Local Government

As cities update timeless technology like streetlights, they are laying the groundwork for smart city connectivity and data gathering. Artificial intelligence will help sift through the mounds of data these projects create.

After dozens of fires caused by combusting batteries used in electric scooters and bikes in recent years, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors is set to consider imposing new restrictions on the rechargeable devices.

Long Beach Utilities Department CIO Paula Crowell was set to take over as Santa Monica’s CIO Dec. 18, but the far-reaching impacts of a November cyber attack prompted her to reconsider the transition.

City leaders are considering buying nearly three dozen new fixed-site automated license plate readers, which would nearly double the police department's supply of the stationary devices.

The software firm now serves federal clients, but CEO Tyler Sweatt says the company soon will start selling its services to state and local public agencies. NEA led the latest funding round.

The North Texas Municipal Water District, which supplies water to sprawling Collin County suburbs, is the latest target of a ransomware attack. The breach has not disrupted service to the more than 2 million customers in the area.

The app, dubbed MySCCounty+, allows residents to purchase and store digital permits and other credentials on their electronic devices. The app builds off of an earlier iteration that was launched in 2015.

Two weeks after a ransomware attack, Huber Heights officials say the Income Tax Division is back online and the city's payroll was processed successfully last week. It is unclear if the attack exposed resident data.

Marin County's Sheriff Jamie Scardina will ask the Board of Supervisors to approve the installation of 31 automated license plate readers in unincorporated areas to help stop vehicle theft and other crimes.

As we turn toward the new year, the Center for Digital Government looks at what it takes to survive and thrive as a gov tech leader in even the most challenging of circumstances.

Altafiber has spent $2.3 million of a $10 million contract with Butler County to connect residents to high-speed Internet. Officials say around 20,000 people will be online by the end of the year.

The Indiana city celebrated the launch of a new real-time crime center at the Gary Police Department this week. The center makes multiple surveillance technologies deployed throughout the city available to "virtual patrol officers."

The seller of performance management software releases Envisio Projects, through which officials and residents can track capital projects and planning. The move comes as more agencies turn to digital dashboards.

Long Beach, Calif., continues to grapple with a Nov. 14 network security incident. It declared a local emergency on Nov. 17 and on Nov. 22 announced the restoration of a few services.  

County officials say that there is no evidence that resident data was stolen in the October cyber attack. The nature and scope of the attack, and any possible impacts to county data, are still being investigated.

Two Baltimore City Council committees this week heard discussion about a pair of proposals designed to regulate the growing use of facial recognition technology within city boundaries.

Strict rules were enacted by the City Council to limit speeds to 3 mph in much of the city – enforced using GPS tracking – and other restrictive measures that slowly pushed out operators of e-scooters.

Officials with the county said the launch of a new 3D zoning software system will make it easier for residents and developers to navigate development codes and land use information.