Anecdotes about states usurping the power of cities to tax, spend, and regulate abound. But does the sum of these anecdotes add up to a systematic shift away from local governance? A new study attempts to answer this question, reports Eric Jaffe.
In a study to be published in an upcoming issue of Urban Affairs Review, government scholars Ann Bowman of Texas A&M and Richard Kearney of
North Carolina State report on the results of a study they conducted to explore this question with a number a local
and state authorities. According to Jaffe, "they report that cities indeed have experienced a general 'erosion of
authority at the hands of their state governments' over the past
decade, though only a modest one."
"In short, several local actors, particularly city managers, believe
local authorities have lost a modest share power in the past ten years,
and that state mandates have inhibited local policy efforts to some
degree. State legislators, meanwhile, tend to believe the power
distribution hasn't changed too much. Bowman wasn't too surprised at the
results - she'd found a similar trend in work published last year - and if anything she expected state and local positions to be more polarized."
FULL STORY: Are Cities Losing Power to States?
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
Coming Soon to Ohio: The Largest Agrivoltaic Farm in the US
The ambitious 6,000-acre project will combine an 800-watt solar farm with crop and livestock production.
World's Largest Wildlife Overpass In the Works in Los Angeles County
Caltrans will soon close half of the 101 Freeway in order to continue construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing near Agoura Hills in Los Angeles County.
California Grid Runs on 100% Renewable Energy for Over 9 Hours
The state’s energy grid was entirely powered by clean energy for some portion of the day on 37 out of the last 45 days.
New Forecasting Tool Aims to Reduce Heat-Related Deaths
Two federal agencies launched a new, easy-to-use, color-coded heat warning system that combines meteorological and medical risk factors.
AI Traffic Management Comes to Dallas-Fort Worth
Several Texas cities are using an AI-powered platform called NoTraffic to help manage traffic signals to increase safety and improve traffic flow.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.