Galvanizing Local Government Reforms: Part 2

A National Investment in Local Government Oversight and Operations, Part 2

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Galvanizing Local Government Reforms: Part 1

A National Investment in Local Government Collaboration and Resilience, Part 1

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Local Government – Millstone or Catalyst?

The Opening Argument for a New Local Government Model Big Story Local governments, especially cities, could be the catalyst to reviving America’s creativity, energy and entrepreneurial spirit. But, without wholesale structural change, they also could facilitate our decline. America’s 90,000+ local governments vary widely. Some are general-purpose entities, like cities and counties. Some are specialized,…

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Reconstructing Public Safety

Working Together for Law Enforcement Reform This newsletter is the last of our series on police reform. You can read the first three parts below. Part I: “Moving Beyond Slogans and Rhetoric” Part II: “The Brutality of Balkanization” Part III: “Enough is Enough” Part IV: “The Blueprint for Blue Reform”

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The Blueprint for Blue Reform

Legal and Operating Strategies for Police Reform This is the latest in our series on police reform as part of Civic Way’s overall vision for reconstructing American government. If you haven’t already, please read (Enough is Enough) and (The Brutality of Balkanization). The author, Bob Melville, is the founder of Civic Way, a nonprofit dedicated to…

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Enough is Enough

[Inclusive—and Lasting—Police Reform] This is our second commentary on Police Reform in America (see Part I here) and part of our overall series on reconstructing American government. If you’re new to the list, please subscribe to continue receiving emails or share with friends and colleagues. And, as always, please share any feedback or questions in…

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The Brutality of Balkanization

Defining Law Enforcement Problems That We Can Solve This is the sixth of Civic Way’s series on reconstructing American government. The author, Bob Melville, is the founder of Civic Way, a nonprofit dedicated to good government, and a management consultant with over 45 years of experience working with governmental agencies across the US.

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Saving Government for the Next Crisis

Using Federal Aid to Spur the Governmental Reform We Need This is the second of Civic Way’s series on reconstructing American government (you can read Part I here). The author, Bob Melville, is the founder of Civic Way, a nonprofit dedicated to good government, and a management consultant with over 45 years of experience improving governmental…

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The Need for Government Reform

Preparing State and Local Government for the Next Crisis This is the first of a series on reconstructing American government. The author, Bob Melville, is the founder of Civic Way, a nonprofit dedicated to good government, and a management consultant with over 45 years of experience improving governmental agencies across the U.S.

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Our View on the Need for Government Reform

Introduction As Congress debated another Covid-19 stimulus package, Senator McConnell shared his skepticism about government aid, suggesting that we should allow states (especially those with distressed pension funds) to go bankrupt. Looking past its dubious legality (states cannot declare bankruptcy under federal law), unintended irony (Kentucky has a dismal pension funding ratio) and breathtaking cynicism,…

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