Did you make a New Year’s Resolution? Chances are you already failed, but don’t worry! Most people do! Rank Top 10 New Years resolutions for 2017 Percent 1 Lose Weight / Healthier Eating 21.4% 2 Life / Self Improvements 12.3% 3 Better Financial Decisions 8.5% 4 Quit Smoking 7.1% 5 Do more exciting things 6.3% … Continued
I thought today would be a good time to write about something exciting and hopeful for the future — so let’s talk about the Internet of Things (IoT) and how it’s impacting local government, and how that impact could grow! In case you’re not familiar, The Internet of Things is “a global infrastructure for the … Continued
I spent last Friday speaking at Willamette University in Salem, OR with the goal of inspiring the next wave of undergraduate students to take interest in a career in local government. My pal at work jokingly asked if I could count the number of students of color on one hand; Willamette isn’t exactly known for … Continued
Ladies and Gentlemen, the time to vote has rolled around once more. Primaries are here and voter registration is a hot topic. I’m not one to generally wade into touchy topics but what the heck, why not? Everyone’s doing it. The State of Washington passed new voter registration laws this past week which automatically registers … Continued
It’s easy to get isolated in public works; our services go mostly unnoticed until something isn’t working or until a lane or two of traffic have to be closed. #PleaseStopDrivingThroughUtilityBoxes #ThatWaterMainWasInstalledInThe60’s Thankfully I have the privilege of getting out of the office. As a commission liaison, I vet ideas through our commissioners before going to council … Continued
Right Now with Nick Smith What I’m listening to: NOFX’s seminal Punk in Drublic What I’m reading: I haven’t cracked it yet, but I’m really excited to start Science and the City: The Mechanics Behind the Metropolis Congratulations are in order for Darryl De Sousa, but I would not want to be Baltimore’s new police commissioner right now. … Continued
This post is by Kylie Bayer. She writes, “Thanks to a friend who works in addiction services for helping write this article.” Drug overdose was the leading cause of accidental death in the United States in 2015. Of the nearly 53,000 deaths caused by drug overdose in 2015, prescription painkillers like Oxycontin and Percocet caused … Continued
Estonia is not only mostly female and the world’s least religious country, it’s also the most advanced digital society in the world. Today, almost all government services in Estonia are digital and can be accessed through secure digital identities. They’ve done this through X-Road–a secure, standardized and decentralized infrastructure that allows for multiple information systems … Continued
This week brought the first significant snow storm to Wisconsin and I was not going to pass up an opportunity to ride shotgun in a snow plow. I was excited to ride around the City for a few hours learning how the city responds to a snow storm. (I mean really, who would pass up … Continued
It’s 2018, and it’s a great year to be courageous local government leaders. It’s a year to think about how to better engage the communities we serve, all the communities we serve, so that our projects and services are the best they can be. You may be thinking, we have it down. We serve all … Continued
