University Faculty Strike in Pennsylvania; Campaign Finance Probe Continues in N.Y.C.
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Connecting state and local government leaders
Also in our State and Local Daily Digest: A new city manager in Charlotte; transgender health care benefits in Manchester, N.H.; and different rules on ballot selfies.
HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA
STRIKE | Pennsylvania is experiencing its first-ever state university faculty strike in the system’s 34-year existence at 14 institutions. An estimated 105,000 students are affected, though campuses will remain open. Faculty health insurance costs and salary increases remain sticking points in negotiations, as is tiered treatment of adjunct professors. “The resulting strike is detrimental to the system and will have far-reaching effects for years to come," said Gov. Tom Wolf. [The Inquirer]
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK
INVESTIGATIONS | A federal investigation into Mayor Bill de Blasio’s campaign fundraising is focusing on whether donations were exchanged for beneficial city action in about a half-dozen cases. But after months of examining the mayor’s dealings, the inquiry has yet to unearth evidence to warrant criminal charges. Two donors are now said to be cooperating with the investigation. The probe is looking into, among other things, ties between the mayor’s affairs and a company that operates soundstages where television shows such as the “The Good Wife” were filmed, and a trash bag company seeking a city contract. [The New York Times]
Here are some other state and local government news that caught our eye ...
The legislative committee tasked with investigating the crisis surrounding Flint’s lead-tainted water suggested emergency managers be replaced with three-person teams when Michigan takes control of struggling localities. [The Associated Press via The Progress]
Charlotte, North Carolina will hire Norfolk, Virginia City Manager Marcus Jones as its first black city manager, following days of protests in response to the Sept. 20 police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott. [The Charlotte Observer]
City aldermen in Manchester, New Hampshire voted Tuesday to offer municipal employees transgender-inclusive health-care benefits, including sex-change surgery. The vote in favor of the proposal was 10-2. “I’ve never supported discriminating against anyone,” said Alderman Dan O’Neil. “I’m not going to start now.” [New Hampshire Union Leader]
At least 10 dams in South Carolina that had undergone state inspections either broke or sustained serious damage when harsh weather from Hurricane Matthew struck earlier this month. In total, 25 dams broke. But many of them are considered “low hazard.” The storm dumped about a foot of rain in eastern South Carolina’s Pee Dee Region. [The State]
Planning on snapping a “ballot selfie” during this year’s election? You might want to check state and local rules for your jurisdiction. They can vary widely. For instance, photographing ballots is banned under Wisconsin law. Pennsylvania asks that voters do not tweet or livestream video from voting booths. California Gov. Jerry Brown last month signed a law that will allow voters to reveal the contents of marked ballots—clearing the way for voting booth selfies. But the law doesn’t go into effect until next year. [The Kansas City Star]
Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney wasn’t pleased when Syracuse, New York Mayor Stephanie Miner announced city employees would move out of the county’s economic development office—citing flawed initiatives. [Syracuse.com]
Far-right, anti-government groups are on the rise in the U.S., and one just had its plot to bomb an apartment complex, housing Somali refugees and a mosque, foiled in Garden City, Kansas. [The Garden City Telegram]
More than half of Iowa’s rural roads are in poor condition, along with four other states, according to a new report. [Newton Daily News]
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