Depositing Public Funds in Local Banks

A growing number of states and cities are considering or enacting policies that move government bank accounts to small community banks and credit unions. These bills have two primary motivations: To withdraw public funds from big banks that have imposed high fees on customers and engaged in predatory mortgage lending, redlining, and other practices that destroy … Read More

Antitrust Policies

When U.S. antitrust laws were first enacted, and for many decades following, they were infused with both an economic and a civic purpose. The goal of antitrust policy was not only to protect consumers from monopoly pricing, but to foster an economy compatible with democracy. Concentrated market power amounted to “a kingly prerogative, inconsistent with our form of government,” said Senator John Sherman, author of the first major piece of antitrust legislation in 1890. “If we will not endure a king as a political power we should not endure a king over the production, transportation, and sale of the necessaries of life.” Dispersing ownership and maintaining a decentralized economy of numerous small businesses would both ensure healthy competition and be accordant with democratic self-governance.… Read More

Open Standards and Open Access in Vancouver, Canada

On May 21, 2009, Vancouver passed an important resolution to encourage technological openness in the City. The city is committing to making more data available, which will encourage citizen oversight and understanding of what the city government is doing.

The city is committing to open/accessible data, open standards, and open source software (not by mandating it, but by mandating its consideration when replacing or acquiring new systems).

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Community Owned Sports Teams – Examples

Examples and history from a handful of community owned sports teams including information on Appleton, WI, Timber Rattlers, Green Bay Packers, Harrisburg Senators, Memphis Redbirds, Rochester, NY, Red Barons, Syracuse, NY, Sky Chiefs and the Toledo Mud Hens.Read More

New York – State Enabling Legislation for Community Owned Sports

In 1998, Assembly Bill 684 – the New York State Sports Fan Protection Act – was introduced by Assemblypersons Richard Brodsky and Richard Gottfried as a means to acquire the Yankees if owner George Steinbrenner followed through on his threats to move the club to New Jersey. The bill would establish a State Sports Authority, which could condemn a franchise through the legal practice of eminent domain and sell shares of it to the public if either a) the cost of a stadium to the public exceeded the value of the franchise, or b) the franchise takes action to move from the state.… Read More

Minnesota – State Enabling Legislation for Community Owned Sports

Numerous bills involving community ownership were introduced during the Minnesota Twins stadium debate of 1997 and early 1998. Most, however, were tainted with the inclusion of a publicly funded ballpark. Representative Phyllis Kahn’s House Bill 3348 separated this controversial issue from the community ownership concept, which received broad public support. In 2002, Kahn re-introduced a similar bill H.F No. 2587 which was debated, amended and passed out of the House Governmental Operations and Veterans Affairs Policy. The bill stalled after Governor Ventura’s administration put forward a plan to help the Minnesota Twins get a new outdoor stadium with the help of the state’s bonding authority.… Read More

Fairness in Antitrust in National Sports (FANS) Act

In response to Major League Baseball’s plan to eliminate the Minnesota Twins from the league, Senator Paul Wellstone introduced legislation in November 2001 to amend the Clayton Act to make the antitrust laws applicable to the elimination or relocation of major league baseball franchises. Current law provides baseball an exemption from antitrust rules and regulations.… Read More

Give Fans A Chance Act

Initially introduced in 1997 and re-introduced in 2001 by Oregon Representative Earl Blumenauer, The Give the Fans a Chance Act would forbid leagues from prohibiting community ownership. If a professional sports league ignores this provision, it will lose its sports broadcast antitrust exemption.… Read More

Community Broadband – Grant of Authority to Municipalities – Vermont

Prior to June 2007, a Vermont town that wanted to create a community broadband network would have to amend the town charter and get it approved by the Vermont Legislature to gain the necessary authority to do so.  Public Act 79 of 2007 changed that, granting broad authority to communities to create their own networks.

The national telecommunications companies like Comcast and Verizon had largely ignored Vermont, like other upper New England states.  These companies invested little in the low density communities – preferring to invest where they could maximize profits.  Realizing the future required fast broadband networks, the Vermont Legislature and Governor Douglas partnered, forming an overwhelming majority to pass legislature to encourage broadband investment.… Read More

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