Opinion: Page 2

The latest opinion pieces by industry thought leaders

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    On the economy and housing, Americans want change. It starts at the local level.

    City governments across the country have been tackling their constituents’ concerns head on for years. Most recently, in the midst of a historic nationwide housing crisis, our work has centered around taking innovative approaches to ensure residents have access to affordable homes.

    Yadira Ramos-Herbert • Jan. 14, 2025
  • A row of electric vehicle chargers in a parking lot.
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    Aranga87/iStock/Getty Images Plus via Getty Images
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    How to keep electric vehicle investments on track in the new political climate

    A clean fuel standard has worked in several states to fund EV infrastructure. It should be tried in more places.

    Laura Sherman • Jan. 10, 2025
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    Why public safety is turning toward AI and 5G

    Moving forward, in 2025 and beyond, it is expected that public safety professionals will prioritize both reliability and data-driven, real-time insights.

    Maggie Hallbach • Jan. 8, 2025
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    Don’t blink

    If I were to give a short bit of advice to today’s procurement workforce, it would have to be “don’t blink.” The time spent in a rewarding career will go by faster than you think.

    Darin Matthews, CPPO, CPSM, NIGP-CPP • Dec. 20, 2024
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    welcomia via Getty Images
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    The key to successfully deploying heat pump water heaters? Funding innovation.

    Small grants allow local organizations to test new technologies and approaches, a vital step in scaling climate solutions. 

    Chris Badger • Dec. 17, 2024
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    Gabriel Shakour via Getty Images
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    Stepping up to achieve local climate progress despite federal headwinds

    As a second Trump administration takes office, state and local action will be among the most effective means of continuing the momentum for clean energy deployment and cost reductions.

    Darren Springer • Dec. 11, 2024
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    Toa55 via Getty Images
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    Procurement Ponderable: Supporting your entity’s sustainability goals through procurement

    One noteworthy shortcut is using existing cooperative contracts for sustainable products created by entities that have the capacity to award such contracts.

    Stephen B. Gordon, PhD, FNIGP, CPPO-Ret. • Dec. 9, 2024
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    Toa55 via Getty Images
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    Virginia Beach City Public Schools earns an A+ in employee benefits

    By focusing on a culture of wellness, integrating services to empower participants to change unhealthy behaviors and encouraging engagement through a highly personalized approach, school systems can create a winning benefits package that attracts and retains top talent.

    Tim Church, MD, MPH, PhD • Dec. 5, 2024
  • A detailed landscape design plan showing topographic contour lines, orange building illustrations, green trees, and directional arrows. The layout includes winding paths and clustered vegetation. A triangular scale ruler lies on the left, and three colored pencils, colored blue, green, and yellow, rest on the lower right corner of the page.
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    The hidden costs of property tax escrow delays

    Delays in property tax payments—whether due to inefficiency, operational shortcomings, or misaligned priorities—can create financial headaches for homeowners and disrupt the revenue flow for municipalities that depend on these funds to provide essential services.

    Niko Spyridonos • Nov. 22, 2024
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    coldsnowstorm via Getty Images
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    Loosening alcohol laws to revitalize your city’s economy is a mistake

    Cities must keep our public spaces alcohol-free to preserve health and safety, warns a policy consultant at the Institute for Public Strategies, a public health organization.

    Daniel Skiles • Nov. 22, 2024
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    Retrieved from City of New Braunfels.
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    Suburban cities focus on infrastructure expansions, upgrades

    These smaller-but-growing markets are generating a range of public works construction projects, writes consultant Mary Scott Nabers.

    Mary Scott Nabers • Nov. 19, 2024
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    Toa55 via Getty Images
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    Community trust is a firefighter’s greatest asset

    Firefighters are society’s first line of defense against natural disasters. When catastrophes like wildfires, floods or earthquakes ensue, these professionals aren’t just tasked with preventing the disaster from spreading; they’re also responsible for keeping community members safe from harm and maintaining order under high-stress situations.

    Robbi King • Nov. 5, 2024
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    Is the public safety department model the future of municipal emergency service?

    The undeniable fiscal constraints associated with local governance has challenged contemporary public administrators to achieve more with less. Budgets are stretched thin, and local government managers face increasingly complex service delivery demands from an electorate that loathes the idea of paying higher taxes.

    Dr. Randall Bauer • Oct. 30, 2024
  • A detailed landscape design plan showing topographic contour lines, orange building illustrations, green trees, and directional arrows. The layout includes winding paths and clustered vegetation. A triangular scale ruler lies on the left, and three colored pencils, colored blue, green, and yellow, rest on the lower right corner of the page.
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    Traverse City’s broadband project is a cautionary tale for other communities

    As a former telecommunications executive who created business plans for fiber networks, I’ve watched Traverse City, Mich.’s efforts to build a fiber municipal broadband network with both interest and concern.

    Gerald DeGrazia • Oct. 29, 2024
  • A person in a suit stands at a podium with a microphone. Behind him are flags and three people wearing face masks.
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    Alex Wong via Getty Images
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    Communities could lose unspent ARPA funds in December if they don’t do this

    Governments generally must “obligate” the funds, which requires more than passing a budget or earmarking them for use.

    Tom Kaleko and Lucas Peterson • Oct. 21, 2024
  • An eviction notice posted on the front door of a home.
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    Vyacheslav Dumchev/iStock/Getty Images Plus via Getty Images
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    Eviction data is lacking. Here’s how local governments can help.

    Local leaders need to understand the magnitude of the housing crisis in their area to act on it, a Princeton Eviction Lab representative says.

    Camila Vallejo • Oct. 14, 2024
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    Toa55 via Getty Images
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    How to build awareness of flood risk and gain buy-in for flood control measures

    Floods are one of the most devastating events to strike a community—costly in terms of lives lost, damaged or destroyed homes, economic disruption, and damage to critical infrastructure. However, improvements in technology are helping local governments provide accurate assessments of flood risk, so steps can be taken to provide early and accurate warning of flood events, minimize potential losses, and improve outcomes and overall resilience after a flood occurs.

    Katherine Osborne • Sept. 13, 2024
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    Cleveland’s new strategic plan focuses on making city government work better

    As Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb stepped onto the Music Hall stage in the city’s Public Auditorium on March 5, 2024, it was hard not to lose your place on the continuum of past, present and future.

    Andrew Kleine • Sept. 11, 2024
  • A detailed landscape design plan showing topographic contour lines, orange building illustrations, green trees, and directional arrows. The layout includes winding paths and clustered vegetation. A triangular scale ruler lies on the left, and three colored pencils, colored blue, green, and yellow, rest on the lower right corner of the page.
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    Justice40: Getting federal funds to communities that need it most

    Editor's note: This article was originally published in American City & County, which has merged with Smart Cities Dive to bring you expanded coverage of city innovation and local government. For the latest in smart city news, explore Smart Cities Dive or sign up for our newsletter.President Bide...

    Laurie Mazur • Aug. 19, 2024
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    Manatee County Sheriff’s Office transforms performance management to improve service

    Residents are flocking to Manatee County, Fla. From 2010 to 2021, the county’s population grew by a whopping 33% to 429,000.

    Julie Beckwith • Aug. 16, 2024
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    Permission granted by Paul Kalbfleisch
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    Prioritize play to help your city thrive in a post-pandemic world

    More joyful public spaces can offer a path forward for cities as housing and work trends weaken their relationships with residents.

    Paul Kalbfleisch • Aug. 13, 2024
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Congestion pricing alone won’t solve New York’s traffic problem

    Car-free streets, dedicated bus lanes, lower speed limits and variable toll pricing are among other cities' strategies for success, says TomTom's VP for traffic and travel information.

    Ralf-Peter Schäfer • Aug. 6, 2024
  • A detailed landscape design plan showing topographic contour lines, orange building illustrations, green trees, and directional arrows. The layout includes winding paths and clustered vegetation. A triangular scale ruler lies on the left, and three colored pencils, colored blue, green, and yellow, rest on the lower right corner of the page.
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    Toa55 via Getty Images
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    Digital permitting: Building stronger communities and centralizing asset data

    Editor's note: This article was originally published in American City & County, which has merged with Smart Cities Dive to bring you expanded coverage of city innovation and local government. For the latest in smart city news, explore Smart Cities Dive or sign up for our newsletter.Permitting...

    Dan Puerling • July 16, 2024
  • Eviction notice on door of house with brass door knob.
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    Bill Oxford via Getty Images
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    The White House just took steps to combat housing discrimination. States and local governments should follow.

    As the country’s eviction epidemic grows, lawmakers must take aim at tenant screening practices locking millions out of affordable housing.

    Jasmine Rangel • July 9, 2024
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    WIFIA funding helps communities address the impacts of climate change

    Editor's note: This article was originally published in American City & County, which has merged with Smart Cities Dive to bring you expanded coverage of city innovation and local government. For the latest in smart city news, explore Smart Cities Dive or sign up for our newsletter.Changes in...

    Dallas Shattuck • June 14, 2024