Ann Arbor was featured in 2012 as a “Clean Cities Success Story: Michigan Green Fleets” on the website of MotorWeek magazine. The spotlight explained how, starting in 2004, the city’s Green Fleets Project established a goal of reducing the municipal … Continue reading →
Two web articles caught my eye recently. They’re both new takes on a frustrating theme: municipal bankruptcy and community deterioration. The first focuses on a poster child for municipal bankruptcy: Detroit, Mich. Chapter 9 proceedings for the Motor City’s case … Continue reading →
Social media is a widely used platform among residents all over the country. Increasingly, businesses and nonprofits are adding to the list of big names who have a social media presence, and municipalities are no exception. Fire departments and police … Continue reading →
The time involved in putting together an open house for public works or public safety departments can be daunting, not to mention that there are costs associated with such acts of public awareness and goodwill. Is the effort worth it? … Continue reading →
For a city with a population of 73,002, Southfield has a lot going for it. According to its website, www.cityofsouthfield.com, it is Michigan’s undeniable business center, boasting “… more office space than the central business districts of Cleveland, Cincinnati, Detroit, … Continue reading →
When it comes to retail and fleet fuel services, Speedway LLC (Speedway) already walked among giants. But a significant acquisition means the Ohio-based company can now respond to an even wider market and meet the fuel program needs of many … Continue reading →
Analysts and consumers alike have expressed rationales as to why sprawling shopping malls are fast becoming retail relics. Although they have differing opinions on what precipitated the downward spiral, there is one common reason on which they agree — the … Continue reading →
Flying the flag is a priority for the nation and U.S. states, but at the municipal level the practice is more hit and miss. Dennis Criscuolo, owner and manager of The Flag Center, said he’s seen a slight decrease in … Continue reading →
According to R Street Institute, a public policy think tank that promotes free markets and effective government, “Upstart transportation-for-hire companies like Uber, Lyft and Sidecar have attracted millions of riders, rattled competitors and upended markets with the whirlwind forces of … Continue reading →
Located along the shore of Lake Michigan between Milwaukee and Chicago, Racine, Wis., is a Rust Belt community of 78,000 built on the backs of a diverse immigrant population that moved into the area during the late 19th and early … Continue reading →
Whether by land or by sea — and sometimes by air — law enforcement agencies are on the job protecting the public and upholding the laws. Many cities across the U.S. also have coastal boundaries as well, and to patrol … Continue reading →
