Policy Topics

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In the Media

Mich. Pipeline Leak Is Political Fodder in Heated House Race

Oct 2, 2014 InsideClimateNews.org

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In the Media

Do tax capture districts like township mall developments help or hurt core cities, county residents?

Sep 16, 2014 Mlive.com

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In the Media

States lower energy taxes to attract business as production thrives

Sep 10, 2014 Bakken

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In the Media

Poll dissects fracking divide in neighboring N.Y., Pa.

Sep 9, 2014 EnergyWire

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In the Media

Pennsylvanians less likely than New Yorkers to view fracking negatively

Sep 9, 2014 phys.org

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In the Media

Local leaders offer mixed feelings on blue economy

Sep 8, 2014 The Michigan Daily

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In the Media

Survey: Pennsylvanians like fracking more than New Yorkers

Sep 8, 2014 stateimpact.npr.org

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In the Media

Proximity to Great Lakes a key factor in local officials views

Sep 6, 2014 Holland Sentinel

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MPPS

MPPS Policy Brief: Michigan local government leaders’ assessments of democratic functioning improve from 2021 low, but first signs of trouble at local level emerge

December 6, 2023

This policy brief presents the views of Michigan's local government leaders regarding the functioning of democracy in their jurisdictions, across the State of Michigan, and across the United States as a whole. These findings are based on statewide...

MPPS

Michigan local leaders’ concerns about U.S. democracy at state and federal levels ease somewhat, but remain grim

November 16, 2022

This report presents local government leaders’ views regarding the functioning of democracy in their jurisdictions, the State of Michigan, and the United States as a whole. These findings are based on statewide surveys of local government leaders in...

MPPS

Michigan local government leaders say civic relationships and civil discourse remain healthy, despite worsening national politics

October 12, 2022

This report presents the opinions of Michigan’s local government leaders regarding the state of public discourse in their communities, including how constructive or divisive it is, as well as their assessments of civic relationships among elected...

MPPS

MPPS Policy Brief: Statewide survey finds a majority of Michigan local governments experiencing harassment or other abuse

September 8, 2022

This policy brief presents Michigan local government leaders’ experiences with public harassment, threats, or even violence as part of their role in local government. These findings are based on statewide surveys of local government leaders in the...

MPPS

Michigan local leaders report little change in the tone of civic discourse in their communities, but are concerned about local impacts of increasingly hostile national partisan politics

January 26, 2022

This report presents the opinions of Michigan’s local government leaders regarding the state of public discourse in their communities, including how constructive or divisive it is among residents, between residents and elected officials, and among...

MPPS

The lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Michigan communities and local governments

October 27, 2021

This report presents local government leaders’ views on the continuing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan in 2021, including overall impacts on local communities, evaluations of governmental coordination and resource provision, and...

MPPS

Michigan local governments report fewer economic challenges one year into the COVID-19 pandemic, and describe efforts to support local businesses

September 29, 2021

This report presents local government leaders’ views on COVID-19’s impact on local economic conditions, as well as reports of whether or not their local governments took action to help local businesses during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic...

MPPS

Local leaders’ views on Michigan’s initial COVID-19 vaccine rollout in Spring 2021

August 11, 2021

This report presents the opinions of Michigan’s local government leaders during the spring of 2021 regarding COVID-19 vaccines, including information on local government actions to support the rollout of vaccines in local communities, and adoption...

Elected Officials’ Perceptions of Civic Discourse with and among Residents across the Urban-Rural Spectrum

June 1, 2021

Kyron Smith

Constructive civic discourse is essential to the productivity of government at all levels. Despite its importance, polarization like that which exists in politics appears to damage constructive discourse and has brought up the question, what...

Privatization of Local Government Services: Understanding Differences Across Michigan’s Urban- Rural Spectrum

June 1, 2021

Kristina Curtiss

For decades, municipalities have taken on numerous tasks that the private sector would have otherwise performed. Privatization of these services, and the way local governments prioritize them, draw into question the functioning of democracy. Be it...

MPPS

Michigan Public Policy Survey - County-wide Planning and Zoning Fact Sheets

May 19, 2021

May 19, 2021: This fact sheet highlights two separate sources of information on local government planning and zoning: the Michigan Zoning Database and the Fall 2017 Michigan Public Policy Survey (MPPS). The Michigan Zoning Database is a joint...

Internet Access and Connectivity across the Urban-Rural Spectrum

May 1, 2021

Julie Rubin

Broadband internet is a faster and more efficient way to access online services and information than traditional dial-up or satellite services. While broadband is becoming increasingly ubiquitous across the United States, there remains a “digital...

Direct Democracy in Action: Comparing Citizen Engagement efforts across the Urban-Rural Spectrum in Michigan

May 1, 2021

Christian Hunter

In American society, citizen engagement is a manifestation of direct democracy at the local government level. Engaging citizens in their community can have positive effects on jurisdictions where it is pursued, but the process can also come with its...

Student Working Papers

Vote Share Analysis Findings

April 30, 2021

Chris Campbell

Each spring, the Michigan Public Policy Survey (MPPS) asks officials from Michigan’s cities, townships, counties and villages about a range of topics concerning their jurisdictions’ administrative, fiscal, and social health, as well as other...

MPPS

Michigan local leaders' views on state's new approach to electoral redistricting

February 22, 2021

This report presents local government leaders' familiarity with Michigan’s new approach to redistricting by the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission, as well as their perspectives on potential "Communities of Interest" in the areas...

MPPS

The functioning of democracy at the local level: a compendium of findings from the Michigan Public Policy Survey of local leaders

December 14, 2020

The Ford School’s Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy (CLOSUP) has released a new resource that summarizes Michigan local government leaders’ views on democracy and democratic governance. The findings come from the Michigan Public Policy...

MPPS

Michigan local leaders say local democracy is strong, as their trust in government and citizens rises

October 27, 2020

This report presents local government leaders’ views regarding the functioning of democracy in their jurisdictions, the State of Michigan, and the United States as a whole, as well as their levels of trust toward the federal, state, and other local...

MPPS

Michigan local leaders expect mixed impacts from expanded voter registration and absentee voting reforms

July 28, 2020

This report presents the experiences and opinions of Michigan’s local government clerks and other city and township leaders regarding three statewide voting and election reforms: 1) voter registration up to 15 days before an election via mail,...

MPPS

The initial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Michigan communities and local governments

June 24, 2020

This report presents local government leaders' views on the COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan through May of 2020, including impacts on the state and its communities, expectations for how long negative impacts would persist, evaluations of governmental...

Student Working Papers

Alleviating Racial Disparities in Urban Communities: A Two-generation Approach

May 12, 2020

Lindsey Barrett

The most recent U.S. American Community Survey revealed that despite a second year of growth for median income in Michigan, poverty rates for residents in the state’s poorest cities-- Detroit and Flint-- have stagnated. Survey results also uncover...

Student Working Papers

Zoning Codes and the Adoption of LEED in Michigan Cities

May 1, 2020

Michael Ngan

Because of an absence of federal policies in the US mandating green building certification, this paper aims to explore if local policy efforts can, as an alternative, effectively drive sustainable design and increase the number of green buildings....

MPPS

Michigan local government preparations and concerns regarding the 2020 U.S. Census

September 1, 2019

This report presents the opinions of Michigan’s local government leaders regarding the upcoming 2020 U.S. Census, including their confidence in the potential accuracy of the count both locally and at the state level, assessments of groups within...