Local councils lack the means to tackle homelessness, but are often closest to the people at risk. A national plan should recognise and resource the role councils can play in preventing homelessness.
Our elected representatives should simply choose to open their official council meetings with something more inclusive and representative of the whole community.
One-third of local councils have rules to stop pet cats roaming because of their major impacts on wildlife. More councils want to get on board but many are hampered by state laws.
Darebin City Council was the first to declare a climate emergency.
John Englart/Flickr
A national survey shows that, while Australians see the traditional council services as very important, most support local government involvement in a much broader range of issues and activities.
‘Levelling up’ aims to address economic and social imbalances across the UK – but is it working?
Adam Vaughan/EPA-EFE
New Zealand’s largest city is governed by a small, remote body with only a semblance of representative democracy. Given the city’s massive challenges, is that good enough?
The ruin of Detroit, Michigan.
Jacob Boomsma | Shutterstock
Here’s some good environmental news – local governments and local actions have slashed the plastic on our beaches. Incentives, awareness and access are the key.
Street traders continue to be harassed by municipal officials.
GettyImages
Street traders in South Africa play a significant role in the country’s economic and social development and deserve to be protected in terms of the Constitution.
Hackers can disrupt local government services, like this library in Willmar, Texas. The town suffered a cyberattack in August 2019.
AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez
Richard Forno, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
With Russia poised to launch cyberattacks on US targets, many local governments find themselves without the staff or resources to even recognize when they’re under attack.
As one of the UK’s 11 core cities, Nottingham lags behind its European counterparts.
Tom Podmore | Unsplash
If the UK government is serious about levelling up the country, granting its second-tier cities more political and financial independence would be a good place to start.
Despite widespread black poverty caused by unemployment, progress has been made towards the goal of a racially equal society.
Medium-sized towns like Mossel Bay have a key role to play in South Africa’s development.
Photo by Hoberman Collection/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
The important developmental role that intermediate city municipalities can play in creating employment and stimulating growth suggests they should be prioritised.
Soweto residents protest over lack of electricity.
Fani Mahuntsi/Gallo Images via Getty Images
The practice of using electricity revenue surpluses to fund other municipal services is running out of road.
Some political parties, including the Economic Freedom Fighters, want municipal elections postponed because they can’t host campaign rallies.
EFE-EPA/Kim Ludbrook
It’s not convincing to argue that the political parties would not be able to campaign as they have done in the past.
President Biden and Vice President Harris met on Feb. 12, 2021, with governors and mayors to discuss supporting them in the fight against COVID-19.
Pete Marovich-Pool/Getty Images
People can die when the federal government doesn’t work well with state and local governments – the COVID-19 crisis showed that. But the Biden administration has signaled an openness to collaboration.
The carving of the Volta region into two was met with resistance.
Felix Krohn/Flickr
The problem in municipalities is not that the wrong people are being chosen. It is that the wrong people are doing the choosing – not only of candidates but of what they do if elected.