Governance

How Houston’s Unfunded Pension Liability Went From $0 to $4 Billion in Just 15 Years

There are two big reasons Houston’s pension challenges are growing. To fix the problem, they have to be addressed.

Data-sharing Efforts Aim to Improve Child Welfare, Juvenile Justice Outcomes

"Unless we know the scope of what we’re dealing with," one nonprofit says, "there’s no way to develop solutions to it."

Weekly Roundup: What It Would Mean to Have a Former Mayor As Vice President

Tim Kaine is the kind of guy whose "eyes lit up at the mention of land-use regulations," according to one observer.

Historic Freedmen's Town Houses Could Become City Landmarks

A group of Freedmen's Town homes could be the first public housing units in Houston to get the city's historical designation. The move is part of a growing movement that recognizes the links between housing and preservation.

Houston METRO Chair Shares Five Big Ideas for System's Future

Carrin Patman discusses Houston METRO's plans for an Uptown connection; Hobby airport; and how she plans to coordinate with City Hall.

What the Ashby High-Rise Case Means for the Future of Houston Development

The ruling should help eliminate uncertainty around Houston development and promote more clarity around the city's brand of "zoning lite."

When Black Lives Matter Protesters Take to the Streets, It's Part of a Long History of "Infrastructural Citizenship"

Protesters, in the 1970s and today, turned to the streets to force conversations into the public eye.

Why Is It So Hard to Improve American Policing?

The techniques associated with "democratic policing" reforms are well-known. But they bump up against political and financial realities of the 12,000-plus local police agencies across the U.S.

LA Metro's Innovation Policy: Consider Any Good Idea

The transit agency's newly-created Office of Extraordinary Innovation is tasked with finding the next big thing in transportation.

Cities Are Infected With "Mega-Event Syndrome." One Geographer Says He Has the Cure

Events like the Olympics and World Cup often become headaches for cities and fail to live up to the economic hype. A geographer says cities need to wean themselves off their addition to those spectacles.

The YIMBY Movement Wants More Development, Not Less. But What, Exactly, Does That Mean?

Advocates view increased development as a way of creating more affordable housing in cities.

States and Cities Creating New Leadership Positions as They Rethink Their Approach to Transportation

U.S. cities are embracing new types of transportation leaders.

Feds Anticipate a More Active 2016 Hurricane Season

Hurricane season has been unusually quiet in recent years. That might change in 2016.

What's Your Bold Idea For Public Spaces in Houston?

Recent Houston visitors are sending the city the same message: don't be afraid to think outside the box.

How to Rethink Urban Design in the Wake of Flooding

To prevent devastating floods, experts say, the region may need to adjust the way it grows.