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Cities Sic the Taxman on Vacant ‘Ghost Homes'

Liz Enochs

August 20, 2018 |

San Francisco Public Press |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Canada, Vancouver

Vancouver is one city that has shown benefits of a tax on “ghost homes,” or units that sit empty for a certain period of time. The idea is to encourage development and ensure there is ample housing stock for newcomers to the city. San Francisco is considering implementing this system, but it is still in the very early stages of such a shift. However, in Vancouver, the tax has generated millions in taxes which will fund housing initiatives, while decreasing the vacancy rate significantly.

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U.S. Cities Issue IDs to Protect Undocumented Immigrants

Liz Brazile

August 20, 2018 |

Yes! Magazine |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Poughkeepsie, New York

Over 20 U.S. cities have passed municipal I.D. laws, which provide a form of identification to undocumented immigrants. “Municipal IDs are one of the most effective measures that cities can implement to protect and empower undocumented people.” Poughkeepsie, New York, is the latest city to pass such a law, and several others are in the process of doing so.

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A Huge Win for Keeping Water Systems under Public Control

Dharna Noor

August 17, 2018 |

Next City |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Baltimore, Maryland

Voting to approve the prohibition of privatizing the city water system was just the most recent success in Baltimore's history of keeping the water system under public ownership. Through efforts pioneered by the city's various communities coming together, the city itself has turned into a model for others to learn from.

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Climate Change, the Rio Grande and Border Water

Naveena Sadasivam Zoë Schlanger Daniel Wolfe

August 16, 2018 |

Texas Observer |

Multi-Media |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, El Paso, Texas

The Rio Grande River, which provides water to 6 million people and irrigates 2 million acres of farmland, is one of many transnational sources of water imperiled by climate change. Indeed, many states and countries that share water are drawn into conflict over dwindling resources. One relationship between officials in Mexico and the U.S. offers some hope that (with the right coaching) countries can cooperate, even in the face of greater political problems.

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Cities are turning to brand consultants to improve their image — does it work?

Jennifer Guay

August 15, 2018 |

Apolitical |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: Russia, Tatarstan

Building a brand for your city or country can attract tourists, boost investment and lure skilled workers. Done right, it can also encourage community unity by highlighting a common story of identity, says Natasha Grand of the Institute for Identity.

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The Unlikely Activists Who Took On Silicon Valley — and Won

Nick Confessore

August 14, 2018 |

The New York Times Magazine |

Multi-Media |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, California

Alastair Mactaggart, decided he had enough off companies like Facebook and Google, which make trillions of dollars from collecting private data from users. While the U.S. has made attempts to regulate consumer privacy, those efforts were terminated through powerful lobbying. A ballot initiative started by Mactaggart and his team, eventually lead to the most powerful consumer-privacy law in the country.

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The right to disconnect: The new laws banning after-hours work emails

Rich Haridy

August 14, 2018 |

New Atlas |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States

France, Italy, Germany, and now the U.S. are passing “anti-stress” laws, which make it illegal or harder for workers to receive emails after work. Research shows that when employees expect to be contacted after work through email, their levels of anxiety and stress go up. "I think this will lessen a lot of the anxiety that goes with having a job in the city and allow people to draw their own lines about when work ends."

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Boulder now saving more than half of trash from landfill

Shay Castle

August 14, 2018 |

The Denver Post |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Boulder, Colorado

Boulder is often referred to as one of Colorado's most progressive cities, so when the city passed the Universal Zero Waste Ordinance, many local businesses decided to take the policy a step further by eliminating their use of plastics altogether. What started as an effort put forth by local store branches such as PrAna and Lululemon has quickly scaled to a citywide effort eliminate non-compostable or non-recyclable trash output.

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Hungry for change: urban foragers take the law into their own hands

Jenny Cunningham

August 07, 2018 |

The Guardian |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Seattle, Washington

According to one canvassing research project, there are 450 edible plants within Seattle's parks. Similar trends are also found throughout the United States as a whole. Although foraging is typically against the law, a new trend of food forests - areas specifically designated for foraging - is spreading across the U.S., allowing city dwellers to become better acquainted to and nurtured by nature.

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Losing Earth: The Decade We Almost Stopped Climate Change

Nathaniel Rich

August 01, 2018 |

The New York Times Magazine |

Multi-Media |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States

In the late 1970s to late 1980s, activists, scientists, and politicians began to address the climate change crisis. For a decade, they attempted to ask the U.S. to commit to an international agreement to reduce emissions, and they almost succeeded. “In a single decade, they turned a crisis that was studied by no more than several dozen scientists into the subject of Senate hearings, front-page headlines and the largest diplomatic negotiation in world history.”

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