Hi - 

I am doing a research paper and could use some help getting started.

I am trying to find examples of where local governments / city
councils / boards of supervisors have enacted laws that later became
popular elsewhere in the country.

That is, I would like to make the point that cities are a good
breeding ground for laws in general.  These laws could also come from
the voters - ie how some cities allow voters can put local
propositions on the ballot.

The laws don't have to become popular across the country, just have to
have been adopted in at least a few other places.  Prefer though laws
that maybe went very big across the country/world.

My preference for location is San Francisco first, other California
cities second, and then any city nationwide.

LEVEL OF DETAIL: I don't need much detail, just tell me: San Francisco
was the first city to ban smoking in bars (and maybe give me a
date...but not necessary).

Here's a few ideas to get you started (if they are accurate, maybe you
can provide details) (I have starred the ones that seem most
likely...but I'm not sure).

- City that started banning smoking in bars (which has now happened in
many cities across the country)*****
- banned death penalty?
- legalize abortion
- amber alert****
- dog leash laws
- gay marriage
- commuter lane***
- in San Francisco, you have to have a certain amount of park space
per office space, so maybe that has expanded
- renter protection laws
- in Seattle, paroled sexual offenders get housed in 1 place - anyone
else started doing that?
- needle exchange
- some sort of homeless program that has spread
- closing parks on the weekends to automobile traffic
- how about something historically big - like banning slavery, letting
women vote, etc...I dunno?
- health grades - i think LA started giving grades (ie, A, B, C...F)
to restaurants that have to be posted in windows - any other cities? 
Something along those lines?
- first city to adopt handicapped spots?
- bike lanes on roads
- 

So, I'm looking for around 10 ideas.  Basically, if one person comes
up with a bunch - great...I really appreciate it.  If you can give me
details, really give me a good start on this, that's wonderful (and I
will tip commensurately).

If, on the other hand, people want to throw out ideas, if I end up
using those ideas I will pay each person that does so $5 - I will open
up a new question just for you on google answers.  So please comment
if you think of something!

You should get jack layton's new book "Speaking out; ideas that work
for canadians." The book is full of such ideas and more actually. Jack
is a former council member from toronto (canada's largest city) and is
now the leader of the NDP (canadas left wing poltical party which has
support of 20% of the population)

The ideas are mostly practical based but inculde some theory based
stuff and there is all kinds of history written into it. The ideas
include some neat stuff like giving out free low-flow toilets and
shower heads to reduce waterflow, instead of having dental checks in
schools having free dental service for low incomers, bike racks on
buses, banning pesticides, community gardens, public co-op housing,
the first responces to AIDS were localy spearheaded, rent freezes in
the 70s and 80s, etc.

Co-op housing I think was a city solution from Canada (although I have
heard otherwise will require more checking) but the system was
recognized by the UN Habatit program as a "best practice".


On the case of pesicides, the first ever ban in canada (I am not sure
about globally but this was definately one of the first)was the case
of Hudson, Quebec a mid-sized city (ie under 250,000 ) the case went
all the way to the surpeme court when the corperations challaged it.

 Another good idea out of the book is the retrofit program first
started in Toronto. The program basicly used excess city money to
retro fit first government buildings, then any office building to make
them more energy efficent. The cost of the program was made up in
lowered energy cost and the loans to businesses were simply taken off
the public hydro service. So it didn't cost businesses any extra to be
environmentally freindly and the power-shortage problem was lessened.
There are talks about making this a national program and a while back
some germans from the EU came to study the program (not sure if they
did anything with thier findings but they were excited so most likely)

Recycling is something we hardly think about, it is such a part of our
way of life now but it wasn't always that way.I am told that one of
the first recycling programs were used to lower NY waste output. also
we can trace the new organic green bins to city programs, one of the
first I think was in toronto, also vancouver had an early version i
beleive.

Sort of on the topic of needle exchages I think you look at the 4
pillers drug policy, first adopted in a number of european cities and
now vancover, b.c. The plan is what leaded to not only needle
exchanges but also vancouvers new "safe injection sites" program were
addicts can use drugs under the supervision of doctors on safety
tested drugs (harm reduction!!!). This is now quietly being talked
about in citys all accross north america. more info. .
.www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/fourpillars/

If you want infomation about real inovation at a city level read this
article http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/2004/03.11/01-mockus.html

I am, as you can see by my name, a policy buff so I could go on at
length but. . . I have an early morning so I hope this helps. . .I can
do more but the I think amount of work involved is worth more (see
http://answers.google.com/answers/pricing.html) an besides you we're
only asking for a little help starting you project right?


*sorry about spelling/grammer but I have been looking at this computer
screen  for hours.