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Archive for Public Sector

Stockton, Vallejo warn Detroit: You ain’t seen nothin’ yet

Stockton, Vallejo warn Detroit: You ain’t seen nothin’ yet

STOCKTON, Calif. – Here in Stockton, the standard postcards show a palm-lined City Center, without revealing that under those palm trees, the homeless sometimes outnumber the homed. They present a charming city-funded marina, without the context [...]

In Vallejo, residents rally to protect themselves

In Vallejo, residents rally to protect themselves

VALLEJO, Calif. – The break-ins and the squatters in her middle-class neighborhood were bad enough. But when prostitutes began offering – and performing – services in front of Ann Smith’s home, she’d had enough. “We were [...]

Best, worst of Michigan communities’ fiscal ratings

Best, worst of Michigan communities’ fiscal ratings

David Hollister knows a bit about how public budgets work. He served as mayor of Lansing for a decade. Before that, he served two decades in the Michigan House, representing Lansing. And he says, “We need [...]

Kalamazoo, Muskegon make tough calls, rise in fiscal ratings

Kalamazoo, Muskegon make tough calls, rise in fiscal ratings

A gritty, blue-collar city on Lake Michigan, Muskegon faces headwinds similar to many Michigan communities: factory closings, job losses, an eroding tax base. But in the past few years, it has managed to turn a dicey [...]

Stressed cities hear little sympathy from State Capitol

Stressed cities hear little sympathy from State Capitol

Michigan cities expecting a helping hand from Lansing as they dig out of years of fiscal turmoil might want to look elsewhere. Republican Gov. Rick Snyder stated as much last month at a Michigan Municipal League [...]

Sewer overflows declining, but heavy rains still push sewage into streams

Sewer overflows declining, but heavy rains still push sewage into streams

Billions of gallons of raw and partially treated sewage are still fouling the state’s rivers, lakes and streams, despite years of work by state and local officials and voter approval in 2002 of $1 billion in [...]