State And Local

Judge Tauro and Care of the Retarded in Massachusetts

Publication Date: January 01, 1987

On October 9, 1986, US District Court Judge Joseph L. Tauro signed an order withdrawing five Massachusetts state schools for the mentally retarded from federal supervision. The court had been involved in the schools since 1972, when parents of...

Tacoma Neon Wars (C)

Publication Date: January 01, 1987

In 1984, the Tacoma, Washington, City Council voted to accept the proposal of artist Stephen Antonakos for a $280,000 neon sculpture to be placed in the new Tacoma Dome sports and convention facility. The artwork would be paid for with funds...

Tacoma Neon Wars (B)

Publication Date: January 01, 1987

In 1984, the Tacoma, Washington, City Council voted to accept the proposal of artist Stephen Antonakos for a $280,000 neon sculpture to be placed in the new Tacoma Dome sports and convention facility. The artwork would be paid for with funds...

Tacoma Neon Wars (A)

Publication Date: January 01, 1987

In 1984, the Tacoma, Washington, City Council voted to accept the proposal of artist Stephen Antonakos for a $280,000 neon sculpture to be placed in the new Tacoma Dome sports and convention facility. The artwork would be paid for with funds...

AIDS and the Insurance Industry

Publication Date: January 01, 1987

In December 1986, Massachusetts Commissioner of Insurance Peter Hiam ordered life and health insurance companies operating in the state to stop testing insurance applicants' blood for antibodies to the AIDS virus. Hiam expressed concern that the...

Plastic in the Public Sector

Publication Date: January 01, 1987

This five-paragraph case sketches a debate in the state of Minnesota about whether to allow to pay for their annual $15 park permits by credit card. The debate took place in the context of a larger Department of Natural Resources effort to...

Ellen Schall and the Department of Juvenile Justice

Publication Date: January 01, 1987

This "Innovations in State and Local Government" case begins in January 1983, when Ellen Schall is appointed commissioner of New York City's Department of Juvenile Justice, an agency in upheaval. DJJ was established to detain seven- to...

Cancer and Environmental Hazards in Woburn, Massachusetts (A)

Publication Date: January 01, 1986

During excavation for an industrial park, hazardous wastes, including known carcinogens, are discovered in Woburn, Massachusetts. At the same time, two town wells are taken out of service because of chemical contamination. A local minister...

Cancer and Environmental Hazards in Woburn, Massachusetts (B: Sequel)

Publication Date: January 01, 1986

During excavation for an industrial park, hazardous wastes, including known carcinogens, are discovered in Woburn, Massachusetts. At the same time, two town wells are taken out of service because of chemical contamination. A local minister...

Cancer and Environmental Hazards in Woburn, Massachusetts (B): The Second Study

Publication Date: January 01, 1986

During excavation for an industrial park, hazardous wastes, including known carcinogens, are discovered in Woburn, Massachusetts. At the same time, two town wells are taken out of service because of chemical contamination. A local minister...

Smith and the Public Health Battle

Publication Date: January 01, 1986

In this disguised case, Helen Smith is a newly appointed state administrator of personnel hired as part of a new governor's reform effort. Smith's task is to crack down on the practice of using outside contracts to bypass state-required job...

California Water Pricing

Publication Date: January 01, 1986

In many parts of California, water districts set prices so that agricultural users pay far less than residential users and far less than the true cost of water. While the adoption of a marginal cost pricing system would bring enormous efficiency...