Public Safety
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Trump administration asks Supreme Court to overturn ban on ICE enforcement methods in LA
The move escalates a legal battle over acceptable tactics for immigration enforcement within city boundaries.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Aug. 8, 2025 -
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‘RoboCops’ may be headed to the US
After years of development in Dubai, AI-powered police robots are moving toward deployment in New York and Florida, Micropolis founder says.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Aug. 5, 2025 -
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Community-based safety solutions drive 22.6% drop in homicides since 2020, Democratic mayors say
Cities are reporting historic decreases in violent crime, but mayors warn that recent federal grant cancellations jeopardize the programs that fueled these results.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Aug. 1, 2025 -
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Trump sues NYC over sanctuary policy as mayor, City Council trade blame
The lawsuit revives constitutional questions about federal authority over cities and ignites a new front in tensions over federal immigration policies.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • July 25, 2025 -
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Cities move beyond law enforcement to treat root causes of crime
Concerns about emergency response to suicide, substance abuse and mental health are prompting a more holistic vision of police-community response, a National League of Cities report finds.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • July 24, 2025 -
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ColumnTraffic-related fatalities continue to rise in multiple cities
Are outdated government operations to blame for Vision Zero failures?
By Wes Guckert, PTP • July 22, 2025 -
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Bill seeks to fill federal void on heat protection for public workers
Proposed legislation backed by AFSCME and other major unions could raise the bar for how cities protect municipal workers from rising temperatures.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • July 21, 2025 -
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Deep DiveHow to protect employees from heat and other climate extremes
Clear protocols for identifying heat illness, safety training, paid breaks and access to water and shade are among the steps cities can take to protect workers as temperatures rise.
By Ryan Golden • July 21, 2025 -
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DOJ threatens to subpoena California sheriffs in seeking county jail data
The Los Angeles County sheriff said his department won’t hand over inmate data without a judge-signed warrant, setting up a potential showdown over federal authority, state sovereignty and local law enforcement discretion.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Updated July 18, 2025 -
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Local officials hold the key to life-saving flood and weather warnings
Accurate weather warnings are useless if they don’t reach residents in time. Take these steps to avoid mistakes that may have contributed to the tragedy in Texas.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Updated July 17, 2025 -
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$10B lawsuit targets LA over ‘epic failures’ in Palisades Fire
Class action and amended complaints accuse city and state agencies of negligence, mismanagement and cover-up in the January fire.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • July 16, 2025 -
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5 steps cities can take to prevent a flood tragedy like Kerr County’s
Cities and counties can strengthen their defenses — even on tight budgets — with smarter maps, stronger codes and regional coordination, a flood expert says.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Updated July 16, 2025 -
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Cities see sharp decline in police fatalities
New data shows a 53% drop in officer deaths nationwide, which experts attribute to progress in public safety protocols, firearm awareness, de-escalation tactics and community support strategies.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • July 10, 2025 -
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Legal showdown over immigration enforcement intensifies in LA
Los Angeles and seven other cities have asked a federal judge to block ICE raids, arguing they set a dangerous precedent for unchecked federal power in urban areas.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • July 9, 2025 -
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FBI director calls for local law enforcement vigilance in ‘heightened threat environment’
“There is no better ground-level intelligence than cops,” Kash Patel said, as the Israel-Iran conflict and recent incidents raise concerns about attacks in the U.S.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • June 26, 2025 -
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The pandemic and election disruptions have made local governments a target for cybercrime
Cybercriminals carry out highly targeted and prolonged attacks against local governments that involve advanced tools and techniques to infiltrate networks.
By Michael Keating • June 25, 2025 -
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Why some cities are bucking state sanctuary laws
“Non-sanctuary” resolutions signal growing tension between local control, state policy and federal immigration enforcement. Are these meaningful assertions of self-rule, political theater — or both?
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • June 25, 2025 -
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Mayors demand orderly, targeted immigration enforcement
Federal officials should notify local officials before immigration raids and limit enforcement to serious criminals, a U.S. Conference of Mayors resolution says while condemning recent ICE efforts.
By Michelle Havich • June 24, 2025 -
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As FEMA shrinks, cities face rising burdens — and risks
The backbone of emergency management is under threat, former federal officials say. Small towns may be the first to feel the effects.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Updated June 24, 2025 -
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Mayors address Trump administration actions’ impacts on cities at annual meeting
Editor's note: This article was originally published in American City & County, which has merged with Smart Cities Dive to bring you expanded coverage of city innovation and local government. For the latest in smart city news, explore Smart Cities Dive or sign up for our newsletter.As the 93r...
By Michelle Havich • June 20, 2025 -
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Drone as First Responder program set for takeoff following Trump executive order
Under pressure from the White House, the FAA is streamlining approvals for law enforcement drone programs, enabling rapid deployment in cities nationwide.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • June 12, 2025 -
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Why sanctuary cities say they won’t back down
Maintaining resident trust outweighs federal pressure to participate in immigration enforcement, some city officials say.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • June 10, 2025 -
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US mayors: Keep troops out of our cities
Declaring that “law enforcement is a local responsibility,” a bipartisan coalition of mayors calls for federal troops to leave Los Angeles.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Updated June 11, 2025 -
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Mayors call for action amid rising antisemitism
As attacks targeting Jews and Jewish institutions surge across the U.S., one security expert demands a “coordinated, unapologetic and immediate” response.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Updated June 3, 2025 -
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Trump administration deletes ‘sanctuary city’ list after backlash
The list was taken down after sheriffs, mayors and officials from listed jurisdictions pushed back, but DHS maintains the information remains valid for enforcement purposes.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • June 2, 2025
