The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) is known for its ceaselessness. Government shutdowns, snowstorms, anthrax, and vacancies haven’t slowed down the High Court. But it has not been spared by this global pandemic. This term, the Supreme Court is expected to issue about 56 opinions—about the same number it issued in 1864—the fourth year of

As the COVID-19 pandemic wreaks havoc among communities across the globe, it is those already living at the margins who will see the deadliest consequences. For individuals who are housing insecure or experiencing homelessness, stay-at-home and shelter-in-place orders can be difficult, if not impossible, to comply with, introducing further uncertainty and fear into their lives.   Among the housing insecure and those experiencing homelessness, some populations are particularly vulnerable, now more than ever. These include racial and ethnic minorities, youth and adolescents fleeing

On Tuesday, the Senate passed an interim package to provide $484 billion to small businesses and hospitals. The House is expected to vote on the bill tomorrow. Unfortunately, neither the Coronavirus Community Relief Act nor proposals to use funds from the Coronavirus Relief Fund in the CARES Act to offset lost local revenue were included in this legislation.

As COVID-19 presents daily challenges for city leaders across the United States, there is a growing need to attend to the risk and reality of the virus spread among persons in criminal justice settings. To address this, cities continue to make adjustments that protect residents, promote public safety and encourage reform. A recent NLC meeting of Mayors’ justice policy advisors highlighted examples of the procedural and policy shifts underway in various cities including Indianapolis, Newark and Philadelphia.  Two mayors shared remarks on justice reform, public safety and COVID-19:  Mayor Ras Baraka,

As local leaders respond to this COVID-19 pandemic, government decision-makers and decision-making processes will be tested in unprecedented ways. Now, more than ever, these decisions cannot only consider equity as one piece of many; they must center on equity. Without applying an explicit equity lens to each city’s COVID-19 response, the response is likely to perpetuate or exacerbate existing inequities for people of color, low-income individuals, people with disabilities, the LGBTQIA+ community, and other vulnerable

Government employees nationwide are moving to at-home work locations as social distancing in response to COVID-19 increases. The ever-present cyber threats that concern governments, however, don’t disappear when employees go home. Public sector staff can follow these top tips to mitigate risk and protect both public and personal networks and information. Understand you are a

On March 18, 2020, Congress enacted the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), providing certain workers up to ten paid sick days and up to twelve weeks of emergency family leave in response to the coronavirus pandemic. On April 1, 2020, the Department of Labor (DOL) issued a final rule implementing the FFCRA. In a lawsuit,

Housing instability plagued many Americans long before the COVID-19 pandemic, but the global health crisis has recently pushed it to the forefront of many policymakers’ minds as more families are urged to shelter in place. With orders to stay-at-home to help curb the spread of the virus, the question of who has a home to stay in, and

Each year, mayors across the country prepare to give a very meaningful speech: The State of the City. This is a time for local leaders to communicate about the health, stability and future of their communities. This year, however, mayors are making dramatic changes due to the impact of COVID-19, including postponing or altogether canceling

Cities have employees in many high-risk positions. Police, firefighters, paramedics, and EMT’s are typical examples. Private and public employers alike are considering additional compensation, or “hazard pay,” for employees working on the frontlines in midst of the COVID-19 crisis. For those cities that implement such a policy, there exists a labyrinth of rules and regulations