Rarely is the term “city hall” considered synonymous with the words “innovation” or “efficiency.” Too often, the public image of municipal government is of a static bureaucracy staffed with disinterested clock-watchers focused on petty tasks and arcane processes.But two Harvard authorities on government and technology say it doesn’t have to be that way.In their new book, “The Responsive City: Engaging Communities Through Data-Smart Governance,” Stephen Goldsmith, the Daniel Paul Professor of the Practice of Government at Harvard Kennedy School (HKS), and Susan Crawford, the John A. Reilly Visiting Professor in Intellectual Property at Harvard Law School (HLS), offer a road map for managers who want to move beyond the traditional silos of urban government. By embracing the latest tools, like fiber connectivity and predictive data analytics, they posit, the city hall of the future could radically reshape how local government serves its citizens, improving both civic life and trust.A “responsive” city is one that doesn’t just make ordinary transactions like paying a parking ticket easier, but that uses the information generated by its interactions with residents to better understand and predict the needs of neighborhoods, to measure the effectiveness of city agencies and workers, to identify waste and fraud, to increase transparency, and, most importantly, to solve problems.“Cities are organized vertically, and people live horizontally. They don’t live in the transportation or parks department … they live in a neighborhood,” said Goldsmith, who directs the Innovations in Government program at HKS and Data-Smart City Solutions, a project that focuses on local government efforts to improve citizen-city engagement through technology. “I think the biggest problem is the way government is organized. It’s organized to make sure city employees produce the exact same widget every day, no matter whether anybody needs it or not, and no matter whether somebody needs zero or two.”By using its own data and social media, a city “should learn what its citizens are saying about their needs and the issues in their communities; it should learn across agencies about the solutions to problems; it should learn from the data about good actors and bad actors,” like businesses and property owners who operate irresponsibly, said Goldsmith. “A city that’s responsive is one that tailors its interventions in ways that produce more results for the same dollars and more responsively.”But until recently, even if a city had informed, cabinet-level staff members who understood the potential of such an approach, the data sources to conduct deep analyses were disconnected, making it hard to identify useful patterns of activity.“What’s new today is that technologists and policymakers are learning how to look across disparate data and visualize the state of the city and target interventions where they can be most useful,” said Crawford, a co-director of the Berkman Center for Internet & Society.Crawford will discuss the theories and practices of “responsive” cities on Oct. 28 at the HLS Library with Mitchell Weiss, a Harvard Business School professor and chief of staff to former Boston Mayor Thomas Menino; Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone; Jascha Franklin-Hodge, CIO for the city of Boston; and Jonathan Zittrain, Berkman’s director.The book details an inside look at Boston, New York City, and Chicago, three cities at the forefront nationally in the effort to become more responsive. Led by Menino, Michael Bloomberg, and Rahm Emanuel, respectively, each city had a strong mayor who made using data to achieve electoral priorities a cornerstone of their recent administrations.“Having a strong leader who will question effectiveness is quite important — someone who will lead the way in terms of data integration and business process re-engineering,” said Goldsmith.City governments have been slower than the private sector to embrace technology and data analytics, in part because of the costs, but also because of what has become an ossified, overly modest definition of success.“A number of city agencies think they’re effective because they do a very good job of producing activities — even if the activities don’t produce the outcome,” said Goldsmith, who served as deputy mayor in New York City, overseeing the city’s technology overhaul during Bloomberg’s third and final term.“Traditionally in cities, street workers showed up in the morning and they got their routes. ‘Here are the potholes you’re supposed to go fix; go fix them.’ Now, they could drive over four potholes on the way to the one they’re supposed to fix, but their instructions are, ‘You’re not to fix those,’” he said. “Data can do all of that, but we just need to trust our employees to be problem-solvers.”Cities striving to become more responsive must have a “stack” of essential building blocks, said Crawford. First, they need fiber connections so that large data files can be shared quickly and seamlessly among city staffers, along with data sensors positioned at key locations like city bridges, tunnels, and major roadways to help identify problems and repairs. Then, they should publish collected public data and share it across city government and with the public, and have data scientists study the numbers to discern trouble spots that will drive government action and perhaps policy.Making the collected data open is a critical component of responsiveness. “It’s important because open data — well visualized — allows employees to see other agencies, it allows residents to hold their city hall responsible, but also because it provides data that can lead to breakthroughs and solutions” from inside and outside government, said Goldsmith.Even as many cities have begun to acquire the necessary technology to be more responsive, significant cultural and leadership barriers remain.“There is a new generation of mayors coming in who understand the potential of digital technology to make lives better for people in their cities, but they have a lot to overcome,” said Crawford. “The traditional ways government does business, the walls between departments, and rules … make it difficult to collaborate across city hall. It’s extremely difficult to experiment, to easily engage with startups, to find the best technology for a particular direction rather than the traditional way of doing things.“Procurement is an enormous barrier,” she added. “Civil service rules can also be a major barrier. We need to find a way to bring people into city government for short tours of duty — two years, four years — and then send them back out to industry. And right now, that’s very hard.”Also, city “agencies are distrustful” of the open-government movement, said Goldsmith. “They don’t view it, as I do, as a better way to gather information. The average agency official thinks, ‘The way I get information is I go to a neighborhood meeting at 7 p.m., people scream at me for 3½ hours, and then I go home. [So] a lot more of that doesn’t sound like a really good thing to me.’”Although there’s still a long way to go to remake moribund government bureaucracies into flexible and lean service providers, Goldsmith said, “I’m hoping that the book, which is written more as a practitioner’s book than an academic book, will motivate public officials who are stressed for resources, stressed by citizen complaints, to understand that there are affordable tools that will dramatically change the way they produce public services,” and who will receive in return the trust of residents who should be the ultimate “beneficiaries of a more responsive city.”Susan Crawford will be joined by Mitchell Weiss, a Harvard Business School professor and chief of staff to former Boston Mayor Thomas Menino; Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone; Jascha Franklin-Hodge, CIO for the city of Boston; and Harvard’s Jonathan Zittrain to discuss the theories and practices of “responsive” cities on Oct. 28 at the Harvard Law School library .
Rallying for one of their own
The way a community rallies around one of its members during hardship can speak volumes about its strength and bonds of unity.On Tuesday during a fundraiser at El Jefe’s Taqueria, that sense of support was on full display when members of the Harvard community packed the Cambridge restaurant to support Ben Abercrombie ’21, a first-year safety who was seriously injured last year during his first football game for the Crimson.The effort echoes important efforts by the Harvard Varsity Club’s Abercrombie Fund, which has drawn major donations to support Abercrombie and his recovery. Through such efforts, family and friends are hopeful for the day when Abercrombie can return to classes.A celebrated recruit from Alabama, Abercrombie had risen on the depth chart through preseason training camp and was the only first-year to make the defensive roster for the season opener in Rhode Island. During what looked like a routine tackle, he suffered a severe cervical spinal cord injury and was paralyzed below the neck.“Taking part in this event is simply a way of telling Ben that the Harvard University and Harvard Square communities have not forgotten the sacrifice he made representing Harvard after being here only a few short weeks,” said John Schall, owner of El Jefe’s.John Schall (right), owner of El Jefe’s Taqueria, cooks for the crowd. Rose Lincoln/Harvard Staff PhotographerSchall is contributing all revenue generated from sales and donations during the 20-hour stretch, known as Ben Abercrombie Day, to the Benson M. Abercrombie ’21 Fund, which the Harvard Varsity Club established to provide financial support to the Abercrombie family and any future Harvard College athlete who is severely injured while playing.“My little brother, when he was exactly Ben’s age and also a state champion athlete, also had a catastrophic spinal cord injury,” Schall said. “I know from personal experience a little bit of what Ben and his family are going through, and I just want to help and let Ben know that, as a community, we care.”A steady crowd of customers turned out in support of the effort. Inside, they crammed shoulder-to-shoulder as they waited to order or donate. Outside, the line at times curled around the corner.“It’s definitely heartwarming,” said Lindey Kneib ’21. “It’s nice to see the University come together. It’s very grounding and very humbling. It says how strong we are together.”“It’s incredible,” added classmate Jack Traina ’21. “It shows how close the Harvard community is and how much people are willing to rally for someone, even if they don’t know him personally.”“I’m happy to see how many people are here,” said Aren Rendell ’19, as he stood amid the crowd. “It’s reading period, finals period. People are really busy. It’d be easy to just go to the [dining] hall and not care about someone who’s part of our community. I think it’s nice that people are willing to take time out of their day. It means something.”It was El Jefe’s second year hosting the fundraiser. Last year, despite rain and freezing temperatures, more than 2,200 community members turned out. The event raised more than $27,000, with about $20,000 coming from food sales and $7,000 from donations made in-person and online. “[W]e care about each other; we’re there for one another.” — Chris McGrory ’21 This year, on a sunny but frigid day, the second Ben Abercrombie Day raised nearly $26,000, with $18,000 in sales and credit tip revenue, and more than $7,000 in cash tips, cash donations, and online contributions.Along with community members, members of the football team were on site for the entire event to welcome customers, collect donations, and thank people.“To us, he’s an inspiration,” said Adam West ’21 about Abercrombie.“The way he deals with adversity is something we try to strive for in our program,” said West’s teammate Matt Farber ’20.Many other members of the Harvard athletic community, like baseball player Chris McGrory ’21, also took part.“It shows that we care about each other; we’re there for one another,” McGrory said. “There’s a special bond between Harvard athletes.”So far, the Varsity Club’s Abercrombie Fund, which was established in 2017, has raised more than $450,000. Already it has helped pay for a stand-up wheelchair for him, and helped cover the costs for the family’s travel to Cleveland for a recent procedure.The fund also helped Abercrombie return to campus for the first time since his injury to attend this year’s Harvard-Yale game.“It was an amazing trip,” said Marty Abercrombie, Ben’s father. “He had a smile on his face the entire time we were up there.”Students from all over campus came to the 20-hour event. Rose Lincoln/Harvard Staff PhotographerWhile in Cambridge, Abercrombie also met with specialists at Harvard University Health Services, Spaulding Rehabilitation Center, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and Boston Children’s Hospital.“Ben’s wish of returning to Harvard as a student is going to require a monumental effort on his part,” said Bob Glatz ’88, the Broadbent Family Executive Director of the Harvard Varsity Club. “The Abercrombie Fund provides the Harvard and Cambridge communities a way to support Ben every step along the way.”“Ben’s goal when he went up to Harvard was to earn his Harvard degree,” Marty Abercrombie said. “We’re not going to let this physical setback stand in his way.“We’re so excited that John and El Jefe’s, along with the Harvard Varsity Club, is doing the second annual event for Ben,” he added. “We anticipate many more needs going forward.”Donations to the Benson M. Abercrombie ’21 Fund can be made online through the Harvard Varsity Club’s website by visiting www.harvardvarsityclub.org/AbercrombieFund.
Indian renewable energy ministry: Country’s offshore wind generation potential may total 70GW
FacebookTwitterLinkedInEmailPrint分享EnergyWorld.com:India has an estimated offshore wind energy potential to generate around 70,000 Megawatts (MW) of power, most of it in coastal Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, according to the ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE).“Initial studies indicate offshore wind energy potential of about 70 Gigawatts (GW) within the identified zones along the coasts of Gujarat and Tamil Nadu only,” the ministry told the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Energy.The Ministry is planning to develop the first offshore wind energy project of 1 GW capacity off the coast of Gujarat. The required geophysical study for 365 square km has already been completed and the geo-technical and met-ocean studies are in progress. The National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE) has floated the expression of interest (EoI) for this first offshore wind energy project of India.All the stage-I clearances as per national offshore wind energy policy has been obtained for the proposed 1 GW project. An environmental impact assessment for the proposed project is being carried out by National Institute of Oceanography, Goa.The parliamentary panel has also recommended that MNRE should encourage wind–solar hybrid projects as much as possible in order to minimize the intermittency of renewable power. “Wind and solar energy are complementary, and hybridizing these two would help in minimizing the variability apart from optimally utilizing the infrastructure, including land and transmission systems,” the panel said in its recommendations to the ministry.The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has awarded three wind-solar hybrid projects of 1,440 MW capacity in Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu and issued a tender to install 160 MW capacity of wind-solar hybrid projects in Andhra Pradesh.[Anshul Joshi]More: India identifies offshore wind energy potential of 70,000 MW along Gujarat, TN coasts Indian renewable energy ministry: Country’s offshore wind generation potential may total 70GW
Do This: Long Island Events June 25 – July 1


‘Schitt’s Creek’ Movie Hasn’t Been ‘Ruled Out’
“The idea of working with these people again is still something that is kind of at the front of our brains,” he said on Tuesday. “We’ve never ruled out the possibility that, you know, we could come back in some form, be it a movie or another Christmas thing or who knows? But nothing has been ruled out, believe me. The opportunity to work with everybody again would be fantastic, because it was the best six years of my life, no question.”
Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara, Dan Levy, Noah Reid, Emily Hampshire and Annie Murphy on “Schitt’s Creek.” PopTVEarlier this year, the wildly popular series swept the 2020 Emmy Awards, taking home an unprecedented nine trophies for its final season. O’Hara, 66, Murphy, 33, and the father-son duo each received individual honors after the show went nearly unrecognized for the previous five years. After the whirlwind awards night, Daniel gushed over being able to share the moment with both his real-life family and the one he built through Schitt’s Creek.“Obviously for [my dad] to be in his 70s and to have never been nominated for an Emmy as an actor, it felt like, what a lovely time for him to win. I was just so proud. I was proud of our relationship. I was proud of the work that he did,” Daniel told Vulture in September. “The whole process just felt oddly not real. … It was just this game that eventually we’d have to give them all back.”- Advertisement – Best wishes, warmest regards! Saying goodbye to Schitt’s Creek was as hard for Eugene Levy as it was for the show’s massive fan base — but he doesn’t think it was the end of the road for the Rose family.The Canadian actor, 73, created the heartwarming comedy series with his son, Daniel Levy. Schitt’s Creek ran for six seasons starting in 2015, and its series finale aired in April. While viewers grew attached to each and every one of the show’s quirky characters, Eugene and Daniel, 37, knew they’d told their story the best they could.
Eugene Levy as Johnny Rose on “Schitt’s Creek.” PopTV- Advertisement – Listen to Watch With Us to hear more about your favorite shows and for the latest TV news! “We’ve said, and Daniel has said too, that we ended the show when we thought the show should have ended. It was the right time to end it,” the Serendipity star said during an interview with Fox 5 New York’s Rosanna Scotto on Tuesday, November 10. “All the stories kind of resolved themselves in as natural a way as you could, and there was no point in really extending it.”For six seasons, Eugene played the Rose family’s patriarch, Johnny, who takes over operations of a motel after being forced to move to the rural town of Schitt’s Creek. Moira Rose (Catherine O’Hara) and the pair’s children — David (Daniel) and Alexis (Annie Murphy) — leave their lives of luxury behind and find themselves falling in love with the place they learned to call home.Though the series wrapped, Eugene is hopeful that fans will get to see their favorite Schitt’s Creek characters back in action sooner rather than later.- Advertisement – – Advertisement –
Bidders snap up ‘immaculate’ gem within a week
The home at 60-64 Braddon St, Cornubia.THIS two-storey home in Cornubia sold for $850,000 the week it was listed for sale. Marketing agents Leanne Smith and Paivi Dickie of @Realty said 60-64 Braddon St attracted strong interest from buyers. “It had a lot of interest — we had 22 groups through the property and two offers in the first week,” Ms Smith said. “It went on to sell within the week. It was a pretty fast sale.” Ms Smith said the new owners were a local family with their own business. More from newsCrowd expected as mega estate goes under the hammer7 Aug 2020Hard work, resourcefulness and $17k bring old Ipswich home back to life20 Apr 2020The home at 60-64 Braddon St, Cornubia.“They had basically outgrown their business and home so they bought the new property where they could live and run their business from.” The vendors were also thrilled with the sale. “They are a lovely couple who designed and built the home themselves about 28 years ago,” Ms Smith said.“It was an absolutely immaculate home and a credit to them.” Ms Smith and Ms Dickie, who are both locally based agents, said the property market in Cornubia was strong. “There is a lot of buyer demand in the area and not enough listings,” Ms Smith said.
Reno-ready Queenslander to go under hammer
Just a couple of blocks to New Farm Park and the river. 107 Merthyr Road, New Farm Qld 4005A CHARACTER cottage in Brisbane’s inner-city is expected to attract strong attention when it goes under the hammer this weekend.The spacious Queenslander at 107 Merthyr Road is in the heart of the New Farm on a 506sq m block and is first off the block this weekend, going to auction at 9am. A good sized block in a very popular neighbourhood. It has an inground pool.“Filled with light, open spaces, this liveable home is ready for its next chapter. Step past the picket fence to reveal a charming home that beckons with the promise of character. From the polished hardwood floors to the high ceilings, every hallmark of its style has been kept to preserve the traditional feel. “ 107 Merthyr Road, New Farm Qld 4005 The back veranda looks to the garden and pool. A charming hallway. Potential plus in this kitchen.The home has three bedrooms, two bathrooms and parking for two vehicles with the kitchen to the rear of the property overlooking the garden and inground pool. FOLLOW SOPHIE FOSTER ON FACEBOOK FREE: GET THE COURIER-MAIL’S REALESTATE NEWS DIRECT TO INBOX The home has tandem parking for two.More from newsParks and wildlife the new lust-haves post coronavirus22 hours agoNoosa’s best beachfront penthouse is about to hit the market22 hours agoIn the backyard looking towards the house.Agent Aaron Woolard of Place New Farm said there was a lot of interest in the property.“Renovators in New Farm are always in demand auction,” he said.He and colleague Anissa Lamond were marketing it as “excellent value in the highly-sought lifestyle haven of New Farm”
Tunisian restaurant owner promotes common ancestry of local jews & muslims
Related In Tunisia, Jews and Muslims have been living side by side for many decades. But while some extremists try to create divisions, one restaurateur is fighting back. Its become his mission to raise awareness of the common heritage between the two communities. CCTV’s Maria Galang reports Tunisian Residents Divided over Upcoming Polls Tunisian women free to marry non-Muslims Alexandria initiative promotes green lifestyles
Dingle local shot to death
ILOILO City – He was inside his housegetting ready to sleep when he got shot. Two armed men barged into Mergencio’shouse and fired at the latter using a still undetermined caliber gun, policesaid. The 63-year-old carpenter DonatoMergencio of Barangay Camambugan, Dingle, Iloilo died, a police report showed. The victim sustained three gunshotwounds on the head. He died on the spot. The shooting happened around 11:30p.m. on Jan. 12 at Mergencio’s residence, the report added. Officers from the Dingle policestation were still identifying the suspects, who fled onboard amotorcycle. They have yet to establish the motivein the incident as of this writing./PN
Batesville HS Summer Weight Training
2014 Batesville High School Weight TrainingStart date: Friday, June 6.Days: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday.Times: 7:30 AM & 6:00 PM (Do not be late).Physicals & other paper work must be completed and submitted to Batesville High School before participating.Submitted by Batesville Football Coach Eric Heppner.