NewsWatch: Virtualizing Graffiti, Hold Banks Responsible for Blight?

Governor Vetoes Smart Grid, Fight Brews
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn vetoed Smart Grid legislation backed by the state's two largest utilities. The proposal would have allowed Ameren Illinois and Commonwealth Edison Co. to rebuild their electric grid and distribution networks over the next decade without going through the  regulatory process. Both utilities said Smart Grid would speed up infrastructure improvements. Illinois Statehouse News

City to Be Built Just for Testing Green Technologies
Up to 20 square miles of virgin desert in New Mexico will soon be home to the nation’s newest town, only with a twist — no one will live there. Developer Pegasus Global Holdings and the state of New Mexico have announced plans to create a “mid-sized” smart city that they are calling The Center for Testing, Evaluation and Innovation. Inhabitat

St. Cloud Complete Streets Program Killed
Despite overwhelming support from the public, St. Cloud, Minn., City Council members failed to pass a complete streets policy Monday. The measure failed when it could not get a majority and votes tied at 3. Council member Sonja Berg was not at Monday’s meeting. Council President John Libert and members Dave Masters and Jeff Johnson voted for the policy. St. Cloud Times

Tweeting a Transportation Vision for Michigan
The Michigan Municipal League in collaboration with its affiliate organization, Let’s Save Michigan, is hosting a unique public forum on Twitter. The event, known as “Twitterverse,” will serve as a virtual platform for a unique statewide conversation on the need for a new transportation system in the state. Sustainable Cities Collective

iPhone App Virtualizes Graffiti
Graff City, a free iPhone app that became available on the iTunes Store Friday, allows users to snap photos of buildings and surfaces around San Francisco. They then use digital markers of varying brush effects and colors to "tag" them. People can upload their creations onto Facebook or a communal network that lets others view, rate and share virtual tags. The city spends an estimated $22 million annually on cleaning up graffiti, and hopes the app will reduce actual tagging. San Francisco Chronicle

Hold Banks Accountable for Blight?
Assigning responsibility for empty homes can be tricky. Sometimes, owners walk away or banks avoid retaking the title quickly. Some banks simply ignore the city's notices, according to Richmond, Calif., code enforcement supervisor Teresa Tingle, with Deutsche Bank, Bank of America and Wells Fargo among the worst offenders. Contra Costa Times