Transparency
13 articles
Local Governments Face 2026 Challenge to Boost Transparency
The Allen Parish Police Jury voted to prohibit police jurors or anyone acting on behalf of the parish from signing non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) related to economic development projects, according
How Do Local Governments Track Public Spending?
In 2021, local governments directly spent $1.
Local governments waste millions on 'budget turkeys,' starving essential services.
Florida TaxWatch identified 621 projects, costing taxpayers $830 million in a single state budget, as 'turkeys'—projects lacking proper scrutiny, according to City & State New York .
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
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 .
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.
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.
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
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
Tulsa Imposes Moratorium on New Data Centers Until 2026
Despite a citywide moratorium on new data center developments in Tulsa, Project Anthem remains exempt.
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.
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.
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