Latest news with #StateoftheCity
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former Stockton mayor launches rematch bid against Rep. Josh Harder in 2026 congressional race
Former Stockton Mayor Kevin Lincoln has announced he will challenge U.S. Rep. Josh Harder in California's 9th Congressional District once again. Lincoln, a Republican who unseated former Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs in 2021, lost to Harder in last year's congressional race by fewer than 4 percentage points. District 9 encompasses a large portion of the San Joaquin Valley, including most of San Joaquin County and parts of Contra Costa and Stanislaus counties. The district includes the cities of Stockton, Tracy, Manteca, Lodi, Ripon, Escalon and Mountain House, as well as several census-designated places such as French Camp. The National Republican Congressional Committee is targeting the District 9 seat, along with 25 other Democratic-held seats. The goal is for Republicans to flip those seats in the 2026 midterm election to grow the House majority. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee listed Harder's seat as one of the most vulnerable in the midterm election after President Donald Trump's nearly 2-point win in the district last year. Lincoln, a former military police officer and pastor, joins two other Republicans running for the District 9 seat: businessman Jim Shoemaker, who lost to Jerry McNerney in the 2024 race for California's 5th State Senate District, and athletic coach John McBride, who lost to Harder in last year's congressional race. "I'm honored to announce my campaign for Congress," Lincoln wrote in a social media post on Tuesday. "As a Marine, I learned the value of service and sacrifice. As mayor, I challenged the status quo and fought to make our communities safer, more affordable and more prosperous." Harder's campaign responded to Lincoln's announcement the same day. "Kevin Lincoln is a failed mayor and serial candidate who allowed crime and homelessness to soar in Stockton, all while spending millions on perks for himself and aligning with Washington extremists to rip health care away from Valley families," Harder's campaign said. While serving as mayor, Lincoln said crime and homelessness were two of his top priorities. During his final State of the City address in 2024, he said Stockton saw a 1.2% decrease in violent crimes and an 8% drop in homicides in 2023. He also said the city had invested significantly in housing and services for the homeless, including 10 emergency shelter projects, nine permanent supportive housing projects and four affordable housing projects. 'This is not how you treat people': Advocates criticize Stockton homeless encampment sweep The 2022 Point-in-Time count found that there were 893 people living on the streets of Stockton. An updated count in 2024 found that number had risen to 2,996. Voters will head to the polls on Nov. 3, 2026, for the District 9 election. The primary takes place on June 2, with the two candidates receiving the most votes advancing to the general election. Record reporter Hannah Workman covers news in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at hworkman@ or on Twitter @byhannahworkman. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at This article originally appeared on The Record: 2026 election: Republican Kevin Lincoln to challenge Josh Harder Solve the daily Crossword
1News
6 days ago
- Business
- 1News
Big, awkward, neglected: Auckland scores poorly on international report
The recent report comparing Auckland to nine international peer cities delivered an uncomfortable truth: our largest city is falling behind, hampered by car dependency, low-density housing and 'weak economic performance'. Timothy Welch reports. The Deloitte State of the City analysis was no surprise to anyone who has watched successive governments treat the city as a problem to manage, rather than an engine to fuel. The report's findings were stark: Auckland rates 82nd out of 84 cities globally for pedestrian friendliness, and its car-dependent transport system is more carbon-intensive and slower to decarbonise than peer cities. (Source: This is the direct result of decades of planning failures, including what urban researchers call the 1970s 'great down-zoning' which halved central Auckland's housing capacity. ADVERTISEMENT This isn't just Auckland's problem. When we mismanage what geographers call a 'primate city,' it reveals our fundamental misunderstanding of how modern economies work. The concept of the primate city was formalised by geographer Mark Jefferson in 1939. Such cities are defined as being 'at least twice as large as the next largest city and more than twice as significant'. Auckland fits this definition perfectly. With more than 1.7 million people, it is over four times larger than Christchurch or the greater Wellington region. The city accounts for 34% of New Zealand's population and is projected to hit 40% of the working-age population by 2048. The morning's headlines in 90 seconds, including Hulk Hogan dies, sentencing for a New Zealander who assaulted two airline stewards, and a big accolade for Te Papa. (Source: 1News) Auckland contributes 38% of New Zealand's gross domestic product and its per-capita GDP is 15% higher than the rest of the country's. Its most productive area, the central business district, enjoys a 40% productivity premium over the national average. To economists, these numbers represent the 'agglomeration benefits' research shows primate cities generate. It is the economic effect of combining businesses, talent and infrastructure. Yet New Zealand systematically underinvests in the very place generating this outsized economic contribution. ADVERTISEMENT A pattern of infrastructure failure Auckland's infrastructure deficit follows a predictable pattern. The City Rail Link, while progressing, has grown from an initial budget of NZ$2-3 billion to $5.5 billion, with opening delayed until 2026. The first train to be tested in Auckland's City Rail Link travels through Maungawhau in February. (Source: City Rail Link) Light rail was cancelled entirely after years of planning. A second harbour crossing has been studied for decades without a shovel hitting dirt. Each represents billions in opportunity costs while congestion worsens. This goes well beyond project mismanagement. It is a deep structural problem. The Infrastructure Commission-Te Waihanga identifies a $210 billion national infrastructure shortfall, with Auckland bearing a disproportionate burden despite generating a disproportionately high level of revenue. International research by the OECD shows successful countries treat metropolitan regions as engines of national growth, not a burden. ADVERTISEMENT The 'Wellington problem' Public policy expert Ian Shirley called it the 'Wellington Problem': the way Auckland's governance became an obsession for politicians and bureaucrats based in Wellington. The tension dates to 1865 when the capital was moved from Auckland to Wellington, establishing a pattern where political power was deliberately separated from economic power. Parliament (file image). (Source: 1News) Auckland loses an estimated $415.35 million annually in GST collected on rates. This goes to Wellington and into government revenue rather than being reinvested locally. Central government properties in Auckland, worth $36.3 million in rates, are exempt from payment while still using Auckland's infrastructure. When Auckland speaks with 'one voice' through its unified council, Wellington responds with legislative overrides. The recent National Land Transport Programme, for example, cut Auckland's transport funding by $564 million. Mayor Wayne Brown said the government's transport policy 'makes zero sense for Auckland'. ADVERTISEMENT Learning from others The contrast with international approaches reveals just how counterproductive New Zealand's approach has been. London has an integrated Transport for London authority with congestion charging powers, generating £136 million annually for reinvestment. Paris is investing more than €35 billion in the Grand Paris Express transit project. Paris: city of trains (Source: Japan's 'Quality Infrastructure Investment' principles include ¥13.2 trillion in regional infrastructure investment. Australia's A$120 billion infrastructure programme explicitly recognises its largest cities contribute over 50% of GDP and require proportional investment. Research has shown excessive urban concentration in one country can create problems. But denying the primate city resources only leads to a 'deterioration in the quality of life' that drags down the entire national economy. The solution lies in making strategic investments that maximise the benefits of agglomeration while managing any negative costs to the national economy. ADVERTISEMENT Growing pains Auckland isn't a problem to be managed, it is an asset to be leveraged. Every successful developed economy has learned this lesson. Paris generates 31% of France's GDP and gets treated accordingly. Seoul produces 23% of South Korea's output and receives massive infrastructure investment. Tokyo drives Japan's economy. The international evidence is unambiguous: countries that strategically invest in their primate cities achieve higher productivity growth and maintain competitive advantages. Auckland doesn't need sympathy or special treatment. It needs what every primate city in every successful economy gets: infrastructure investment proportional to its economic contribution, governance structures that reflect its scale, and political leadership that understands agglomeration economics. The question isn't whether Auckland is too big. The question is whether New Zealand is big enough to nurture its primate city. Timothy Welch Senior Lecturer in Urban Planning, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons licence.
NZ Herald
7 days ago
- Business
- NZ Herald
Opinion: Innovation is on the rise but can Auckland build on it?
Investors are finding better value here than in most comparable cities, suggesting that the fundamentals are starting to align. While the overall scale remains modest, the pace of development is encouraging. Our workforce is another strength. Nearly half of Aucklanders aged 15 and over hold a tertiary qualification, higher than San Diego and just behind Vancouver. While cities such as Singapore and Austin have grown their skills base significantly over the past decade, Auckland starts from a solid foundation. Combined with our diversity and international outlook, this gives us a strong platform to support innovation across science, technology, health and creative industries. Innovation boost: Auckland advances in State of the City report. Photo / Fieldays These gains point to early momentum but also highlight how far we have to go. If Auckland wants to compete in the top tier globally, we need to be deliberate. Cities that outperform us have built innovation systems with co-ordination, continuity and purpose. Auckland's next step requires investment in the parts of our ecosystem that remain underdeveloped and a more connected approach to turning potential into performance. The decile shift is progress, but it also reminds us that others are moving faster. This is a ranking out of 10 – Auckland still sits in the lower half. Three challenges Auckland must tackle The State of the City report highlights several areas where Auckland must improve. If we want to build on what's working, we must address all of these challenges. Here are some thoughts for three of them: 1. Building the enterprise pipeline Auckland performs well in business creation relative to population size, but our total start-up rate remains low. We rank No 92 out of 200 cities and eighth among peers. Too few ideas are becoming ventures and too few people see entrepreneurship as a viable or visible career. Auckland's start-up ecosystem is growing faster than many of its peers. This is not only structural. It is also cultural. Global research shows just 8% of University of Auckland students intend to start a business, compared with 21% internationally. Some cities have made building the pipeline a central policy priority. New Delhi has launched a strategy to foster 15,000 new ventures by 2030, with a focus on student entrepreneurship, mentorship and reducing start-up costs. The emphasis is on creating opportunity early and making entrepreneurship more accessible. Auckland could take similar steps. Invest earlier in entrepreneurial learning across education. Improve co-ordination across start-up programmes. Support the founder's visibility and community. And reduce the real and perceived barriers so that starting a business feels viable across a broader population. 2. Enabling firms to scale We rank No 124 globally for venture capital-backed firms and have the lowest number of mid- and high-revenue companies among our peers. Innovation economies depend on firms that grow, attract capital and anchor sectors. Singapore's SGInnovate addresses this challenge head-on. It co-invests in deep-tech start-ups post-seed, matches them with experienced executive talent and helps connect them to international markets. Crucially, it is integrated into a broader national strategy that treats scaling as central to innovation-led growth. Backed by the Singapore government, SGInnovate acts as a deep-tech ecosystem builder and investor, connecting individuals, founders and companies with resources and opportunities in emerging technologies. Photo / Getty Images Auckland should act on this missing middle and support ventures transitioning from start-up to growth with dedicated capital and leadership development. Focus not just on formation, but on resilience and global competitiveness. 3. Strengthening innovation infrastructure Auckland ranks No 138 globally for innovation infrastructure. We lack the precincts, science parks and shared spaces that catalyse collaboration and commercialisation. Auckland ranks 138th globally for innovation infrastructure. Singapore's One-North precinct and Helsinki's Maria 01 and Otaniemi districts show the power of place-based investment. These are not just real estate developments. They are platforms for partnerships. They bring start-ups, corporates, researchers and investors into a shared space where collisions happen and ideas move faster. Auckland's assets are dispersed. We need a flagship precinct with critical mass, ideally near transit, research and enterprise anchors. And we need to treat innovation infrastructure as part of city-shaping, not an add-on. If Auckland is serious about becoming a leading innovation city, we need to make the next phase less fragmented and more focused. Let's commit to a system that supports innovation from early idea to global scale. One where students, scientists and founders can see a clear path forward. Let's invest in the infrastructure that allows ideas, capital, and talent to move more easily. And let's treat innovation as central to Auckland's economic development. We have made progress. Now we need the discipline and ambition to build on it.
Axios
22-07-2025
- Business
- Axios
Johnston's "dream" meets a $250M reckoning
Mayor Mike Johnston's second State of the City address Monday night brimmed with Mile High optimism — invoking the word "dream" a dozen times and pitching Denver as the "capital of the New West." Yes, but: What the mayor largely skipped in his 38-minute speech was the $250 million budget hole that's about to swallow City Hall — and potentially hundreds of jobs with it. He spent barely a minute on the deficit, pledging to "minimize impact" on city workers and core services while delivering a government that will "work better and cost less." The big picture: Two years into his first term, Johnston touted historic drops in street homelessness and violent crime, downtown revitalization efforts, and a newly overhauled building permitting process. Over the next two years, he's setting his sights on tackling long-term support services for unhoused residents, theft and public drug use, stagnant downtown office demand, and a housing market that's pricing teachers and nurses out. Reality check: How the mayor plans to accomplish his ambitious goals under such severe budget constraints and with staffing slashed is the elephant not just in the room — but squarely in his lap. Between the lines: Johnston also doubled down on plans to put an $800 million "Vibrant Denver" infrastructure bond on November's ballot — a tough sell in a city facing cuts. What's next: A formal budget-balancing plan is expected this fall, likely setting off tense negotiations in City Hall. Layoff announcements could start as soon as Aug. 2. The bottom line: Johnston is urging Denverites to rally around a common vision — but with a quarter-billion-dollar shortfall, it's hard to ignore the realities crowding out the hope.
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
19th Street's transformation has Eastchester businesses excited
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) – The transformation of 19th Street continues. The area of downtown Bakersfield between K and Q just keeps getting more interesting. Now, granted, it's not all that interesting at the moment. The historic Woolworth's building is still a couple of months from completion, and a section of Eastchester, as it has come to be known, seems to have more for lease signs than now open. But it's getting there. As Mayor Karen Goh outlined this week at the annual State of the City luncheon, food, drink and assorted diversions are in the planning and/or construction phases. This derelict lot will eventually look like this. The so-called Toucan building, ravaged by fire just a few months ago, will soon look like this. And in between those spots, Bakersfield Community Theatre — the oldest continuously operating community theater in California – will be getting new life. It's moving from a quonset hut on South Chester to the middle of the action. Jan Hefner, the executive director, took us on a tour. 'It is some very cool stuff happening,' she said, 'and that's one of the things that we were drawn to, is the chance to be a centerpiece of a new entertainment district. There's other fine theaters in the downtown area too, but with the amenities that are being built up here and the new vendors and businesses and restaurants that are coming in, we think this is just an ideal spot for us to be.' The community theater is moving next door to the historic Toucan building, which just last year was torched by fire. It, too, is making a comeback. The theater's move might take three years. But businesses already operating in this largely shuttered commercial/slash light industrial area are ready for them. Hector Miranda owns Adventure Awaits, a 19th Street coffee shop that's been open almost three years. It's directly across from that container park. 'Things are definitely changing as we brought in an influx of traffic as well as all the new businesses that are coming up around us,' he said. 'We're very excited to have all new neighbors.' Hoagie's Grill is right around the corner from Bakersfield Community Theater's new location. Brianna Baker, an assistant manager, is happy about the proximity. 'I'm very excited for what downtown has to offer, especially right here on 19th Street,' she said. 'There's a lot of new things opening up. And it's really nice to see the community just show up for everybody. … I'm really excited to see what downtown has in store for us.' She and everyone else on 19th Street is hoping excitement and prosperity are right around the corner. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
