All articles tagged with #local government
San Diego approved a settlement to cut the controversial trash pickup fees and end paid parking in Balboa Park by year-end. The deal reduces the monthly trash fee to $38.75 with a phased rollout and a two-year rollback, avoids a potentially costly ballot measure, and includes an independent audit of trash costs. It lowers near-term city revenue but preserves park access as the council reviews timelines and funding for the changes.
Portland’s City Council spent a marathon budget session negotiating amendments to Mayor Wilson’s plan to close a $160 million gap, with contentious votes over diverting Portland Clean Energy Fund (PCEF) dollars, preserving union jobs, and funding housing, shelters, and parks. Highlights included a unanimous move to establish a city data privacy office; an 8-4 vote to restore Urban Forestry staff; and several high-stakes 6-6 ties on measures to realign funds, pause the core realignment, or fund Albina housing and other shelter projects. Several amendments failed or were withdrawn as councilors grappled with budget reserves ahead of final votes due by June 30, underscoring deep divisions across the chamber.
Oakland City Administrator Jestin Johnson resigns after an investigation confirmed crude, demeaning text messages about female staff; interim city administrator Betsy Lake will take over, following a statement from Mayor Barbara Lee.
The Tampa Bay Rays have reached a tentative funding agreement for a new ballpark, signaling progress on plans to replace their current stadium; final financing details and a construction timeline await final approvals from local and state authorities.
San Diego faces a $118 million budget shortfall for the current year, prompting Mayor Todd Gloria to propose painful cuts to arts and culture, libraries, parks and recreation, while KPBS explains the underpinnings of the city’s finances—general fund, special revenue and enterprise funds—and what a structural deficit means, aided by an interactive budget-balancing game and insights from Independent Budget Analyst Charles Modica on how decisions are evaluated and made for the July 1–June 30 fiscal year.
Residents of Fayetteville, Ga., are furious after a Quality Technology Services data center reportedly drained about 29–30 million gallons of water during a drought, due to two industrial hookups that were billed inconsistently and one installed without notice. The county says a smart-meter upgrade caused a billing lapse, and the company has paid retroactive charges, while officials defend the project and residents call for greater accountability and oversight amid ongoing drought restrictions.
A dispute over San Diego's single-family trash fee heads toward a potential settlement reviewed by the City Council on Monday; if approved, Tuesday's opening statements would be canceled as the parties seek to resolve the case, though the deal's terms remain undisclosed.
The Cohutta Town Council voted to reinstate the Cohutta Police Department after Mayor Ron Shinnick dissolved it, citing municipal charter requirements for 30 days’ notice and a stated reason before terminating an employee. They’re pursuing an emergency ordinance to prevent the mayor from disbanding the department without council action for 30 days, and patrols are to resume with the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office handling calls in the interim. The meeting was tense, with the mayor leaving abruptly as the council moves to stabilize police services.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson joined a coalition of Illinois mayors in Springfield to press lawmakers to raise the Local Government Distributive Fund (LGDF) share of state income tax revenue, arguing a higher cut for locals is needed to fund services and transit. Pritzker’s budget would keep LGDF funding flat or reduce its share, which Johnson says could worsen city budgets; he notes that a 1% increase in LGDF could bring roughly $80 million to Chicago. Johnson also called for a Bears-stadium plan that would keep the team in Chicago at a publicly owned venue, countering Arlington Heights relocation talk, while Senate action on Bears legislation remains uncertain.
Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles has largely stopped attending zoning meetings since 2024, delegating leadership to others while she continues to preside over weekly council sessions; privately, community and council leaders question whether she will finish her fifth term (ending December 2027) amid concerns about health, engagement, and communication in Charlotte’s manager-led government.
Federal investigators executed a court‑authorized search warrant at the Portsmouth office of Virginia Senator Louise Lucas as part of an ongoing corruption investigation; authorities say there is no public-safety threat and details are limited, with Lucas a longtime Democratic leader involved in Virginia politics and redistricting.
San Francisco Board President Rafael Mandelman and Supervisor Connie Chan, along with other city and state officials, were arrested at San Francisco International Airport during a May Day protest against ICE’s presence at airports and for higher wages and fully funded healthcare for airport workers; protesters blocked traffic at the international terminal as unions press for a $30/hour wage increase, with other officials like state Sen. Josh Becker and former Supervisor Jane Kim participating. The action is part of nationwide May Day demonstrations and followed a protest where authorities warned of arrests if traffic wasn’t cleared; officials were later reported to have no injuries as arrests proceeded.
Mayor Mamdani launched the Office of Deed Theft Prevention and appointed Peter White, an attorney with deed theft and foreclosure experience, to lead it. The office will operate within the Department of Finance and collaborate with HPD, the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, and the Commission on Human Rights to catch deed theft early, educate homeowners, and recover lost homes, signaling a broader effort to protect homeowners and preserve wealth with a budget of $500,000 this year and $1 million in subsequent years.
Former Coldwater mayor Joe Ceballos pleaded guilty to three misdemeanor counts for voting without U.S. citizenship; he is a permanent resident with a green card and says the voting was an honest mistake. The charges were downgraded from felony to misdemeanor due to lack of intent, under a plea deal that calls for one year of probation with a six-month jail sentence suspended and a $2,000 fine plus court fees. Immigration officials could pursue removal if felonies were charged, but the defense argues residency should not be affected. Supporters attended court, and Ceballos is viewed locally as a well-liked cattle rancher.
Voters in Festus, Missouri ousted all four incumbent council members after the city approved a $6 billion data center deal, reflecting a growing backlash to hyperscale centers amid concerns about process and transparency. A recall petition and a lawsuit have been filed, and similar moves to restrict data-center projects are spreading to other communities such as Port Washington, Wisconsin.