Derek Molina
Local Editor
Derek Molina serves as the Local Editor at City & Local, where he specializes in community reporting, neighborhood developments, and local guides. His coverage spans municipal governance, urban planning, small businesses, and community events, providing readers with the essential information they need to stay engaged. By focusing on the stories that shape local living, Derek approaches journalism with a commitment to highlighting the best of our neighborhoods and keeping residents informed.
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Latest Articles
2026 funding cuts will cripple child services
In Hamilton County, a committee determined Job and Family Services needs a levy to generate $144 million annually for mandated services.
Sep 12, 2026 · 4 min read
Best Family-Friendly Neighborhoods in MA for Schools & Safety
In Lexington, Massachusetts, 80% of students achieve math proficiency.
Sep 12, 2026 · 4 min read
How to Find Local Volunteer Programs for 2026: A Complete Guide
Thousands of volunteer opportunities across the country are now just a few clicks away, with platforms like Volunteer streamlining the application process for civic-minded individuals.
Sep 11, 2026 · 4 min read
How to Join Local Running Clubs and Their Benefits
In Belfast, the Vegan Runners UK club launched a Couch to 5k program in January.
Sep 11, 2026 · 3 min read
What Are The Benefits and Challenges of Mixed-Use Zoning?
Between 2010 and 2020, mixed-use development constituted nearly 50 percent of all new commercial and multi-family development delivered in Montgomery County, according to Montgomery Planning .
Sep 11, 2026 · 6 min read
Why Local Groups Lean on Digital Tools Amid Hybrid Event Challenges
Local community organizations report a 60% increase in event attendance since adopting hybrid formats.
Sep 11, 2026 · 3 min read
How Do Local Zoning Boards Influence Community Development?
At 9:30 a.m. every other Tuesday, Boston's Zoning Board of Appeal convenes, a routine meeting where decisions are made that quietly shape the city's future, often with unseen consequences. These local
Sep 10, 2026 · 3 min read
Digital Travel Apps: Market Growth & User Contributions
North America's travel and tourism app market generated USD 231 billion in 2024.
Sep 10, 2026 · 3 min read
How to Start a Community Garden: A Complete Guide
In urban areas, a well-placed community garden can actively combat the 'heat-island effect,' significantly cooling its immediate surroundings, according to Productiveparks .
Sep 9, 2026 · 4 min read
Why Libraries Are Offering More Than Books For Community Engagement
In February 2017, the Denver Public Library began stocking Narcan after a patron suffered a fatal overdose.
Sep 9, 2026 · 4 min read
What is the 15-minute city concept and why is it controversial?
In the average U.S. city, only 12 percent of residents' daily trips from home are made within a 15-minute walk, starkly contrasting with the ambitious vision of the 15-minute city. This low rate revea
Sep 8, 2026 · 4 min read
What Factors Drive Neighborhood Walkability Scores?
Despite a neighborhood having an average Walk Score of 55.
Sep 7, 2026 · 4 min read
San Francisco ties $500M homelessness contracts to measurable results
San Francisco spends over $500 million annually on homelessness, but an audit exposed one supportive housing provider, HomeRise, misusing taxpayer dollars on employee bonuses and social events.
Sep 7, 2026 · 2 min read
What Is Gentrification and How Does it Change Neighborhoods?
Gentrification indications increased sevenfold from the 1970s to the 2010s, now impacting over half of all large US cities and accelerating neighborhood change in communities of color.
Sep 6, 2026 · 6 min read
Free Family Activities Across Cities for 2026
In New York City alone, officials will deploy approximately 70 seasonal playground associates this summer to enhance free park activities, according to The New York Times .
Sep 6, 2026 · 5 min read
Discover Hidden Outdoor Gems in Your City
Deep within Griffith Park, the crumbling enclosures of an abandoned zoo offer a haunting glimpse into a forgotten past, inviting urban explorers to wander its overgrown paths.
Sep 5, 2026 · 4 min read
What Are Urban Zoning Laws and Why Do They Matter for Neighborhood Development?
In California and many eastern cities, housing prices far outstrip construction costs.
Sep 4, 2026 · 3 min read
What is urban transformation and why does it displace residents?
Between 2000 and 2013, gentrification in US cities led to the displacement of at least 135,000 Black and Hispanic residents.
Sep 4, 2026 · 4 min read
Tomales Bay deaths prompt safety advisory re-evaluation
Both 36-year-old Casey Flynn Melia and 37-year-old Alexander Ferguson were wearing life jackets when their bodies were found in Tomales Bay after a bioluminescence trip, yet they still perished, accor
Sep 3, 2026 · 2 min read
State-Backed Revitalization Initiatives: Definition and Outcomes
In North Branch, Michigan, a $2.
Sep 3, 2026 · 3 min read