Local Government

The cities of Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse collectively received funding via a “tech hub” competition run by the U.S. Economic Development Administration. They’ll use it to develop an area semiconductor industry.

The company, which sells digital tools to local public agencies, plans to use its own data, survey reports and analysis to help officials decide how to invest in technology, craft budgets and do other jobs. The man leading the effort explains the thinking behind it.

The local government, the state’s fifth largest by population, has migrated to a new website with a “.gov” domain address. The protocol meets federal recommendations and has advanced security features.

I’m always looking for best practices and examples to share around government AI and cyber projects. Monty 2.0 is certainly praiseworthy and a GenAI project to watch and learn from.

The application, DROPS, or Direct Resource Outreach and Placement Service, enables city staff to create and track digitized case files. It’s intended to streamline access to resources and avoid disconnections in the process.

The city network is offline, though other services are available, after the IT department was alerted late Tuesday a police officer was unable to access his account on the city computer system. Ransomware is not believed to be to blame.

County officials are considering software in the cloud for the 911 central dispatch software service that was affected in the June 12 ransomware attack. Used to reach law enforcement and first responders, that system remains offline.

The village of Saugerties, New York, may utilize TextMyGov to reach residents who subscribe, about issues including water main breaks, road closures and emergencies. Officials have discussed a $5,000 contract with the company.

Two grant proposals from the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District each received $4.5 million from the federal Environmental Protection Agency. One would replace dirty-burning agricultural tractors; the other, heavy-duty diesel trucks.

Howard's past experience includes years of working in public-sector technology for several local governments throughout Arizona, including stints in Goodyear, Mesa and Gilbert.

The Syracuse City Council is considering resolutions to let it use a $10.8 million state grant to build out infrastructure, bringing Surge Link broadband to about 4,700 low-income households.

Roberto Lopez has been with the city more than 20 years, much of that as a computer operations manager. He replaces Rosa Akhtarkhavari, who stepped down earlier this month after more than a decade as CIO.

Pennsylvania voters have access to a state ballot tracking system. But some officials and observers wonder if a more comprehensive system might have explained why 268 ballots were delayed last fall.

A spokeswoman for Mayor Justin Bibb said the breach has been “contained” but couldn’t say whether the city has agreed to, or will consider, paying the ransom. The city is working with the Ohio National Guard and the FBI to investigate.

Results for America has recognized nine municipalities for using data to inform policy and improve government service delivery to residents. To date, 83 cities have received the What Works Cities Certification.

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council approved a record-setting $532.9 million spending plan with funds for 25 new positions. The budget also includes money for 25 license plate cameras.

The economic development corporation in the county has worked with county GIS, an area planning board and the state to push out high-speed Internet to roughly 4 percent of households without it.

Roughly a day after a ransomware attack hit Grand Traverse County systems, essential services were fully operational, city and county officials said. County government phone systems, however, were among those still not working normally.