Carl Smith
GOVERNING
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Past articles by Carl:
Public Libraries Step Up Help as Food Insecurity Rises
Pandemic assistance to families at risk of food insecurity has ended. As a “hunger cliff” looms, programs in public libraries can fill gaps. → Read More
The Biggest Issues to Watch in 2023
State coffers are overflowing, but inflation could put a pinch on spending plans and tax cuts. The labor market remains tight just when the demand for more teachers is skyrocketing. And then there are the ongoing culture wars. Welcome to 2023. → Read More
New Director Hopes to Give the Census Bureau a Human Face
The public’s relationship with the Census was strained by the unique circumstances surrounding the 2020 count. Robert Santos, the first Latino to direct the Census Bureau, wants to repair this. → Read More
Mayors Face a Reckoning With Racial Wealth Gaps
The median net worth of white households in the U.S. is almost eight times greater than that of Black households. Most mayors agree this is a problem but differ on what solutions are best. → Read More
Public Health Employee Survey Reveals a Workforce Crisis
Many could quit their jobs because of harassment and burnout, leaving communities at great risk. The public hostility toward the workers has been referred to as “moral injury.” → Read More
How States Used Their Pandemic Response to Address Health Inequities
A new study highlights innovative state-level strategies driven by data that emerged during the pandemic to address social factors undermining the well-being of too many Americans. → Read More
Can Unions Help Ward Off a Public-Sector Workforce Crisis?
Half of public-sector workers are considering leaving their jobs. Unions have stepped up their role in retention and recruitment, but the ongoing lack of normalcy remains a serious challenge. → Read More
How Will Local Governments Spend American Rescue Plan Funds?
The federal government is sending billions to cities and counties to overcome pandemic setbacks. Plans from 150 local governments offer a preview of how these dollars might be spent. → Read More
California Invests in Recycled Water as Droughts Take a Toll
The state is already home to the largest potable water reuse programs in the world. Massive expansions worth more than $11 billion are in the works to keep supply steady in the face of worsening climate impacts. → Read More
States Expand Apprenticeship Programs as Worker Shortages Grow
Registered apprenticeship can bridge the gap between job seekers looking for a living wage and employers who need skilled workers. The system, established during the Great Depression, is experiencing a renaissance. → Read More
Public Libraries Can Tap into Eligible Funds Worth Billions
The American Rescue Plan includes significant federal dollars that can support library programs and services that play a larger role in recovery than is generally understood. → Read More
Despite Shootings, Many State Legislators Resist Gun Control
Gun violence has increased during the pandemic. Recent mass shootings have intensified calls for reform, but state legislators have very different ideas about the way forward. → Read More
The Rise of Women in State Legislatures: A State-by-State Map
More women than ever are serving in state legislatures. But an interview with the longest-serving woman legislator reveals just how slow change has been in bringing an end to gender inequities in statehouses. → Read More
Many Stressed K-12 Education Workers Consider Changing Jobs
Millions of worn-out K-12 educators and workers are wondering if their compensation is enough to justify the risk they are taking to teach kids during the pandemic. Vaccines will help, but it may not be enough. → Read More
Legislators Battle Whether to Restrict or Expand Voting
In the aftermath of the 2020 election, voting rights are on the minds of legislators who have introduced hundreds of bills that either restrict or expand how voters can cast their ballots. → Read More
Evidence-Based Government Gets a Boost During COVID
As strains on public resources grow, a new center at the National Conference of State Legislatures shares lessons from evidence-based policymaking to help states make the most of programs and budgets. → Read More
Public-Sector Workers Rethink Their Jobs as COVID Wears On
A survey of state and local government employees finds that the prolonged stresses of the pandemic are taking a toll. One in three have considered changing jobs. → Read More
States Show Limited Progress With Electric Vehicle Policies
A new scorecard ranks state progress toward making EVs the norm. With transportation accounting for 28 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, more needs to be done to meet Paris Accord emission targets. → Read More
2020 Brought Legislative Progress, Pushback on LGBTQ Issues
State legislatures introduced more than 560 LGBTQ rights bills in 2020. An analysis by the Human Rights Campaign finds barriers remain to equal access to housing, employment and health care for the LGBTQ community. → Read More
Stronger Hurricanes Challenge Housing Recovery Plans
After a record-breaking hurricane season, city planners in Florida focus on best practices to rescue affordable housing, while architects adopt new housing designs for the long-term needs of a changing coastline. → Read More