All articles tagged with #local government
Around a third of eligible English councils have asked to postpone May elections as the government reshapes local government into unitary authorities; 21 councils filed delay requests by the Thursday deadline, 34 will proceed, and eight have not yet decided, with ministers expected to rule soon. The reform could shorten terms for some councillors and has sparked cross-party criticism over delaying democracy.
Redditch Borough Council voted to postpone May local elections as part of Worcestershire’s move toward a unitary authority (one or two councils for the county). The decision prompted about 50 protesters and a brief disruption after a councillor called a member of the public a Nazi; police attended but said no crime occurred. The move is intended to save about £192,000 and aligns with government reorganisation plans, with a January 15 delay-request deadline. Labour supported delaying to avoid distraction from the reform, while Conservatives opposed pausing democracy.
San Francisco Supervisor Alan Wong failed to gather the four required signatures to place a ballot measure to reopen the Great Highway to cars on weekdays before the deadline; only Wong, Connie Chan, and Chyanne Chen signed, with other supervisors and insiders criticizing the late, opaque process. The measure would have allowed cars on weekdays and possibly weekends under undefined “exceptional circumstances,” while the park remained pedestrian- and bicycle-focused on weekends. The failure highlights political risk for Wong ahead of a June election and suggests future efforts may need broader, earlier community consultation.
San Antonio began removing the rainbow crosswalk at Main Avenue and Evergreen Street, drilling core samples to preserve the concrete cylinders for the city’s historic archive, as activists criticize the move amid Texas directives; a protest rally is planned for the intersection.
Amid weekend protests sparked by ICE shootings in Portland (and related incidents in Minneapolis), city and state officials vow to slow federal immigration enforcement through new rules, oversight, and local penalties—including potential detention-facility levies and restrictions on warrantless entries—while activists monitor ICE activity and lawmakers plan further legislation; federal authorities deny some allegations and face investigations into use of force.
New York City is planning to introduce a free childcare program for 2-year-olds, announced by Governor Hochul and Mayor Mamdani, with the goal of making childcare more affordable and expanding the existing universal pre-K program across the city over four years.
One year after the devastating Palisades Fire, LA Mayor Karen Bass reflects on the ongoing rebuilding efforts, community grief, and criticism she faces, while emphasizing resilience and accountability in fire management and recovery.
Los Angeles Fire Chief Jaime Moore admitted that the department's after-action report on the Palisades fire was intentionally watered down to protect leadership, with promises to prevent such editing in the future. The report's revisions downplayed failures in firefighting efforts and staffing decisions, raising concerns about transparency and accountability within the LAFD.
The Indiana Department of Transportation has canceled or postponed over 300 road and bridge projects due to funding constraints, including major initiatives like the Mid-States Corridor, while exploring tolling options to generate revenue and reporting success in reducing speeding through enforcement pilots.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has begun his term by signing executive orders to combat junk fees and hidden subscription costs, aiming to protect consumers from deceptive business practices and improve affordability in the city.
Longtime Lincoln County Commissioner Claire Hall, known for her advocacy on homelessness and affordable housing, died suddenly at age 66 amid a contentious recall effort, which is now voided due to her death, marking a significant moment in local politics.
New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani issued Executive Order 08 to combat abusive landlord practices and protect tenants by establishing public hearings across boroughs, enhancing agency cooperation, and prioritizing enforcement of housing laws to ensure safe, fair, and habitable living conditions.
A Bellingham city staffer used ChatGPT to craft biased contract requirements favoring VertexOne over other vendors, raising concerns about AI's role in public procurement bias, prompting an independent investigation into the integrity of the city’s bidding process.
Four Dallas suburbs are considering leaving the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) system due to dissatisfaction with service and funding issues, which could significantly impact regional mobility, especially for low-income and non-driving residents, amid ongoing debates about transit funding, service quality, and regional growth challenges.
Queens Mayor Zohran Mamdani is advocating for expanding free bus service, inspired by the current free Q70 bus to LaGuardia Airport, and is actively engaging with riders to support his plans, while also addressing housing issues through new initiatives.