This is a guest post by Michael Gaynor, assistant vice president of field operations for GoRail. As Americans, we see transportation as freedom. Give us a car and the open road, a bustling transit system, or bike lanes for miles. Transportation connects us to people and opportunity—and good infrastructure can make our lives better. This notion

As part of a national effort to ensure students can complete college degrees, certificates, or credentials without basic needs like food, housing and transportation getting in the way, the National League of Cities (NLC) chose seven cities for the Cities Addressing Basic Needs to Promote Postsecondary and Workforce Success initiative generously supported by The Kresge

By Liz Farmer, fiscal policy expert and journalist In the Los Angeles suburb of Bellflower, California, officials are getting the city budget ready for a slowdown by tightening spending and beefing up reserves. For the past five months, the state’s fiscal health index has been trending downward, a shift that Mayor Pro Tem Juan Garza

I have advocated for many years that municipal courts are an untapped leader in developing reforms that can measurably reduce local jail populations. The jails are currently filled with citizens who quite simply would be better served without the use of confinement. In November 2017, NLC selected the City of Birmingham, Alabama as one of

This off-year election day, citizens of Kentucky and Mississippi will choose governors, while in big cities, including Philadelphia, Houston and San Francisco, they’ll select mayors and other local representatives. But as voters head to the polls in a slew of important local races, municipalities must consider the impact of voter roll purges, voter I.D. requirements, and poll shutdowns on residents of color. Voting in

Last week, two bipartisan water infrastructure bills that advance NLC’s Rebuild With Us infrastructure campaign saw action in the House. Together, the bills address the nation’s aging water infrastructure and provide communities with additional flexibility in improving their water systems. On Oct. 28, the House passed the Full Utilization of the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund

Interested in becoming a climate leader like Shawnee? Apply today for NLC’s Leadership in Community Resilience program. Deadline is December 20. Across the country, local leaders are recognizing the benefits of reaching across jurisdictions to address climate issues. While regional collaborations of any kind can be challenging, elected officials and their staff know that social,

NLC is continuing the fight against telecom preemption. We have joined a number of local governments and municipal organizations throughout the country in opposition to recent proposals from the Wireless Industry Association (WIA) and the Communications Technology Industry Association (CTIA). These proposals aim to further limit local oversight of wireless towers and pole attachments. The

Every day cities, towns, and villages across the country face challenges posed by mental illness, substance use disorder and homelessness. An effective response by municipal leaders requires a comprehensive, multi-sector approach. On Wednesday, October 30, the National League of Cities held a briefing on Capitol Hill so that local leaders could tell Congress what they need,

San Antonio has built a thriving city that works for all – and it started with a commitment to its youngest. In November, when city leaders head to San Antonio, Texas for the National League of Cities annual City Summit, the host city is a shining example of local leaders working to build a community