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| Public Infrastructure |
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San Francisco's Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) has created a policy to use the expansion of mass transit facilities to promote new housing development. Communities will only receive funding from MTC for new stations if the surrounding areas are zoned for housing. Further, communities that zone for affordable housing will receive additional funds. This initiative is designed to increase ridership on the Bay Area Rapid Transit System, while decreasing the need for public subsidies and car use.
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| Health and Social Services |
Although most consumers comparison shop for everything from houses to haircuts, many are at a loss when pricing health care. To aid them in this endeavor, the South Dakota Department of Health has mandated that area hospitals post the median price of the 25 most commonly performed inpatient procedures on their new hospital pricing web site. Officials predict that the site will encourage competition and transparency, curbing medical expenses for citizens and the government, the largest buyer of health care services. |
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| Environment |
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The U.S. Forest Service is pressing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), into domestic service to spot and monitor wildfires. Tested by the U.S. Geological Service during Mt. St. Helen's last eruption, the UAVs can fly longer and with less fuel than manned aircraft while protecting pilots from any undue risk.
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| Governance |
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Fort Collins and Northglenn, CO, are joining other municipalities across the country in adopting a budgetary process that aims to transform city departments into service providers and city councils and citizens into customers. Performance-based budgeting, unlike traditional line-item budgeting, allocates resources on the basis of qualitative outcomes, such as improved environmental health or educational opportunities. Both cities will implement administrative systems that gather departmental data to monitor these outcomes, giving leaders solid evidence to help them direct limited funds.
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| Economic and Community Development |
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In an effort to help government executives maximize economic competitiveness, environmental quality, and quality of life as they plan and manage their community's growth, former governors Christine Whitman, NJ; Parris Glendening, MD; and Angus King, ME, have joined the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Endowment for the Arts to create the new Governors' Institute on Community Design. Leading practitioners and academics in the fields of design, development, and regional economics will work closely with state leaders to forge cost-effective, tailored growth strategies for their regions.
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| Education and Training |
This summer, Boston area youth have an opportunity to learn more about careers in construction while earning money in the process. An alliance of city agencies, nonprofit organizations, and construction firms have created the Building Careers Partnership, an initiative designed to ensure a skilled workforce in the future for Massachusetts' expanding construction industry. Its first "class" has placed 65 young people in apprentice and administrative positions in some of the leading firms in the city. |
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Apply for the Innovations in American Government Award
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Each year, the Innovations in American Government Awards Program sponsored by the Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation offers $100,000 grants to creative and effective government initiatives. Deadline: September 15, 2005. Learn how to apply. |
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Announcing the Annie E. Casey Innovations Award in Children and Family System Reform
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The Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation is pleased to announce a new collaboration with The Annie E. Casey Foundation to create the new Annie E. Casey Innovations Award in Children and Family System Reform, a program of the Ash Institute and sponsored by The Annie E. Casey Foundation. This new award focuses specifically on public policy innovation in the area of child and family services with a priority and emphasis on systemic reform. Deadline: September 15, 2005. Learn how to apply.
Newsletter produced by: Joe Morgan, Vanessa Ruget, and Brendan St. Amant (researchers and writers); Joellen Secondo (editor). |
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