Topic: U.S. Conference of Mayors

The Monitor's View: Homes for the homeless: a smart investment in dignity

Despite a recent rise in poverty, homelessness is down. One reason? Providing a residence for the homeless creates enough self-respect for them to deal with underlying issues.

What recovery? Top 10 cities losing jobs

For some regions of the US, talk of an economic recovery is more wishful thinking than reality. Here are the top 10 metropolitan areas that continue to struggle with unemployment, from the Carpet Capital of the World to the home of an Ivy League university.

Top 10 cities where house prices are rising

House prices continue to fall nationwide, but here and there they’ve begun to turn up as Americans return to the housing market. Which 10 metropolitan areas have seen the biggest increase in the past year? The winners, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), include a state capital, a furniture-making center, and a resort that was once America’s foreclosure capital. Can you guess who they are?  

How five websites are protesting SOPA

Five major websites will go dark on Wednesday protesting two Congressional bills, which critics argue could curtail Internet and free speech.    

If passed, The Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and its Senate counterpart, the Protect IP Act or PIPA, would allow the US government to seek a court order and even shut down websites that contain content or links to unauthorized copyrighted content.  Moreover, advertisers and Internet service providers would be banned from doing business with transgressors.

Proponents of the legislation include companies that are trying to protect their copyrights, such as the Motion Picture Association of America, The NBA, Pfizer, Nike, L'Oreal, as well as the US Chamber of Commerce, the Fraternal Order of Police, and the US Conference of Mayors.

However,  voices of opposition include Internet giants Google, Yahoo!, Facebook, Twitter, eBay, Mozilla, and Wikipedia – who say that the proposed laws constitute a First Amendment violation, promote censorship, and harm the democratic flow of information.  Check out how five major websites plan to protest SOPA and PIPA:

Under the gun on jobs, Obama tells Congress to pass major transportation bill

As he prepares for his critical speech on jobs, President Obama is urging Congress to fund a major transportation bill. It pays for infrastructure work on roads, bridges, and mass transit systems.

Cities' plea: We need $75 billion or we'll lay off 500,000

City and county officials said Tuesday that they will face massive layoffs unless Congress passes the $75 billion Local Jobs for America Act. But the bill's prospects look dim.

If Chicago's gun control law is overturned, what next?

The Supreme Court will decide soon if Chicago's controversial handgun ban is unconstitutional. Both sides say such a decision would spur a slew of challenges to gun control laws elsewhere.

Election 2009: Economic woes challenge incumbent mayors

Incumbent mayors are facing tougher-than-usual reelection bids due, in part, to a struggling national economy.

Pressure builds over bottled water

Towns around the U.S. fight firms that want to soak up a local resource.

The Monitor's View: The gray in 'green jobs'

Everyone from patent lawyers for washing machines to security guards in green buildings wants a ride on this gravy train.

USA

State and city budgets falling fast

Shortfalls are beginning to hit local government services across the country.

Bright Green
Report: US bottled water market slowing

After years of steady growth, the US market for bottled water appears to be cooling off, the Worldwatch Institute reported Monday.

States, cities ready to move on housing aid

The $4 billion in federal money will go for everything from rehab to foreclosure-prevention,

The battle over bottled vs. tap water

After negative media reports on the environmental cost of bottled water, the industry responds with greener strategies.

The battle over bottled vs. tap water

After negative media reports on the environmental cost of bottled water, the industry responds with greener strategies.