Mon.Aug 08, 2022

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A Look Backstage in the ‘Furniture Capital of the World’

Next City

Walking with residents of High Point, North Carolina as they explore the city's desolate downtown — a place made for "other eyes at other times.

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First Yellowstone and Now Death Valley

Disaster Zone blog

Our national parks are not immune to disasters.

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Local Governments Shoulder Heaviest Part of Water Infrastructure Improvement Costs

NLC (National League of Cities)

Water utilities are struggling with water loss, aging systems and rising maintenance costs across the country. Bill Eller, Senior Vice President of Business Development at HomeServe, recently interviewed Carolyn Berndt, National League of Cities Legislative Director of Sustainability, about the unique challenges facing water utilities. “Water loss is an inefficiency in the system, and, beyond […] Source.

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Product development in the era of digital transformation and sustainability

McKinsey Public & Social Sector Insights

Because of digital and sustainability trends, R&D organizations are facing an increasingly complex landscape. Developing the necessary organizational structures and capabilities is urgent.

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The Ultimate Playground Inspection Handbook

Dive into the world of playground safety with this complimentary guide. It offers a detailed exploration of essential practices to ensure the utmost safety for children. Delve into inspection techniques, from assessing equipment conditions to evaluating surfacing materials. Gain insights into maintenance strategies to keep playgrounds in top-notch condition year-round.

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Where Have All the Workers Gone?

Careers in Government

The COVID-19 crisis triggered profound changes in workforce management as well as the working lives and plans of workers in every sector. The post Where Have All the Workers Gone? appeared first on Careers in Government.

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Permanent Government Change: What’s Behind the Driving Forces and How to Welcome It

OpenGov

Permanent Government Change: What’s Behind the Driving Forces and How to Welcome It August 8, 2022 – OpenGov The Perfect Storm Government agencies are facing a perfect storm of both challenges and opportunities that are transforming how they work and serve the public, including: Once-in-a-generation federal funding to help state, local, special, and school district […].

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How State and Local Governments Can Reduce Employee Attrition

State Tech Magazine

Waves of Americans began leaving their jobs last year in the midst of the “Great Resignation,” and local government workers were among those who left or considered leaving. Many local government employees were fatigued by the pandemic and sought better pay and benefits. In the past two years, more people left their jobs in state and local government than ever before, leaving many agencies understaffed and without qualified replacements, according to the Rockefeller Institute of Government.

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Who Are the Difficult People and What Can You Do About Them?

Careers in Government

Some people come across as disrespectful in the way they speak and treat others. This is particularly troubling if you are the recipient of this behavior. The post Who Are the Difficult People and What Can You Do About Them? appeared first on Careers in Government.

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Camden Yards baseball stadium is 30 years old

Rebuilding Place in Urban Space

The Ringer has an excellent article, " The Baseball Stadium That “Forever Changed” Professional Sports ," assessing the contribution of Camden Yards--a throwback designed baseball stadium which opened in 1992--to baseball, other professional sports, and cities. Camden Yards in 2003. Getty Images photo. It makes excellent points: -- that the throwback "design" hasn't been a special success economically (although I prefer it myself) or in terms of revitalization -- but it has helped to draw teams

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Electric vehicles: The next growth engine in chemicals

McKinsey Public & Social Sector Insights

A paradigm shift in automotive purchasing linked to the electric-vehicle transition is creating a major growth opportunity for chemical companies.

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7 Signs Your Local Government ERP Is Holding You Back: A Guide for Small Municipalities

Local governments and municipalities serving populations under 200,000 face distinctive challenges in delivering efficient and effective services to their communities. To overcome these challenges, many rely on Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems tailored to their specific needs. Not all ERP systems are created equal, and some may hinder progress rather than support it.

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Turn Library Promotions on Their Head with This Surefire Yet Simple Way To Capture Attention

Super Library Marketing

Photo courtesy Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County. Imagine for a moment that you are walking down a city street, minding your own business when you see the clown Pennywise. That’s right. The terrifying lead character from the Stephen King film “It,” remade and re-released in 2017, is hanging out in your city. Now, what if I told you that the reason this horrifying clown was roaming the streets was to promote a library event?

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The McKinsey Crossword: National Book Lovers Day | No. 88

McKinsey Public & Social Sector Insights

Sharpen your problem-solving skills the McKinsey way, with our weekly crossword. Each puzzle is created with the McKinsey audience in mind, and includes a subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) business theme for you to find. Answers that are directionally correct may not cut it if you’re looking for a quick win.

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Mobile threats prompt operational changes for government staff

GCN

More than 80% of public sector respondents to a recent survey said they have been forced to re-evaluate workplace practices as attacks on mobile devices grow.

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Analytics Beyond Numbers: How AI Opens Up Other Types of Data

GovLoop

Imagine you have a massive cache of digital family photos, and you’re looking for images of your child’s kindergarten graduation. Sure, it’s great having all those photos on the computer, but unless you tagged them in some way, there’s no quick way to find what you need. This dilemma mirrors how valuable information can be so difficult to find when it comes in the form of “unstructured data.

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Sustainable Facility Maintenance Management for Small Local Governments

Unlock the potential of sustainable facility management! This guide empowers small local governments to lead with climate-resilient infrastructure, energy efficiency, waste reduction, and more. Elevate your community's resilience, reduce costs, and embrace eco-friendly practices. Discover the role of facility maintenance teams in green cleaning, sustainability analyses, and infrastructure upgrades.

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Lawyers may be limiting threat info sharing

GCN

A new study examines how attorney-client privilege and work product immunity impacts cybersecurity.

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Who Are the Difficult People and What Can You Do About Them?

Careers in Government

Some people come across as disrespectful in the way they speak and treat others. This is particularly troubling if you are the recipient of this behavior. The post Who Are the Difficult People and What Can You Do About Them? appeared first on Careers in Government.

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Rise of precision agriculture exposes food system to new threats

GCN

The integration of technologies into farm equipment, from GPS-guided tractors to artificial intelligence, potentially increases the ability of hackers to attack this equipment.

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Where Have All the Workers Gone?

Careers in Government

The COVID-19 crisis triggered profound changes in workforce management as well as the working lives and plans of workers in every sector. The post Where Have All the Workers Gone? appeared first on Careers in Government.

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ASPA TIMES Magazine: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

PA TIMES Magazine is a publication of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA), a not-for-profit corporation. This edition focused on diversity, equity and inclusion in public administration, including guest columns, insights for the field and interviews with city government DEI officers about their work at the local level.

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Macrofortification

Rebuilding Place in Urban Space

A couple decades ago I saw a presentation at the National Building Museum by Camilo José Vergara , who specializes in photographing urban decay, showing photos of Los Angeles, including what he called "micro-fortification" of housings around pipes and stuff. He was very critical, arguing it demonstrated a grim, anti-people approach. I said that it wasn't about being mean but about reducing vandalism and theft.

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Integrity is Founded upon the Small Things

Careers in Government

Your integrity is built and maintained when you do what you say you will do, in service to others. The post Integrity is Founded upon the Small Things appeared first on Careers in Government.

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Let’s Get Critical: Learn to Connect in Conflict

GovLoop

Casual chit-chat is easy; true conversations that tackle sensitive subjects are more difficult and can even affect workplace collaboration if they’re not handled properly. It’s essential that your agency’s employees are able to have high-quality conversations that leave everyone feeling heard – not hurt. With many agencies gravitating toward a hybrid workplace, it’s even more important that employees continue to work on strengthening their critical conversation skills.

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Episode 215: Live at AGA PDT with Melinda Miguel

FedHeads

Florida’s Chief Inspector General and incoming AGA President, Melinda Miguel, joined the FedHeads to talk about her work driving accountability for pandemic and economic recovery spending and strengthening cybersecurity. She’s a big Pink Panther fan! Florida’s Chief Inspector General and incoming AGA President, Melinda Miguel, joined the FedHeads to talk about her work driving accountability for pandemic and economic recovery spending and strengthening cybersecurity.

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Proactive vs Reactive Maintenance: Making the Case for Preparedness

Discover comprehensive strategies for optimizing operations and achieving cost efficiency! This document offers insights into efficient inspections, data-driven decision-making, goal alignment, and resource optimization. It empowers local governments and maintenance departments to streamline operations and ensure significant cost savings. From aligning maintenance goals with community needs to leveraging data for strategic planning, this guide provides a roadmap for smoother, more reliable opera

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Emergency alert system vulnerable, FEMA warns

GCN

Internet-connected equipment used to send alerts can be vulnerable to unauthorized actors who could issue fake EAS messages.

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Historic Climate, Clean Energy Bill Passes Senate

NLC (National League of Cities)

On Sunday, the Senate passed the Inflation Reduction Act (H.R. 5376) via the reconciliation process by a vote of 51-50. This action came after a surprise agreement last month between Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) on climate and clean energy provisions – many of which are included in last year’s […] Source.

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How Prepared Are US Cities to Implement the Justice40 Initiative?

The City Fix

As hubs of talent and innovation, American cities are uniquely positioned to fight climate change and improve the health, economy and well-being of their residents. The Biden administration’s Justice40 Initiative and funding available through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) provide rare.

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How Local Leaders Can Address the Monkeypox Outbreak

NLC (National League of Cities)

Last week, the White House declared monkeypox a public health emergency and President Biden appointed Robert Fenton from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as monkeypox coordinator and Dr. Demetre Daskalakis of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as deputy coordinator. Together, they will lead the Administration’s strategy and response, including equitably increasing the availability of […] Source.

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Facility Maintenance Trends for 2024: What's Changing in the Industry?

This comprehensive article delves into the transformative trends reshaping local government facility maintenance in anticipation of 2024. From embracing smart technology for efficient management, sustainability's pivotal role to data-driven decision-making, workforce upskilling, and predictive maintenance strategies, each aspect is explored. Insights into outsourcing collaborations, digital twins, safety enhancements, and the broader industry evolution highlight the critical adaptation needed.

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The Limited PSLF Waiver: A Game Changer for City Employees

NLC (National League of Cities)

Many city employees carry a heavy burden of student debt. But now a life-changing opportunity is open to those employed in public service. The Biden Administration has created new ways to help student loan borrowers relieve this burden, especially through the limited Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) waiver. As local governments struggle to retain workers […] Source.