A few things to know this week: January 20th, 2022
How US Infrastructure Plans Shrank In Ambition
This is a thorough article that discusses how the United States' approach to infrastructure has evolved, why the bulk of maintenance obligations today has landed with local municipalities, and why a combined strategy at all levels of government is needed going forward. I look forward to following the author (Jonathan English) and reading more of his work. – Kevin
Struggling Hotel Becomes Housing for People Experiencing Homelessness
I read this article and thought it was very important the role the city had in this development. Although they did not contribute to the financial aspect of the project, the city zoning regulations could have been a big factor that slowed or even canceled the project. The issue that was presented was how the zoning would allow for the hotel to transition into a residential property. The Dover Amendment was a neat tool granted by the state that allowed the nonprofit to bypass a zoning change that could have taken months. The zoning change process might also attract citizens to oppose the project and could have put the entire development in jeopardy. The support of the mayor was key in allowing this empty hotel to turn into permanent housing for those experiencing homelessness. – Karina
Do you enjoy these weekly roundups? (Why wouldn’t you?) You can get them sent straight to your email inbox every Friday, if you’re into that.
Want to learn more about how fiscal analysis can help you make your city stronger financially?
We created a new sister website showcasing how we use math, maps, and money to help cities communicate your resource gap and explore ways to increase tax revenue and improve service efficiency without necessarily raising taxes.
Hey, friends in local government:
Hey, friends who love cities! If you're looking for a place to discuss these topics (and more) with like-minded peers who want to help create a more resilient community, check out our Community Cultivators Network. It's free to join, and we are currently working to build new features for our 2021 relaunch, so stay tuned! We'll arm you with the content, ideas, and support to take small impactful steps to cultivate change.
