Author Archive
Daniel C. Vock
Management
Amid campus protests nationwide, DC’s response stands out
The capital city’s police department cleared an encampment at a local university following pressure from House Republicans to be more forceful. But the District’s reluctance to take action sooner underlies lessons officials learned decades ago about the perils of aggressive enforcement.
Management
How local governments can respond to the housing crisis
A new book by Charles Marohn and Daniel Herriges of Strong Towns encourages local officials to promote small-scale developments, even if it means using city financial tools to get them off the ground.
Management
As a critical deadline approaches, the Biden administration issues a flurry of regulations
The new rules cover subjects as varied as marijuana policy, vehicle pollution, civil rights for transgender students, and drinking water safety.
Management
Illinois' child welfare agency goes on a hiring spree
The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services has reduced hiring times for frontline workers from nine months to just a few weeks. Agency leaders hope a bigger staff will help improve the lives of kids it serves.
Infrastructure
E-bikes are a ‘game changer’ for bike shares
Ridership on the systems in cities big and small after the pandemic is stronger than ever, and bike-share operators say the electric devices are a big reason why.
Workforce
Southern governors raise pressure in fights with auto unions
Republican officials want to tell automakers that get big financial incentives for new factories that they have to use secret ballots during unionization efforts.
Infrastructure
States explore new incentives to lower the cost of EVs
Washington state became the latest state to roll out rebates for buying or leasing EVs this week, but other states are offering incentives to knock thousands of dollars off the cost of the vehicles, too.
Management
Justices debate whether cities can make sleeping outside a crime
Cities worry they could have to “surrender” public places if an Oregon city’s anti-camping law is struck down by the Supreme Court, while advocates say the city rules criminalize being homeless.
Management
Justices appear willing to limit bribery law used in corruption cases
The U.S. Supreme Court appeared to be sympathetic to a former Indiana mayor’s argument that the federal bribery statute is vague. A ruling would resolve a disparity in which “gratuities” from outsiders are considered OK in some courts, but not in others.
Finance
Can compromise be reached in two state budget debates?
Taxes and affordable housing are holding up budgets in Virginia and New York. Instead of threats, the governors in each state appear to be trying to find common ground—for now.
Infrastructure
Senate rebukes Biden administration on effort to reduce vehicle pollution
Three Democrats and one independent joined the chamber’s Republicans, arguing the Federal Highway Administration overstepped its authority in requiring states to track greenhouse gas emissions. But the president threatened to veto the measure.
Featured eBooks
Infrastructure
New Houston mayor reverses course on bike, pedestrian improvements
Mayor John Whitmire ordered pedestrian islands removed, froze projects with bike lanes and suggested cyclists stick to “recreational” trails. It’s a big change in direction from his predecessor’s approach.
Management
Oregon rolls back decriminalization of drugs. But is it too soon?
At a time when drug overdoses plague the nation, Oregon will recriminalize hard drugs, walking back a first-in-the nation experiment that critics say the state botched.
Infrastructure
2022 was the ‘worst year ever for bicyclist deaths,’ new data shows
Safety advocates blame the upswing in cyclist deaths on larger, more powerful vehicles that have become more common on American roads in the last decade.
Infrastructure
Biden administration mandates two-person crews on freight trains
The new rules from the Federal Railroad Administration come after nearly a dozen states passed similar requirements in the last decade.
Finance
Pro teams aim to score nicer stadiums—and maybe more—from the public
Sports teams are asking for millions of dollars in public subsidies to build or refurbish their stadiums, and many want to create nearby fan districts to boost their bottom lines too.
Infrastructure
Congestion pricing plan OK’d in New York
The plan would bring in billions of dollars for the city’s aging subway system. But some details of how it will be enforced are unclear.
Infrastructure
Massive ships make protecting bridges a much tougher task
As officials evaluate replacing Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, they must consider the weight and size of increasingly large vessels.
Infrastructure
Rebuilding the collapsed Baltimore bridge will be a ‘FAR bigger challenge’
While recent bridge replacements have been completed in a matter of weeks, this incident will be tougher to recover from and have wider impacts.
Finance