Wildfire-resistant landscaping is common sense—but not without controversy
California is right to take wildfires seriously—2023 alone saw 7,000 fires and over 300,000 acres burned statewide. But climate resilience...
New Resource: Local Policies to Expand Economic Opportunity
The Better Cities Project, in partnership with True Charity, is proud to announce the release of Local Policies to Expand...
Building digital trust amid uncertainty: a strategic opportunity for local governments
It may seem counterintuitive, but uncertain budgets … present a strategic opening for local agencies to strengthen public trust.
Massachusetts may follow NYC in shifting broker fees to landlords—increasing rents
Landlords in New York City swiftly absorbed broker fee costs into rent—causing a 15 percent uptick in advertised prices and diminutions...
When ‘not in my backyard’ slows housing development
From The Kansas City Star
Outdated building codes hold back housing development
These mandates often make small apartment buildings financially unfeasible, leading developers to build larger, more expensive complexes instead—or nothing at...
How Proposition 13 broke California
A must-read for anyone trying to understand why California, despite its wealth and innovation, remains so deeply challenged when it...
How cities can make manufactured housing safer
Many municipalities restrict manufactured housing, pushing it into high-risk areas. Revisiting zoning codes and strengthening local installation standards could make...
Cities may get more bang for their buck by attracting workers, not companies
Tulsa Remote’s “but-for” rate—58 to 70 percent—means most participants would not have moved without the program. By contrast, business tax...
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