Attributes: Commentary

green

Commentary

The future of carbon emissions and cities lies in green buildings

When you envision the future, what do you see? For me, it’s a place where people of all generations live, work and thrive. And it’s a place where green, efficient buildings are integrated with nature and resilient infrastructure ties our healthy and productive places together into communities. However, in the face of climate change, that […]

Rebuild

Commentary

With an historic investment in public spaces, Philadelphia’s Rebuild program is committed to equity in the process

Jobs in the construction industry are family-sustaining careers that have proven to lift families out of intergenerational poverty. Historically speaking, those same opportunities have traditionally been reserved for white men. According to the Bureau of Labor Statics, in 2020 more than 60 percent of construction workers were white, with only 5 percent identifying as Black […]

water systems

Commentary

4 reasons to maintain natural water systems

It has never been more important to understand the significance of preserving natural water systems, which are essential for sustaining the environment, providing economic benefits and defending nature. Here are four key reasons why we should take action to protect and preserve natural water systems. Protecting nature Preserving natural water systems is essential for protecting […]

podcasts

Commentary

Tuning into your community: Top reasons why your agency needs a podcast

Podcasts are more popular than ever. In fact, in the United States, podcasts attract more than 100 million monthly listeners (according to demandsage.com). Are you tapping into the power of the pod to deliver important news on your city or county’s programs, projects, initiatives and community partnerships? If not, you may miss out on a […]

businesses

Commentary

Engaging businesses to strengthen your community

A prosperous business community epitomizes effective city leadership and fuels economic growth. But to fully understand and address specific needs within your community, cities must engage with local stakeholders and businesses to cultivate and maintain a strong business ecosystem. Business engagement plays an essential role in a city’s retention of businesses, helping to foster organic […]

cybersecurity

Commentary

A billion dollars for local government cybersecurity—Will they ever see it?

Remember the fanfare upon learning of the passage of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) signed into law in November 2021? One billion dollars targeted state, local, tribal and territorial (SLTT) with a cyber grant program within the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) over four years. After the bill’s passage came the […]

smart communities

Commentary

Four reasons why smart communities will take 2023 by storm

The last three years have been a rapid-fire series of challenges for local government leaders, from a devastating pandemic targeting the population’s most vulnerable to widespread economic downturn. After navigating this volatility, leaders are seeking out new and innovative strategies to future-ready their communities and reach their goals. One such strategy is the development of […]

solar RFP

Commentary

Structuring solar RFPs for the best project outcome

The RFP (request for proposal) process is a key mechanism for municipalities to adopt solar energy and meet their sustainability goals. It establishes project parameters and creates competition among solar developers to offer the best system design and pricing that checks all the boxes defined in the RFP. Since 2015, I have reviewed and responded […]

digitized

Commentary

The city of Santa Monica digitized citizen engagement

The city of Santa Monica, Calif., is one of the busiest beach towns in the world. The city’s population is 93,000, but it grows to an estimated 250,000 during the day. With the massive crowd from tourism filling our beaches, dining in our restaurants and shopping in our mall, it can be a challenge to […]

outdoor dining

Commentary

Creating a menu of city standards for better outdoor dining guidelines

Prompted by pandemic restrictions as well as an increased interest in pedestrian-friendly streets, outdoor dining installations have rapidly grown in recent years. In New York, for instance, the city issued more than 12,000 outdoor dining permits to restaurants under its Open Restaurants program. In Los Angeles, more than 2,500 businesses have taken advantage of the […]

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