Blue Bikes to expand New Orleans e-bike fleet
Why it matters: More than 10% of New Orleans households don't have access to cars, according to data from 2020. Meanwhile, the city's fleet of rentable bikes has been on a steep decline.
Catch up quick: City Council approved a five-year agreement June 26 with Blue Krewe, which operates the city's Blue Bike program.
With $11.4 million in federal grants, the Blue Krewe will grow its staff, purchase new bikes and electric vans and build new solar-powered charging stations, according to the agreement.
The big picture: The agreement is part of the city's Climate Action Plan, which calls for a more bike access and an electric vehicle-friendly city. Go deeper.
Zoom in: Blue Krewe plans to buy about 500 bikes per year for five years, the city documents say.
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Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Political newcomer in top 2 for fundraising among Lansing City Council candidates
LANSING — City campaign finance reports have been filed, giving a glimpse into the money behind city council and mayoral races this year. Jeremy Garza, a sitting Ward 2 council member who is seeking a new seat as an at-large member, has dominated recent fundraising, according to campaign finance reports that were due July 25, which cover fundraising from January through July 20. There are 19 candidates running for city council or mayor. Garza raised $48,050, which is twice as much as any other candidate, and a political newcomer raised the second most money. And while incumbent Mayor Andy Schor, who like his competitors raised fairly little recently, has nearly $180,000 on hand. Here's a deeper look: Lansing City Council at-large seats With two seats up for grabs and 10 candidates, Garza has raised $48,050, reports show. But Garza's contributions are not - with the exception of a single $50 donor - from individuals. Garza's fundraising is almost exclusively from unions or other organizations. The Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 333 union, which he helps lead as vice president, contributed $24,500, the largest single donation in the city this cycle and bigger on its own than any other candidate was able to raise overall. Garza's average donation, from 14 organizations and one individual, was $3,200. The runner-up, in the money race, is also seeking an at-large position, and collected big dollars from lots of smaller donations. Clara Martinez pulled in $21,650 from more than 150 individual donors, with only two large organizations contributing: the Michigan Education Association and the Regional Council of Carpenters gave a collective $1,500. Most of Martinez's money came from individual donors, including several city figures like Mayor Andy Schor, council member Peter Spadafore, developer Pat Gillespie and Lansing Board of Water and Light General Manager Dick Peffley. Two other candidates raised more than $10,000: Julie Vandenboom and Aurelius Christian, who each reported around $14,500. Tirstan Walters raised almost $8,000, with more than a third of that being self-funded. His donors include sitting council members Garza, Adam Hussain and Ryan Kost. Gloria Denning reported raising $600 and having almost as much on hand with $2,472 in in-kind contributions. Two candidates, Jonah Stone and Olivia Vaden, did not file reports. Mayoral race There isn't much money flowing in the mayoral races, at least on paper. Mayor Andy Schor reported raising $3,650, but the mayor reports an intimidating war chest: He has $179,268 on hand. Two of the five candidates have not filed election reports in several months, meaning the public doesn't have a window into the fundraising or expenses for David Ellis and Kelsea Hector. The three candidates who have filed raised $6,485 combined. Ellis said, in a Facebook post, that he is working with the county to get an extension for his report. Hector said they have not passed the $1,000 fundraising mark yet, but expect to pass that and submit filings soon. Brett Brockschmidt reported raising $535 and spending $1,440, with most of those expenses coming out of his own pocket. Jeffrey Brown, a sitting council member who is running for mayor, reported raising $2,500, including $1,100 from himself. 2nd ward Neither candidate for the 2nd ward seat, Erik Almquist and Deyanira Nevarez Martinez, filed a report this cycle. Both are uncontested in the August Primary election. 4th ward All three 4th ward candidates filed reports. Sitting council member Peter Spadafore, who is running for a ward seat instead of his current at-large seat, has the money advantage. Spadafore raised $18,021 and reported a balance of almost $11,000 on hand. Heath Lowry, an attorney, raised $4,795, with more than half of that from himself, and has $535 on hand. Zacharie Spurlock, a bartender and challenger, reported about $1,414 in expenses and no outside contributions. Contact Mike Ellis at mellis@ or 517-267-0415 This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Lansing City Council candidates file campaign finance reports Solve the daily Crossword
Chicago Tribune
2 hours ago
- Chicago Tribune
Editorial: Gov. Pritzker needs to veto this pension bill. Chicago can't afford it.
Memo to Springfield: Chicago is broke. Gov. JB Pritzker has a bill on his desk that would sweeten pension benefits for Chicago's police and firefighters hired in 2011 or later, to the tune of $60 million more out of the city budget in 2027 alone and more than $11 billion over the next three decades, according to the city's own projections. The measure passed unanimously in both chambers at the end of the spring session, allowing for next to no debate and, astoundingly, was supported by every Chicago House member and senator. At the time of the bill's passage, we wrote that the entire Chicago delegation had effectively had voted to increase property taxes on their constituents. Property taxes, of course, are the main means municipalities have of financing their pension obligations to their workers. Interestingly, the governor acknowledged the conundrum last week. Asked about the bill, he said, 'One thing to consider, of course, is the finances of the city of Chicago. How will they pay for it?' The other important consideration, he said, was ensuring Chicago's first responders are 'well taken care of.' We're glad to see Pritzker explicitly state why he's mulling whether to veto despite the strange prospect of rejecting legislation that passed without a single dissenting vote. By asking rhetorically if Chicago can 'pay for it,' the governor has answered his own question. Of course Chicago can't pay for it. The police and fire pension funds have a mere 25% of the assets needed to meet their current and future obligations as it stands. Since we wrote about this measure in June, the city has estimated what it would do for its woefully underfunded first-responder funds. That percentage would drop to an almost unfathomably low 18%. To those who say it's nonsensical to veto a bill with such overwhelming support, remember that GOP lawmakers mainly went along because of the Chicago delegation's unanimous backing and the fact that only Chicagoans' taxes would be affected. All the Chicago Democrats who voted yes could justify reversing their positions by saying (truthfully) they didn't have the city's projections on just how much these changes would cost taxpayers. Chicago taxpayers already are chewing their nails wondering how the city will plug a 2026 budget deficit exceeding $1 billion. The following year looks even worse. Pritzker already tossed an $80 million hot potato in Chicago's lap with his 2023 initiative to phase out the state's 1% tax on groceries, the proceeds of which had been distributed to municipalities. More than 200 municipalities have approved their own 1% grocery taxes, as the state allows them to do. Mayor Brandon Johnson wants the City Council to do the same for Chicago, which must happen by a state-set deadline of Oct. 1. There are no guarantees, given Johnson's fraught relationship with the council and Chicagoan's understandable resistance to tax hikes of any sort, that aldermen will do as he wishes. Meanwhile, this pension time bomb would cost the city nearly as much as repeal of the grocery tax and in the future will cost far more. Speaking of the mayor, while he has spoken tepidly against this bill, he ought to be forcefully urging Pritzker to veto it and Chicago lawmakers to vote to sustain that veto, despite their earlier support of the measure. The city essentially has been missing in action on this issue, and Johnson apparently is struggling to balance his political brand as an ardent union backer with his duty to Chicago taxpayers. This is no time for such timidity. At this stage, it's worth laying out the origins of this bill. In 2010, in a bid to reform Illinois' public-sector pensions, the state created a second tier of beneficiaries hired in 2011 and thereafter — so-called Tier 2 workers — whose retirement payouts were to be substantially less than the overly generous benefits of existing employees and retirees that had gotten Illinois so deeply in pension debt. Six years ago, Pritzker signed into law sweetened pension benefits for Tier 2 cops and firefighters in Illinois outside of Chicago as part of a consolidation of downstate police and fire pension funds. Ever since, Chicago police and fire unions have argued their Tier 2 workers ought to get the same treatment. In addition, proponents cite concerns that the benefits for Tier 2 workers don't rise to the level of Social Security benefits, which would violate federal law. This page has been consistent on the issue of Tier 2 pension benefits and Social Security. State policymakers should do no more than ensure they are compliant with the law and rebuff union efforts to use the Social Security argument in effect to do away with Tier 2 and pension reform altogether. As much as we appreciate and rely on Chicago's first responders, everyone who went to work for the Police or Fire departments after 2010 knew — or should have known — what their retirement benefits were. In a perfect world, their pensions would be equivalent to those earned by their counterparts outside the city. We don't live in that world. Far from it. Mayor Johnson, you should advocate for your city's beleaguered taxpayers and call on Gov. Pritzker and Chicago's Springfield delegation to do the right thing. And, Governor, adding to Chicago's fiscal crisis hurts the whole state. Whether the mayor asks or not, veto the bill.
Business Upturn
13 hours ago
- Business Upturn
ASLA Receives Two 2025 Power of Associations Silver Awards
Washington, D.C., July 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The American Society of Landscape Architects has been recognized as a Power of Associations Silver Award by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) for its impactful work on two key initiatives, the ASLA Climate and Biodiversity Action Plan and Landscape Architecture is STEM. 'Congratulations to the American Society of Landscape Architects for exemplifying the impact associations have on the industries and professions they represent, and on society at large,' said ASAE President and CEO Michelle Mason, FASAE, CAE. 'It's always so incredibly satisfying to see associations going above and beyond their everyday mission to change the world. We're very proud to spotlight these award-winning initiatives.' 'This recognition is a powerful affirmation of the impact landscape architects are making—and the role ASLA plays in advancing that impact. The STEM designation achievement and our Climate Action Plan are strategic, bold efforts – but they are only possible because of the energy, insight and dedication our members bring every day. Their work within ASLA not only strengthens the profession, it also champions innovation through design that drives real change in communities, business, and ecosystems across the globe' said ASLA CEO Torey Carter-Conneen, Hon. ASLA. Climate Action Plan Launched in 2022, the ASLA Climate Action Plan aims to guide the landscape architecture profession toward achieving zero embodied and operational emissions and doubling carbon sequestration by 2040. What makes the plan extraordinary is its comprehensive approach. It integrates climate action into professional practice, engages underserved communities, fosters international collaboration, and contributes to global priorities such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals. By uniting members, staff, chapters, and partners around a shared climate vision, ASLA has demonstrated the power of associations to lead meaningful, systemic change—within the profession and across society. Landscape Architecture Is STEM ASLA sought to gain recognition of landscape architecture as a science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) profession. This pursuit was to acknowledge the extensive STEM coursework integral to landscape architecture education and gains credibility with decision-makers in government, academia, and industry. STEM recognition leads to more funding, more research, and more seats at the table when policies around climate, infrastructure, and public health are shaped. The culmination of these efforts was realized in 2023, when the U.S. Department of Homeland Security officially designated landscape architecture as a STEM discipline. This official recognition affirms what ASLA members already know: Landscape architects are using rigorous science and inspired design to solve some of the most urgent problems of our time. This designation helps society benefit more fully from the profession's problem-solving power. 'These recognitions from ASAE underscore the scale of what's possible when a profession organizes around a shared purpose—and we're just getting started,' said Carter-Conneen. To learn more about ASLA's Climate Action Plan, visit To learn more about ASLA's Landscape Architecture Is STEM initiative, visit MEDIA CONTACT: Press OfficeAmerican Society of Landscape Architects [email protected] (202) 216-2343
