Commentary Energy efficiency is for renters, too 20th August 2021 The summer of 2021 has brought a new reckoning with climate change, amid deadly heat waves, wildfires, floods—and now, an urgent warning from the United Nations. The message is clear: we need to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions—and fast. Of all the strategies to reduce emissions, energy efficiency may be the least painful and most […]
Commentary How the pandemic is improving public sector procurement 19th August 2021 There’s nothing like an emergency to focus a government agency leader’s thinking. It didn’t seem all that unusual at the time. But before the pandemic hit, state and municipal procurement offices tended to follow what, with the benefit of hindsight, could be best described as a predictable, outdated and typically lengthy, procurement process—detailing purchase specifications, […]
Commentary Local government’s role in citizen engagement: It’s now digital 19th August 2021 Digital technologies have transformed nearly every aspect of our lives, and community members now expect dynamically integrated technology from their local government. But digital transformation is about more than just solving immediate processing needs. It is about transforming how citizens interact, relate to one another, and lift each other up to create a more equitable […]
Commentary Improving early intervention: Overcoming the top five challenges 18th August 2021 The health care industry in 2021 will be unlike any other year. In 2020, we dealt with the pandemic—managing a sudden increase in patients, along with increased data and insights from the new virus. This year, we’re focused on looking towards the future, using lessons from the pandemic to improve health care innovations. As someone […]
Commentary Is it finally time to acknowledge broadband as a utility? 17th August 2021 Apparently, 75 percent of Americans think so. A recent study published by Consumer Reports—Survey on Broadband Affordability, Accessibility, and Quality of Service in the United States—showed a dramatic shift from previous years’ surveys. Over three-quarters of U.S. residents now view home internet as a basic necessity with a similar share of respondents voicing support for […]
Commentary Employment in the public education sector has rebounded, but educators still face an uncertain future 16th August 2021 Over the last year, financial hardships inflicted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic were felt in every corner of municipal government. Among municipal and state schools—particularly in junior colleges, technical and trade schools—the unexpected upheaval put the brakes on an upward trend in job growth that’s been expanding since the late 1990s. “The pandemic has placed extraordinary burdens on postsecondary education—from finances to […]
Commentary Jurisdictions must do more to curb rising traffic fatalities 16th August 2021 An eerie silence replacing the roar of passing traffic. Vacated streets and empty parking lots. These may be among the lasting impressions of the Coronavirus-related lockdowns. But while Americans traveled 13 percent fewer miles by car in 2020, a recent report by the National Safety Council (NSC) indicates that more than 42,000 people died in […]
Commentary The growing threat of supply chain attacks 13th August 2021 Cyber attacks pose a growing threat to local governments, but one risk that is often overlooked is the supply chain attack. Criminal hackers are increasingly targeting software supply chains because these attacks allow them to compromise hundreds or even tens of thousands of victims through a single breach, while also affording them extensive internal access […]
Commentary How local governments can prepare for the new federal broadband grants 12th August 2021 The recent infrastructure deal in the Senate increases the chances of seeing significant new, federal money being made available to states and cities to address the lack of access to affordable, high-speed broadband. In its current state, $65 billion will be made available for underserved areas in both rural and more densely populated jurisdictions. It […]
Commentary Bring renewed purpose and civic pride to traditional municipal centers 11th August 2021 Vibrant civic centers are a defining characteristic of a great many cities, towns and counties across the United States, and often linked to the historic roots of the community. There’s been a refreshing push in recent years to transform historic and aging buildings into modern facilities that continue to serve as civic gathering spaces rather […]
Young Leaders Episode 4 – Cyril Jefferson – City Councilman, High Point, North Carolina 13th October 2020