CLOSUP publications

Though the climate crisis will eventually spare no one, it is inherently an issue of justice and equity. This paper aims to discern how two coastal cities - Baltimore and Seattle - are contending with climate change and, more specifically, climate...

Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) are large-scale farms that cause significant environmental degradation and contamination through the discharge of their waste. National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, or NPDES, permits are one...

Every year, the Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy (CLOSUP) sends the Michigan Public Policy Survey (MPPS) to local government officials all over the state. The MPPS is a program of state-wide surveys of local government leaders in Michigan...

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...

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...

In this case study, we analyze the financial health and Michigan Public Policy Survey (MPPS) responses for two municipalities in Michigan: Cities X and Y. Although both municipalities experienced industrial decline throughout the late 20th century,...

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...

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...

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...

In the past few years, the Great Lakes have experienced an increase in harmful algal blooms in large part due to agricultural runoff and results in increased levels of toxins in the water putting the drinking supply at risk. The current policies are...

Since the introduction of the Federal Tax Credit (FTC) for electric vehicles, the US has been able to reduce the number of gasoline powered vehicles on the road by incentivizing users to purchase electric vehicles (EVs). However, as the FTC phases...

Over the past 12 years, more research has been done on the importance of pollinators in our environment and lives. Therefore, governmental policies on a state level are of special consequence at this time. To investigate this, an inventory of state...

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...

This memo is included in the Local Government COVID-19 Fiscal Strategy and Resource...

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...

This report aims to understand the policy and regulatory landscape surrounding solar siting in the United States in the past, present and looking towards the future. The scope of this analysis includes siting for photovoltaic (PV) solar projects at...

As the economic viability of utility-scale renewable energy systems has grown through the past decades, wind and solar developers are increasingly interested in placing projects on farmland. While landowners, communities and developers gain benefits...

This case study compares two municipalities (Counties X & Y) with similar demographic characteristics and economic growth trajectories across objective and subjective indicators of fiscal health. After studying the financials of Counties X and Y, we...

In wind and solar resource potential, New Mexico is among the most endowed of the 50 states. While the state’s electricity sector has historically been dominated by coal, the passage of New Mexico’s first Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) in 2000,...

This research paper outlines the prevailing narratives, discussion, and news coverage at the state and local level around investment in transmission, provides a review of the regional and federal policy and history of transmission systems, and...

This report presents Michigan local government leaders’ assessments of their jurisdictions’ fiscal conditions and the actions they plan to take in the coming year given their financial situations. The findings are based on responses from 12...

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...

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...

This report presents the opinions of Michigan’s local government leaders regarding a variety of energy issues and policies in their jurisdictions, including the relevance of particular energy policies for their communities, whether the jurisdiction...

This report presents the opinions of Michigan’s township and city officials on issues related to election administration in their jurisdictions, including expected challenges and confidence in election security. Data from a parallel survey of...