The Ferguson Group Blog

Wednesday News Roundup

Every Wednesday, the TFG Blog posts a series of articles published over the previous week that discusses topics of interest to local governments. Learn about emerging trends and keep up on key policy issues by browsing the TFG Wednesday News Roundup!

White House Creates New Cybersecurity Agency

On Tuesday, the White House announced the creation of a new agency designed to combat cyber threats and to coordinate digital intelligence among federal agencies. The $35 million Cyber Threat Intelligence Integration Center is designed to "connect the dots" among cyber threats facing the United States, "so that relevant departments and agencies are aware of these threats in as close to real time as possible," a White House official said in a statement. Read more...

Why Boston is Spending $20M on Affordable Housing

Boston has announced a $20 million affordable housing project that will redevelop 250 city-owned parcels of land into housing specifically for low- to middle-income families. The strategy is to help maintain affordability while infilling vacant land in urban neighborhoods. Read more...

Restoring the Concrete Jungle: How to Address Urban Blight in 2015

Reducing blight and preventing its spread is best achieved when the solution incorporates the interest and input of active and engaged citizens. Many cities are starting to harness innovative civic tech products to begin repairing and rebuilding some of the country’s most severely affected areas with help from residents. Read more...

NYC’s Plan for Free, Citywide Wi-Fi

Private companies are paying New York City $500 million to transform old pay phones into high-speed Internet hotspots. The plan is called LinkNYC, and it’s important for two reasons. One, it may be a plan other cities can copy -- there are certainly plenty of old public pay phones around. Two, it’s an example of reimagining old assets and connecting citizens to what is increasingly a vital and life-enhancing service: the Internet. Read more...

An Interactive Gathering for City Leaders

On February 11-12, Louisville will host the Governing Summit for Innovation, a meeting that will convene city leaders to discuss how to get more out of less through synergy and innovation. What makes the gathering unique is that every detail of the meeting, from the room setup to the discussion, is intentionally interactive and challenging. While this event is sold out because of the unique set up of the accommodations and the “everyone participates” format, those who are interested should make a note and watch Governing for similar opportunities in the future. Read more...

Wednesday News Roundup

Every Wednesday, the TFG Blog posts a series of articles published over the previous week that discusses topics of interest to local governments. Learn about emerging trends and keep up on key policy issues by browsing the TFG Wednesday News Roundup!

What Impact Will the Community Broadband Act Have?

The Community Broadband Act would give cities and counties the right to build municipal broadband networks, making a broad statement for the future of connectivity, according to experts. While partisan politics may doom the measure, advocates for local control believe the effort is already a victory because of the publicity the issue has received. Read more...

What Obama’s 2016 Budget Means for States and Localities

President Barack Obama’s record $4 trillion proposed budget would provide boons to states and localities in a host of areas, from infrastructure to education. But the White House’s spending plan again includes cuts or limits to popular programs such as community development block grants. Read more...

Beyond Traffic – Planning for the Future of Transportation

On February 2, U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, along with Google executive chairman Eric Schmidt, unveiled Beyond Traffic, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s new framework for building an intelligent transportation network and avoiding the transit nightmare the agency envisions if the current system is not modernized. Foxx said he hopes to stimulate a public conversation about the future of transportation while also warning elected officials that failing to act will have disastrous consequences. Read more...

Can a Crowdsourced Data Service Change Emergency Response?

Smart911, a new emergency data service, links phone numbers with resident contact and medical information. This capability allowed firefighters and dispatchers in Traverse City, Michigan, to locate a person’s house within the area of the traced call during a near-fatal home fire. Read more...

DOL Invests $100M in Apprenticeship Grants

The U.S. Department of Labor recently announced that $100 million in grants will be invested in launching innovative, high-quality apprenticeship programs across the country. These public-private partnerships will identify key goals for economic growth and align strategies to ensure skilled workers are available to fuel and sustain this growth. Many industries, especially manufacturing, are looking to apprenticeship programs as the future of job training to prepare the next generation of skilled workers. Read more...

Wednesday News Roundup

Every Wednesday, the TFG Blog posts a series of articles published over the previous week that discusses topics of interest to local governments. Learn about emerging trends and keep up on key policy issues by browsing the TFG Wednesday News Roundup!

Big-City Mayors Tap Grad Students for their Teams

The Bohnett fellowship program in Detroit, New York and Los Angeles is giving graduate students city governance experience while helping mayors get the much-needed extra help.  So far, the foundation has provided $2.5 million to sponsor 52 fellows. This program is part of a larger effort by mayors’ offices across the country to enhance their workforce by taking interns from local universities. Read more...

What Smart Cities Will Look Like

While no one knows, exactly, what the future smart city will look like, visualizations can prove helpful to those working to transform cities. Future Structure has compiled several videos that provide a vision of how smart cities of the future may work. Read more...

House Panel Agrees to Prioritize Climate Change

Today, the Republican-led House Natural Resources Committee voted unanimously to include climate change and its impacts on natural resources as a subject in its oversight plan. Thanks to an amendment sponsored by ranking member Rep. Raul Grijalva (R-Ariz.), the committee said it will “conduct oversight of global climate change and impacts on federal lands and resources and the strategies for using federal lands, oceans and other resources to mitigate harmful effects.” Read more...

REAL ID Act Catches Up With States

Currently, nine states are in noncompliance with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s REAL ID Act efforts, which is consequently affecting driver’s license holders in those states who are trying to gain entry to federal facilities nationwide. Lawmakers are scrambling to fix the problem, but resolving the issue has posed some difficulty. Read more...

How Local Governments are Preparing for FirstNet

Local governments are starting to update their infrastructure to prepare for the FirstNet public safety network. See how others are making moves to update their current systems. Read more...

Wednesday News Roundup

Every Wednesday, the TFG Blog posts a series of articles published over the previous week that discusses topics of interest to local governments. Learn about emerging trends and keep up on key policy issues by browsing the TFG Wednesday News Roundup!

 

Obama 2015: Back to the Future

President Obama’s State of the Union address was an optimistic message that focused on his aggressive agenda for the last two years of his presidency, promising to overcome political divisions to get things done. Politico summarizes the hour-long speech, but if you don’t feel like reading about it, they condensed the whole speech into a 90 second video clip. Read more...

 

The State of the Union 2015 in Photos

Bloomberg compiled a photo essay of last night’s State of the Union address. “The fourth quarter starts now.” See photos here.   

 

Getting Smart about the Water We Use

In a challenging environment of budget constraints and extreme weather conditions, local officials are taking action to minimize water-related costs for their governments and the residents they serve. These are some of the most common obstacles that cities faces in attempting to improve their water management systems, along with strategies some have used to overcome these challenge. Read more...

 

New Anchorage Housing Development Will Produce More Energy than it Uses

An Alaska design and architectural firm is partnering with a nonprofit housing agency to design and erect a building that gives more than it takes. The planned multifamily housing unit will produce more energy than it consumes and uses on-site water and sewer reclamation systems. Read more...

 

Can You Make Disaster Information Go Viral?

San Diego County and San Diego State University (SDSU) recently formed a partnership to research and develop a new social media-based platform for disseminating emergency warnings to citizens. The project aims to allow San Diego County’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) to spread disaster messages and distress calls quickly and to targeted geographic locations, even when traditional channels such as phone systems and radio stations are overwhelmed. Read more...

 

Build Workforce Housing to Meet Economic Demands

In many cities, there is often a lack of affordable housing to meeting public demands. Cities are using low income housing tax credits and other similar funding sources to construct affordable workforce housing developments to fill the gaps. Read more...

Wednesday News Roundup

Every Wednesday, the TFG Blog posts a series of articles published over the previous week that discusses topics of interest to local governments. Learn about emerging trends and keep up on key policy issues by browsing the TFG Wednesday News Roundup!

 

Obama Aims to Unleash Broadband Boost

During a speech in Iowa on Wednesday, President Obama asked the Federal Communications Commission to override state laws that restrict community-run broadband networks, to provide new tools to mayors who want to build such networks, and proposed revitalizing a program of grants and loans for city-run broadband projects. The President’s announcement is part of a rollout of tech-related initiatives that will be part of his January 20 State of the Union address. Read more...

 

Counties Lag behind National Recovery, Report Finds

A new report released by the National Association of Counties found that the economic recovery has yet to be realized at the local level in much of the country. The analysis considered four measures: job totals, unemployment rates, economic output (GDP) and median home prices. Only 65 counties (out of more than 3,000 nationally) have seen all four economic measures fully recover from pre-recession peaks. Read more...

 

Problem Properties: A Pre-emptive Strategy toward Neighborhood Stability

On July 13, 2011, then-Mayor of Boston Thomas Menino signed an executive order that created a special task force for the city’s most risk-prone and risk-causing addresses. The result was the Problem Properties Task Force, which aims to identify properties that disproportionately attract illegal and dangerous activities using cross-agency collaborations and data analysis. Read more...

 

Homes for the Homeless in Utah

Utah’s Housing First program employs a simple ideology for ending homelessness: provide homeless individuals with housing. The idea has yielded impressive results. Not only has chronic homelessness dropped 74 percent since the program’s inception, the program is extremely cost effective. Read more...

 

Bright Future Seen for Smart LED Streetlight Projects

An interconnected network of smart streetlights can serve a city by monitoring traffic and weather, providing real-time video, audio and Wi-Fi, broadcasting city announcements or advertisements, directing event parking or illuminating evacuation routes in an emergency, among many other things. Cities are rapidly starting to jump on the LED smart streetlight bandwagon, some estimating that by 2019, there will be around 40 million network-controlled streetlights in cities around the world. Read more...

Wednesday News Roundup

Every Wednesday, the TFG Blog posts a series of articles published over the previous week that discusses topics of interest to local governments. Learn about emerging trends and keep up on key policy issues by browsing the TFG Wednesday News Roundup!

White House Issues Keystone Veto Threat 

Just an hour into the start of the new Congress, the White House warned President Obama would veto pending legislation to approve the Keystone XL oil pipeline, setting the dynamic between the White House and the Republican majorities of both chambers. The White House believes that the State Department's analysis of whether the project is in the best interest of the country should be the determining factor in the decision to allow the pipeline to proceed or not. Read more...

 

Ceremonies, Reflection and Chaos Define the First Day of Congress

The first day of a new Congress is always hectic. New members are juggling ceremonies, open houses, and taking their oaths of office, all while they navigate the labyrinths of halls throughout the Capitol. Amidst the chaos, however, members new and old expressed their eagerness to get legislating. Read more...

 

Philly, Residents Co-Create City Website

The city of Philadelphia has released a prototype of its next website that is hoped to be a collaborative effort with citizens. The construction and design of the website is based on resident opinion and the city’s own experimental tinkering. “Rather than making assumptions about what people want to see, and designing it behind closed doors, we’re actually designing it as we go along,” said Philly’s Chief Innovation Office. Read more...

 

2015’s Top 10 Legislative Issues to Watch

Governing Magazine has released a list of the top 10 legislative issues states and localities should watch for in 2015. They also include five trending policies and problems that governments should keep an eye on as the year progresses. Read more...

 

Why Innovation Districts Matter 

In the aftermath of the recession, cities across the country are building strong foundations to support institutions and modern companies that collaborate with startups and entrepreneurs to spur growth and new ideas. Not only do these innovation districts create a link between research, business and entrepreneurs, but they also spur productivity, sustainable economic development and collaboration. Find out why innovation districts are becoming integral parts of local economies and how some cities are successfully working to nurture their growth. Read more...

Wednesday News Roundup

Every Wednesday, the TFG Blog posts a series of articles published over the previous week that discusses topics of interest to local governments. Learn about emerging trends and keep up on key policy issues by browsing the TFG Wednesday News Roundup!

Senate Approves Tax Extenders Package without Ron Wyden

On Tuesday, the Senate passed a bill that will retroactively extend a package of expired tax breaks for 2014. The package was passed by a respectable 76-16 vote, but not everyone was pleased with the bill, including the Finance Chairman. Read more...

 

Blinded by Light Pollution

Artificial light pollution confuses nocturnal species, disrupts migratory birds and causes sleep disorders in humans, according to research. Studies even suggest that the consequences of excessive exposure to light at night can increase the risk for obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. There is still a lot to learn about light pollution and different ways it can be reduced, but there are already several ways cities are working to lessen the glare.  Read more...

 

White House Launches Open Data Disaster Portal

On Monday, the White House launched a new open data portal targeting the needs of first responders and emergency survivors. More than 100 data sets can be found at www.disasters.data.gov along with tools, contests and resources to help first responders and technologists engage with a larger community. Read more...

 

Will Work for Solutions

There are approximately 610,000 people in the U.S. who could be classified as homeless on any given night, and more than 3.5 million will experience homelessness within a given year, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness. But while the problem is clearly visible in cities throughout the nation, solutions are anything but. Read more...

 

Retailers to Try Again for Online Sales

After falling short yet again this year, retail groups pushing online sales tax legislation are going to have to shake up their lobbying approach in the face of a GOP-controlled Congress. Groups supporting the online sales tax bill, the Marketplace Fairness Act, say they’ll take the next couple of weeks to regroup, and to find ways to fine-tune their tactics for the next Congress. Read more...

Wednesday News Roundup

Every Wednesday, the TFG Blog posts a series of articles published over the previous week that discusses topics of interest to local governments. Learn about emerging trends and keep up on key policy issues by browsing the TFG Wednesday News Roundup!

16 U.S. Communities Recognized as Climate Action Communities

 16 U.S. Communities have been recognized by the White House as Climate Action Champions. These communities are being honored for considering their climate vulnerabilities and taking action to cut carbon pollutions and build resilience. Read more...

 

How an Infrastructure Bank Can Storm Proof Your City

New York and New Jersey are two examples of how state infrastructure banks can help prepare cities for extreme weather events and increase long-term resilience and sustainability. Each state has their own specific focus for their infrastructure bank investments based on different risks, deficiencies, and future goals for sustainability and resiliency. Read more...

 

Local Governments More Tech-Forward than Federal Counterparts

A new report released by Acquia, a software service company, found that state and local government leaders felt their agencies were doing better with their digital strategy efforts than their federal counterparts.  Although their performance was satisfactory overall, many state and local leaders still report they faced challenges in executing some kind of digital government strategies. Read more...

 

Obama to Unveil $1 Billion Early Childhood Education Funding

On Wednesday, President Obama unveiled over $1 billion in new federal and private funding for early childhood education as the White House looks to rally legislative support for the President’s universal pre-k initiative. Of the $1 billion, $750 million will come in the form of new grants awarded to states to expand their pre-k programs. Read more...

 

Partnership with Library Bridges Digital Divide of Buffalo Students

Thanks to a new partnership between the Buffalo School District and the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library, all students will now be able to gain access to the same online resources they have at school at any county library. In a school district that estimates 25 to 40 percent of students have no home access to the internet; this partnership is a big win for students and teachers. Read more...

Wednesday News Roundup

Every Wednesday, the TFG Blog posts a series of articles published over the previous week that discusses topics of interest to local governments. Learn about emerging trends and keep up on key policy issues by browsing the TFG Wednesday News Roundup!  

Congress to Push Pause on ‘Extenders’ Tax Breaks Fight

Congress will hold off on reshaping dozens of tax extenders this year, opting to renew the 55-item package retroactively through the end of the year. Republicans said the short-term extension will be approved, acting as soon as this week. The move to simply extend the tax breaks sets up another round of debate over the extenders in 2015. Read more…

 

What Can Cities Really Do About Climate Change?

Grand Rapids, MI stands as evidence of what cities can do to reduce human impact on the environment. Their example also underscores the limitations that mayor’s face when trying to influence systems outside their direct control. Read more…

 

Fiber Fight: Broadening Gig City Touted as Model in Broadband Debate

If cable and phone companies don’t provide faster web service, more municipalities say they want to do it themselves as municipal electric utilities have done in Chattanooga and Tullahoma, TN and Dalton, GA. “Broadband service is rapidly becoming a vital asset for a community and, just like turnpikes or airports, it may be that a broadband initiative is the kind of public-private partnership that we may need,” said CIO of Lexington, KY during a visit to the “Gig City,” Chattanooga. Read more…

 

Ex-Cons Help Reduce Crime

The Baltimore Health Department launched the Safe Street Program, which hires ex-convicts in an effort to reduce crime and violence in at-risk neighborhoods. Because the ex-convicts have criminal backgrounds and connections in the area, they are able to find sources of crime and violence faster than police. Read more…

 

Ash Carter’s No Yes-Man for Obama

Despite talk that Obama’s next pick for Secretary of Defense will be less likely to criticize the Administration’s agenda, as it was rumored Chuck Hagel did often, Aston Carter will be “no yes-man,” as Politico reports. The theoretical physicist and nuclear expert hasn’t always been in sync with the White House, and if history proves true, that won’t change if he is Secretary of Defense. Read more…

Wednesday News Roundup

Every Wednesday, the TFG Blog posts a series of articles published over the previous week that discusses topics of interest to local governments. Learn about emerging trends and keep up on key policy issues by browsing the TFG Wednesday News Roundup! 

Another Presidential Turkey Pardoning, another ‘The Hunger Games’

On Thursday, President Obama will participate in the long-standing tradition of pardoning a lucky turkey, who will bypass the Thanksgiving table and spend his or her days living a life of luxury on a Virginia farm.  In what the President jokes as “quite literally, The Hunger Games,” Twitter users choose which of two birds should be pardoned this year. Will it be Mac, or will it be Cheese? Read more…

‘The Most Expensive Regulation Ever;’ Obama Rolls Out a Major EPA Rule

The Obama Administration proposed a draft air pollution rule on Wednesday that business groups charge would be the costliest regulation ever. The rule would lower the amount of ground-level ozone pollution that is considered healthy to breathe, which in turn could lead to costly new requirements for air pollution permits in much of the country. Read more…

A Two-Generation Approach to Poverty

A new report released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation suggests that poverty programs need to address the needs of both parents and children simultaneously to maximize effectiveness.  Some states are already in the early stages of retooling antipoverty programs with the “two-generation” approach in mind. Read more…

IDEA Lab Injects Entrepreneurial Tactics into Federal Health Services

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has created a new lab to test startup techniques with federal health and safety services. The IDEA Lab, which stands for Innovation, Design, Entrepreneurship and Action, is hoped to systematize innovative thinking inside HHS for the future. Read more…

Police Turning to Cutting-Edge Fingerprint Technology

For the past four years, the Stockton, CA Police Department has been quietly testing state-of-the-art equipment that could change the way law enforcement agencies across the country process fingerprints and identify suspects.  The Mobile Biometric Device is a handheld gadget that can scan fingerprints, irises, and other biological information in the field and communicate with remote databases to help investigators more quickly identify suspects and other subjects. Read more…

Every Wednesday, the TFG Blog posts a series of articles published over the previous week that discusses topics of interest to local governments. Learn about emerging trends and keep up on key policy issues by browsing the TFG Wednesday News Roundup!  - See more at: http://thefergusongroup.typepad.com/grants/#sthash.A0Au6ZrS.dpuf