Here are the stories that featured in the International Spotlight segment of the latest episode of the Local Government News Roundup.
In the UK, recent events at Maldon District Council have led to the publication of an open letter, signed by 25 councillors, and the launch of a campaign to stamp out hate crime.
Elected members and council staff have been subjected to ongoing abuse and harassment, and police were called to a recent council meeting where one councillor was accused of breaching the peace.
The Council Leader and Deputy Leader both stepped down earlier this month in a bid to allow the council to move forward and draw a line under recent events.
In recent weeks and months, Council staff have been subject to threats of physical violence, intimidation, harassment and aggressive verbal abuse, in person and online.
The Council’s Enough is Enough campaign calls for zero tolerance to hate crime at work and in the community. Read more here
In Colorado, a new recreation center is under construction, thanks to the proceeds of marijuana.
Local news channel 9 News says the 76,000 square foot center in the city of Aurora is expected to be completed by February 2023, at a cost of $42M US dollars funded entirely from marijuana tax revenue.
Aurora voters approved a tax revenue scheme linked to the sale of unprocessed retail marijuana in 2014. As of last December, the tax had generated nearly $55M US dollars in revenue for the city. Read more here
More details on the City of Aurora’s Marijuana Tax Revenue Fund here
Listen to these stories and more in episode #75 of the Local Government News Roundup, brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association.