Governance & Finance: Page 11
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As cyber threats evolve, cities and counties need to safeguard staffers’ mobile devices
No question, more local governments are facing cyber threats in 2024, says Tim LeMaster, vice president, worldwide systems engineering at Lookout.
By Michael Keating • Oct. 25, 2024 - 
                    
                    
                        
                    
                    
                    
FAA sets air taxi pilot training, operations final rule
Powered-lift aircraft like eVTOL, which operate like both helicopters and airplanes, are "the first new category of aircraft in nearly 80 years," the FAA administrator said in announcing the new rule.
By Dan Zukowski • Oct. 25, 2024 - 
                    
                    
                        
                    
                    
                    
NYC comptroller proposes stopping pensions’ private market investments in fossil fuels
The funds would be the first U.S. public pension plans to have exclusions on investing in fossil fuel infrastructure like pipelines and liquefied natural gas terminals.
By Lamar Johnson • Oct. 25, 2024 - 
                    
                    
                        
                    
                    
                    
How transit ballot measures fared in Nov. 5 elections
Many local and state transportation improvements earned bipartisan support even when measures asked to increase taxes, an analyst said.
By Dan Zukowski • Updated Nov. 8, 2024 - 
                    
                    
                        
                    
                    
                    
Massachusetts investing in commuter rail to relieve traffic congestion
“Our roads are at a standstill,” the state’s transportation secretary said at a conference last week, detailing how the state is making passenger rail a priority.
By Dan Zukowski • Oct. 22, 2024 - 
                    
                    
                        
                    
                    
                    Opinion
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.
By Tom Kaleko and Lucas Peterson • Oct. 21, 2024 - 
                    
                    
                        
                    
                    
                    
Nominations open for the 2024 American City & County Crown Communities and Exemplary Public Servants awards
Nominations are now being accepted for the 2024 American City & County Crown Communities and Exemplary Public Servants awards.
By Michelle Havich • Oct. 18, 2024 - 
                    
                    
                        
                    
                    
                    
Platform compiles ‘proven solutions’ to urban challenges, from air pollution to homelessness
Bloomberg Philanthropies' Cities Idea Exchange added programs and policies that it says have a track record of stoking stakeholder interest and attracting investment.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Oct. 16, 2024 - 
                    
                    
                        
                    
                    
                    
9 bike-friendly laws signed by California governor
Bicycle advocates cheered laws that spur bike and pedestrian infrastructure construction, but Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed two bills that advocates hoped would rein in driver speeding.
By Dan Zukowski • Oct. 14, 2024 - 
                    
                    
                        
                    
                    
                    Column
Procurement purchasing card perils: Will you be the next headline?
In January, Local 10 news in Miami reported that a former Miami-Dade School Board member used district-issued credit cards to rack up more than $100,000 in personal purchases that included everything from refrigerators to a trip to Disney World.
By Shannon Castillo, MBA, CFE • Oct. 11, 2024 - 
                    
                    
                        
                    
                    
                    
How the White House influences transportation grantmaking
Priorities vary among administrations, an Urban Institute report found. “The president actually has substantial discretion over a lot of these programs,” one researcher said.
By Dan Zukowski • Oct. 9, 2024 - 
                    
                    
                        
                    
                    
                    
On technology buys, it’s important that agency stakeholders work together throughout the process
Teamwork is essential when cities and counties plan to buy new systems and equipment, says Gary Mitchell, director of SLED (state, local and education) business development at Iron Mountain Government Solutions, a company that provides secure management of data and assets; it works to protect, connect and activate high-value customer data.
By Michael Keating • Oct. 8, 2024 - 
                    
                    
                        
                    
                    
                    
$50B in transit ballot measures riding on November election
Support for voter-approved transit funding has been strong. Transit agencies and advocates shared their stories at a recent American Public Transportation Association conference.
By Dan Zukowski • Oct. 8, 2024 - 
                    
                    
                        
                    
                    
                    
Expert: Internal combustion engines will be propelling fleet vehicles for many years to come
Public-sector fleet managers may want to consider delaying replacing their internal-combustion-engine (ICE) vehicles with electric vehicles/trucks (EVs) says Randall Taylor, CEO of The Fuel Ox, a global provider of fuel treatments and lubricants. For more than 10 years Taylor has led daily operations at the firm, which helps consumers and fleet managers reduce their footprint on the environment with bio-based, eco-friendly and almost completely toxin-free products.
By Michael Keating • Oct. 2, 2024 - 
                    
                    
                        
                    
                    
                    
2025’s top smart city conferences
Smart city technology, housing, climate action, transportation, public safety and more take center stage at events in 2025.
By Dan Zukowski • Updated June 27, 2025 - 
                    
                    
                        
                    
                    
                    
States and tribes receive $1.5B to combat opioid crisis as overdose deaths decline
As the Biden-Harris administration announced an influx of $1.5 billion for states and tribes last week to address the ongoing opioid epidemic, it had promising data to highlight.
By Ryan Kushner • Sept. 30, 2024 - 
                    
                    
                        
                    
                    
                    
Everyone, including top leaders, need to be on-board when agencies install new technology
New systems installations need to go smoothly, says Steve Witt, director of public sector at Nintex, a global provider of process and workflow automation software with clients that include public sector entities, including the U.S. Department of Defense, city of Denver, the federal Veterans Administration and the U.S. Air Force. Go to the following link for information on Nintex’s work with governments.
By Michael Keating • Sept. 27, 2024 - 
                    
                    
                        
                    
                    
                    
How a 2nd Trump administration could ‘jeopardize’ Inflation Reduction Act climate funds
If elected, could Donald Trump claw back or withhold funds from communities? Experts from Columbia University’s Sabin Center for Climate Change Law offer insight.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Sept. 19, 2024 - 
                    
                    
                        
                    
                    
                    
Governments need to plan for the entire product lifecycle when they purchase technology today
When they buy technology, cities and counties will often face multiple issues, says Dean Cunningham, segment development manager, Public Safety at Axis Communications, a company that produces network cameras, access control systems, network audio devices and other IP networking solutions for physical security and video surveillance applications. The firm offers solutions for cities, other governments and corrections.
By Michael Keating • Sept. 18, 2024 - 
                    
                    
                        
                    
                    
                    Opinion
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.
By Andrew Kleine • Sept. 11, 2024 - 
                    
                    
                        
                    
                    
                    Column
How city governments can navigate the fiscal cliff
How city governments can navigate the fiscal cliff
By Abhi Nemani • Aug. 28, 2024 - 
                    
                    
                        
                    
                    
                    Column
Saving the planet through procurement: Governments are identifying ways to use purchasing to achieve and support sustainability goals
Saving the planet through procurement: Governments are identifying ways to use purchasing to achieve and support sustainability goals
By Tammy Rimes, MPA • Aug. 28, 2024 - 
                    
                    
                        
                    
                    
                    
Landscape maintenance supplies and equipment are often near the top of local government shopping lists
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.City and c...
By Michael Keating • Aug. 27, 2024 - 
                    
                    
                        
                    
                    
                    Column
How government agencies can successfully implement modernization projects
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 state ...
By Pat Aguilar • Aug. 22, 2024 - 
                    
                    
                        
                    
                    
                    Opinion
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...
By Laurie Mazur • Aug. 19, 2024