#local-government

[ follow ]
fromIrish Independent
7 hours ago

Dublin City Council rejects claim by Simon Harris that many homeless people don't have right to housing in Ireland

At yesterday's monthly council meeting, elected representatives passed a motion calling his assertion "baseless" and accusing him of attempting to "scapegoat and demonise migrants" for the housing crisis. Introducing the motion, Labour councillor Darragh Moriarty said the Tánaiste was conflating the issues of housing, homelessness and immigration, and had presided over a housing crisis for the last decade and a half. "[Simon Harris] has never met a problem that he won't blame on someone else, and now he's pointing the finger at migrants. It's disgraceful," he said.
Miscellaneous
#civic-engagement
fromNieman Lab
8 hours ago
US politics

Highlighting the funniest moments, this startup aims to bring public meetings into the TikTok era

fromNieman Lab
8 hours ago
US politics

Highlighting the funniest moments, this startup aims to bring public meetings into the TikTok era

UK news
fromwww.bbc.com
21 hours ago

London councils see red over new pothole ratings

Three London boroughs were rated red on a new DfT pothole-rating map, prompting councils to contest the methodology and underlying data.
#antisemitism
London politics
fromwww.bbc.com
3 days ago

Council turns down Cage film over Nazi swastikas

Plans to film scenes with swastika-bearing flags at Waltham Forest Town Hall were refused due to inadequate consultation and sensitivity to Nazi iconography.
California
fromwww.mercurynews.com
4 days ago

Brentwood city attorney to take on new role in a different East Bay city

Brentwood City Attorney Katherine Wisinski will leave after nearly eight years to become Pleasanton's assistant city attorney, with a tentative last day of March 7.
fromBusiness Matters
6 days ago

Anthony Galluccio on Law, Leadership, and Lasting Impact

His work is grounded in a rare combination of legal skill , land use law and direct experience in government. Galluccio grew up in Cambridge in a family shaped by public service. His father was a political figure who served as a campaign secretary to John F. Kennedy. When his father died at age 11, responsibility came early. That experience influenced his focus on discipline, consistency, and accountability.
US politics
fromBusiness Insider
5 days ago

Zohran Mamdani's salary puts him among the highest-paid mayors in the US - see the list

Mayoral salaries range widely across the nation, with some in smaller towns earning as little as a couple of thousand dollars a year, to the six-figure salaries that many major city leaders earn. Since mayors' salaries are set at the local level by city councils and local legislatures, there are no centralized reports on what mayors earn across all cities and towns. And a larger city doesn't always mean a bigger payday for its mayor. Some high-earning enclaves with as few as 1,000 residents pay their mayors higher salaries than those in some of the nation's largest cities.
US politics
#data-breach
US politics
fromPortland Mercury
5 days ago

Update: Still No Council President After Full Day of Deliberation and Votes

Portland City Council failed to elect a president after more than seven hours and will reconvene Thursday at 2 pm to continue the leadership selection.
UK news
fromwww.bbc.com
5 days ago

New powers for councils to fine pavement parkers

Councils in England will gain powers to fine motorists who cause unnecessary pavement obstruction later this year without requiring additional traffic signage.
#cyberattack
Information security
fromwww.bbc.com
1 month ago

Cyber attack forces council staff out of offices

A cyber attack forced RBKC staff to work away from council offices; the incident involves NCA and GCHQ and may have compromised personal data.
UK news
fromTechCrunch
1 month ago

Multiple London councils report disruption amid ongoing cyberattack | TechCrunch

Three London councils shut down networks and phone lines and activated emergency plans in response to an ongoing cyberattack while investigations continue.
UK politics
fromwww.bbc.com
5 days ago

How AI is posing a threat to democracy in Yorkshire

AI-enabled misinformation produces convincing fake council posts that spread widely, threaten elections and democracy, and exploit user inattention for profit.
#cyber-attack
London
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 month ago

Londoners told to be vigilant with messages after cyber-attack on council

RBKC confirmed data were copied in a cyber-attack and urged residents to be extra vigilant for suspicious calls, emails or texts while investigations continue.
Information security
fromwww.standard.co.uk
1 month ago

Was your London council among those hit by a cyber attack this week?

Serious cyber intrusion disrupted Kensington and Chelsea council systems, investigations and mitigations are underway amid potential personal data compromise and warnings for staff and residents.
US politics
fromwww.mercurynews.com
1 week ago

Letters: Fix Our Forests Act would improve fire resiliency

Fix Our Forests Act promotes science-driven forest thinning for wildfire resilience; Gwen Regalia's civic leadership honored; Obamacare criticized for rising premiums and insurer gains.
Real estate
fromwww.bbc.com
1 week ago

Councillors query tower plans after window fall

A developer plans three towers behind Britannia Point while facing community opposition and safety concerns after a window pane fell, causing council costs.
fromLGBTQ Nation
1 week ago

A county fired its entire library board for refusing to ban a trans children's book - LGBTQ Nation

Author Kyle Lukoff's 2019 children's book - the first in a series of picture books about the title character - follows a young transgender boy's coming-out journey at school and eventually to his parents. As public radio station WFDD notes, the book is the only one of the nearly 20,000 books in the library's children's collection to so much as mention gender identity.
US politics
California
fromSan Jose Inside
1 week ago

Fligor Jumps to Nearly 2-to-1 Lead over Kumar in First Ballot Count for SC County Assessor

Neysa Fligor led Rishi Kumar by about 52,000 votes, a margin likely insurmountable, effectively securing the Santa Clara County assessor position.
California
fromThe Mercury News
2 weeks ago

Saratoga looks to fill commission seats

Saratoga offers commission vacancies, a water education academy, volunteer invasive-plant removal, and free elementary homework tutoring with specific application and sign-up deadlines.
#progress-pride-flag
fromwww.bbc.com
2 weeks ago

Tributes as UK's first female Asian lord mayor dies

According to her website, Ms Sood came to Leicester from India, where she had been studying for a PhD, in 1970, and completed her studies before becoming a primary school teacher for about 20 years. She became the city's first female Hindu councillor in October 1996, after winning a by-election triggered by her husband Paul's death earlier that year. Twelve years later, in May 2008, she became the UK's and Leicester's first Asian female lord mayor, and said at the time: "This is great news for a great city, especially as a woman who came here to make it her home."
UK politics
UK politics
fromwww.bbc.com
2 weeks ago

Plan to buy flats to house asylum seekers withdrawn

Government and contractor Clearsprings withdrew plans to buy eight Buckhurst Hill flats for migrant accommodation after strong local objections and community safety concerns.
#four-day-week
US politics
fromSan Jose Spotlight
3 weeks ago

Los Gatos' youngest mayor brings new perspective - San Jose Spotlight

Rob Moore, 27, became Los Gatos' youngest mayor, prioritizing housing affordability, youth empowerment, safety, preparedness, environmental stewardship, and small business support.
#sexual-harassment
US politics
fromwww.mercurynews.com
3 weeks ago

Asking Eric: I got yelled at for speaking up about the inept councilman

Residents should review council bylaws, pursue available recall or advocacy options, and engage with officials to address an ineffective councilmember.
fromTruthout
3 weeks ago

North Carolina County Board Dissolves Library Panel Over Refusal to Ban Trans Book

shows a blatant disregard for the expertise of librarians,
LGBT
US politics
fromwww.pressdemocrat.com
3 weeks ago

Santa Rosa councilmember censured for behavior tied to romantic relationship

Dianna MacDonald was formally censured for violating conduct and anti-harassment policies after negative behavior toward city employees related to a personal relationship with a staffer.
fromComputerWeekly.com
3 weeks ago

Freshwave, O2 enhance mobile connectivity for Guildford | Computer Weekly

Under an open access agreement with Surrey County Council, neutral host provider Freshwave is deploying 13 new 4G/5G outdoor small cells for mobile operator O2 in Guildford city centre. Open access agreements allow local authorities to retain control of their street assets while working with different mobile network operators (MNOs) and neutral hosts such as Freshwave. The outdoor small cells comprise compact mobile units, which are roughly the size of a shoebox and are designed to improve coverage in areas with high footfall.
Mobile UX
London politics
fromTime Out London
3 weeks ago

Five London boroughs will hike council tax higher than the rest of the UK in 2026

Five London councils and Windsor & Maidenhead can exceed the usual five percent council tax cap in 2026–27 to offset funding cuts and equalize rates.
fromLos Angeles Times
3 weeks ago

For L.A.'s mayor, a Palisades recovery marked by missteps, reversals and delays

It was supposed to be a speech with a clear message of hope for survivors of the Palisades fire. In her State of the City address in April, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called for a law exempting fire victims from construction permit fees - potentially saving them tens of thousands of dollars as they rebuild their homes. Eight months later, the City Council is still debating how much permit relief the city can afford.
US politics
UK politics
fromwww.bbc.com
3 weeks ago

Council announces new asylum hotel taskforce

West Northamptonshire Council formed a taskforce to strengthen its legal enforcement case against three hotels used to house asylum seekers.
US politics
fromThe Nation
4 weeks ago

The Growing Protests Against Rapacious Data Centers

Residents successfully mobilized to stop a proposed sale of city land for a water- and power-intensive data center, citing community and resource harms.
London politics
fromwww.bbc.com
4 weeks ago

Croydon mayor refuses to apologise over parking row

Mayor refused to apologise after a disabled parking bay was painted around a legally parked car, triggering four penalty notices that were later cancelled.
#cupertino
#reform-uk
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 month ago
UK politics

Reform UK revokes membership of council leader accused of racism

Reform UK revoked Ian Cooper's membership after alleged racist and xenophobic online posts; he is no longer leader of Staffordshire county council.
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 month ago
UK politics

Reform UK claim to have saved 331m at English councils but do the numbers stack up?

Reform UK's claim of 331m savings across ten English councils lacks shared evidence, contains unexplained shortfalls, and includes questionable attributions of savings.
fromwww.independent.co.uk
1 month ago

Councillors pelted with eggs during asylum seekers debate

A group of councillors were violently intimidated and pelted with eggs at a meeting by people wearing balaclavas in the public gallery, MPs have been told. Swale Borough Council in Kent were debating making their area a District of Sanctuary for asylum seekers in the meeting on Wednesday evening. The council also confirmed that their office was also damaged, with toilets and lifts vandalised and deliberate flooding caused water to pour through the ceiling in several areas.
UK politics
fromwww.independent.co.uk
1 month ago

Litter police fined man for spitting out leaf'

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground.
US politics
fromAxios
1 month ago

Democrat Eileen Higgins defeats Trump-backed Miami mayoral candidate

Higgins, who was backed by the Democratic National Committee, is also the first woman to be elected mayor of Miami. Zoom in: Higgins and González both ran on anti-corruption platforms following years of political scandal and dysfunction in city government.
US politics
California
fromwww.mercurynews.com
1 month ago

Letters: Rishi Kumar is best pick for Assessor's Office

Rishi Kumar is a tax reformer and experienced local official advocating efficiency, modernization, and a statewide property-tax exemption for homeowners aged 60 and over.
US politics
fromABC7 San Francisco
1 month ago

Immigrant rights groups protest, demand Marin Co. Sheriff's Office stop cooperating with ICE

Marin County protesters demand the sheriff end cooperation with ICE, withdraw from the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program, and stop publishing booking logs.
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 month ago

Leader of Reform-run council accused of authoritarian' attempt to silence opposition

The letter, seen by the Guardian, demanded Kimberley stop publishing or sharing videos, posts or commentary about the Reform leader and the wider Reform party. It also claimed Kimberley's videos contained content that misrepresents Monk and contributed to her harassment by members of the public. Kimberley denied the claims and told the Guardian there was no legal basis for the demands, adding the letter was written as if someone fed into ChatGPT write me an angry legal letter'.
UK politics
fromwww.standard.co.uk
1 month ago

West London Labour councillor suspended for employing illegal worker in her home

She should've been suspended when the ruling was made in January, it is a serious offence and she should have been suspended pending an investigation. It beggars belief that she was then re-selected for the elections. They knew that she had [a judgement made against her] in January, and in May this year they put her forward for Chair of the Environment and Scrutiny Panel
London politics
US politics
fromThe Mercury News
1 month ago

Former San Leandro Mayor Stephen Cassidy dies

Former San Leandro Mayor Stephen Cassidy, a devoted public servant, died; his leadership advanced education, economic development, civic innovation, broadband infrastructure, and community engagement.
California
fromsfist.com
1 month ago

Sunday Links: Trump Takes MLK Jr. Day Off National Parks' List of Free Days, Adds His Birthday

Foraged mushrooms have caused 21 amatoxin poisonings in California, including one death and at least one liver transplant, residents urged to avoid eating wild fungi.
California
fromwww.mercurynews.com
1 month ago

Assemblymember Ahrens hosting inaugural Holiday Open House

Community events include Assemblymember Patrick Ahrens' Holiday Open House, monthly free food distributions providing about 100 lbs. per family, and winter/spring adult education registration.
fromStreetsblog
1 month ago

Weekend Roundup: Caltrain Bike Advisors, Advocates Reach out to Supervisor Wong... - Streetsblog San Francisco

Caltrain is seeking four Caltrain riders to apply for its Bicycle & Active Transportation Advisory Committee (BATAC), which serves as the primary venue to integrate the interests and perspectives of customers who primarily use active transportation - bicycling, scootering and other related modes of transportation - to access to the Caltrain system into the planning processes. Caltrain needs the following: One representative of a public agency from San Franciso County One public agency representative from San Mateo County
Alternative transportation
Portland
fromPortland Mercury
1 month ago

Good Morning, News: City Afraid of 'Big PR Problem' Over Unspent Funds, Attorney Caught Filing Fake Case Law in AI Briefs, Trump/Hegseth Doing More War Crimes (Spotify CEO Votes With His Dollar)

Former housing director Helmi Hisserich alleges she was blamed for unspent funds, told not to disclose them, and was pushed out after promoting social housing strategies.
fromTechCrunch
1 month ago

New streaming channel launches to give viewers a peek into city council meetings | TechCrunch

Back in 2022, he ran for city council in a small California town. He lost, but the moment forever changed the way he saw the place - and local governments, for that matter. "I was trying to become a better candidate," he recalled to TechCrunch. "I wanted to understand how my city actually worked, what decisions had been made, why, who said what. And I couldn't figure it out. It's a total black box, and almost intentionally opaque."
US politics
fromwww.standard.co.uk
1 month ago

Major London council receives damning report from auditors

Many of the weaknesses which we have reported here in the report are not new. They are long-standing issues that have persisted, some of which over many years. The pace of improvement has not matched in some cases the scale of the challenge facing the authority around a number of these matters. Without urgent and sustained action and clear accountability the council risks remaining in a cycle, in my view, of statutory intervention and limited assurance.
London politics
UK politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 month ago

Nigel Farage urged to sack Reform council leader accused of racism

Reform UK council leader Ian Cooper faces calls to resign over racist social media posts targeting migrants, public figures, and a black British lawyer.
California
fromThe Mercury News
1 month ago

Bay Area mayor accused of not living in the city she governs

Fairfield Mayor Cathrine Moy may face a Quo Warranto challenge over allegations that she does not reside within Fairfield city limits.
fromwww.eastbaytimes.com
1 month ago

Vallejo mayor also a professor at Pleasant Hill's Diablo Valley College

At 39, she divides her time between shaping young minds as an economics professor at the Pleasant Hill campus of Diablo Valley College (DVC) and steering the city of Vallejo toward transparency, accountability and trust. It has been a challenge balancing the dual roles, especially because there is a lot of work to do in Vallejo, said Sorce, who says she wishes she had 40 hours in a day.
Education
US politics
fromwww.mercurynews.com
1 month ago

Pittsburg appoints new mayor, vice mayor

Dionne Adams, a Pittsburg native, was unanimously appointed mayor; Angelica Lopez became vice mayor; Adams prioritizes safety, housing stability, youth opportunities, and responsive city government.
fromwww.mercurynews.com
1 month ago

New Cupertino mayor, vice mayor to be named on Dec. 11

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... The public is invited to the annual election of mayor and vice mayor by the Cupertino City Council, followed by the oath of office, on Thursday, Dec. 11, at Cupertino Community Hall, 10350 Torre Ave. Doors open for the Mayor Initiative Wrap-Up and Reception at 5 p.m., and the ceremony begins at 6 p.m. Refreshments will be provided.
California
Miscellaneous
fromIrish Independent
1 month ago

'I have problems with the Crown' - Galway councillor launches extraordinary criticism of British Ambassador's visit to county

A councillor objected to the British ambassador's Galway visit citing historical occupation; colleagues rebuked him and stressed respect for diplomatic relations.
Public health
fromwww.bbc.com
1 month ago

Council to support workers with endometriosis

Redcar and Cleveland Council became the first endometriosis-friendly local authority in northern England, joining a national employer scheme to support staff with endometriosis.
fromFuturism
1 month ago

Waymo Forced to Halt Overnight Operations As Punishment for Causing Nonstop Ruckus

Waymo might be expanding its autonomous taxi services to northern cities like Minneapolis and Detroit, but back in Santa Monica, the company's strained relationship with local residents has reached a breaking point. According to the Santa Monica Daily Press, the city council has issued a formal demand that Waymo end overnight operations at two charging facilities there. City counselors unanimously approved the measure, which doesn't mention Waymo by name, but instead orders two lots the company uses to charge and dispatch vehicles to cease nighttime operations.
Tech industry
Information security
fromTheregister
1 month ago

Scottish council still reeling from 2023 ransomware attack

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar lacks full cyber resilience two years after a November 2023 ransomware attack, with critical systems and key recommendations still unimplemented.
#cybersecurity
Miscellaneous
fromIrish Independent
1 month ago

Government 'look down' on local authorities, claims Tipperary councillor in stinging attack

National Government looks down on and neglects local authorities, favoring major cities and leaving places like Tipperary unsupported, which makes council work harder.
US politics
fromThe Oaklandside
1 month ago

Feud between Oakland councilmember and city staffer escalates into ethics complaints

Councilmember Ken Houston filed an ethics complaint against Public Works director Josh Rowan amid a dispute over a withdrawn $10.4 million paving contract and alleged false comments.
fromIrish Independent
1 month ago

Government has allocated no dedicated funding to decarbonising zones since their introduction

Under the government's Climate Action Plan 2019, councils were mandated to select an area of their county where methods to reduce carbon emissions are trialled, known as a Decarbonising Zone. These include energy efficiency, biodiversity and other low-carbon initiatives which, if successful, could be rolled out on a wider scale. Designated zones include the Aran Islands in Galway, the Dingle Peninsula in Kerry, and Ballymun and Ringsend/Poolbeg in Dublin.
Environment
London politics
fromwww.standard.co.uk
1 month ago

Hounslow councillor under investigation after Lamborghini seen parked in disabled bays

A Hounslow councillor's Lamborghini was photographed parked in disabled bays at council offices without a visible blue badge, prompting a Labour investigation.
fromwww.bbc.com
1 month ago

Green politician quits party to 'protect free speech'

I've taken this step because I feel that I need to protect free speech.
UK politics
UK politics
fromwww.bbc.com
1 month ago

Future of local democracy out for consultation

The government proposes replacing 15 Essex councils with three to five unitary authorities, with multiple models released for public consultation.
US politics
fromBoston.com
1 month ago

As rent control gains momentum, Wu shows skepticism of blanket statewide cap

Statewide rent control would tie annual rent increases to cost-of-living with a 5% cap; Boston's mayor supports local control rather than a statewide blanket cap.
fromPortland Mercury
1 month ago

Good Morning, News: Taco Bell Saves Thanksgiving, a Potential Snag in Epstein Files Release, and Who Will Be Portland's Next Manager?

Portland is close to selecting a city administrator to replace Michael Jordan, who's served in the role since January and will retire at the end of the year. The city administrator is largely responsible for overseeing the city's budget and daily operations, with the help of a team of deputy city administrators who run the city's bureaus. The top three finalists include former Mayor Ted Wheeler's first chief of staff, and two other candidates from Colorado and Texas.
US news
California
fromThe Mercury News
1 month ago

Pittsburg councilmembers to get a pay bump for first time in 30 years

Pittsburg will raise city council pay from $500 to $1,600 per month, effective Dec. 6, 2026, following the next general election.
fromwww.mercurynews.com
1 month ago

Opinion: San Mateo County shows why we shouldn't be electing sheriffs

A sheriff wields enormous power and position on a local level, yet we elect them in the same political fashion as we do city councilmembers and school boards. But today's sheriffs oversee multimillion-dollar agencies, manage jails and set enforcement priorities that shape entire communities. In theory, this allows informed and nuanced voters to split their ballots, allowing them to vote in the sheriff they feel is best qualified regardless of political affiliation while otherwise voting down the party line.
US politics
SF politics
fromMission Local
1 month ago

Sunset pet store owner tried repeatedly to warn Mayor Lurie on District 4 pick

Mayor Lurie's office failed to act on complaints about former pet store owner Beya Alcaraz despite evidence of severe animal neglect discovered by new owner.
[ Load more ]