Albuquerque Mayor OKs Netflix Deal
Shutterstock
STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | More recycling sector disruption … Minneapolis alcohol vote; and a “sex for speedbumps” scandal in Florida.
Good morning, it’s Nov. 1, 2018. Leading Route Fifty’s state and local government news roundup is economic development news involving Netflix but scroll down for news from places like Lantana, Florida; Kirkwood, Missouri; and Grand Junction, Colorado.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT | Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller on Wednesday signed off on a $4.5 million economic development incentives package previously approved by city councilors aimed at helping Netflix develop a production hub in New Mexico’s largest city that could bring with it “the equivalent of about 1,000 film and television production jobs per year.” [The Albuquerque Journal]
TRANSPORTATION | Lime has pulled some models of its e-scooters off the streets of Los Angeles, Lake Tahoe and San Diego over a concern that its battery could cause a fire. [Los Angeles Times] … In an audit of Baltimore’s transportation department numbers for Charm City Circulator ridership and street lighting, the city auditor “was unable to conclude in most cases whether the claims were accurate.” [The Baltimore Sun] … The city of Lantana, Florida will likely be associated with the phrase “sex for speedbumps” in the coming years. [NBC News]
DISASTER RECOVERY | North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said on Wednesday that Hurricane Florence caused more damage than two previous hurricanes—Floyd and Matthew—combined. [The News & Observer] … Local officials in Panama City, Florida announced Wednesday that they would not bill residents for four weeks of water, sewer and garbage service. The city, which was hit hard by Hurricane Michael, will resume billing this month. [Herald News] … The governor of the Northern Marianas Islands, which were were hard hit by Super Typhoon Yutu, said that tourism will be able to resume on Saipan and Tinian on Nov. 15. [Pacific Daily News]
PUBLIC HEALTH | Although there was a National Prescription Drug Take Back this past weekend in Grand Junction, Colorado, local health officials are reminding residents that there are drug disposal sites available year round in Mesa County. [Grand Junction Daily Sentinel]
WASTE MANAGEMENT | Many municipalities in the St. Louis area are feeling the effects of new Chinese import policies that have disrupted the recycling sector and prompted major waste management company Resource Management to no longer accept single-stream recycling. Some have, like Brentwood and Kirkwood, “have sought other options to maintain residential recycling services.” [St. Louis Public Radio]
ALCOHOL REGULATION | On the local ballot for consideration by Minneapolis voters: Whether to eliminate area and spacing requirements for liquor licenses, allowing more restaurants to serve alcohol. [Star Tribune] … According to the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board fiscal 2017-18 annual report, “Allegheny, Philadelphia and Montgomery counties accounted for more than a third of the state's total wine and spirits sales.” [PLCB]
WATER | The Philadelphia Energy Authority on Wednesday announced a new partnership with American Water Resources that will “provide 475,000 eligible homeowners an affordable water and sewer line protection plan for about $8 a month.” [PlanPhilly / WHYY]
Michael Grass is Executive Editor of Government Executive’s Route Fifty and is based in Seattle.
NEXT STORY: Virginia Gov. Details How Part of State’s Volkswagen Settlement Will Be Used