Here at The Citizen, we do problem-solving journalism, looking for ideas and solutions to move the region forward and make a better city. Here are some other great ideas for solving the world’s problems, from media outlets around the globe:
Researchers aren’t quite sure why, but evidence shows that well-cared-for green spaces in cities actually reduce crime. Often, those green spaces were added for totally unrelated reasons; in Philadelphia, for example, some were added to address stormwater runoff. It might be that better green spaces keep more people outside, reducing the opportunity for crime. It might be that government-created green spaces see more government-owned vehicles and government employees, which creates an added sense of security. Or maybe a well-manicured lawn tells would-be criminals that the locals care about their neighborhood and will watch to keep it safe. It could be all of those reasons, and more but the curious correlations can’t be denied. (via CityLab)
Kansas is a state that’s known for what’s the matter with it, and no one personifies that phenomenon more than Governor Sam Brownback. Brownback has used the state as a petri dish for conservative ideals, to disastrous effect. Yet when faced with a ballooning population of juvenile inmates, Brownback and the legislature actually took progressive action. Rather than automatically shuttling juvenile offenders off to detention facilities, Kansas will now strive to keep low-level offenders in their homes, which evidence suggests will reduce recidivism and even further decrease the juvenile inmate population. (via Kansas City Star)
Investing isn’t always just about maximizing your profit. For a lot of people, it’s important to invest in companies that share their values (or at the very least avoid those whose behaviors are considered abhorrent). But that can be hard to do, especially with all of the thousands and thousands of companies that can be invested in. Enter OpenInvest, a startup founded by traders that uses data to make investment recommendations based both on financial viability and on how well the companies’ values match the investors. And, unlike most other socially-responsible investment firms, it doesn’t require massive sums of money just to get in the door. (via FastCo.Exist)
Photo header: Flickr/Philadelphia Water Department
