Here was an example of 76 municipal utility districts and cities reneging on their obligations when it became obvious that they had made a major mistake in committing to build two nuclear power plants that were not going to be needed.
For the HCWs, the new work program was an example of a requirement directed from municipal level that entailed additional duties (indirect work tasks), resulting in increased workload and time pressure.
Mr. Bloomberg, who seeks to run city operations like a business, has repeatedly held up the agreement as an example of the way a municipal bureaucracy can be revitalized -- or in this case, enriched -- by a bit of private-sector marketing savvy.
One optimistic line of thought is that the debt morass could lead to financial overhauls, for example by leading to the development of a municipal bond market to give the local authorities an alternative financing source.
Thus, for example, choosing to spend the bulk of a municipal arts budget on a concert hall rather than an art museum may disadvantage those who cannot hear.
For example, a municipal reporter may report on various stages of building plan approval, view blueprints and talk to public engineers.
Exurban development outside Christchurch's urban growth boundary – called the "urban fence" – provides an example of tension between municipal attempts to curb sprawl and exurbanites' desire to live in the dispersed settlements outside of urban boundaries.
The most egregious example of municipal shenanigans is OpenCard, an electronic card that serves as both a transit and library pass.
"It's not the best example of municipal debt management," said Jim Lebenthal, a bond specialist.
