Economic strength carried more weight than the other components of the index, which were chosen to measure cities' ability to attract businesses, capital, workers and tourists.
The Pan Am Sports Organization, made up of officials from 42 countries, had concerns about the two cities' ability to organize the games, particularly since the 2003 host, the Dominican Republic, is lagging behind schedule.
Competition law has a significant impact on cities' ability to integrate public transport services, fares and information systems.
The study re-affirms the position that a global depletion of natural resources leads to a global competition for resources and therefore the future competitiveness and vulnerability of cities are dictated by cities' ability to shift to a less resource-intensive production and way of life, with less waste generation and increased recycling (EU 2011).
Meanwhile in Ohio, a law was enacted last year that restricted cities' ability to set up cameras at red lights.
But now, Republicans in the state Legislature have introduced a new bill that would strip cities' ability to create their own labor laws.
Together, the Bloom and Wieckowski bills would force cities to permit the backyard homes — also known as "secondary units" or "granny flats" — eliminate cities' ability to require additional parking spaces for units near transit, and limit fees charged to connect to local water and sewer systems.
They said they were going to have a Proposition 218 hearing, and I said, "I wonder what Proposition 218 is?" Proposition 218 restricts cities' ability to levy a fee; you can't levy a fee unless you incur a proportional cost.
It is undermining cities' abilities and willingness to backstop these projects when they do fail".
Telecommunications companies and cable television providers are supporters of laws that could hamper cities' abilities to deploy networks, both wired and wireless.
