Recessions and violent crime don’t go hand in hand
US cities saw a spike in homicides in 2020, but historical data shows that economic conditions don't offer a simple explanation.
Articles by Jake Blumgart
How does new construction affect nearby housing prices?
New research addresses a question that's incredibly difficult to answer and may hold clues to solving the affordable-housing puzzle.
Does upzoning drive new development?
Recent research finds that upzoned land in Portland, Oregon, produced three times as much new housing as parcels that remained unchanged, but overall development remained low.
How Covid is changing the curb
Cities that made it easier to adapt the space between street and sidewalk have learned lessons that could last well beyond the pandemic.
US cities saw a historic homicide increase in 2020
Homicide rates across 34 large US cities increased by 30% last year. If that holds true nationwide, it will eclipse the previous record for a single-year increase.
Why Montréal is doubling down on public transport
The region's transit agencies were already planning an ambitious expansion before Covid-19. Now infrastructure and service commitments are seen as key to a strong economic recovery.
A US-wide eviction ban could have prevented thousands of Covid deaths
About 1.2 million infections and 164,000 deaths could have been averted in 2020 if the federal government had stopped evictions and utility shut-offs, according to Duke University estimates.
US states need federal assistance regardless of which party they vote for
Republicans are renewing claims that federal aid to states will amount to red states bailing out blue ones. Covid-era budget data shows that's not the case.
A city leaders’ guide to Joe Biden’s policy agenda
From public transportation to affordable housing to infrastructure, the new US president has outlined a wide range of initiatives that will profoundly affect how cities recover from the pandemic – and beyond.
State and local aid will be contested under a Joe Biden presidency, too
As the president-elect's stimulus plans emerge, local leaders shouldn't get too excited for direct, flexible aid to bolster their flagging revenues.
The pandemic doesn’t have to be an existential threat to mass transit
In countries that have committed to supporting public transport, advocates express confidence that systems will continue to provide decent service and adapt to the needs of a post-pandemic world.
What the election of two senators from Georgia means for US cities
The results of Tuesday's run-off races have major implications for the fiscal future of local governments across the country.
38 resultsShow more
