Urban Edge

Stories, perspectives and insights from the Kinder Institute

Houston's Pensions Can Be Fixed, But as Other Cities Show Us, There's No Silver Bullet

The good news, for Houston, is there are clear steps it can take to manage its pension finances. The bad news? Almost all of them will cause some pain.

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.

Why Houston Renters Aren't Giving Their City High Marks

Houstonians aren't recommending their city to friends and family members. Can the city move the needle?

What the Latest Version of Google Maps Tells Us About Cities

Google's efforts to highlight "areas of interest" reveals much about the development of Houston. It also says something about the way Google portrays urban life.

Q+A: What's Next For the Houston Housing Authority's Fountain View Project

Houston Housing Authority Chairman Lance Gilliam speaks with the Urban Edge about what happens next, now that Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner has blocked a public housing project in the wealthy Briargrove area.

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."

School Closures Tend to Displace Black, Poor Students With Few Positive Outcomes

An analysis of 27 school closures in Houston found that students were rarely transferred to the district's highest-performing schools.

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.

Surveys Indicate Most Houston METRO Riders Happy With Service

But only half of Houston survey respondents say their homes are well-served by transit.