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

Voting systems are under attack

Digital threats to our election system didn’t begin with Russia, and they certainly won’t...

Elections, cyber vulnerabilities and the human factor

It’s quite possible that the biggest vulnerability of local elections systems are the...

Mass timber: A solution to the affordable housing crisis

No human should have to live like a hermit crab, traveling from place to place without a...

Commentary

Building codes fights fires

The need for local governments to plan for a more resilient and sustainable future has never been so urgent. The devastating Camp Fire in Butte County, California, burned over 153,000 acres, and destroyed more than 17,000 structures, including 13,972 homes. Drought affecting the Southwest has taken its toll on water supplies, forcing cities to change […]

Commentary

Three tactics to improve government receivables

Professional communication – especially about sensitive financial matters – requires more than just a quick letter or phone call. The way agents approach constituents requires careful planning, positioning and analysis. High performing agents build understand how both they and the person with whom they’re speaking process information – that’s why credibility, honesty, and empathy all […]

Commentary

Cities and counties dive into workplace design

As cities and counties embark on workplace design projects, getting buy-in from organizational leadership is essential. Listening to employee feedback, however, can prove just as important. The idea of change is often hard for employees, especially for those in government who may not experience frequent changes to their workspace. That’s why giving staff a chance […]

Commentary

Finding the value of emotional intelligence

I started my policing career in 1995 in a south-central Pennsylvania city, after spending eight years in the U.S. Army. I moved up the ranks quickly: detective in two years; sergeant after seven; lieutenant in 11; and captain before my 14th anniversary with the department. I also served on the county’s tactical team in a […]

Commentary

Maintaining ADA compliance for government websites

For millions of people in the U.S., various disabilities make accessing government websites a tougher experience compared to other users. That struggle does more than frustrate a user; it’s in direct violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA establishes equity among people with disabilities when it comes to accessing both public and […]

Commentary

Crime prevention through environmental design provides subtle yet strong design-based security

In the last several years, our country has collectively experienced the horror of active shooters in public spaces. While these acts of violence have occurred throughout history, our collective awareness has heightened in recent times. Continuous news cycles, live reporting and the proliferation of social media have kept us aware of up to the minute […]

Commentary

How smart cities are improving business and people’s lives

Hundreds of cities around the world are embracing the concept of a Smart City, the idea that we can enhance the connectivity of our communities by integrating advanced telecommunications, data analytics, and regional sensor networks into our approach to delivering traditional city services. By weaving together information from multiple perspectives, cities can create a framework […]

Commentary

Why and how public sector leaders should help their employees retire

Do pensions matter as much as they used to? According to a recent Accenture study, pensions remain a major factor for job seekers. Not only are workers more likely to accept a job offer that includes pension benefits, they are also significantly more likely to keep working for an organization that provides a retirement plan. […]

Commentary

When the Department of Justice comes knocking

If the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) investigates your public entity, do you know how to respond? The DOJ may investigate regarding discrimination in employment practices such as sex discrimination, USERRA violations, and National Origin Discrimination, among others. Every public entity should prepare for the prospect of such an investigation and handle sensitive matters as […]

Commentary

Three key steps for protecting citizen data – and easing compliance and encryption

Amid growing concerns from the general public around data privacy, city and state governments are experiencing increased pressure from citizens around how their personal data is being protected. For IT directors managing smaller cities, to teams managing major state departments, there are a few key steps to ensure that your citizen data remains protected. While […]

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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

Voting systems are under attack

Elections, cyber vulnerabilities and the human factor

Mass timber: A solution to the affordable housing crisis

Commentary

Building codes fights fires

Commentary

Three tactics to improve government receivables

Commentary

Cities and counties dive into workplace design

Commentary

Finding the value of emotional intelligence

Commentary

Maintaining ADA compliance for government websites

Commentary

Crime prevention through environmental design provides subtle yet strong design-based security

Commentary

How smart cities are improving business and people’s lives

Commentary

Why and how public sector leaders should help their employees retire

Commentary

When the Department of Justice comes knocking

Commentary

Three key steps for protecting citizen data – and easing compliance and encryption

White Papers

Open Records Guidebook

Preserve Your Pavement: A Road Map to Data-Driven Budgeting

What is Your Plan for Cybersecurity?

Events

Twitter

Publicly-run #mural programs are fighting #blight, creating identity and fostering community in #cities americancityandcounty.com/2019/03/04/the…

The #911 community has acknowledged the need for usable #data and can look to the successes of other industries in… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

#OtsegoCounty, MI declared a #StateOfEmergency and closed all of its roads due to a #blizzard… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

A group of @FBI agents have raided the @CityofTaylorMI #CityHall and the home of its #mayor as part of a corruption… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

The @CityLittleRock #government might be changing its means of #administration buff.ly/2tIGHQV https://t.co/rN0FA0B3gp

A new #report ranks the 52 American #metropolitan areas with over 1 million residents based on their… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

Today, we announced the six winners of American #City & #County's 2018 Crown Communities awards! Congratulations to… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

The @CityOfNOLA #CityCouncil is calling for the @NFL to review its rules after the @Saints lost the… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…