There are more senior citizens in the U.S. today than ever before. Public services for seniors are rapidly changing and expanding as this diverse population ages. This collection of essays describes key developments in services being provided in cities across the nation. Topics include seniors and the U.S. government; health and wellness; longevity; caregiving; housing and accommodations; Social Security and finance; immigrant, minority and LGBT issues, and life-long learning and technology.

Towns and communities across America once revolved around their downtowns. Here, people shopped, worked, relaxed, and worshipped. Changing needs and developments, however, resulted in their abandonment. Over the past decade, citizens have begun to seek ways to rejuvenate their main streets. While these efforts have experienced varying levels of success, this handbook presents many of the more successful programs, providing practical and proven ""how-to"" insights for those communities seeking similar results for their downtowns. The articles collected here provide an introduction to the downtown situation and its complex issues. They illustrate techniques of organization and management, describe the tools required for successful main street renewal, and provide case studies of many successful programs from across the country. This valuable tool for city planners, business people, and private citizens includes a bibliography and index.

This volume, Cybersecurity for Citizens and Public Officials, has the goal of educating citizens and public officials about cybersecurity national best practices, which are contained in this volume-one of the first of its type in America! The author/editor's hope that this information helps educate citizens, employees, and public officials, and facilitates their interest in the development of modern state-of-the-art computer hardware and software systems in public and private organizations. The goal of this effort is to enhance the lever of services that computers, and their software systems provide to everyone-individuals, citizens in general, as well as the public-at-large. The use of such practices will also hold down the cost of providing services, both public and private ones, to all citizens throughout the nation-both taxpayers that pay for government services, as well as citizens that pay for private services.

The public services and care being provided to our veteran citizens are rapidly changing due to the increasing number of veterans that live in our cities. There are more veteran citizens now living in America than ever before, and the veteran population is becoming ever more diverse. For this reason, cities throughout our nation are expanding their public services in scope and scale, as well as enhancing the quality of existing services. This volume documents these rapid developments in order to help our veteran citizens and supporting communities understand the evolving, dynamic, and innovative services and care that are increasingly available to them.

Across government bodies, from local to federal, legislative responses to mass gun violence in the new millennium have varied greatly. Lack of communication or collaboration between government officials forestalls the implementation of practiced strategy. In an effort to encourage widespread solutions, this collection of resources outlines the state of gun legislation in the 21st century and provides strategies that have been implemented across the U.S. Combining a wide range of perspectives, this book is divided into three parts that each tackle a unique but essential facet of gun legislation in the U.S. The first section features essays from field experts that detail the facts and culture of modern gun ownership. The second section features critical essays that outline the challenges and solutions surrounding guns and public safety. This section also includes, in their entirety, relevant documents from the U.S. Justice Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. Lastly, the third section provides multiple forecasts for the future of gun culture and politics. With the goal of connecting government workers of all ranks, this volume extensively details the many new gun safety regulations that have been enacted across the United States.

Since 2009, at least 177 of America's schools experienced a shooting. A parent should not have to worry when their children are at a public school in their city - whether it be an elementary school, a middle school, a high school, or a college campus. School safety and security are strengthened by prevention, mitigation, and response. The sections in this book educate school boards, school administrators, policymakers, academics, and parents on the importance of staying informed and accurately responding to school security and safety. The book highlights the school shootings in Columbine, Newton, Parkland, and many others that remind us of the responsibilities as citizens and communities to make schools a safe space for children. It is time to think about school shootings not merely as a problem of security but as a problem of security and education.

This work describes the operations of a typical municipal government and examines the many productivity trends that are occurring in city halls across America. Much of the focus is on the increasing need for planning in city government to ensure that productivity goals are met. It thoroughly examines the roles of the council, manager, and clerk in promoting increased productivity. It then looks at such municipal departments as legal, finance, fire, human services, library, police and public works, demonstrating proven techniques and structures in each that improve service.

Climate change and natural disasters have always been hot topics of discussion and debate from the living rooms of citizens to meetings to civil society organizations' candlelight vigils. The consensus from the scientific and academic community on the threat of climate change clashes with the lack of consensus from business and government leaders, while citizens question the scientific data on climate change and if it really affects their cities. Many cities have stepped up to provide united experience-backed testimonies explaining this threat and how climate change contributes to natural disasters, habitat destruction, and food shortage. This book brings together lucid essays and case studies from both scholars and individuals on the front lines who manage international collaborations, lead local communities, provide services for people impacted by disasters, and drive policy change that will lead to a sustainable future.

Eminent domain is integral to a government's legal ability to take private property for a public purpose. If used correctly, the owners are paid the fair market value for their property, few citizens are inconvenienced and everyone benefits. Bad-faith abuses of eminent domain typically make the front pages of news outlets, and receive news coverage from television stations, in cities throughout our nation. To educate citizens and prevent future abuse, this book exposes both the good and the bad aspects of government's ability to use their power of eminent domain to acquire private property.

Generations ago, droves of immigrant populations came to the U.S. from Europe and Africa. Now they are arriving mainly from Latin America and Asia. Most are authorized, but there is a large number who are not. While the U.S. Congress, federal, and most state governments, have done little to directly confront pressing immigration and immigrant issues, except for U.S. border areas and ports of entry, public officials and community-based organizations in cities, towns, counties, and other local jurisdictions, have been busily delivering commonsense and pragmatic services to accommodate and incorporate these new members of our American society. This edited volume is a compilation of these municipal level trends, practices, and experiences. It is an easy to read handbook for public officials and citizens on developing good immigrant services.

The 31 articles in this book discuss the pros and cons of privatization of public services. Examined are the need for alternative service delivery; the process of privatization; concrete examples of privatizing services generic to local governments; precautions; and the future of privatization.

This is a handbook of international best practices on how cities throughout the world have improved their transportation options provided to their citizens. Roadways for cars are bring turned into walkways and bikeways, light-rail transit systems have been installed to reduce traffic and pollution, and more citizens are riding bikes and walking. In the olden days our cities were designed by cars for cars. Nowadays our cities are being designed, redesigned, and improved for the people who live there - citizens. Many communities throughout the world have decreased their reliance on the personal car, have promoted transit options, and have enhanced their urban environment by reducing traffic, congestion, pollution, and the number and width of their roadways. Many citizens in cities throughout the world don't even need a car, since so many other transit options are available to them. The 40 best practice case studies contained in this volume are from 33 states and provinces in 19 countries located on six continents - from all over the world! Each best practice case study contains the official name of the municipality, it's latest population figure, the region it is located in, the province or state that it is located in, the common name of the country that it is located in, the official name of the country that it is located in, and the community's official website.

This is a timely work on a very dynamic field. It provides more than 40 best practice case studies from nearly half the states in America, and discusses current and evolving trends in the relations between educational institutions and cities, towns and other municipalities. The schools include public and private universities and colleges, public school districts, and other local school systems. Case studies examine current and evolving state-of-the-art practices. Appendices include a glossary; regional, national and international resource directories; bibliographic sources; model agreements and documents; a state municipal league directory; a state public library directory; and a summary of distance learning resources. The handbook is indexed. The future of America's cities and schools depends upon the proper management of resources through the use of state-of-the-art town-gown planning practices. Both public officials and taxpayers, faculties, as well as students, benefit from town and gown best practices.

This book is based on a national literature search focusing on the best practices of cities, of all sizes and geographic locations, intended to maintain public services while holding down taxes. Many public officials have great ideas, but tend to work in a vacuum, so they don't know what other cities are doing. This volume codifies knowledge in this new field for the first time. Every case study included in this book has the city's website listed. This reference work makes it easy for professionals seeking additional information on any and all budget reduction methods that seem to work somewhere.

Over the past several decades, numerous planning movements have taken root within the United States. With names like "Urban Renewal," "Garden Cities," "Healthy Cities," "Smart Growth," "Eco-Cities" and "Sustainability," these programs promote ways to create, protect, preserve, enhance, and restore the quality of life in cities, towns and suburbs, especially in regards to the natural environment. This guide to the best practices of these programs introduces the rapidly evolving field before presenting more than 40 case studies of communities that are effectively "going green." An assessment of the future of these towns and cities and resources for citizens and officials seeking additional information conclude the work. By compiling these success stories, this handbook makes an excellent resource for anyone seeking to facilitate the restoration of the natural environment within their community.

In cities and towns throughout the country, there is significant evidence that community development and renovation is increasingly being centered around multi-use stadiums and arenas. This book examines how local governments and organizations are revitalizing their communities through multi-use stadiums and arenas which provide the best inner-city venues for sports, entertainment, cultural events, and business expositions. The first section reveals how cities negotiate, approve, finance, design, and build stadiums and arenas. The second and longest section of the book includes numerous case studies demonstrating the proper measures and safeguards which any city, town, government, or organization should be aware of to ensure that their planned stadium or arena will be a fiscal and political success. The final section examines the future of sports facilities in America's cities, discussing the real economic impact of publicly financed sports facilities, the changing nature of stadiums and arenas in light of scientific and technological advancements, and the future of league sports and their aging facilities. Several important resources are included in the appendices, including a glossary of terms and individual guides to the resources available from foundations, Federal Reserve banks, and other regional, national, or international organizations.

Droughts, global warming and rising infrastructure costs have brought new attention to water as both an urban planning and an environmental issue. This volume presents many best-practice case studies to show how cities and towns throughout the United States are restoring their wetlands, watersheds, rivers, beaches, and harbors even as rapid urbanization has put more stress on water supplies. These collected accounts are designed to educate citizens and public officials about water-related issues and future concerns. Regional and national resource directories are included.