In Philadelphia, small non-profits can force payment from area businesses and owners through Business Improvement District regulations.
"In University City, a nonprofit dedicated to picking up litter and conducting safety patrols is tired of relying solely on voluntary contributions to fund its activities. Now, it wants businesses and property owners with at least four units to pay up.
A 2000 amendment to a state law made it easier for community groups to create Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), which are types of Neighborhood Improvement Districts (NIDs) that collect mandatory "assessments" from those who benefit from their services."
Yet is the system "taxation without representation", as some opponents claim?
FULL STORY: Tax Burdened

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
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