 |
|
|
| Consumer Finance |
The FDIC is helping
“unbanked” and “underbanked” individuals open savings accounts through a
new pilot program that will offer safe, low-cost transactional and savings
accounts to lower-income households. It is estimated that 17 million adults use
high cost alternatives, such as check-cashing services, spending hundreds of
dollars. The goal of the program is to
give customers the ability to build their credit and work toward financial
security. The “safe” accounts will not have overdraft fees and only require a
$1 minimum balance.
|
|
| Public Infrastructure |
The Los Angeles Department of Transportation will pilot ExpressPark,
a program that relies on advanced meters and pavement sensors to monitor the
availability of metered parking spots and which will eventually use road signs
to direct motorists to empty spaces. The program will also revise prices based
on demand. The objective is to free up enough parking in high-demand areas that
drivers are not forced to circle in search of a space, leading to a reduction
in pollutants and traffic.
|
|
| Public Safety |
Many states are grappling with the increasing
number of boats that are being abandoned by their owners. States are
empowering local governments to seize the boats, and are fining scofflaw
owners. Others are increasing fees on all boat owners to pay for the disposal
of the abandoned boats. And in California, boat owners will soon be able to
hand boats over to the authorities without incurring a penalty.
|
|
| Health Administration |
Five New York City hospitals will soon participate
in a
federally funded three-year pilot program designed to reduce medical malpractice
costs. Under the program, medical errors are revealed quickly, hospitals
propose early settlements, and judicial mediators help the parties reach
agreement in lieu of trial. While negotiation will be encouraged, either party
will still have the option of proceeding to trial if they wish.
|
|
| Prisons, Probation, and Parole |
Los Angeles County is testing
a new laser device in its jails that deters inmate violence by targeting a
beam that causes a temporary burning sensation. The Assault Intervention Device
forces assailants to recoil from any offending action quickly, and will be used
to stop or lessen the severity of inmate assaults. If successful, officials hope to expand the use of the device
across the U.S.
|
|
| Education |
The
Palos Heights School District in Illinois is placing
trackable units in student book bags to monitor when students get on or off
the bus. The technology will allow parents to have a better idea where their
children are when they send them off to school.
|
|
| Service Delivery |
The cities of Surprise, Goodyear, Buckeye, and
Mesa, Arizona, are using inexpensive online
translation programs to market their municipal websites to a broader
audience. While critics fault the foibles of literal word-for-word translation,
city officials tout the utility of adding more languages for residents and
visitors without adding costs.
|
|
| Corrections, Probation, and Parole |
|
Several states are instituting alternative sentencing programs in lieu of prison time due to budget constraints. In Dallas County, Texas, some offenders may serve time at home, allowing them to work while a satellite monitors their GPS-enabled ankle bracelet. At the same time, the county also saves money by having fewer inmates incarcerated. California’s experience with GPS-bracelets for some parole violators is also highlighted.
|
|
| Crime Prevention |
Washington, D.C., is using technology to predict who will commit crimes and when. Using an algorithm of different variables such as geographical location, criminal records, and ages of previous offenders, the software gives insight into what level of supervision a person on probation or parole should have. Critics warn that using technology to predetermine an inherently human action is folly.
Newsletter produced by: Jessica Engelman, editor; Brendan St. Amant, researcher and writer.
|
|
| How Rules Demean Public Workers |
|
The old adage that "no good deed goes unpunished" could be shortened for government to "no good deed even goes.” Public-sector unions and management mean well, but they often fail to reward those actually doing the work—frontline employees.
|
| Today's Management Challenges Echo the Past |
|
A memo from a 1970 Office of Management and Budget official still resonates four decades later. Full of wisdom, it is stunning how many of the challenges noted in it are relevant today. Managers at all levels of government can benefit from the insights in this four decades old missive.
|
| Energy Sustainability Down Under |
|
The U.S. can learn a lot from other parts of the world about promoting energy sustainable communities.
|
|
|
Back To Top
|
NOTE: The highlights in this newsletter link to source articles from other websites, and may not be available after a certain length of time.
Please feel free to forward this message to colleagues.
You are receiving this newsletter because of preferences you selected as a registered user of the Government Innovators Netrwork®.
To unsubscribe, login to http://innovations.harvard.edu using your email address and password, then click "User profile" at the top right corner to change your preferences.
About the Ash Center
The Roy and Lila Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation advances excellence in governance and strengthens democratic institutions worldwide. Through its research, education, international programs, and government innovations awards, the Center fosters creative and effective problem solving and serves as a catalyst for addressing many of the most pressing needs of the world's citizens. The Ford Foundation is a founding donor of the Center. Additional information about the Ash Center is available at http://ash.harvard.edu.
|
