Equity
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SSgt Celeste Zuniga/DVIDS
Fort Worth, Texas, sues 3M, Dupont, DOD over PFAS contamination
The city said the chemical manufacturers sold and distributed PFAS-containing firefighting foam to the U.S. Navy and Air Force.
By Sara Samora • March 20, 2025 -
Retrieved from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
EPA to end environmental justice programs, monitoring tools
As part of the Trump administration’s end to environmental justice programs, it has cut off access to EJScreen, a monitoring tool used to track environmental justice metrics.
By Megan Quinn • March 14, 2025 -
Andrew Harnik via Getty Images
EPA revisiting dozens of climate, environment rules in ‘day of deregulation’
The agency said it would roll back a range of rules and programs, including some that are foundational to its efforts to address climate change. A new WOTUS definition is expected, as well as rollbacks to an emissions reporting program.
By Jacob Wallace • March 13, 2025 -
Kayla Bartkowski via Getty Images
DOT removes equity, environmental factors from IIJA funding decisions
The move rolls back a Biden-era policy that included these considerations in decision-making criteria for infrastructure projects.
By Julie Strupp • March 12, 2025 -
Mario Tama via Getty Images
California wildfire air pollution insights coming from air sensor network
Residents can track localized pollution, including particles from the wildfires that tore across Los Angeles in January, thanks to improvements in air quality sensor tech.
By Kalena Thomhave • March 10, 2025 -
Onurdongel via Getty Images
Are EVs the best approach to transportation equity? Maybe not, TEI report says
EVs’ high costs and the need for public charging make them less viable for many low-income communities, the Transportation Energy Institute says. It suggests a more inclusive approach.
By Dan Zukowski • March 3, 2025 -
Win McNamee via Getty Images
DOT funding priorities benefit Whiter, wealthier communities: Urban Institute
A plan to tie funding to marriage and birth rates would leave behind historically underserved communities, according to an Urban Institute analysis.
By Kalena Thomhave • Feb. 25, 2025 -
Permission granted by Dan Zukowski
AI offers benefits, risks to public transit: Urban Institute researcher
Transit agencies must balance potential safety and efficiency improvements against hacking, data privacy and equity concerns, Senior Research Associate Lindiwe Rennert says.
By Dan Zukowski • Feb. 24, 2025 -
timnewman via Getty Images
Pedestrian deaths highest on dark city roads at night: AAA report
Crashes involving pedestrians were also disproportionately higher in socially and economically disadvantaged communities in the cities it studied, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found.
By Dan Zukowski • Feb. 11, 2025 -
peeterv via Getty Images
How 4 cities are advancing affordable housing despite NIMBYs
Public engagement and policies that cut through red tape are among the tools city leaders use to overcome neighborhood opposition.
By Danielle McLean • Feb. 10, 2025 -
OlegAlbinsky via Getty Images
The Smart Cities Outlook for 2025: Change is coming
From new federal policies to growing technologies like AI and robotaxis, cities will encounter many changes while they continue to tackle housing, homelessness, climate and equity issues.
By Smart Cities Dive Staff • Jan. 31, 2025 -
MichaelVi via Getty Images
State lawmaker seeks ban in new shot at algorithmic pricing
Landlords’ use of automated rent-setting software is “plainly illegal,” Sen. Jess Salomon in Washington state says.
By Robert Freedman • Jan. 28, 2025 -
Beck Harlan via Getty Images
D.C.’s proposed bottle bill aims to tackle high-profile pollution in Anacostia River
Bill sponsors say a bottle bill could help alleviate pollution that has long affected communities of color. It calls for a 10-cent deposit starting in 2028, with a recycling rate target of 70% the first year.
By Megan Quinn • Jan. 27, 2025 -
Adam Gray via Getty Images
Starbucks reverses open-door policy as it pursues coffeehouse environment
Under the new policy, customers will have to make a purchase if they want to hang out in Starbucks coffee shops or use its bathrooms.
By Kristen Doerer • Jan. 15, 2025 -
Craig Barritt via Getty Images
Q&AHow an Oklahoma City sales tax fuels the city’s ‘renaissance’
Mayor David Holt led the planning process for the fourth voter-approved renewal of a sales tax for public infrastructure focused on human needs.
By Dan Zukowski • Jan. 2, 2025 -
tunart via Getty Images
9 predictions about what 2025 may hold for US cities
“Playground” cities will thrive, innovative housing programs will proliferate and technology will transform transit and municipal services, these sources say.
By Smart Cities Dive staff • Jan. 2, 2025 -
RichLegg via Getty Images
US DOT issues final rule on accessibility standards for transit riders
The rule sets guidelines for state and local transportation departments and transit agencies to improve access for users with disabilities at transit stations.
By Dan Zukowski • Dec. 20, 2024 -
halbergman via Getty Images
California kicks off e-bike incentive program statewide
Income-qualified buyers can access vouchers of up to $2,000 each through the program, which is expected to fund the purchase of up to 1,500 e-bikes.
By Dan Zukowski • Dec. 17, 2024 -
Alex Wong via Getty Images
Transportation equity data available in newly updated US DOT online tool
The tool helps state and local governments prioritize transportation investments that benefit disadvantaged communities. U.S. DOT is seeking feedback on the update.
By Dan Zukowski • Dec. 16, 2024 -
jetcityimage via Getty Images
How 5 states are innovating SNAP
From produce-buying incentives to in-app discounts, new pilots and programs aim to help people stretch funds from the nation’s largest anti-hunger program.
By Catherine Douglas Moran • Dec. 12, 2024 -
Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
Lowest-income households face highest transportation cost burden: federal report
Motor vehicle costs, including purchase, insurance, fuel and maintenance, eat up the largest amount of transportation costs across all U.S. households.
By Dan Zukowski • Dec. 10, 2024 -
Daphne Howland/Smart Cities Dive
Washington, DC, sues Amazon over slow Prime deliveries in underserved areas
Prime members in two zip codes aren’t receiving promised benefits, D.C.’s attorney general alleges. The e-commerce giant defended its actions by citing concerns over driver safety.
By Daphne Howland • Dec. 5, 2024 -
halbergman via Getty Images
With a $2.5M direct cash assistance pilot, Ohio city aims to boost low-income residents’ economic mobility
Columbus, Ohio, is pairing monthly payments with career-building and wealth-building programs to give residents a “crucial stepping stone.”
By Ysabelle Kempe • Nov. 13, 2024 -
Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
Trump agenda has states, advocacy groups girding for legal battles
California, New York and Illinois are among states readying to sue the Trump administration over divisive issues such as reproductive rights, climate regulation and immigration.
By Justin Bachman • Nov. 11, 2024 -
Jacob Wallace/Smart Cities Dive
New York City official backs composting over codigestion, citing environmental justice concerns
Residents across New York City are now putting their organics into curbside bins for collection. But where those organics will be processed continues to be up for debate.
By Jacob Wallace • Nov. 8, 2024
