Author: Ethan Johnson
The following is a response to a recent column by Reformer editor J. Patrick Coolican regarding the land use reform debate in Congress. My bingo card didn't list housing and zoning policy, one of the hottest issues in this Congress, but here it is nonetheless. Without question, housing solutions are needed across the state. There's little debate about it. Given this, why was a drastic zoning change effort undertaken with the support of the Housing Reform Coalition? [that] “Bipartisan and broad-based, including labor unions, the influential progressive ecumenical group ISAIAH, and the Chamber of Commerce” – J. Patrick Coolican Comments…
US remains a popular destination for higher education for Indian studentsNew Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) today announced that the Government of India has increased support for students in the United States, providing enhanced guidance and security for Indian and Indian-origin students in response to the recent deaths of some students.The 25-year-old student from Hyderabad, who moved to the US in 2023 to pursue a master's degree at Cleveland State University, was found dead earlier this week. The incident marks another episode in the trend of deaths of Indian and Indian-origin students in the United States.”There have been…
Mahalo for supporting the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Enjoy free stories! People need to understand that businesses need to earn profits in order to pay taxes. Hawaiian Electric needs to make a profit to alleviate the costs of wildfires. If HECO doesn't exist, who will provide the electricity everyone needs? People who don't pay their fair taxes and rely on government support need to wake up. A basic principle of economics is that a government cannot exist without taxes. Additionally, the impact of the coronavirus is yet to be seen as all small business owners used up their savings to survive. Now,…
A bill that would allow local governments to suppress public records for economic development reasons was introduced Thursday in the Louisiana House of Representatives. House Bill 461The bill, sponsored by Rep. Stephen Jackson (D-Shreveport), passed 79-18 and will now be sent to the Senate for consideration. The bill would allow mayors, parish presidents and local government officials to declare records confidential if they believe release would have an “adverse effect” on active business negotiations. It would also allow companies and people negotiating with the government to request confidentiality. The scope of confidentiality will extend to “records of local government expenses…
“The” and “IRS” spell theirs.the government agrees By Tom Purcell • April 12, 2024 1:30am Only wise and resourceful thoughts bring me comfort during tax season. My idea is as follows. “The best way to teach kids about taxes is to eat 30% ice cream.” (Bill Murray) “What is the difference between a taxidermist and a tax collector?” A taxidermist only strips your skin. ” (Mark Twain) “It's fitting that April 14th is Pecan Nut Day, because it's a day to recognize nuts, and April 15th is a day to pay taxes to support nuts.” (Craig)・Ferguson) Billy, that's a great…
Photo by Patrick Hansell of Lafayette This government and law school has a storied history. According to government and law professor Ilan Peleg, Lafayette is home to the only government and law school in the United States. This title is synonymous with Political Science, a more nationally popular program. But why is it different? The Department of Government and Law was named after Fred Morgan Kirby in 1921, when he established the Kirby Professorship in Civil Rights. Albert W. Gendebien. “I think … [Kirby] I wanted to educate potentially future lawyers, future business leaders, and future politicians about both how…
The Cambridge City Council held a special meeting Thursday to finalize city government and term priorities and discuss ways to improve transparency and accountability in the city.Councilors considered specific language for Cambridge's priorities for the next two years, including housing, economic opportunity, transportation, sustainability and government accountability. These priorities will be approved at the next regularly scheduled City Council meeting.Priorities include “making it easier to build more housing of all types,” ensuring economic equity, and working to increase transparency and accountability in urban governance.The City Council will clear a long-standing backlog of council requests, including passing an order implementing a…
On the cusp of a new era in digital governance, America's federal, state, and local IT leaders are taking the helm to guide their organizations through a vast and ever-expanding multicloud maze. This journey, driven by the pursuit of operational excellence, cost efficiency and enhanced service delivery, presents many challenges and opportunities simultaneously. The appeal of multicloud environments for government agencies lies in the promise of unparalleled agility, scalability, and redundancy. In an era of dynamic and challenging digital demands, the ability to leverage multiple cloud platforms and services helps agencies remain adaptable and resilient. However, this digital transformation comes…
The Metro Council plans to seek public comment on the proposal at a special meeting Monday at 5 p.m. inside City Hall. LOUISVILLE, Ky. — As the Metro Council prepares to vote on a set of two Louisville Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) awards, Metro Council Chairman Markus Winkler (D-17th District) says the deal is a step in the right direction. He said it could change the momentum. “I'm excited about the direction we're headed,” Winkler said. “I think it's very important to have executives who are not only well compensated and well cared for, but also held accountable if…
Internal work? Some Georgians fear the foreign agent law could be used to suppress critical voices ahead of parliamentary elections in October, where Georgian Dream seeks a fifth term. There are some too. “The government wants to stay in power and has stepped up its suppression of critical voices, especially after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. I want to see it,” said Lika Zakashvili, a journalist and co-founder of the independent online publication Publica, who was among the protesters this week and last year. If the bill passes, Mr. Zakashvili's media organization, which is supported almost entirely by foreign donations, would…