Resilience

Study: Sea level rise threatens 2.4M US homes

UCS found the hardest hit communities will be in Louisiana, Maryland, New Jersey and North Carolina. But they didn't simply offer a doom and gloom report without hope for reversing the negative findings. 

By Katie Pyzyk • June 22, 2018

NewCities Foundation unveils Wellbeing City Award

Indicators include cities' policies on health, safety and the environment, with the first competition's winners to be announced next spring.

By Katie Pyzyk • June 21, 2018

6 local, state governments to receive Government Performance Lab assistance

The pro bono work will use data-driven methods to tackle unemployment, homelessness and child welfare issues.

By Katie Pyzyk • June 18, 2018

Exploring smart cities through the lens of female leaders

Only 19 of the 100 largest U.S. cities are led by female mayors. Panelists at the Women in Smart Cities Forum want that to change.

By Kristin Musulin • June 14, 2018

Panelists: More cities are tackling national, global issues

During the Chicago Forum on Global Cities, leaders navigated the topics of climate change, trade and immigration policies in a sea change from just a few years ago.

By Katie Pyzyk • June 13, 2018

Avoiding solo cities: The benefits of tackling problems as a unified metro region

Collaborating with nearby jurisdictions creates economy of scale and better odds for success, panelists said at the recent Chicago Forum on Global Cities.

By Katie Pyzyk • June 12, 2018

5 strategies for cities to navigate the changing employment space

Technology is both an advantage and detriment to residents, but looking at education differently could help.

By Katie Pyzyk • June 11, 2018

'Cattle-not-pet' system management could have prevented Atlanta's ransomware attack

By managing systems "like cattle, not pets," IT can just eliminate what is threatening the rest of the system or "herd."

By Samantha Ann Schwartz • June 11, 2018

Panelists share what works (and what doesn't) in urban modernization

Leaders from around the world took the stage at the Chicago Forum on Global Cities to discuss how cities become economic powerhouses.

By Katie Pyzyk • June 08, 2018

FTA awards $278M in relief for transit systems damaged by hurricanes

Federal money will go to Puerto Rico, Florida, Texas, Georgia and the U.S. Virgin Islands to help repair networks damaged by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria last year.

By Chris Teale • June 05, 2018

Downtown Boston master zoning plan in the works

The new blueprint will account for the business center becoming more residential, and will tackle establishing consistent building guidelines in the changing area.

By Katie Pyzyk • June 05, 2018

Report: World's highest carbon footprints in Seoul, Guangzhou, NYC

A recent study, which measured the carbon footprints of 13,000 cities, found that 100 cities were responsible for 18% of the world's carbon emissions.

By Jason Plautz • June 05, 2018

Deloitte: When planning a smart city, weigh funding vs. financing

By developing an innovative funding strategy using a hybrid of public funding and private financing options, smart tech projects can be more properly supported.

By Kristin Musulin • June 04, 2018

Boston launches initiative to make city, transit stops more playful

"Playful Boston" will test how spaces and interventions could impact community interactions and civic engagement.

By Jason Plautz • June 04, 2018

Bloomberg Philanthropies launches $70M American Cities Climate Challenge

The announcement comes exactly one year after President Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Paris Agreement, spurring local governments to pursue climate action despite disengagement from the federal government. 

By Kristin Musulin • June 01, 2018

Recent floods overshadow ongoing mitigation projects in Ellicott City, MD

After significant investment following 2016 floods where only 30% of recovery efforts had been completed, the city has once again been devastated by the latest storms. 

By Chris Teale • May 30, 2018

Report: Most large US cities earn high marks for public health policies

The CityHealth initiative explored nine policy areas, including affordable housing, Complete Streets and pre-K, in the 40 largest U.S. cities.

By Chris Teale • May 25, 2018

US Census: Texas is home to some of the nation's fastest-growing cities

Outside of Texas, the top population gains were in Phoenix, Los Angeles, Seattle and Charlotte, NC.

By Jason Plautz

New York MTA unveils subway repair plan on sped-up timeline

The proposal is a serious acceleration of goals laid out in last summer’s $800 million emergency rescue package, which had a 50-year time frame for repair goals.

By Jason Plautz • May 24, 2018

Pittsburgh sets goal of 50% energy reduction in revised climate plan

Behind local leadership and strong public support, the plan also calls for the city to turn its operations to 100% renewable energy and to adopt a 100% fossil fuel-free vehicle fleet. 

By Jason Plautz • May 24, 2018

Bloomberg invests $42M in What Works Cities; decries 'alternative facts'

In the organization's annual report, founder Michael Bloomberg wrote an open letter on philanthropy and said cities are "leading where Washington won't."

By Kristin Musulin • May 24, 2018

UN: 68% of the global population will live in cities by 2050

Of the urban growth, the U.N. projects that 90% will happen in Asia and Africa, particularly India, China and Nigeria. 

By Jason Plautz • May 18, 2018

Siemens: Los Angeles must transform energy, transit systems to hit sustainability goals

The report calls for the city to move to 100% renewable electricity and 45% passenger travel by transit and active transport by 2050.

By Kristin Musulin • May 17, 2018

Atlanta mayor says cyberattack came as 'surprise' to city, residents

Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said her constituents had not viewed cybersecurity as vital until the ransomware impacted their interactions with government.

By Chris Teale • May 11, 2018

Gates Foundation commits $158M to fight US poverty

The funding will support the plethora of groups that already exist to break down barriers to economic opportunity.

By Katie Pyzyk • May 07, 2018