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Columbus, Ga., used as model in downtown Prattville's renaissance

Marty Roney

June 08, 2017 |

The Montgomery Advertiser |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Prattville, Alabama

Prattville, Alabama's city-run Historic Redevelopment Authority has emulated the downtown revitalization project successfully implemented by Columbus, Georgia in an effort to reverse the community's issues of vacant industrial sites and a visually blighted downtown region. Through a collaboration with area entrepreneurs, a private real estate company, the Chamber of Commerce, and other departments and members of the local government, the HPRA is transforming the small city. Several local business prepare to open, the old cotton gin mill will open new apartments, and recent community events demonstrate an increasing public interest in a revitalized downtown Prattville.

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Chicago Youth Help Decide Where Public Funds Go

Martín Xavi Macías

May 30, 2017 |

Next City |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Chicago, Illinois

Chicago is asking its citizens, including youth, to help determine how to spend public money. Participatory budgeting involves communities identifying their greatest needs and guiding spending towards solutions.

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The Detroit Success Story Visible From Space

Erick Trickey

May 18, 2017 |

Politico |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Detroit, Michigan

In just three years, Detroit carried out an ambitious $185 million project to re-illuminate the city's 88,000 streetlights, half of which were dark, with new energy-efficient LED lights. Through its new Public Lighting Authority, the city used an innovative funding scheme to pay for the lights even in the midst of municipal bankruptcy. After the lights went up, residents felt safer, and businesses felt a noticeable bump.

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Keeping it cool: Malaysia looks to district energy systems.

Feng Zengkun

May 17, 2017 |

Eco-Business |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Malaysia, Sedenak, Johor

A collaborative effort among the United Nations' District Energy in Cities Initiative, the Malaysian government, and various private partners has raised awareness and facilitated planning in Malaysia's rapidly developing southern state of Johor for a "District Energy System": a single heating and cooling network which decreases energy consumption by converting waste heat from large power stations. Because of this intervention, Iskandar is projected to decrease its energy use by almost 40% -- all while saving money on energy costs, recycling heat energy, and contributing to the nation's goals under the international Paris Accord.

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Participatory Budgeting: The People's Budget

Sophia Paliza-Carre

April 26, 2017 |

WNYC |

Multi-Media |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, North Shore, Staten Island, New York

Participatory budgeting is a way for citizens to directly influence government spending. The idea is taking off in New York with city councils in all five boroughs now putting money into these “people’s budgets.” Citizens propose ideas of how to spend the money, usually one million dollars or more, then vote. Past projects have included creating a teen space, planting trees, and building a community recording studio.

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Can plastic roads help save the planet?

Dougal Shaw

April 25, 2017 |

BBC |

Broadcast TV News |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: Scotland, Lockerbie, Dumfries and Galloway

Even with such increasingly popular trends as reusable grocery bags and biodegradable food containers, 70% of plastic products end up in landfills; but with the help of a local start-up, MacRebur, several townships in Scotland are cutting back on this quantity while simultaneously servicing and improving the quality of their transportation networks.

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You Can Invest Directly Into Building Bike Paths, Better Schools

Oscar Perry Abello

April 25, 2017 |

Next City |

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Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, San Francisco, California

The startup Neighborly is making municipal bonds feel relevant. Rather than investing in a “muni” bond indirectly through a retirement fund, individuals can now directly purchase these bonds and target the money to areas they feel passionate about, whether that is building bike lanes in Vermont or investing in schools in Massachusetts. Neighborly is building renewed interest in the municipal bond market while generating more funding for important infrastructure projects.

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Smart idea: Dump your waste, get paid

Mayank Manohar

April 16, 2017 |

The Times of India |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: India, New Delhi

In order to encourage people to properly dispose of their waste, New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has installed smart vending machines for recyclable waste at Connaught Place and India Gate. In return for making the sustainable waste choice, users receive monetary rewards via e-wallet.

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Oslo Is on Track for a Car-Free Future

Laura Bliss

April 13, 2017 |

Bloomberg CityLab |

Multi-Media |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: Norway, Oslo

In the heart of one of Europe’s fastest growing capitals, cars are rapidly disappearing. To reduce pollution and build a people-first city center, Oslo has promised to ban all cars in downtown by 2019. The multi-pronged effort includes making public transportation services more efficient, building 60 kilometers of new bike lanes, and transforming parking spaces into pedestrian-friendly areas.

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Guess Who's For a Carbon Tax Now

Tina Rosenberg

April 11, 2017 |

The New York Times |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States

In the face of the global climate crisis, conservative politicians and energy leaders in the US are an unlikely source for climate action. Through the promotion of a carbon tax, in which each ton of emissions gets taxed, these leaders are jumpstarting new forms of climate response. While some are hesitant towards both their support and the logistics of the tax, it may appear the best hope for climate action in the current political climate.

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