What state did for Ohio families with tax revenue is not good enough. High quality childhood education benefits children. The state should spend more budget on child care, home visiting, kinship care, and child support administration.

In recent months, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has started a campaign to pass legislation that would give voters the chance to approve a $3 billion environmental bond act. The 'Restore Mother Nature Bond Act' is designed to complement New York's ambitious Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act by providing funds for the Department of Environmental Conservation and others, to support nature-based projects that mitigate flood risks, restore natural habitats and improve storm resiliency. In this column, the authors examine the background to, and purposes of, the nascent Restore Mother Nature Bond Act. In addition to this, they also discuss constitutional challenges and funding issues associated with the act.

Seattle Ordinance 126035 (“Clean Campaigns Acts”) related to campaign finance regulations. The ordinance limits contributions to independent expenditure committees (CB 119730); prohibits contributions by foreign-influenced corporations (CB 119731); and requires greater transparency in political advertising (CB 119732).

The San Diego Chapter of the American Planning Association, in partnership with MIG San Diego, recently launched a new program called SDAPA Better Buzz, a quarterly series designed to inspire creative thinking around integrated planning processes. Rather than relying solely on this mandate, planners might want to consider educating developers with examples and case studies about the myriad ways that artists can participate in the development process. Likewise, outreach and education for the arts community about what role they can play in projects may stimulate a dialogue that can yield great results.

America’s traditional economic development policy has raised important questions about equity, especially for new entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs and small businesses bring economic stability into communities. To encourage economic development brought, it is imperative that the impact on small businesses and entrepreneurs be considered upfront when evaluating new ordinances and regulations. At the same time, public-private partnerships with established community businesses can help finance new ventures, as can establishing revolving community loan funds.

The infrastructure of childhood is important, including the safe places to play. The COVID-19 crisis brings to light this need that is often overlooked. As leaders at all levels of government and civil society consider how to stem the impact of COVID-19 with equity in mind, expanding access to play so that all kids can have an opportunity to live healthy, vibrant childhoods must be a priority. KABOOM! is partnering with BCPSS to do an analysis of playspace condition across the school system, to target investments toward schools with the greatest infrastructure needs.

Green stormwater infrastructure practices produce value beyond stormwater management. Investing in Green Stormwater Infrastructure produces value for communities in the form of specific health benefits, economic benefits, climate benefits, education benefits. Residents win when local infrastructure investments give equal or higher importance to environmental and societal outcomes, rather than solely prioritizing economic outcomes. Municipal leaders can use this guide to inform a holistic, triple-bottom line approach to infrastructure improvements in pursuit of healthy, equitable, and resilient communities.

The Sustainable Development Code offers best practices for community development to build resilient, environmentally conscious, economically secure, and socially equitable communities. Many development codes are decades old and not prepared to confront today’s changes, such as environmental changes like climate change and invasive species, economic changes like the sharing economy and autonomous vehicles, and societal changes like obesity, safety, and inequality. Through a rigorous editorial and interdisciplinary research process with law schools and practitioners from across the country in several disciplines, the SDC provides concrete ways for communities to amend development codes and adapt to changes as they occur. The SDC aims to help all local governments, regardless of size and budget, build more resilient, environmentally conscious, economically secure and socially equitable communities. SDC is comprised of three levels: subchapters, recommendations, and briefs. Here, we've produced an index of the subchapters available at https://sustainablecitycode.org/

This document includes a sample of resolution language along with a list of links to resolutions that have been passed in cities across the country.

This document includes eight tips on how to write an op-ed in addition to a sample op-ed written by Dr. Maha Hilal.