Transparency

10 articles

City hall at dusk with concerned citizens protesting budget cuts and a downward trending budget graph symbolizing reduced funding.
Community

Local government budget cuts will cripple public services without transparency in 2026.

Mayor Wu proposed a 27 percent cut to the FY27 budget for the Mayor's Office of Arts & Culture, leaving programs in limbo despite calls for greater fiscal transparency, according to the Boston Art Rev

Derek Molina·June 27, 2026
A city council chamber with budget documents under a spotlight, symbolizing suppressed citizen visibility and scrutiny in local government.
Community

Local Budget Processes: Rigged, With Suppressed Citizen Scrutiny

Councilors in some local governments are explicitly barred from asking questions during budget presentations that demand background or longer responses, reports Concord Monitor .

Derek Molina·June 16, 2026
A mysterious, locked door on a grand building at dusk, symbolizing the unknown contents of the 6 U report.
Best in City

6 U Report: Why Its Contents Remain Unknown

As Sophie Nguyen, a journalist for City & Local, I often find myself diving deep into reports that shape our community.

Sophie Nguyen·June 8, 2026
Smartphone screen showing Google Maps with a prompt asking if a review was paid for, highlighting new transparency measures.
Business Spotlights

Google Maps Prompts Reviewers to Disclose Paid Reviews

A local restaurant owner recently encountered a new prompt on Google Maps asking if their glowing 5-star review was paid, signaling a significant shift in how online endorsements are policed.

Marco Alvarez·June 5, 2026
A symbolic image of a federal courtroom with a gavel and illuminated legal documents, representing grand jury reform after the Broadview 6 case.
Best in City

U.S. Attorney Reforms Grand Jury Rules After Broadview 6 Case

Charges against the 'Broadview Six' were dismissed after prosecutors failed to disclose critical grand jury transcripts, triggering the 'most substantial and significant changes in decades' to federal

Hannah Pierce·May 28, 2026
The Assurance Group's modern headquarters, symbolizing its national reach and commitment to community impact and transparency in its 2026 operations.
Business Spotlights

The Assurance Group: 2026 presence, community impact transparency

While The Assurance Group proudly serves all fifty states and maintains an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, specific details of its community investments remain largely out of the public spo

Marco Alvarez·May 20, 2026
Tulsa skyline with a prominent, secretive data center in the foreground and concerned citizens in the background, symbolizing the city's data center moratorium and Project Anthem's exemption.
Community

Tulsa Imposes Moratorium on New Data Centers Until 2026

Despite a citywide moratorium on new data center developments in Tulsa, Project Anthem remains exempt.

Derek Molina·May 7, 2026
Frustrated citizens protest outside a city hall building, demanding transparency in local government urban development decisions.
Community

Local governments hide urban development plans from citizens

Anti-data center protests erupted in downtown Kansas City and Independence, Missouri, revealing widespread citizen frustration with urban development decisions made without adequate public input.

Sophie Nguyen·May 6, 2026
Frustrated Geneva residents voice their concerns at a town hall meeting, highlighting a failure in city planning and resident engagement.
Community

City planning failure: Resident voices ignored, despite transparency efforts.

A proposal to reinstate annual winter parking restrictions in Geneva, New York, with overnight bans from 2 a.

Derek Molina·April 23, 2026
Diverse citizens protest outside city hall with signs advocating for transparency and community input in city planning.
Community

Citizen Advocacy Shapes City Planning in 2026

After public and city council concerns mounted, Bloomington Mayor Kerry Thomson ended the city's contract with surveillance company Flock Safety, demonstrating the direct power of citizen advocacy in

Derek Molina·April 20, 2026