Sidewalk

Hillsborough County commissioners will vote on a Sheriff's Office-requested ordinance capping speeds for e-bikes, motorized scooters and bicycles: 10 mph on sidewalks, 15 mph on shared paths and trails, and 28 mph on roads and bike lanes. The rule would ban wheelies, stunts and "street takeovers," let police impound bikes on the spot, and fine parents after a child's second violation. It would also cover Tampa, Temple Terrace and Plant City where local rules don't already apply. Neighboring Pinellas County is waiting on possible state action after Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed a similar statewide bill in June. A public hearing is set for Nov. 10.

The New Haven Board of Alders Education Committee has formally called for "immediate action" from New Haven Public Schools leadership after months of testimony about hazardous building conditions. At a September 29 workshop, the board heard nearly five hours of testimony describing failing HVAC systems, leaks, mold, pests, broken doors and windows, temperature extremes, bathroom problems, and faulty electrical outlets. Health, fire, and emergency management officials confirmed the severity of the conditions, but the committee said district leadership offered no concrete plan to address them.

In a letter sent Friday, Oct. 9, the Alders outlined 16 high-priority steps to be completed within 30 days, plus additional measures within 60 days. District officials and Mayor Justin Elicker acknowledged the problems, attributing them to decades of chronic underfunding that has left routine maintenance insufficient to manage deteriorating infrastructure. Superintendent Madeline Negrón said the district would review the committee's recommendations and consult the Board of Education on next steps. Alders have requested a progress update at the next education committee meeting on Oct. 28.

Los Angeles's Fairfax District, once a thriving symbol of the California dream, is grappling with a roughly 20% storefront vacancy rate, crumbling sidewalks, and struggling businesses, including the well-known comedy club The Dime, which now faces closure. Local leaders, including LA Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky, acknowledge the neighborhood's streets need repair and that the COVID-19 pandemic dealt a severe blow to retailers already losing ground to online shopping.

The district has struggled to recover from lockdowns imposed during the pandemic and from unrest in late May 2020, when protests tied to the Black Lives Matter movement turned destructive, with rioters smashing storefronts and setting police cars ablaze. Business owners say they felt abandoned as the city failed to protect them. Rising sales taxes, including a countywide increase approved by voters in June, add further strain. Rebuilding the area, observers say, will require renewed jobs tied to Hollywood, infrastructure fixes, homeless encampment cleanup, and restored public safety.

St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her has reversed course on a proposal to close the Dayton's Bluff library branch, using more than $300,000 in new revenue from a renegotiated franchise agreement with Xcel Energy to fund her 2027 budget instead. The agreement means no fee increase for residential electric and gas customers next year, though commercial and industrial ratepayers will pay more.

The revised budget also draws on roughly $274,000 in savings from shifting St. Paul's municipal elections to even years, a change voters approved in 2024. Combined, the new revenue totals about $574,000, which Her has directed toward keeping Dayton's Bluff library open, preserving the Highwood Hills Recreation Center, restoring morning and holiday hours at rec centers, and funding continued enforcement of the city's separation ordinance limiting cooperation with federal immigration authorities. The proposed 6.8% property tax increase, adding about $58 annually for a median-value home, remains unchanged. East Side residents had strongly opposed the original closure plans for the library and recreation center.