Municipal Innovation

The World's First Small Smart City

Mayor Positions Seat Pleasant as Future Tech Hub | AfroSeat Pleasant Mayor Eugene Grant told a group of residents recently that his city would be known as an innovative city that uses the latest technology to enhance the lives of its residents. On Jan. 30, Grant delivered his “State of the City Address” at the Seat Pleasant Activity Center before 60 people. Grant, who

Seat Pleasant is partnering with lead Fortune companies like Apple, IBM, and AECOM to develop the first small city smart city infrastructure. Learn more about Seat Pleasant's SMART City Project by clicking here or view the videos below.

Non-Citizens Voting / All Resident Voting

Maryland City May Let Noncitizens Vote, a Proposal With PrecedentCollege Park is considering allowing green card holders, students with visas and undocumented immigrants to vote in local elections, a practice that was once normal nationwide.

More Maryland Cities Allow Non-Citizens To Vote In Local Elections - The Kojo Nnamdi ShowThe City Council of Hyattsville, Md. voted recently to extend voting to non-citizens for municipal elections, and nearby Mount Rainier is poised to do the same. Not all residents agree, however.

Debating Non-Citizen Voting Rights In College Park, Maryland - The Kojo Nnamdi ShowThe home of the University of Maryland, College Park is considering a city charter amendment that would extend local voting rights to non-citizens.

Mt. Rainier extends vote to non-citizens - Prince George's SentinelMOUNT RAINIER – Two municipalities in Prince George’s County now allow non-U.S. citizens to vote in municipal elections. Almost a month after the city...

16 & 17 Year Old Voting

Greenbelt continues to study lowering voting age - Prince George's SentinelGREENBELT – The Greenbelt city council is not yet ready to make its decision on lowering the voting age in city elections. At the Nov. 28 meeting, the...

Hyattsville becomes second U.S. municipality to lower voting age to 16Starting with May’s municipal elections, more teens will be able to cast ballots.

Sanctuary Cities

Hyattsville votes to become 'sanctuary city' for immigrantsThe Hyattsville City Council approved an ordinance that directs local officials to look the other way with regard to the immigration status of residents.

Hyattsville becomes second official sanctuary city in MarylandTakoma Park, the state’s first sanctuary city, has held this status for more than three decades.