“For local governments, chatbots create exciting opportunities to improve customer service, automate tasks and cut costs,” according to Marc Pfeiffer. “Residents routinely need information on topics like garbage collection, parking permits, construction projects and event schedules. Chatbots can provide 24/7 automated self-service for these frequent citizen inquiries.”
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In the News
Dean Shapiro Comments on Trump’s Firing of BLS Official
“The Trump administration … has made no secret about its desire to get rid of people who are trained in their jobs if they are not loyal to the current president,” says Stuart Shapiro, dean of the public policy school at Rutgers University and author of “Trump and the Bureaucrats: The Fate of Neutral Competence.”
TECH UPDATES: Technology Policies for Your Community
The key is to stay informed and use technology to better serve your residents. Regular assessment of technology needs and impacts will help you develop policies that truly benefit your community.
RideKC installed leaning benches at bus stops. Kansas City riders call them ‘insulting’
“Leaning benches may technically meet ADA requirements, but they aren’t usable for many people — including disabled people, older adults, pregnant people, children, and those recovering from injury,” DiPetrillo said. “In trying to prevent unhoused people from sleeping or lingering, we’ve created a new barrier for those who may need a place to rest the most.” said DiPetrillo
Gov. Murphy Signs New Pedestrian/Cyclist Safety Bill in Maplewood
“This bill marks a crucial step in advancing awareness of New Jersey’s Safe Passing Law and, in particular, ensuring drivers fully understand their responsibility to protect pedestrians, bicyclists, and other vulnerable road users when they’re behind the wheel,” said Leigh Ann Von Hagen, AICP,PP, Executive Director, Voorhees Transportation Center.
Herb Op-Ed: Government funding for resilient infrastructure, warning systems is vital
“At a time when our country grieves for the loss of life in Texas, this tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the critical importance of proactive disaster preparedness.”
Stamato Commentary: Remembering Bill Moyers, an uncommon man guided by Common Sense
Moyers, who died last month at age 91, was a PBS icon, author, adviser to President Lyndon Johnson, deputy director of the Peace Corps, newspaper publisher, and an ordained minister who firmly believed in the separation of church and state.
Op-Ed by Justin Auciello (MCRP ’05): Why New Jersey must treat information as infrastructure
Let’s embed civic signal into our plans, our budgets and our collective sense of readiness. The next storm, outage or institutional failure isn’t a question of if, it’s when. And when it happens, civic signal is the thread that holds us together. Let’s plan like we know that.
The Housing Market Was Built for a Baby Boom. What Happens in a Baby Bust?
“Housing, I think, in terms of facing contraction, is still pretty far off,” says Hughes. But while demand might hold, it will likely be for a different kind of housing entirely.
More than 100k people lost power during NYC’s heatwave last week. Experts say get used to it.
“Many of those [transmission lines] are maxed out, especially due to electric vehicles and also due to the increased presence of air conditioning and heat pumps,” Andrews said. “Many of them are a century old and not only outdated, but woefully under capacity.”