Far West

Los Angeles City Councilman Paul Krekorian introduced two motions Tuesday to mandate water recycling and protect the city's trees.

With at least 36 states facing water shortages this year, mayors across the country will be asking residents to make a commitment to conserve water and cut pollution by taking part in a national contest aimed at drastically slashing water and energy use across the nation.

Tax reform proposals to curb tax exemption for municipal securities would create uncertainty in the market, possibly lead to higher borrowing costs, and hurt infrastructure development, issuer and borrower groups warned a Senate Finance Committee working group this week.

Municipalities are getting themselves into trouble by borrowing to cover operating deficits, Federal Reserve Bank of New York president and chief executive officer William Dudley told attendees at a closed-doors workshop Tuesday.

Former San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed is digging in for more pushback from the largest public pension fund in the U.S. in his latest push to give California municipalities more leeway to control pension costs.

The San Bernardino, Calif., firefighter’s union filed two lawsuits, living up to a promise to litigate issues over its contract with the city, which has been in Chapter 9 bankruptcy for three years.

Moody's Investors Service says the California governor's recent water restriction mandates are a credit negative for water utilities.

The new Florida Development Finance Corp. board on Tuesday delayed reconfirming the agency's decision to be the conduit for $1.75 billion in private activity bonds for the All Aboard Florida train project.

Moody's Investors Service has assigned an underlying Aa2 rating to Multnomah County School District No. 1J's general obligation bonds in advance of the Portland Public Schools' $245.7 million sale next week.

U.S. cities have significant long-term liabilities other than pensions that warrant attention, Merritt Research Services president and chief executive officer Richard Ciccarone argues in a report.