Local Government

The city of Philadelphia announced that Chief Information Officer Mark Wheeler is leaving the city, and Chief Operating Officer Sandra Carter has officially started serving as interim CIO this week.

The state and local organizations have been pushing to close the Internet service gaps – ahead of a looming federal deadline – through partnerships with nonprofits capable of providing high-speed connections.

Last month the City Council signed off on a funding agreement with the region’s bus service to launch the driverless pilot. The $500,000 test is planned to start in late August and run through April.

As government grapples with how to make practical use of generative AI, one avenue for the new technology could be helping cities ensure regulatory compliance from companies bidding for new construction contracts.

The company, whose clients include the state of North Carolina and cities across the continent, says the feature helps demonstrate the ROI of data sharing. The tool could help with smart city efforts.

Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele announced this week that ShotSpotter technology would be implemented to help curb gun violence in the boroughs of Pottstown and Norristown.

Plus, Detroit’s parks are getting public Wi-Fi; the White House has launched invest.gov; New York continues to up enrollment in broadband program; and more.

Centre County Commissioners have voted to advance broadband expansion project proposals from two Internet service providers. The county will apply for part of $200 million in state funding for the final proposals.

After several high-profile interstate shootings, city officials are calling for new technology to help catch those pulling the trigger. Unlike shootings in neighborhoods, the interstate often leaves police with few witnesses.

Existing data gaps related to the needs of the LGBTQ+ community must be understood and addressed in order for government agencies to equitably serve the needs of constituents regardless of identity.

The Spotsylvania County Planning Commission is looking at amending its rules around data centers as they relate to the Comprehensive Plan. The region has recently become a popular place for businesses to set up server farms.

The city of Miami has created a data visualization in less than a month as part of an effort to educate and inform both city residents and local businesses about the city. The tool has a wealth of regional data to explore.

The Detroit Parks Coalition, along with the city and Connect 313, announced that they will be installing Wi-Fi at five parks as part of a $265,000 program aimed at closing the digital divide.

Open data portals were a good first step toward putting the massive amount of information government holds to work. But now, experts say data should drive storytelling and decision-making across the enterprise.

Liz Rodgers replaces Aldona Valicenti, who has led the city's IT department as CIO for more than a decade. Valicenti, meanwhile, will be heading to the private sector as a consultant.

The $20 million contract meant to connect every Cleveland resident to high-speed Internet was put on hold this week when concerns were raised about whether the nonprofit DigitalC has the capabilities to see the work through.

Housing and other development built in concert with transit stops are solving the persistent last-mile gaps in U.S. transportation planning. In Miami, a new development could serve as a model for other cities.

The Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Office announced that the private information of 58,000 voters was exposed when an unauthorized user appeared to have accessed and copied files containing personal identification information.