Opinion: Page 4

The latest opinion pieces by industry thought leaders

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    Don’t forget about the creative community in the rebuild of US infrastructure

    Previous infrastructure projects used top-down solutions, often without local input, and often resulting in fracture neighborhoods. This time, let’s incorporate community voices — and local artists — to find transformational solutions. 

    Rip Rapson and Regina Smith • May 26, 2022
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    Mechelle Brooks via Getty Images
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    Blame local zoning, not Wall Street, for this housing crisis

    Local zoning laws and NIMBYism are preventing the growth of affordable housing and greater housing density and contributing to labor shortages in urban areas. 

    Atticus LeBlanc • May 24, 2022
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    jimfeng via Getty Images
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    Corporate housing is key to addressing tight housing market, relocating workers

    As workers increasingly migrate to suburbs and smaller cities, high housing costs and limited supplies might delay a home purchase. Regulations aimed at vacationers shouldn't limit extended-stay rental options.

    Angela Healy • May 11, 2022
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    Toa55 via Getty Images
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    Looking to increase civic engagement? Support the local press

    Editor's note: This article was originally published in American City & County, which has merged with Smart Cities Dive to bring you expanded coverage of city innovation and local government. For the latest in smart city news, explore Smart Cities Dive or sign up for our newsletter.The McGreg...

    Andy Castillo • May 9, 2022
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    ictor via Getty Images
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    To reduce transportation emissions, make it realistic for people to ditch cars

    Building walkable communities with easy access to public transit is key to reducing our reliance on cars and achieving environmental goals, writes the CEO of Keolis North America.

    David Scorey • May 2, 2022
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    Pgiam via Getty Images
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    Harassment and intimidation are driving local leaders away from public service, and we all stand to lose

    “I genuinely worry about how our nation’s cities, towns and villages will attract and retain the talent we need,” writes the head of the National League of Cities.

    Clarence E. Anthony • April 19, 2022
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    Toa55 via Getty Images
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    How to accelerate SLG cloud modernization through emerging technology solutions

    Editor's note: This article was originally published in American City & County, which has merged with Smart Cities Dive to bring you expanded coverage of city innovation and local government. For the latest in smart city news, explore Smart Cities Dive or sign up for our newsletter.State and ...

    Mike Wiseman • April 18, 2022
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    Toa55 via Getty Images
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    Setting the (government) records straight

    Editor's note: This article was originally published in American City & County, which has merged with Smart Cities Dive to bring you expanded coverage of city innovation and local government. For the latest in smart city news, explore Smart Cities Dive or sign up for our newsletter.In the dig...

    Steve Russell • April 11, 2022
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    David McNew via Getty Images
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    For the Building Performance Standards Coalition to be effective, the White House must think bigger

    The former head of the U.S. Green Building Council weighs in on how federal, state and local government partners can go beyond just reducing building emissions as they pursue decarbonization.  

    Mahesh Ramanujam • April 8, 2022
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    Permission granted by Via Transportation
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    What big cities can learn from the rural US about public transit

    Grappling with bare-bones transportation networks, rural communities are implementing new transit innovations, a trend that federal infrastructure dollars could accelerate. 

    Scott James Matheson and Sam Couvillon • April 6, 2022
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    Toa55 via Getty Images
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    Adaptive reuse and municipal facilities: Strengthening mutual trust

    Editor's note: This article was originally published in American City & County, which has merged with Smart Cities Dive to bring you expanded coverage of city innovation and local government. For the latest in smart city news, explore Smart Cities Dive or sign up for our newsletter.Every comm...

    Brian Meade, Louise Kowalczyk • April 6, 2022
  • A detailed landscape design plan showing topographic contour lines, orange building illustrations, green trees, and directional arrows. The layout includes winding paths and clustered vegetation. A triangular scale ruler lies on the left, and three colored pencils, colored blue, green, and yellow, rest on the lower right corner of the page.
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    Toa55 via Getty Images
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    Municipal broadband: Using today’s technology to support your community’s future

    Editor's note: This article was originally published in American City & County, which has merged with Smart Cities Dive to bring you expanded coverage of city innovation and local government. For the latest in smart city news, explore Smart Cities Dive or sign up for our newsletter.Amidst the...

    Chase Gregory • April 1, 2022
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    Envisioning a policy framework for the growth of AVs and SAVs

    Public policy will need to evolve with vehicle automation advances to ensure privately owned, shared and fleet AVs meet community needs. Examining the likely phases of this transition can help officials anticipate policy needs.

    Susan Shaheen • March 22, 2022
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    Courtesy of Veo
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    In it for the long haul: 5 steps to secure micromobility's future

    Veo CEO Candice Xie shares insights on how the industry can walk the talk in terms of becoming environmentally sustainable and more financially resilient.

    Candice Xie • March 9, 2022
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    Kirill Smyslov via Getty Images
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    Citizens want authentic engagement opportunities, not just notifications

    It's up to governments to build digital on-ramps to help citizens overcome community engagement barriers. With modern solutions and professional support, digital engagement can become an everyday event for any community.

    Andrea Facini • March 7, 2022
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    Toa55 via Getty Images
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    Six ways states could help cities and towns implement climate solutions

    Editor's note: This article was originally published in American City & County, which has merged with Smart Cities Dive to bring you expanded coverage of city innovation and local government. For the latest in smart city news, explore Smart Cities Dive or sign up for our newsletter.Cities, to...

    Dr. Elizabeth Sawin • March 2, 2022
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    Getty Images
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    Making corporate net-zero rhetoric real in 2022

    Businesses' net-zero commitments are new promises to do good for broader society, going far beyond the company's own operations, the authors write. 

    Chris Deri and Sasha Mackler • March 1, 2022
  • A detailed landscape design plan showing topographic contour lines, orange building illustrations, green trees, and directional arrows. The layout includes winding paths and clustered vegetation. A triangular scale ruler lies on the left, and three colored pencils, colored blue, green, and yellow, rest on the lower right corner of the page.
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    Toa55 via Getty Images
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    What networks need from municipal and county leaders

    Editor's note: This article was originally published in American City & County, which has merged with Smart Cities Dive to bring you expanded coverage of city innovation and local government. For the latest in smart city news, explore Smart Cities Dive or sign up for our newsletter.From colle...

    Michelle Shumate, Katherine R. Cooper • Feb. 28, 2022
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    David McNew via Getty Images
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    Revisiting California’s natural gas hookup subsidies

    California is one of the biggest consumers of natural gas in the U.S., and has been adding new gas customers faster than any other state. These trends are in direct conflict with its ambitious climate goals, the authors write.

    Clifford Rechtschaffen and Simi Rose George • Feb. 23, 2022
  • A detailed landscape design plan showing topographic contour lines, orange building illustrations, green trees, and directional arrows. The layout includes winding paths and clustered vegetation. A triangular scale ruler lies on the left, and three colored pencils, colored blue, green, and yellow, rest on the lower right corner of the page.
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    Toa55 via Getty Images
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    Four reasons why smart communities will take 2023 by storm

    Editor's note: This article was originally published in American City & County, which has merged with Smart Cities Dive to bring you expanded coverage of city innovation and local government. For the latest in smart city news, explore Smart Cities Dive or sign up for our newsletter.The last t...

    Lisa Brown • Feb. 22, 2022
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    ferrantraite via Getty Images
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    To decarbonize buildings, think like an entrepreneur

    The most innovative ideas to slash emissions won’t have impact if they never reach the market, writes Reshma Singh, who focuses on building technologies at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

    Reshma Singh • Feb. 18, 2022
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    BackyardProduction via Getty Images
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    Strategies that make universal broadband access a reality are needed

    As the federal government readies $65 billion for broadband adoption, local leaders should make thoughtful, culturally-responsive strategies that connect all of our communities, writes the CEO of the Hispanic Heritage Foundation.  

    Antonio Tijerino • Feb. 16, 2022
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    RECVISUAL via Getty Images
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    At last, an infrastructure bill that gives people a reason to get out of their cars

    The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act could bring tech-enabled mobility to urban ‘transit deserts,' expanding economic opportunities while reducing emissions and traffic congestion, writes Via's head of public policy. 

    Andrei Greenawalt • Jan. 6, 2022
  • A detailed landscape design plan showing topographic contour lines, orange building illustrations, green trees, and directional arrows. The layout includes winding paths and clustered vegetation. A triangular scale ruler lies on the left, and three colored pencils, colored blue, green, and yellow, rest on the lower right corner of the page.
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    Toa55 via Getty Images
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    How local governments can better utilize text messages

    Editor's note: This article was originally published in American City & County, which has merged with Smart Cities Dive to bring you expanded coverage of city innovation and local government. For the latest in smart city news, explore Smart Cities Dive or sign up for our newsletter.For many p...

    Tom Sheahan • Nov. 24, 2021
  • A detailed landscape design plan showing topographic contour lines, orange building illustrations, green trees, and directional arrows. The layout includes winding paths and clustered vegetation. A triangular scale ruler lies on the left, and three colored pencils, colored blue, green, and yellow, rest on the lower right corner of the page.
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    Toa55 via Getty Images
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    Making the technical personal: How fiber is changing communities

    The passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act provides communities around the nation a once-in-a-generation opportunity to leverage their share of the $42.5 billion allocated for broadband infrastructure.

    Gary Bolton • Nov. 22, 2021