★ WAKE the WOKE
Commentary · Ideas are easy. Policy is hard. Wake up to what actually worked.
The American lens. The U.S. is home to the world's largest immigrant population, about 53.3 million people (Pew Research Center, 2024) - a reminder that policy here is judged by two questions, not one: did it work, and what did it cost in freedom?
Commentary

Rankings

Within each policy domain, ranked by measured outcome (grade), best to worst. Withheld/too-new cases are omitted here and listed under Issues.

Housing & Zoning

GradePolicyOffice(s)Note
A · 22/24Auckland's UpzoningCity Councilfavors policy
A · 21/24Houston's Minimum-Lot-Size CutsCity Council, Mayorfavors policy
A · 21/24Austin's HOME InitiativeCity Council, Mayorfavors policy
A · 21/24California ADU ReformState Housefavors policy
B · 18/24Minneapolis 2040 ZoningCity Councilfavors policy
B · 18/24Spokane's Missing-Middle PilotCity Councilfavors policy
B · 18/24Massachusetts MBTA Communities ActState Housefavors policy
B · 18/24Single-Stair ReformState House, City Councilfavors policy
B · 18/24Cleveland Tenant Right to CounselCity Councilfavors policy
B · 18/24New York City's 'City of Yes' Housing ReformCity Council, Mayorfavors policy
B · 17/24Oregon HB2001 Missing-Middle ZoningState House, Governor / Executivefavors policy
C · 14/24Florida Live Local ActState Senate, Governor / Executive
C · 13/24Inclusionary ZoningCity Council
D · 12/24Massachusetts Right to ShelterGovernor / Executive
D · 11/24California SB9 Lot SplitsState Senate
D · 9/24Rent Control (SF, Cambridge, St. Paul)City Council
F · 6/24Marin County DownzoningCounty Commission / Supervisor

Housing Finance / Taxes

GradePolicyOffice(s)Note
B · 17/24Pennsylvania Land-Value TaxCity Council
B · 17/24Massachusetts Fair Share SurtaxBallot Measurefavors policy
B · 17/24Washington Capital-Gains TaxState Senate, Ballot Measurefavors policy
D · 11/24San Francisco Empty Homes TaxBallot Measure
D · 11/24California Proposition 13Ballot Measure
D · 11/24Oakland Vacancy TaxBallot Measure
D · 10/24LA Measure ULA Mansion TaxBallot Measure

Pretrial & Criminal Justice

GradePolicyOffice(s)Note
A · 21/24California Three-Strikes Reform (Prop 36, 2012)Ballot Measurefavors policy
A · 21/24Mississippi Earned-Parole ReformState Senatefavors policy
B · 18/24Cash-Bail Reform (NJ, NY, IL, Harris Co.)State Senate, District Attorney / Prosecutorfavors policy
B · 18/24Michigan Presumptive ParoleGovernor / Executivefavors policy
B · 17/24Illinois Pretrial Fairness ActState Senatefavors policy
C · 15/24Colorado Recidivism Reform ParadoxState Senate, Governor / Executive
C · 14/24California Prop 36 (Retail Theft, 2024)Ballot Measure

Drug Policy / Harm Reduction

GradePolicyOffice(s)Note
A · 21/24Syringe Services ProgramsCounty Commission / Supervisorfavors policy
C · 15/24Ohio Issue 2 Cannabis LegalizationBallot Measure
C · 14/24Colorado Prescription Drug Affordability BoardGovernor / Executive
C · 13/24Supervised Consumption SitesCity Councilfavors policy
D · 11/24Oregon Measure 110 Drug DecriminalizationBallot Measure

Public Health

GradePolicyOffice(s)Note
A · 22/24Newark Lead Service-Line ReplacementMayor, Water / Utility Districtfavors policy
A · 21/24NYC Speed CamerasCity Councilfavors policy
B · 18/24California Flavored-Tobacco Ban (Prop 31)Ballot Measurefavors policy
C · 14/24Soda Taxes (Berkeley, Philadelphia)City Council
C · 14/24Massachusetts Menthol BanState House
D · 10/24Calgary Water FluoridationWater / Utility District

Health Access

GradePolicyOffice(s)Note
A · 21/24North Carolina Medical-Debt ReliefGovernor / Executivefavors policy
B · 20/24Medicaid Expansion by BallotBallot Measurefavors policy
B · 17/24Oregon Medicaid (OHIE)Governor / Executivefavors policy
B · 17/24Interstate Medical Licensure CompactState Senatefavors policy
D · 11/24California CARE CourtGovernor / Executive
D · 11/24California's Proposition 1 Behavioral-Health OverhaulBallot Measure, Governor / Executive
D · 9/24Vermont Single-Payer (Green Mountain Care)Governor / Executive
F · 7/24Georgia Pathways Medicaid Work RequirementsGovernor / Executive

Transportation

GradePolicyOffice(s)Note
A · 21/24NYC Congestion Pricing (2025)Transit Agency / Boardfavors policy
B · 18/24Boston Fare-Free BusesMayorfavors policy
C · 14/24Kansas City Fare-Free TransitTransit Agency / Board
C · 14/24Indianapolis Red Line BRTTransit Agency / Board
F · 7/24California High-Speed RailGovernor / Executive
F · 7/24Honolulu HART RailTransit Agency / Board

Energy & Codes

GradePolicyOffice(s)Note
C · 15/24Washington Climate Commitment ActBallot Measurefavors policy
C · 14/24California NEM-3 Rooftop SolarGovernor / Executive
C · 13/24California Title 24 Solar MandateState House
D · 12/24Building Gas Bans (Berkeley)City Council

Environment & Waste

GradePolicyOffice(s)Note
B · 19/24Oregon Bottle BillState Housefavors policy
C · 14/24Polystyrene Foam BansState House
C · 13/24Plastic-Bag Bans (California SB270)State Senate
C · 13/24California SB1383 Organics MandateState Senate

Education

GradePolicyOffice(s)Note
A · 21/24Mississippi Literacy-Based Promotion ActCounty Superintendent / Educationfavors policy
B · 19/24School-Finance Reform / Targeted SpendingGovernor / Executivefavors policy
B · 18/24Per-Pupil Spending and OutcomesSchool Boardfavors policy
B · 18/24Michigan Universal School MealsGovernor / Executivefavors policy
B · 17/24Charter School Outcomes (CREDO 2023)School Boardfavors policy
C · 14/24Colorado's Healthy School Meals for All (Prop FF)Ballot Measure, Governor / Executive
C · 13/24The Houston ISD State TakeoverCounty Superintendent / Education
D · 11/24San Francisco Algebra DetrackingSchool Board
D · 11/24New Hampshire Education Freedom AccountsState House
D · 10/24Florida Universal Vouchers (HB1)State House

Labor & Wages

GradePolicyOffice(s)Note
B · 20/24Arizona Universal License RecognitionState Housefavors policy
B · 18/24Minnesota Dental TherapistsState Housefavors policy
B · 18/24Nurse-Practitioner Full Practice AuthorityState Housefavors policy
B · 18/24Connecticut Paid Family LeaveState Housefavors policy
B · 17/24Occupational Licensing ReformState Housefavors policy
B · 17/24Minnesota Noncompete BanState Senatefavors policy
B · 17/24Florida's $15 Minimum Wage (Amendment 2, 2020)Ballot Measure
C · 15/24Seattle $15 Minimum WageCity Council
C · 14/24California FAST Act ($20 Fast-Food Wage)State Senate
C · 14/24OpenResearch Guaranteed Income StudyCity Council
C · 14/24Michigan's Minimum Wage and Tip-Credit WhiplashState Senate, Governor / Executive

Fiscal / Taxes / Pensions

GradePolicyOffice(s)Note
B · 18/24State Child Tax CreditsState Senate, Governor / Executivefavors policy
C · 14/24Colorado TABORBallot Measure
C · 14/24Rhode Island Pension Reform (RIRSA)State Senate
C · 13/24Wisconsin Act 10Governor / Executive
D · 10/24Public Pensions (CalPERS)Governor / Executive
D · 10/24Kentucky Pension Reform (2013)State Senate
F · 7/24Kansas Tax-Cut ExperimentGovernor / Executive
F · 4/24Flint Emergency ManagerGovernor / Executive

Governance & Elections

GradePolicyOffice(s)Note
B · 17/24Independent Redistricting CommissionsBallot Measurefavors policy
C · 15/24Seattle Democracy VouchersCity Council
C · 14/24Ranked-Choice Voting (Maine, Alaska)Ballot Measure
C · 14/24Ranked-Choice Voting RepealsBallot Measure
D · 10/24State Legislative Term LimitsBallot Measure

Policing & Surveillance

GradePolicyOffice(s)Note
B · 18/24Camden Police ReformCity Councilfavors policy
C · 14/24Colorado SB217 Police AccountabilityGovernor / Executive
C · 13/24Body-Worn CamerasCity Council
C · 13/24Automated License-Plate Readers (Flock)City Council
C · 13/24Facial-Recognition BansCity Council
C · 13/24Red-Flag Laws (ERPO)State House

Consumer / Markets

GradePolicyOffice(s)Note
B · 17/24California SB478 Junk-Fee BanState Senatefavors policy
B · 17/24South Carolina CON RepealState Senatefavors policy
B · 17/24Colorado Right to RepairState House
D · 10/24Certificate-of-Need LawsState House
D · 10/24Florida Canadian Drug ImportationGovernor / Executive