Dear Columbus, Columbus… America’s Opportunity City… Ohio’s capital… Our home. For my whole life you have been a place that inspires, challenges, and fights. You are a city that is rich in history and poised for a continued vibrant future. As a product of Columbus City Schools, I know the opportunities you provide for all

This Wednesday, I had the opportunity to represent my city, Miami Gardens, before the U.S. House of Representatives’ Subcommittee on Highways & Transit of the Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure. As the Chairman of our Miami-Dade County Transportation Planning Organization, I was asked by my Congresswoman Frederica Wilson to share our experience in fighting congestion

When it comes time to begin the development of your jurisdiction’s annual budget, which song immediately pops into your head: “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” or “Don’t Cry Out Loud”? We suspect that the answer to this question will be the same whether asked of staff or elected officials. For most, the budget

The NLC Community and Economic Development (CED) Committee Fall Policy Meeting was hosted in Gaithersburg, Maryland by CED Chair Laurie-Anne Sayles, Councilmember, Gaithersburg, MD.  Located less than 15 miles from Washington, DC, the city of Gaithersburg is one of Maryland’s largest and fastest growing municipalities, and consistently ranks as one of the five most culturally diverse cities in

The Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) order on cable franchising has been published in the Federal Register, setting an effective date of September 26, 2019. The order will substantially change cable franchises in many communities by allowing providers to deduct the value of many franchise obligations from their cash franchise payments to communities, and by eliminating local

Congress is back in session and local leaders are looking to Washington for action, partnership and progress. For cities, towns and villages, this fall is about empowering our communities and pushing forward “must pass” bills before the federal legislative process slows during the election cycle. Here are five things we hope Congress will accomplish before

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking comments on two separate rulemakings concerning the agency’s authority under the Clean Water Act. Section 401 of the Clean Water Act is a water quality certification program. It states that no federal permit or license can be issued that may result in a discharge into “waters of

As a Cities of Opportunity pilot city, Rancho Cucamonga, California is seeking to enhance its community engagement efforts and formalize its best practices to bring all voices into the decision-making processes. The National League of Cities (NLC) spoke with Erika Lewis-Huntley, management analyst for the City of Rancho Cucamonga, about the city’s goals and efforts

Parks and open space are an ongoing priority in Jersey City, New Jersey. We understand the value that parks bring to a city, its economy and, most importantly, its residents. What we didn’t fully realize was that by integrating park priorities with other key city priorities, such as youth development, stormwater management, and Vision Zero,

This is an excerpt from NLC’s report, “Micromobility in Cities: A History and Policy Overview.” San Francisco has been a pioneer in micromobility, long before the term existed. The city introduced the Bay Area Bike Share pilot in 2013, and expanded the concept (now called “Ford GoBike”) in 2017. This program started with 700 bikes