Are homeless encampment bans ‘cruel and unusual?’

The Supreme Court begins to examine laws that restrict camping even when no shelter space is available as advocates for the homeless and city officials weigh in.

By Danielle McLean • April 22, 2024

For the public sector, security and compliance are just good business

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.State and ...

By Neil Steinhardt • April 17, 2024

DoorDash adds AI to chat feature to detect harassment between workers and customers

The delivery platform is replacing an old chat monitoring tool with SafeChat+, which can detect inappropriate content without specific keyword matching.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • March 13, 2024

NYC subways get National Guard, state police patrols after high-profile assaults

While New York City Mayor Eric Adams and transit workers applaud the move, others express concerns about racial profiling.

By Dan Zukowski • March 7, 2024

Data lacking on assaults against taxi, ride-hailing drivers and passengers, GAO says

Uber, Lyft and taxi companies do not regularly report data on assaults, leaving the agency to conclude that it can't measure the prevalence of such crimes.

By Dan Zukowski • Feb. 28, 2024

For faster emergency response, New York’s fire department looks to AI

The FDNY is testing an artificial intelligence-driven project to help emergency vehicles avoid traffic and other roadblocks on the way to life-threatening emergencies.

By Paige Gross • Feb. 13, 2024

Drones are changing emergency response in this Pacific Northwest city

Bellevue, Washington, has used drones to monitor crowd safety on Independence Day, locate a person fleeing arrest and photograph a car crash scene.

By Paige Gross • Jan. 29, 2024

As some transit crime rates triple, FTA releases data, other resources

Grant programs to fund crime prevention and security projects also are available, the Federal Transit Administration announced.

By Dan Zukowski • Jan. 29, 2024

FMCSA accepting grant applications soon

Learn about the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s federal grant funding and when to apply.

Jan. 16, 2024

FEMA triples its funding for low-interest loans funding disaster resilience projects

Due to a high level of interest, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is tripling its funding for low-interest loans for disaster resilience projects this year to $150 million.

By Andy Castillo • Jan. 8, 2024

GM’s Cruise dismisses 9 top executives amid robotaxi safety probes

The autonomous vehicle company believes new leadership is key to rebuilding trust after one of its robotaxis hit a pedestrian in October, according to a company memo viewed by Reuters.

By Eric Walz • Dec. 15, 2023

Fast disaster recovery construction projects

There is profound wisdom embedded in the age-old saying attributed to Benjamin Franklin, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

By Grayson Briggs • Nov. 29, 2023

Cruise CEO resigns amid safety probes into company’s robotaxis

The company’s robotaxi fleet remains grounded in California after one of the vehicles struck a pedestrian in downtown San Francisco in early October.

By Eric Walz • Nov. 21, 2023

Fifth National Climate Assessment warns of extreme weather risk, far-reaching impact of a warming climate

Exacerbated by climate change, the effects of extreme weather are being felt in every corner of the nation—costing communities upwards of $150 billion annually. Those impacts are projected to worsen without dramatic intervention.

By Andy Castillo • Nov. 14, 2023

GM halts production of the Cruise Origin robotaxi

The decision follows California regulators ordering Cruise to cease operations after a pedestrian was struck by one of its self-driving vehicles in downtown San Francisco.

By Eric Walz • Nov. 9, 2023

Cruise recalls driverless robotaxis after halting operations in 3 cities

The General Motors subsidiary is grappling with two federal investigations and a recent incident in which one of its cars left a pedestrian seriously injured.

By Dan Zukowski • Updated Nov. 8, 2023

Washington, DC’s ban on cashless businesses, explained

As contactless, digital and card transactions become more common, the district has joined state and local governments preserving residents' right to pay cash.

By Paige Gross • Oct. 19, 2023

Evolving public safety challenges demand reliable and flexible communications

Every second is critical to the safety and success of your emergency response teams.

Oct. 16, 2023

Uber to face sexual assault claims in new multidistrict litigation

The litigation “is one of the largest federal sexual assault litigations ever and it will undoubtedly change [the] American rideshare industry forever,” said one of the plaintiffs’ attorneys.

By Dan Zukowski • Oct. 12, 2023

FMCSA awards over $125 million in grants to increase roadway safety

FMCSA awards $128 million in grants. Is your organization eligible for future funding?  

Oct. 2, 2023

Federal government shutdown: Here’s how it could impact cities, states and transportation

While most transit programs will be unaffected, some funding for Amtrak and state law enforcement initiatives could be delayed.

By Dan Zukowski • Sept. 29, 2023

New Orleans adds AI technology to improve traffic safety around streetcar lines

Smart sensors from NoTraffic will be part of a traffic monitoring system powered by artificial intelligence in a partnership between local authorities and the private sector. 

By Dan Zukowski • Sept. 19, 2023

NYC Council approves safety-focused e-bike and e-scooter trade-in program

The program would help owners upgrade to electric bikes and e-scooters that meet UL certification requirements set by a New York City law that took effect Sept. 16.

By Dan Zukowski • Updated Sept. 21, 2023

Report: Modern construction techniques, building codes protected structures that survived Lahaina fire

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.More than ...

By Andy Castillo • Sept. 14, 2023

California’s Senate passes bill to restrict driverless trucks

The measure could require an operator onboard heavy autonomous vehicles for years. Supporters and opponents both argued that the matter relates to safety.

By David Taube • Sept. 14, 2023