Opinion: Page 5

The latest opinion pieces by industry thought leaders

If you are interested in having your voice heard on Smart Cities Dive's Opinion page, please read our editorial guidelines and fill out the submission form here.

  • Veo - phone scanning scooter
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Veo
    Image attribution tooltip

    In it for the long haul: 5 steps to secure micromobility's future

    Veo CEO Candice Xie shares insights on how the industry can walk the talk in terms of becoming environmentally sustainable and more financially resilient.

    Candice Xie • March 9, 2022
  • Close-up photo of female hands with smartphone. Young woman typing on a mobile phone on a sunny street.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Kirill Smyslov via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Citizens want authentic engagement opportunities, not just notifications

    It's up to governments to build digital on-ramps to help citizens overcome community engagement barriers. With modern solutions and professional support, digital engagement can become an everyday event for any community.

    Andrea Facini • March 7, 2022
  • 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.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Toa55 via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Six ways states could help cities and towns implement climate solutions

    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.Cities, to...

    Dr. Elizabeth Sawin • March 2, 2022
  • Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Making corporate net-zero rhetoric real in 2022

    Businesses' net-zero commitments are new promises to do good for broader society, going far beyond the company's own operations, the authors write. 

    Chris Deri and Sasha Mackler • March 1, 2022
  • 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.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Toa55 via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    What networks need from municipal and county leaders

    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.From colle...

    Michelle Shumate, Katherine R. Cooper • Feb. 28, 2022
  • Image attribution tooltip
    David McNew via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Revisiting California’s natural gas hookup subsidies

    California is one of the biggest consumers of natural gas in the U.S., and has been adding new gas customers faster than any other state. These trends are in direct conflict with its ambitious climate goals, the authors write.

    Clifford Rechtschaffen and Simi Rose George • Feb. 23, 2022
  • 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.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Toa55 via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Four reasons why smart communities will take 2023 by storm

    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.The last t...

    Lisa Brown • Feb. 22, 2022
  • Matching Day and Night New York Skyline at sunrise, midday, night and on a rainy day.
    Image attribution tooltip
    ferrantraite via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    To decarbonize buildings, think like an entrepreneur

    The most innovative ideas to slash emissions won’t have impact if they never reach the market, writes Reshma Singh, who focuses on building technologies at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

    Reshma Singh • Feb. 18, 2022
  • Aerial view of mobiel phone cell tower over forested rural area of West Virginia to illustrate lack of broadband internet service.
    Image attribution tooltip
    BackyardProduction via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Strategies that make universal broadband access a reality are needed

    As the federal government readies $65 billion for broadband adoption, local leaders should make thoughtful, culturally-responsive strategies that connect all of our communities, writes the CEO of the Hispanic Heritage Foundation.  

    Antonio Tijerino • Feb. 16, 2022
  • Male hand holding smartphone to use GPS navigation of travel destination and swipe to read data on navigator.
    Image attribution tooltip
    RECVISUAL via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    At last, an infrastructure bill that gives people a reason to get out of their cars

    The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act could bring tech-enabled mobility to urban ‘transit deserts,' expanding economic opportunities while reducing emissions and traffic congestion, writes Via's head of public policy. 

    Andrei Greenawalt • Jan. 6, 2022
  • 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.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Toa55 via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    How local governments can better utilize text messages

    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.For many p...

    Tom Sheahan • Nov. 24, 2021
  • 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.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Toa55 via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Making the technical personal: How fiber is changing communities

    The passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act provides communities around the nation a once-in-a-generation opportunity to leverage their share of the $42.5 billion allocated for broadband infrastructure.

    Gary Bolton • Nov. 22, 2021
  • 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.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Toa55 via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    How local government agencies can protect communities from severe weather

    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.A record n...

    Todd Miller • Nov. 15, 2021
  • 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.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Toa55 via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Mainframe training and development are helping local governments fill their IT ranks

    For years, state and local governments have been trying to keep pace with a supercharged demand for more IT personnel.

    Lauren Valenti • Nov. 10, 2021
  • 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.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Toa55 via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Government can use tech solutions to lower motor vehicle fatalities

    Traffic deaths and serious injuries on our roadways are preventable.

    Christina Aizcorbe • Nov. 2, 2021
  • 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.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Toa55 via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    In a crisis, prepaid cards expedite relief funds to Wayne County residents

    In a crisis, prepaid cards expedite relief funds to Wayne County residents

    Tiffani C. Jackson • Nov. 1, 2021
  • 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.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Toa55 via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Three bill pay fixes to reduce late utilities payments

    Millions of Americans fail to pay their utilities bill on time. In fact, a recent bill payment study revealed more than one in four U.S. adults (28 percent) pay their utilities bill late, with 12 percent of them saying they frequently or always pay their utilities bill late.

    Bruce Gaskill • Oct. 28, 2021
  • 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.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Toa55 via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Periodic rental inspection programs are a must for every city

    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.If you had...

    Scott McGill • Oct. 27, 2021
  • Fermata Energy has partnered with the City of Boulder on a vehicle-to-grid charging project
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Fermata Energy
    Image attribution tooltip

    The wrong policies will hinder electrification — here’s what we need to do

    The challenge is how to expand consumer adoption and speed up the transition to electric cars and efficient electric heating systems, writes a commissioner with the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission.

    Abigail Anthony • Oct. 21, 2021
  • 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.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Toa55 via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Report: Green infrastructure projects can mitigate flooding, increase resiliency in underserved communities

    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.Addressing...

    Andy Castillo • Oct. 20, 2021
  • 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.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Toa55 via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    North Port, Florida utilities department depends on SCADA and remote alarm notification

    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.Located on...

    Jeremy Meegan • Oct. 19, 2021
  • Image attribution tooltip
    Christian Petersen/Getty Images via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to meet cities’ pressing needs. Let’s get it done.

    Passing the Biden infrastructure bill will have ripple effects across the U.S., writes Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, driving investments in areas including electric vehicles, energy efficiency and recycling infrastructure. 

    Kate Gallego • Oct. 18, 2021
  • 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.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Toa55 via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    5 ways to increase construction contract opportunities for small businesses

    As city and county government agency leaders know, there is tremendous power in the procurement process.

    Dwayne Pierre-Antoine • Oct. 15, 2021
  • A picture of wind turbines in front of solar panels in Palm Springs, California.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Kevork Djansezian via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Time for utility companies to step up by supporting the Clean Electricity Performance Program

    Achieving more clean energy is feasible, affordable and would benefit our economy and public health without compromising power system reliability, writes Ceres' senior program director of climate and energy.

    Dan Bakal • Oct. 15, 2021
  • 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.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Toa55 via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    How local government can make better organizational decisions

    Organizations are often disappointed with the outcomes of key institutional decisions.

    Jeff H. Edmonds • Oct. 15, 2021