Robots are coming for humans' jobs. That's not a threat, it's a fact. In many cases, they already have. It happens all the time. A new technology is born and an old industry dies. Man vs. machine is very real, but the results of two recent local government initiatives prove that humanity’s relationsip with technology doesn’t have to be ... READ MORE+

We’ve written extensively about the importance of aggregating and tracking data, but what good is all that information if you and other members of your administration don’t optimize it? The first step towards data optimization is data literacy—a skill that a variety of industries place an increasingly high premium on. Indeed, Gartner foresees 80% ... READ MORE+

With the recent rerelease of Die Hard, news of a Baby-Sitters Club reboot coming to Netflix and the triumphant return of hair barrettes, 1980s nostalgia is at fever pitch.While '80s films, books and looks can still be enjoyed in the present-day, there’s a reason you don’t see people walking around with Gordon Gekko size cellphones. 1980s ... READ MORE+

This week flew by—thanks to most of the United States having off to observe President’s Day on Monday. President’s Day celebrates the February birthdays of  George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, first and sixteenth presidents, respectively. While both men left write-up worthy legacies, this blog post highlights presidents who adopted the latest ... READ MORE+

Journalists have declared that we are living in the Golden Age of Grift. Not the most flattering nickname, but what else do you call this?  READ MORE+

On Monday, the nation will honor the peaceful message and powerful legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The remarkable man was many things—a Baptist minister, a great orator, an activist, a husband and father—but he was an influencer because he believed that there is strength in numbers and posessed the skills to organize and inspire—a feat all ... READ MORE+

Last week, we listed numbers 10 through five of the top 10 most commonly reported concerns in New Jersey, as determined by data aggregated by our Report a Concern digital form and GovAlert mobile app. This week, we bring you numbers five through one. Drumroll please...   READ MORE+

You’re at a restaurant with your dream date. They are good-looking and well-dressed. At every table, necks crane and eyes turn green with envy. You order the usual and your date orders the grapefruit drink. When the pink drink arrives, they look confused. “What’s wrong?” you ask. “I think that they have my order wrong. Grapes are either green or ... READ MORE+

From beating Domino’s to the pothole filling punch to reversing property blight, local government has a lot of things to worry about. Did you know that a bad Yelp! review is one of them? That’s right—it isn’t only restaurant owners who are subject to public scrutiny. Yelp! users review cities from New York (“Awesome city, but too many rats!”, says ... READ MORE+

“You have an upcoming court date and failure to appear will result in the issuance of a warrant for your arrest.” It’s a text message that no one wants to receive, but as cities, New York and Nashville, have recently found, it’s a text message that many need to receive.   READ MORE+