ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE [AI] IS NOT USED, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN PREPARING NYPPL SUMMARIES OF JUDICIAL AND QUASI-JUDICIAL DECISIONS

September 28, 2024

Links to selected items focusing on government operations posted on the Internet during the week ending September 27, 2024.

Click on the text highlighted in color to access the item posted on the Internet.

911 Tech Firm Prepared Raises $27M as It Pushes AI As emergency dispatch centers transition to the mobile age, massive venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz is betting that Prepared can help lead the public safety pack. The company’s CEO talks more about his new funding round. READ MORE

A Lack of Competition Among ISPs Can Cause Ripple Effects A surprisingly large number of locations across the United States have little to no competition among Internet service providers, which can lead to expensive — and not always great — service. READ MORE

A New Tool Allows Governments to Track Crime Data in Real Time By the time federal crime rate statistics are published, they're already out of date. A new online resource provides a month-to-month view of crime rates. READ MORE

A Risky Path to the Dream of Homeownership Millions of Americans, particularly people of color buying lower-cost homes, have turned to land contracts and other alternative financing that lack the protections of traditional mortgages. Lawmakers could make these processes a lot safer. READ MORE

AI Can Help Schools Quickly Detect, Remediate Cyber Threats Artificial intelligence may help schools identify and resolve cybersecurity issues faster, as long as it’s on a unified platform or has interoperability with other applications on the school’s network. READ MORE

AWS is Helping Small and Mid-Sized Government Agencies Modernize with Cloud Discover actionable guidance and best practices on how to respond stronger and faster to serve your constituents more effectively—together with CrowdStrike, Esri, and Tyler Technologies. LEARN MORE

Biden Warns About AI Risks in Final United Nations Address The speech was the main event of Biden’s final appearance as president at the annual summit, where he also will meet privately with a number of global counterparts. READ MORE

Birmingham Pilot Blossoms into a Lifeline to Jobs, Housing Birmingham's microtransit boosts job access by 79%, delivering over 300K rides with Birmingham On-Demand. LEARN MORE

California to Host Governor’s Debate This Weekend — for 2026 On Sunday, California Democrats will hold their first major candidate debate for those vying to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2026. Four of the five current candidates will face off. READ MORE

Can Real-Time State Data Ease Parents’ Child-Care Woes? How Iowa was able to navigate the red tape involved with real-time child-care search, vacancy and supply and demand dashboards to help parents quickly find available child care in the state. READ MORE

Can the CIO Be a Co-Equal at the Cabinet Table? From expanding the role of state CIOs to building federal partnerships, the head of NASCIO makes the case for technologists in shaping the future of how government works. READ MORE

Car-free Living Becomes a Reality in this Utah Community The region's new transit network connects downtown with the surrounding mountains, and residents are raving. LEARN MORE

Cat and Mouse: Keeping Up With the Evolution of AI As AI evolves, government must do so as well to effectively leverage the technology for improved service delivery, attendees said at the yearly Digital Benefits Conference. Accurate data is essential to make AI-powered systems work as designed for government. READ MORE

Celebrities Urge California Governor to Sign AI Safety Bill More than 125 Hollywood actors, directors, producers, music artists and entertainment industry leaders have added their names to a letter released Tuesday to Gov. Gavin Newsom. READ MORE

CIAM: The Key to Trusted Online Relationships for Government Services This paper explores how Customer Identity and Access Management (CIAM) solutions help state and local governments deliver secure, personalized digital services that rival the private sector. DOWNLOAD

Code for America’s Free Tax Filing Coming to More States The nonprofit is expanding its state tax filing tool, which is integrated with the IRS’ current Direct File program, to Maryland and North Carolina in 2025. The move is estimated to reach more than 700,000 residents. READ MORE

Connecticut’s New CISO Gene Meltser Aims to Reduce Risk State officials have plucked Gene Meltser from the private sector to serve as state chief information security officer. The C-suite arrival will leverage his cybersecurity experience to mitigate risk for the government and its constituents. READ MORE

CrowdStrike Congressional Hearing Seeks Lessons Learned The cybersecurity company told members of Congress that the faulty content update that crashed machines worldwide was a “perfect storm” of things going wrong, and that it’s revising how it pushes out updates. READ MORE

Digital States 2024: Innovation, Inclusion and Whole-of-State Services In the two years since the last Digital States Survey from the Center for Digital Government, leading states have put resident experience at the center of their work while also embracing cutting-edge technologies. READ MORE

Eproval named official permitting software sponsor for the Municipal Special Events Summit As an official sponsor, Eproval will showcase its cutting-edge platform that streamlines special event permitting for public agencies. READ MORE

eSTART Hits Milestone as It Pushes for Digital Titles The group, which includes executives from the automotive industry, wants to replace paper-based processes at DMVs with digital tools. Its new advisory board promises to up that push in the coming months. READ MORE

FCC to Open Funding for Cybersecurity in K-12, Libraries The three-year $200 million Schools and Libraries Cybersecurity Pilot Program opens its application window this fall. The near-term goal is to secure schools most in need, but long-term it will help nationwide. READ MORE

Five Steps to Take to Adopt AI The Roadmap for Government AI Adoption outlines five actionable steps you can take to responsibly benefit from AI in your government organization. Download the Roadmap

Florida County Prepares for Hurricane With New Tool Pasco County, near Tampa Bay, has deployed CentralSquare software to help public works better fix damage from natural disasters and cyber attacks. It’s the latest example of using gov tech for disaster management. READ MORE

Four Ways to Get Ready for AI in Transportation Transportation leaders need practical AI guidance now. This paper details steps in data, workforce, cybersecurity, and collaboration for agencies to achieve an AI-driven future. DOWNLOAD

How 7 Cities Funded Their New Microtransit Services See the federal, state, and local grants that turn public transit dreams into reality. LEARN MORE

How Education Has Become the Election Issue to Avoid For many politicians at both a state and national level, education has become a topic to avoid during this year’s election cycle. But with its significance to state and local communities, some local officials want to bring the issue forward. READ MORE

How Mayors Use Microtransit to Transform Their Communities Better transit drives economic development and spurs opportunities. It's easier to launch than you think. LEARN MORE

Improving the Constituent Experience to Rebuild Public Trust When constituents face barriers to accessing government services, the result is not just momentary frustration. It's a deeper sense of neglect by the institutions meant to serve them. By improving the constituent experience, governments aren't just implementing faster and more efficient services. They're rebuilding public trust. DOWNLOAD

In the Tightest States, New Voting Laws Could Tip November’s Outcome  Pandemic protections offer more ballot options, but election lies are driving new restrictions. READ MORE

In the Weeds: Why Massachusetts Has the Lowest Rate of Traffic Deaths Massachusetts has the lowest rate of traffic deaths per vehicle mile traveled, according to recently published federal data. State transportation leaders credit safety strategies — and congestion. READ MORE

Lawmaker Calls on State Leaders to Reform New York’s Beleaguered Guardianship System A new bill asks Gov. Kathy Hochul and state legislators to overhaul New York’s broken guardianship system. It cites a ProPublica investigation that found the elderly and infirm living in dire conditions while under court-mandated oversight. READ MORE

Make Data Your Generative AI Differentiator Learn how to build the right data strategy that gives you a strategic advantage with generative artificial intelligence (AI). DOWNLOAD NOW

Making Public Benefits More Convenient and Still Secure Re-examining password requirements and online workflows, as well as minimizing what data they ask from residents, can help smooth online processes while also maintaining security. READ MORE

Marin County, Calif., Gets $11M for Broadband “Last mile” grant money from the American Rescue Plan Act and California’s general fund will help construct a broadband network for 700 homes and businesses at the county’s northern border along Highway 1. READ MORE

Maryland to Offer Free AI Training to State Employees The Maryland Department of Information Technology is partnering with InnovateUS to offer free artificial intelligence training to state employees, joining a growing list of states to do so. READ MORE

Modernizing the Public Sector Workforce Wireless networks are transforming the work of government employees. This trend is sure to pick up speed with the expansion of 5G wireless networks. Read this issue brief to get more information on how you can embrace a more wireless future. DOWNLOAD

Municipal Special Events Summit Names Eproval as Official Permitting Software Sponsor The Municipal Special Events Summit is the premier gathering of government and special event planners, taking place February 16-19 in Savannah, Georgia. READ MORE

NASCIO Executive Director Doug Robinson on Status of State IT From expanding the role of state CIOs to building federal partnerships, Robinson shares his insights on how NASCIO has shaped the future of public-sector IT over the past two decades. READ MORE

Need Funding for a Microtransit Service? Policy experts answer 5 microtransit funding FAQs, including what grants are currently up for grabs. LEARN MORE

Need Greater Access to Housing and Jobs? Jersey City Gives It the One-two-punch. With more than 2 million rides under its belt, Via Jersey City is setting a new microtransit standard. LEARN MORE

NYC Adds, Simplifies Data Sets in Annual Open Data Report New York City’s 2024 Open Data Report aims to build on the city’s open data work by offering the public consolidated data sets as well as providing new insights on algorithmic tools and more. READ MORE

One City’s Determination to Get Ahead of Homelessness With strong mayoral leadership, Atlanta is not only leveraging creative financing to provide housing but also getting tough on landlords of blighted properties. It’s a recognition that homelessness is a moral issue rooted in poor public policy. READ MORE

One Community’s Unlikely Partnership to Monitor Air Pollution A petroleum and chemical tank farm operator and a Louisiana environmental group are working together to install air monitors measuring emissions.  READ MORE

OpenAI Pitched White House on Massive Data Center Buildout OpenAI says there is a need for massive data centers that could each use as much power as entire cities, framing the unprecedented expansion as necessary to develop more advanced AI and compete with China. READ MORE

Pennsylvania House Candidates Use ChatGPT on Voter Guides At least three state candidates running for Lancaster County districts in the U.S. House of Representatives turned to AI this year to help describe their policy views to voters before Election Day. READ MORE

Pennsylvania’s State Pension Debt Clock Goes Dark The state Capitol’s pension debt clock acted as a reminder for the last eight years of how much taxpayers were on the hook to pay. But now the state’s retirement system is fully funded and the digital clock has gone dark. READ MORE

Poll: Americans Expect All Elected Officials to Act to Reduce Homelessness A new public opinion survey commissioned by the National Alliance to End Homelessness shows most Americans believe investments in housing and social service can reduce homelessness. A smaller fraction supports law enforcement as a primary solution. READ MORE

Preparing for a Future Powered by Generative AI In this Harvard Business Review, leaders across industries share how they’re harnessing this revolutionary technology. DOWNLOAD REPORT

Rural New England Counts on Foliage Tourism, but the Future of Fall Colors Is Uncertain Ultimately, climate change may bring relief from overtourism at a high price: the loss of vibrant autumn leaves. READ MORE

San Francisco CIO Talks Use of AI in Government Michael Makstman first stepped into the city’s CIO job in July, and he recently discussed his experience so far with running a $140 million department that has more than 260 employees. READ MORE

San Francisco Shows Signs of Reduced Vehicle Use, Congestion A new report by StreetLight Data shows that as vehicle use and traffic congestion continue to be a rising concern for the vast majority of U.S. metro regions, San Francisco alone is making progress. READ MORE

San Francisco’s New CIO Discusses Cybersecurity and AI Michael Makstman has been the city’s new chief information officer since July and hopes to establish citywide standards and procedures for IT while also balancing a range of technology from AI to floppy disks. READ MORE

Sea-Tac Not Paying 100-Bitcoin Ransom in August Cyber Attack Officials at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport have said they will not pay the ransom, which is worth about $6 million. How much information was illegally accessed, and what kind, is still unclear. READ MORE

See how Slack Enhances Emergency Response and Operations Communicating at the speed of mission to improve trust, transparency, and accountability in emergency management. REGISTER NOW

Self-Service, Automation Driving Public-Sector IT Innovation Learn how the convergence of self-service and automation in public-sector IT enhances efficiency for government agencies — streamlining access to services, freeing up resources and fostering innovation. READ MORE

Silicon Valley Takes a Bite Out of Congestion With Its Expanded Microtransit Network The city's 'Silicon Valley Hopper' service uses the latest transit tech to increase adoption. LEARN MORE

Sioux Falls’ Mayor: “This could not be going better.” The city's new tech-enabled transit service is winning over residents and city leaders alike. LEARN MORE

SIX Months After Key Bridge Collapse and Baltimore Is Still Recovering The 30,000 vehicles that took the Francis Scott Key Bridge every day have been rerouted since the March disaster, resulting in at least $108 million worth of time lost. And the six lives lost are priceless to the still-mourning families. READ MORE

Smarter Curbs Are Just the Start for Smarter Cities At the midpoint of smart curb projects, city transportation leaders across the country are reflecting on the broader impacts this work can have — and how they might unlock progress in the future. READ MORE

Some Chicago Residents Worry About Discontinuation of ShotSpotter Last week, Mayor Brandon Johnson vetoed the Aldermen’s unanimous vote to keep the gunshot detection technology, saying the system doesn’t work well enough to justify its costs. Some residents are worried that without it, police response time will lag. READ MORE

South Dakota’s New CIO Aims to Improve Operations With AI, Data South Dakota CIO Madhu Gottumukkala has a vision of innovation for state IT that involves a strong team implementing improved data governance, cybersecurity and emerging technology for constituents. READ MORE

Springfield Technical CC Dedicates New Cybersecurity Center Springfield Technical Community College opened a new security operations center this week in the city's Union Station, staffed by student interns and equipped to help governments protect themselves against cyber threats. READ MORE

Streamlining Services With Low-Code Case Management Systems State and local government agencies’ efforts to streamline service delivery for residents risk being held back by outdated case management processes. Low-code technology may be the answer. READ MORE

TEN Mayors Transforming Their Cities with Tech-enabled Public Transit These mayors saw transportation challenges and took action to implement new microtransit services from scratch. LEARN MORE

Texas CISO Nancy Rainosek Retiring, Deputy Is Her Successor The state chief information security officer of nearly eight years was named one of Government Technology’s Top 25 Doers, Dreamers and Drivers, in part for helping create a collaborative, risk-aware culture. READ MORE

Texas’ Low Voter Turnout Could Be a Policy Issue In the 2022 general election, just 42 percent of eligible Texas voters cast a ballot, making it one of the worst states in the nation for voter participation. READ MORE

The Campaign and Federalism: Big Talk and Empty Promises It’s good politics for presidential candidates to talk about solving problems that presidents can’t do much about. READ MORE

The Coming Policy Backwash from the COVID Revenue Wave As a recent study documents, federal fiscal stimulus created a budget windfall for states. Most cut taxes, and some now must scramble to make up for shortfalls. Congress is likely to impose tighter restrictions on future countercyclical aid, so it’s a time for all levels of government to get their acts together. READ MORE

The Cost of Water Could Help Determine Who Wins the Election in Michigan One key issue for working-class and low-income Black voters in Detroit is the cost of water. As of 2023, 27 percent of Detroit households are at risk of having their water shut off due to unpaid water bills, with $700 being the average amount owed. READ MORE

The Three Building Blocks of AI Applications Generative AI can help your organization do more with less. Increase productivity and improve service quality by building and modernizing AI applications. Learn the 3 Building Blocks of Intelligent Apps »

Tips for Overcoming Public-Sector IT Modernization Challenges Public-sector IT departments embarking on modernization efforts can follow these tips to overcome common challenges like resource restraints and staffing issues. READ MORE

West Sacramento Mayor Says Microtransit Brings Tax Revenue to the City Mayor Guerrero presented data from the transit program alongside Via at the 2024 U.S. Conference of Mayors summit. LEARN MORE

What celebrity voices can Meta’s AI chatbot now use? READ MORE

What’s New in Digital Equity: House Passes 6G Legislation Plus, Wisconsin has been awarded additional funding for digital equity causes, a new NTIA document offers guidance for native entities applying for Digital Equity Act funding, and more. READ MORE

When States and Localities Disagree On Worker Protections, What's the Way Forward? Good jobs are a bedrock of resilient communities. State and local governments can spar over who sets standards, but there are ways to meet both state standards and local needs. READ MORE

Where Next for Real ID, Facial Recognition and Airport Security? There have been some new updates around airport security and identification. From cyber expert Dan Lohrmann, here’s what you need to know. READ MORE

Where Next for Real ID, Facial Recognition and Airport Security? There have been some new updates around airport security and identification. Here’s what you need to know. READ MORE

Why Pittsburgh’s Poised to Lead the AI Revolution The former steel capital has already made the transition to advanced manufacturing. Its combination of tech talent, universities and power sources make it well-equipped to be a leader in AI. READ MORE

Will a New BLM Plan Turn the Silver State into the Solar State? The Bureau of Land Management’s controversial plan updates preferred solar zones for the first time in 12 years and identifies nearly 12 million acres for available solar development in Nevada, more than any of the 11 other states included in the plan. READ MORE

Will Declining Interest Rates Loosen California’s Housing Market? Falling borrowing costs could trigger a flood of additional buyers and send home prices higher but, for now, the number of homes for sale is increasing modestly, rates are falling and home price growth is slowing. READ MORE


CAUTION

Subsequent court and administrative rulings, or changes to laws, rules and regulations may have modified or clarified or vacated or reversed the decisions summarized here. Accordingly, these summaries should be Shepardized® or otherwise checked to make certain that the most recent information is being considered by the reader.
THE MATERIAL ON THIS WEBSITE IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY. AGAIN, CHANGES IN LAWS, RULES, REGULATIONS AND NEW COURT AND ADMINISTRATIVE DECISIONS MAY AFFECT THE ACCURACY OF THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS LAWBLOG. THE MATERIAL PRESENTED IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE AND THE USE OF ANY MATERIAL POSTED ON THIS WEBSITE, OR CORRESPONDENCE CONCERNING SUCH MATERIAL, DOES NOT CREATE AN ATTORNEY-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP.
NYPPL Blogger Harvey Randall served as Principal Attorney, New York State Department of Civil Service; Director of Personnel, SUNY Central Administration; Director of Research, Governor’s Office of Employee Relations; and Staff Judge Advocate General, New York Guard. Consistent with the Declaration of Principles jointly adopted by a Committee of the American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations, the material posted to this blog is presented with the understanding that neither the publisher nor NYPPL and, or, its staff and contributors are providing legal advice to the reader and in the event legal or other expert assistance is needed, the reader is urged to seek such advice from a knowledgeable professional.
New York Public Personnel Law. Email: publications@nycap.rr.com