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The Art of the Protest

Tina Rosenberg

November 21, 2016 |

The New York Times |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

With a major political party taking over the presidency, most governorships, Congress, and state legislatures, the minority party can feel powerless. However, there are effective ways to organize protests including using humor, acting locally, and intense planning strategies.

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Canada moves ahead on carbon taxes, leaving the U.S. behind

Peter Fairley

November 21, 2016 |

MIT Technology Review |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Canada

The United States has refused to institute a carbon tax, but Canada has agreed to a carbon tax in all provinces by 2018. The carbon tax has received support across party lines, however, some elections remain to see if the carbon tax favoring candidates are elected.

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How to House Us All: A Tyee Reader

Chris Wood

November 21, 2016 |

The Tyee |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Canada, Ottawa

Throughout Canada, the available housing is insufficient to meet the needs of its residents: many homes are too expensive, unsafe, or unavailable. To address this problem, the Canadian government has sought feedback from citizens in the “Let’s Talk Housing” program. The feedback has shown many excellent models for progress, including tiny homes, partnerships with faith groups, and creative transit use. The Canadian Housing and Renewal Association is also supporting Ottawa in making more affordable housing possible.

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Cash Cards For Syrian Refugees

Sahar Zand

November 20, 2016 |

BBC |

Podcast |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: Lebanon, Beqaa Valley

In a creative twist, Syrian refugees are being given cash cards to spend as they wish rather than being given food boxes or in-kind donations. Agencies and refugees themselves say that it gives them dignity and choice, which are important in the survival process. It was also much more efficient and cheaper to distribute money than buying food. This podcast cites a study done to prove its efficacy, talks to a couple refugee families, and notes that results could vary from country to country.

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How Mysuru became India's ‘cleanest city'

Patralekha Chatterjee

November 17, 2016 |

Citiscope |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: India, Mysuru

Mysuru has become a gleaming example for solutions to India's vaster struggles with solid-waste management, toilet construction, sanitation strategy, public outreach, and other measures. The city uses a decentralized model that leverages a mix of municipal resources, NGO leadership, civil society, and cooperation from proud residents and businesses.

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Cities Closely Watching Chicago's Version of a Fitbit

Tod Newcombe

November 15, 2016 |

Governing |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Chicago, Illinois

Already a model for the 'Smart City Trend', Chicago is now continuing its innovative streak by launching an "urban sensing" project, which will gather, analyze and publicize sensory data on the city’s air quality, traffic flow, and hyperlocal weather conditions. These sensors will not only provide the public with immediate and practical information about traffic, air and weather safety, but also guide city planners’ in designing energy efficient infrastructure.

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How Raton got its groove back

Staci Matlock

November 15, 2016 |

Small Towns Big Change |

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Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Raton, New Mexico

By investing public money, developing a branch of a local community college, and encouraging locals to invest in their own hometown, the small city of Raton, New Mexico has begun to turn their economic hardships around. City officials have looked beyond cyclical extraction businesses like coal mining in order to think about long-term financial success for their community members.

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Rural economies get high on legal cannabis

Leah Todd Lin

November 15, 2016 |

High Country News |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Trinidad, Colorado

Many small towns in Colorado who have previously struggled economically are now benefitting from the legal marijuana industry. The marijuana sales tax is helping towns pay for infrastructure and development efforts. However, local officials are wary of becoming too reliant upon this industry, as it may not be sustainable. For the time being, towns are using their extra tax dollars to build up their communities.

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Can Metro Detroit's municipalities cooperate?

Ellen Vial

November 14, 2016 |

Model D |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Detroit, Michigan

Faced with insufficient revenue to fund key services like fire departments thanks to state laws limiting tax rates, two communities in Southeast Michigan used another state law to form a regional services authority that levies a property tax to fully fund both cities' fire departments. The authority is looking to mentor other communities on how to do this. Similar regional cooperative agreements are in place at a larger scale in Minneapolis/St. Paul and Pittsburgh addressing things like transportation, regional planning and affordable housing.

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As Columbia meal-sharing app stalled, NYU counterpart soared

Rahil Kamath

November 14, 2016 |

Columbia Daily Spectator |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

To address the food insecurity problem among its low-income students, Columbia University launched Swipes, a meal sharing app in which students with a surplus of “meal swipes” could donate them to students in need. But when that app struggled to function and roll out properly, Columbia looked downtown to New York University, where student Jon Chin launched a similarly purposed but more effectively designed app, Share Meals. So far, the app has enabled over a thousand meal donations, and is hoping to work with Columbia to share its code and expand its donor services.

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