Governance: Page 26
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Senate passes American Rescue Plan, preserves local aid
Senators kept the $350 billion in direct relief for state and local governments, sending the bill back to the House where it is expected to pass quickly.
By Chris Teale • Updated March 8, 2021 -
USPS to continue purchasing gas vehicles, despite Biden all-electric pledge
The postal service says the procurement allows for flexibility, and hinted at the ability to "retrofit" some vehicles. But EV advocates say "this will lock USPS into an outdated technology for many years."
By Robert Walton • Feb. 25, 2021 -
McDonald, Chad. (2016). "Up Up and away" [Photograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
Resilient Cities Catalyst to tackle California's compounding crises
The group, born out of the 100 Resilient Cities initiative, launched the public-philanthropic California Resilience Partnership to address challenges stemming from racial injustice, climate change and the pandemic.
By Cailin Crowe • Feb. 24, 2021 -
What UK's Uber ruling could mean for the global gig economy
The decision to classify Uber drivers as workers could have global implications, particularly in labor-friendly countries poised to take up similar cases.
By Chris Teale • Feb. 23, 2021 -
Screenshot via America Is All In
Climate leaders go 'all in' to halve emissions by 2030
The new "America Is All In" coalition of U.S. communities, businesses and institutions, has pledged to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 with support from the federal government.
By Chris Teale • Feb. 22, 2021 -
Georgia smart city living lab unveils 5G incubator
Curiosity Lab at Peachtree Corners partnered with T-Mobile and Georgia Tech to help developers build test cases for 5G technology like drones and robotics.
By Chris Teale • Feb. 19, 2021 -
Courtesy of B2 Civic Solutions
A smart city consultant takes the lead on a county's vaccine rollout
Former Kansas City, MO Chief Innovation Officer Bob Bennett oversees vaccines for Wyandotte County, KS, and is using his 'smart city' experience for an efficient, equitable distribution.
By Chris Teale • Feb. 18, 2021 -
Yujin Kim/Smart Cities Dive
Deep DiveTransit workers face growing rate of assaults: 'There's not much we can do'
Some transit operators are asking for reassignments off the frontlines as they face increasingly violent threats from frustrated riders amid COVID-19.
By Chris Teale • Feb. 17, 2021 -
Minneapolis bans facial recognition to dismay of city police
The Minneapolis City Council passed a surveillance ordinance that police say was "crafted and approved without any consideration" from the department.
By Kristin Musulin • Feb. 17, 2021 -
Miami vies for the title of 'Bitcoin City'
Along with proposing the use of cryptocurrency in city governance, Mayor Francis Suarez introduced Venture Miami and appointed the city's first VC-in-residence — all in a matter of days.
By Kristin Musulin • Feb. 16, 2021 -
sestovic via Getty Images
Security flaws enabled Tampa-area water utility hack
Authorities found poor security hygiene — weak passwords and an outdated operating system — played a role in the hack.
By Samantha Schwartz • Updated Feb. 12, 2021 -
Barnes, Elvert. (2021). "IMG_8075" [Photograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
Police departments face scrutiny for COVID relief spending
From Honolulu to Grand Rapids, MI, city police departments are under the microscope for potentially controversial purchases with pandemic relief dollars.
By Cailin Crowe • Feb. 9, 2021 -
Courtesy of Shot Spotter
Oakland, CA to reconsider 'totally unproven' ShotSpotter tech
Oakland Privacy Commission Chair Brian Hofer says he recognizes some benefits of ShotSpotter, such as getting police to crime scenes faster — but he isn’t so sure it’s worth the money.
By Kate Kaye • Feb. 9, 2021 -
Kendall Davis/Smart Cities Dive
Podcast
City Surveillance Watch: Setting Guardrails
In the final episode of this three-part series, reporter Kate Kaye assesses existing government policy and law for surveillance tech. (Spoiler: there isn’t much.)
By Kate Kaye • Feb. 8, 2021 -
Courtesy of Populus
Transit agencies must play lead role in MaaS growth: report
Populus said while the public sector can take advantage of efforts to integrate transportation in one place, they must ensure systems are interoperable and beneficial for residents.
By Chris Teale • Feb. 8, 2021 -
Private dollars are seeding surveillance tech across the US
A number of local police departments are procuring surveillance tech with the help of donations from private sponsors — and from the tech firms themselves.
By Kate Kaye • Feb. 5, 2021 -
Retrieved from Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Senate confirms former North Carolina regulator Regan as head of EPA
Michael Regan had pledged to take a "clean slate" approach when determining how to take on the Clean Power Plan versus the Affordable Clean Energy Act.
By Catherine Morehouse • Updated March 11, 2021 -
Lopez, Ervin. (2020). "IMG_0344" [Photograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
Biden charts path to fair, equitable housing
The new administration made housing equity an immediate priority, but experts warn of continued challenges as some renters and businesses face an "unrecoverable financial burden."
By Cailin Crowe • Feb. 4, 2021 -
US cities face $90B budget shortfall in FY21: NLC
City financial leaders' level of pessimism regarding budgetary commitments is the highest it's been since the Great Recession, a survey found.
By Chris Teale • Feb. 4, 2021 -
Screenshot via U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation
Buttigieg confirmation boosts hope for massive infrastructure investment
Several officials said the former South Bend, IN mayor's experience in local government will serve him well, and have called on him to embrace innovations like autonomous and electric vehicles.
By Chris Teale • Feb. 3, 2021 -
Inspired by COVID biking boom, cycling bills reintroduced in Congress
One piece of legislation would make local bike-share programs eligible for federal funding, while another would reinstate a national tax benefit for those who commute by bike.
By Chris Teale • Feb. 2, 2021 -
Retrieved from City of Detroit, MI on January 29, 2021
Privacy concerns still loom over Detroit's Project Green Light
As the green light network expands to over 700 Detroit locations, concerned citizens argue the program is reminiscent of public safety pay-to-play.
By Kate Kaye • Feb. 1, 2021 -
Adeline Kon/Smart Cities Dive
Deep DiveTransit agencies brace for vaccination push amid murky guidance
Though federal agencies have deemed public transit a priority sector for COVID-19 vaccinations, states are charting their own plans to address rider demands and union resources.
By Chris Teale • Feb. 1, 2021 -
André Gustavo Stumpf. (2015). "NYPD" [Photograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
Survey shows 'inconsistencies' in how mayors view policing, reform
The Menino Survey of Mayors found a majority of respondents recognize the racial disparities in how police treat their residents, but do not favor radical departmental changes.
By Chris Teale • Jan. 29, 2021 -
gapersblock. (2011). "*Zoup*" [Photograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
Q&ANew SUMC CEO ponders mobility sector's 'moment of inflection'
Benjamin de la Peña, who recently became CEO of the Shared-Use Mobility Center, discussed pandemic-fueled mobility opportunities and his unfinished business as the Seattle DOT's former innovation chief.
By Cailin Crowe • Jan. 28, 2021
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