#local-government

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fromwww.mercurynews.com
13 hours ago

Cupertino state of the city: Mayor paints tough challenges and a resilient city

The state of our city is resilient, disciplined and forward looking. We are not without challenges. But we also have remarkable strengths. Fiscal challenges placed tension between what we want to do and what we can afford to do.
Silicon Valley
UK politics
fromwww.aljazeera.com
1 day ago

More than 1,000 UK councillors sign Palestine pledge as local polls loom

Over 1,000 English councillors have signed a pledge supporting Palestinian rights and pressuring local authorities to divest from Israeli weapons manufacturers through the BDS movement.
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 day ago

Calls to move England's home insulation scheme into council workers' hands

Common Wealth cited the example of the Warmer Homes consortium, led by Portsmouth city council, which was allocated 22m among 31 authorities over three years. This breaks down to about 450-650 homes per year, or 15-20 homes per local authority per year.
Environment
#housing
fromIndependent
5 days ago
Miscellaneous

Minister threatens to override councils on land rezoning in bid to speed up delivery of housing

fromIndependent
5 days ago
Miscellaneous

Minister threatens to override councils on land rezoning in bid to speed up delivery of housing

fromIndependent
5 days ago
Miscellaneous

Minister threatens to override councils on land rezoning in bid to speed up delivery of housing

fromIndependent
5 days ago
Miscellaneous

Minister threatens to override councils on land rezoning in bid to speed up delivery of housing

#data-breach
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 week ago

Ohio mayor arrested on voyeurism charges after allegedly sniffing girl's underwear

An incident report from the Richland county sheriff's Office details the accusations against Wesley Dingus, 48, who serves as mayor of Butler. The claims came from a juvenile who had been staying at his residence. According to investigators, the teen had hidden a small camera in a bedroom in the home. On 13 January, she reportedly received multiple motion alerts indicating recordings had been captured.
US politics
Real estate
fromBoston.com
1 week ago

Cape Cod adopts transfer fee on home sales over $1 million

Barnstable County advanced a petition to allow a local real estate transfer fee on home sales over $1 million, potentially raising $60 million for housing.
California
fromThe Oaklandside
1 week ago

Sex trafficking in Oakland: what's changing...on the podcast

New legislation, a mobile clinic, and survivor-led advocacy are transforming Oakland's response to decades-long sex trafficking while community initiatives address immigrant resistance and street safety.
#reform-uk
California
fromwww.mercurynews.com
1 week ago

Milpitas appoints new city attorney

Milpitas City Council unanimously appointed Christian Curtis as the new city attorney, with Curtis set to begin around May 4 and receiving a $340,000 salary.
fromLondon Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com
1 week ago

Labour cabinet MP called a 'b***ard' amid local elections U-turn - London Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com

I can now say what I like about the Secretary of State, I've never met him or spoken to him but I know him to be a two-faced bully who doesn't care about Norfolk, who doesn't care about local government, who doesn't even care about his own Labour councillors.
UK politics
fromwww.mediaite.com
1 week ago

Pro-Trump Mayor Accused of Illegally Voting as a Noncitizen: Did I Do Something Wrong?'

(AP Photo/Matt Rourke) A Kansas mayor who has supported President Donald Trump for years is now facing years behind bars after state prosecutors said he voted as an illegal immigrant. The New York Times ran a feature on Joe Ceballos this week, who is currently facing multiple charges of voter fraud just months after being re-elected mayor of Coldwater, Kansas, which has a population of 687. The 55-year-old Ceballos is now battling three counts of election perjury and three counts of voting without being qualified.
US politics
fromIrish Independent
1 week ago

Families with working children at home could face council rent rises

Currently, the council's system involves 10pc of a household's overall income and a flat fee of €3. An additional 10pc is charged on any income from what are known as "subsidiary earners" - additional people in the household who earn over a certain salary range. It applies to those earning more than the council's social housing income eligibility threshold, which ranges between €40,000 and €47,000 depending on the number of family members.
Real estate
US politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 week ago

ICE-free zones and canceled liquor licenses: US cities fight back against immigration raids

Multiple U.S. cities are creating ICE-free zones and legal strategies to limit ICE access to public spaces and increase accountability for agents.
Public health
fromwww.bbc.com
1 week ago

Health grant of 1.8m misused by council

Barking and Dagenham Council discovered about £1.8m of its public health grant had been used outside the ringfence and must reallocate equivalent funds to health spending.
Chicago
fromFuturism
1 week ago

Large Area of Chicago Bans Delivery Robots After Resident Outcry

Chicago residents and their 1st Ward alderman blocked delivery-robot expansion due to pedestrian safety, accessibility, and data-hoarding concerns.
Portland
fromPortland Mercury
1 week ago

YOUR SUNDAY READING LIST: Celebrating Black Innovation, Secret Valentines, and Dating Corpses

Black innovation in Portland, a discrimination complaint against a council office, cultural events, a beloved bar closure, gossip, and reader Valentines.
California
fromFresnoland
2 weeks ago

Fresnoland's dark money investigation draws big crowd in Fresno

Opaque political spending and weak local rules allowed taxpayer-funded contracts and Facebook ads to be used for campaign purposes, undermining election transparency in Fresno.
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 weeks ago

Bikinis banned on Sydney bus over cleanliness' concerns

In a statement on Friday, the council cited legislation that allows council bus drivers to refuse entry where a passenger's clothing is likely to dirty or damage the vehicle, or cause inconvenience or damage to other passengers or the driver. This can include circumstances where a passenger is wearing wet or sandy clothing that could impact the cleanliness and comfort of the shared transport environment, a spokesperson said.
World news
Privacy technologies
fromSan Jose Spotlight
2 weeks ago

Op-ed: San Jose can protect immigrants by ending Flock surveillance system - San Jose Spotlight

San Jose should end its ALPR program because automated license plate readers enable mass surveillance, jeopardize immigrants and vulnerable populations, and permit unauthorized federal access.
fromwww.bbc.com
2 weeks ago

Scrap proposed England holiday tax, hospitality bosses urge

"Holidays are for relaxing, not taxing," the groups wrote in a letter to Chancellor Rachel Reeves. The businesses say people "would face an extra 100 or more for a two-week holiday" if a tax of 2 per person, per night was introduced. "It could force families to shorten trips, skip travel altogether or head overseas, spending their money elsewhere," they say.
Miscellaneous
California
fromABC7 San Francisco
2 weeks ago

San Leandro council member Bryan Azevedo 1st to plead guilty in Oakland's federal corruption case

Bryan Azevedo pleaded guilty to honest-services wire fraud and lying to the FBI after accepting bribes tied to California Waste Solutions' influence scheme.
East Bay (California)
fromThe Oaklandside
2 weeks ago

Former San Leandro councilmember pleads guilty in corruption case tied to Oakland

Bryan Azevedo resigned and pleaded guilty to accepting a bribe and lying to federal agents while cooperating with a broader corruption investigation.
UK politics
fromwww.bbc.com
2 weeks ago

'Rainham Volcano' landowner says council is hindering his plans

Landowner Jerry O'Donovan faces legal costs and remediation challenges while Havering Council plans a temporary polymer seal to suppress underground fires.
UK politics
fromwww.bbc.com
2 weeks ago

Reform UK deputy county council leader removed

Leicestershire deputy leader Joseph Boam was removed from his deputy and cabinet roles after three months and will move into a different cabinet support role.
US politics
fromwww.sandiegouniontribune.com
2 weeks ago

California politician leaves Republican party over immigration issues

El Cajon Councilmember Gary Kendrick left the Republican Party and registered as a Democrat over concerns about immigration enforcement and the GOP's direction.
#council-tax
fromwww.independent.co.uk
2 weeks ago
UK politics

Reform-led council set for England's largest tax rise despite pledge to cut rates

Worcestershire County Council received government permission to raise its council tax by up to 9% amid a claimed financial emergency.
fromTime Out London
2 months ago
London politics

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.
UK politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 weeks ago

Dining across the divide: Tariffs are the one thing I agree with Donald Trump on'

Cornwall faces high housing costs, low wages, limited opportunities, an aging retiree-driven housing market, and calls for more local control and transport solutions grounded in Cornish identity.
#lgbtq-rights
fromLGBTQ Nation
3 weeks ago
LGBT

"Your time is up!": Out mayor publicly shuts down religious homophobic troll - LGBTQ Nation

Gina Ortiz Jones intervened during City Council public comments to stop a homophobic attack on a gay veteran and called security after hateful remarks.
US politics
fromThe Mercury News
3 weeks ago

Los Gatos approves entertainment zones for Super Bowl

Los Gatos approved downtown entertainment zones allowing public alcohol consumption during special events, prompting resident concerns about ICE cooperation and public-safety oversight.
UK politics
fromwww.independent.co.uk
3 weeks ago

Reform council's cost-cutting chief resigns after suggesting authority made no cuts'

A Reform UK councillor resigned after suggesting Kent County Council had not made promised savings and had not cut frontline services beyond prior Conservative plans.
fromwww.mercurynews.com
3 weeks ago

Letters: Fight over gate raises questions of government service

The current issue is whether Fremont controls the road that the Alameda County Board of Supervisors ceded to Christopher George, who has now blocked access with a gate. But it is part of a longer battle that has included the board considering George's request for the land after his company donated $10,000 to Supervisor David Haubert's campaign. The board granted his request ostensibly to save maintenance costs, but at the expense of constituents who have used that section of road recreationally for decades.
US politics
UK news
fromComputerWeekly.com
3 weeks ago

Birmingham Oracle project: Data cleansing and resourcing issues | Computer Weekly

Birmingham City Council's Oracle ERP reimplementation faces major delays, escalating costs, poor data quality, technical and staffing risks, and a measurable chance of project abandonment.
East Bay (California)
fromThe Oaklandside
4 weeks ago

What Minneapolis means for Oakland, plus a devastating downtown fire...on the podcast

Federal immigration actions have led to deaths and community impacts in Minneapolis and Oakland, alongside housing displacement, municipal changes, transit declines, and labor strikes.
US politics
fromLos Angeles Times
4 weeks ago

Trump rails against low-income housing in Pacific Palisades. But officials say no projects are planned

President Trump vowed to block a purported low-income housing project in Pacific Palisades, while local officials say no such project exists.
UK politics
fromwww.bbc.com
4 weeks ago

Council leader resigns after election postponement

Welwyn Hatfield Labour leader Max Holloway will resign next week amid a dispute over postponing local elections during Hertfordshire council reorganisation.
UK politics
fromwww.bbc.com
1 month ago

WhatsApp group councillors breached standards

Six Labour councillors in Greater Manchester breached the code of conduct after offensive WhatsApp messages including racism, sexism, anti-Semitism and death threats were found.
#four-day-week
#cyberattack
fromwww.bbc.com
1 month ago
London politics

Hackers possibly took sensitive data, council says

Hackers likely copied limited sensitive and personal data from a shared Westminster–Kensington & Chelsea council IT system during a November cyberattack.
fromComputerWeekly.com
2 months ago
UK news

'Sensitive' data stolen in Westminster City Council cyber attack | Computer Weekly

Hackers exfiltrated potentially sensitive personal data from Westminster's records by infiltrating a shared IT environment used with Kensington and Chelsea and Hammersmith and Fulham.
Environment
fromwww.standard.co.uk
1 month ago

London council seeks to evict Toby Carvery over felling of ancient oak tree

A centuries-old Whitewebbs Oak in Enfield was partially felled without council consent, prompting demands for apology, reparations and possible eviction of the restaurant operator.
fromIntelligencer
1 month ago

Mamdani Makes Clear He Still Wants to Abolish ICE

I am in support of abolishing ICE, and I'll tell you why. What we see is an entity that has no interest in fulfilling its stated reason to exist. We're seeing a government agency that is supposed to be enforcing some kind of immigration law, but instead what it's doing is terrorizing people - no matter their immigration status, no matter the facts of the law, no matter the facts of the case.
US politics
#first-amendment
fromwww.bbc.com
1 month ago

Jackie Weaver: Councils should have more 'authority'

I think perhaps there is some work to be done in supporting and helping our councils to understand what powers they do have. And how they might use them going forward in this new world - where we are beginning to look quite seriously at proper devolution down to parish council level.
UK politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 month ago

I have lost a friend': Tories in Jenrick's constituency shocked by defection to Reform

For Sam Smith, Thursday began as an ordinary day. The Conservative councillor was preparing for a budget scrutiny meeting at the Reform-led Nottinghamshire county council hall, where he is leader of the opposition, when he received a message from long-time friend Robert Jenrick. The MP's message to the Newark Conservative Association's group chat queried what local pubs they could visit to oppose Labour's hike on business rates.
UK politics
US politics
fromsfist.com
1 month ago

Alameda County Will Consider Establishing ICE-Free Zones,' Potentially Banning ICE From County-Owned Property

Alameda County may designate county-owned properties as ICE-free zones, but legal enforceability of such bans remains untested.
UK politics
fromwww.bbc.com
1 month ago

No action against councillor over 'punch him' text

Kent County Council declined to take action against councillor Peter Osborne over a violent WhatsApp remark, ruling it occurred outside his official duties.
US politics
fromBoston.com
1 month ago

Mass. town votes to allow guns in public buildings

Charlton voters approved exempting municipal buildings from Massachusetts' ban on firearms, permitting legal carry in municipal buildings while schools remain prohibited.
California
fromwww.santacruzsentinel.com
1 month ago

Santa Cruz votes to terminate its contract with Flock Safety

Santa Cruz terminated its contract with Flock Safety over data-access and privacy concerns and asked staff to find alternative automated license-plate reader options.
UK politics
fromwww.bbc.com
1 month ago

Twenty one English councils ask for election delays

About a third of eligible English councils have requested postponement of May elections due to concerns about delivering polls during local government reorganisation.
US politics
fromThe Mercury News
1 month ago

With tensions high, San Jose enacts "ICE-free zones" on city-owned property

San Jose created ICE-free zones on city property, banning use of parking lots, garages and open spaces for immigration enforcement to protect immigrant safety.
California
fromwww.mercurynews.com
1 month ago

Saratoga city manager leaves position to serve in his hometown of Gilroy

Matt Morley is leaving as Saratoga city manager to become Gilroy city administrator to be closer to family and home.
fromIrish Independent
1 month 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
US politics
fromNieman Lab
1 month ago

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

Hamlet curates humorous public-meeting clips to increase civic engagement and reach audiences primarily through TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and an Apple TV app.
UK news
fromwww.bbc.com
1 month 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
1 month 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
1 month 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
1 month 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
1 month 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
US politics
fromPortland Mercury
1 month 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
1 month 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.
UK politics
fromwww.bbc.com
1 month 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
US politics
fromwww.mercurynews.com
1 month 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 month 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 month 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 month 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
1 month 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 months 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 months 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.
US politics
fromSan Jose Spotlight
2 months 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.
Law
fromLos Angeles Times
2 months ago

A Montclair councilman was found liable for sexual harassment. He refuses to resign

Montclair Councilman Ben Lopez was found civilly liable for sexually harassing two male city employees but remains on the City Council and denies wrongdoing.
US politics
fromwww.mercurynews.com
2 months 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
2 months 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
2 months 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
2 months 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
fromLos Angeles Times
2 months 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
2 months 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
2 months 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
2 months 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.
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