Commentaries

Commentaries are contributed, non-commercial and educational articles that subject matter experts write for American City & County. If you would like to submit an exclusive commentary, click here to view our guidelines.

Highlights

Why should social services be excited about automation? Hint: an end to mundane, repetitive work

The importance of protecting children and ensuring their growth into healthy adults is an...

After the cloud, is a software-defined data center in your future?

All roads lead to the cloud. In fact, a recent survey revealed that a majority of state IT...

3 reasons state and local governments need a strategic approach to online services

Most people probably don’t think too much about how an application performs that is, until...

Commentary

Active shooter preparation: Don’t cross the line of traumatization

Active shooter incidents in communities, workplaces and public venues erupt, too regularly, as shocking reminders of the vulnerability to violence. Through the first nine months of 2019, a 50 percent increase in mass shootings have been reported, with at least 21 this year compared to 14 in the corresponding period in 2018. Across the country, […]

Commentary

Fund your resiliency efforts with energy savings

Connecting needs and resources can feel like the proverbial walk to school – uphill both ways. Despite increasing complexity in building consensus and procuring funding, communities are finding ways to meet growing needs with an expert eye on energy and operational spending. Energy projects aren’t just cutting costs and keeping up with aging infrastructure, they’re […]

Commentary

How Smart Columbus built the largest EV test drive program in the U.S.

We know that people are more likely to buy an electric vehicle (EV) after a test drive, but dealership experiences aren’t enough. The more experience someone has driving an EV the more favorable they are towards it. A test drive allows drivers to feel the powerful torque, hear the whisper quiet drive and experience the […]

Commentary

How California public agencies can reform pension benefits

In 2011, after the Great Recession left California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) only 61 percent funded, the Little Hoover Commission gave a dire warning: “California’s pension plans are dangerously underfunded, the result of overly generous benefit promises, wishful thinking and an unwillingness to plan prudently. Unless aggressive reforms are implemented now, the problem will […]

Case Studies

How a small New Mexico town solved their record-keeping issues

Clovis, N.M., is a largely agricultural community known for its rich history in music and southwestern adventure. As the seat of Curry County with a population of roughly 40,000 people, there are a lot of information management demands placed on the city’s small public administration office. However, using digital tools this small department was able […]

Commentary

Roadmap to a smart city master plan

Cities have a unique opportunity to enable the seamless integration of new technologies that will help meet societal challenges, while efficiently and equitably providing essential services to residents and businesses. The digitization and electrification of technologies, sharp increase in the quantity and speed of data transmitted, and rapid rise of artificial intelligence all offer cities […]

Commentary

How digital transformation helped the Los Angeles County Development Authority become a “high performer”

The Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA) is responsible for the management of programs related to subsidized housing, community and economic development, and affordable housing development and preservation. Similar to most government agencies, paperwork is the starting point for much of the progress and growth at the LACDA, which can range from applications for Community […]

The right playbook to fight against ransomware

In October, the FBI released a public service announcement warning of potential “high-impact” ransomware attacks against U.S. organizations. Ransomware and the associated fallout continues to burden organizations every day. Major cities felt the brunt of this impact, with more than 81 attacks on municipalities in 2019 alone. Ransomware can plague operations and hamper everything from […]

Commentary

Creating the optimal living environment in today’s public housing

Public housing authorities (PHAs) and owners are tasked with creating and maintaining living environments that provide a safe and comfortable home for their residents, whether they be the elderly, low-income families or individuals with disabilities. But that goal must also be balanced with operational concerns; these buildings must remain affordable, energy efficient and resilient for […]

Commentary

Off duty policing gets a bad rap, but modern technology can fix it

Separate from their day job in nearly every community both large and small across the country, law enforcement officers are working at churches, malls, cinemas, restaurants, stadiums or patrolling neighborhoods at the request of a homeowner’s association. In uniform or plain clothes, these officers are directing traffic or providing security. They may be driving department-issued […]

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Commentaries

Commentaries are contributed, non-commercial and educational articles that subject matter experts write for American City & County. If you would like to submit an exclusive commentary, click here to view our guidelines.

Highlights

Why should social services be excited about automation? Hint: an end to mundane, repetitive work

After the cloud, is a software-defined data center in your future?

3 reasons state and local governments need a strategic approach to online services

Commentary

Active shooter preparation: Don’t cross the line of traumatization

Commentary

Fund your resiliency efforts with energy savings

Commentary

How Smart Columbus built the largest EV test drive program in the U.S.

Commentary

How California public agencies can reform pension benefits

Case Studies

How a small New Mexico town solved their record-keeping issues

Commentary

Roadmap to a smart city master plan

Commentary

How digital transformation helped the Los Angeles County Development Authority become a “high performer”

The right playbook to fight against ransomware

Commentary

Creating the optimal living environment in today’s public housing

Commentary

Off duty policing gets a bad rap, but modern technology can fix it

White Papers

9 Steps to Keep Your Public Employees Safe

Fundamentals of Creating a Capital Improvement Plan

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Events

Twitter

Opportunity zones are attracting investment into low-income areas across the country. How can your community take a… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

In a symbolic vote, the Richmond, #Virginia, City Council requested that the state government give municipalities t… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

See how a supply-chain veteran achieves efficiencies and trims costs as #Illinois airport consolidates purchasing o… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

Can #AI really help smaller municipalities manage road maintenance? See how the #Pittsburgh township of North Hunti… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

Following a presidential executive order, Beltrami County, #Minnesota., voted 3-2 on Jan. 7, to prohibit #refugees… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

After the great recession in 2011 California Public Employee's Retirement System was only 61% funded. Fast forward… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

Smart Columbus Ride & Drive Roadshow was designed to educate central #ohio residents about #electricvehicles. Read… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

Opportunity zones are attracting investment into low-income areas across the country. How can your community take a… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…