Public Safety

Overview

Public Safety

Article Features by Rita Soler Ossolinski

Advancing Racial Equity in Local Government

The National League of Cities created the Race, Equity, And Leadership (REAL) initiative to strengthen local leaders’ knowledge and capacity to eliminate racial disparities, heal racial divisions, and build more equitable communities. REAL offers tools and resources designed to help local elected leaders create cities where people from all racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds thrive.

Article President’s Message by Cheryl Viegas Walker

Hope Is Not a Strategy, but It Is a Requirement for Leadership

It’s helpful to remember that leadership isn’t always about remaining stoic and displaying optimism. Allowing yourself to be vulnerable is both human and acceptable, especially in relentlessly difficult circumstances.

Article Local Works by Heather Cousin

Libraries Respond in Crisis and Beyond

Library staff throughout California put on masks and gloves and transformed their work with new processes and procedures and with safety and community service as their top priorities.

Article President’s Message by John F. Dunbar

An Unconventional Year

In circumstances as transformative as a global pandemic and a groundswell of civil unrest, effective leadership requires the ability to adapt.

Article Features by Damien R. Arrula and Aaron France

Regional Partnership: How to Address Homelessness Differently

Twelve cities in northern Orange County collaborated to create a system of regional centers providing safe shelter and supportive services.

Article Features by Jonathan Holtzman

Using Big Data to Reduce Catastrophic Impacts of Wildfire
How Local Government Can Help Shape Solutions

The Moraga-Orinda Fire District and tech partners developed innovative software to help meet residents’ and first responders’ critical needs.

Article Features

Tips on Temporary Use of Public Property for Private Business

What cities should know about accommodating businesses in public spaces.

Article Local Works by Rose Kevranian

Virtual Camps and Librarians Printing Face Shields: Not a Typical Summer for City Services

City libraries and parks and recreation departments have transformed their operations to serve and support their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Article Executive Director's Message by Carolyn Coleman

A New Day: How the League Has Adapted to COVID-19

Despite the challenges of the pandemic, the League remains a strong organization that continues providing the resources cities need to make informed decisions for their communities

Article Features by Stephanie Hunting and Liz Moody

From Vision to Reality: Lessons Learned in Complete Street Implementation

These projects can be challenging, but they improve traffic and support healthy lifestyles.

Article Features by Ken Pulskamp

Is a Virtual Workforce Our New Normal?

After employees get a taste for working remotely, they may not want to return to the way things were before.

Article Features by Curtis Wright

Code Enforcement During a Pandemic: Lessons Learned

Many cities have employed code enforcement staff in unique ways to protect the public and advance pandemic protocols.

Article Local Works by Amanda Cadelago

Cities Harness Creativity as They Develop Safe Reopening Plans

­While different regions and industry sectors opened at various times, the desire to safely reopen businesses and give residents opportunities to carefully move about their communities was a common theme guiding city leaders’ decisions.

Article President’s Message by John F. Dunbar

What COVID-19 Is Teaching Us

As our communities move through the phases of recovery, cities are benefiting from new ways of doing the public’s business and also confronting the challenges associated with COVID-19’s impacts.

Article President’s Message by John F. Dunbar

Building Just and Equitable Communities

The impacts of the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer and the injustices his death exemplifies are being felt on our streets, in our businesses, and in every city and town in California, across the country, and throughout the world.

Article Legal Notes by Nora Wetzel

Cyberattacks and Public Agency Response

Taking proactive steps is the key to preventing or recovering from a cyberattack. Cities should implement preventive measures with an emphasis on best practices.

Article Local Works

California Cities Demonstrate Resiliency and Leadership During COVID-19 Crisis

With “safer at home” orders in effect in an attempt to flatten the curve of COVID-19 spread, cities were on the front lines maintaining essential services and working to protect residents who were out of work or lost their job because of the crisis.

Article President’s Message by John F. Dunbar

In an Unprecedented Crisis, Local and State Leaders Step Up

When early reports of infection showed California was among the states with the highest numbers of confirmed COVID-19 cases, local and state leaders stepped up, taking action to slow the spread of the virus and protect vulnerable populations.

Article Legal Notes by Stephen A. McEwen

Code Enforcement by Drone: Critical Considerations Before Launching

Because not all potential code violations can be investigated from the public right of way, code enforcement investigations may require access to enclosed or shielded areas of private property. In these settings, code enforcement staff may be strongly tempted to rely on emerging drone technology.

Article City Forum by Jill Oviatt

Lessons Learned From Utility-Initiated Power Shutoffs

Since October 2019, the Pacific Gas and Electric Company has cut power to Californians more than half a dozen times, with the smallest power shutoff affecting about 30,000 people and the largest affecting nearly 2.5 million. But cities have made it clear that this cannot be the new normal, and power shutoffs are in fact putting residents at real risk.