims to emphasize transparency

After learning in part from San Diego's controversial smart streetlight program, Philadelphia's year-long pilot includes a number of measures to protect resident privacy while building trust about how the data will be used.

By Cailin Crowe • Jan. 21, 2022

White House urges states to name infrastructure coordinators

To help smooth the rollout of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, White House Senior Infrastructure Advisor Mitch Landrieu suggested that task forces can help state leaders voice their needs.

By Zachary Phillips • Jan. 19, 2022

San Francisco becomes latest city to reverse course and increase police budget

With the mayor declaring a state of emergency over crime and drug overdose rates, San Francisco is the latest city to backtrack on calls for police budget cuts. What does this retrenchment mean for police reform, public safety?

By Austyn Gaffney • Jan. 19, 2022

Most mayors feel they lack control over homelessness: survey

A majority of U.S. mayors believe they are being held accountable to address homelessness, but only 19% feel they have substantial control over the issue, according to a Menino Survey of Mayors report.

By Cailin Crowe • Jan. 18, 2022

The pitfalls of place-based revitalization in Atlanta, San Diego: reports

Revitalization efforts in disinvested communities can result in two opposing results: They can contribute to gentrification or leave neighborhoods as impoverished as when the initiatives started, the Urban Institute reports.

By Cailin Crowe • Jan. 14, 2022