Published on Mar 21, 2017
Views: 136
An in-depth look at the more reliable, capable, cost-effective EOD/surveillance robots from Realion Robotics, a joint venture of Alion and Reamda, Ltd. Visit www.RealionRobotics.com for more info!
Saturday, April 01, 2017
The Terror of A 'No'
. . . just ask.Opportunity
Published on Mar 31, 2017
Views: 130,523
We miss out on the finest opportunities of our lives because of an underlying terror of a very short word. We should overcome the fear
Animated Map: Repub AHCA Repercussions
AZ=Big Loser
Published on Mar 31, 2017
Views: 7,280
House Republicans introduced the American Health Care Act (AHCA) to replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Analysts show that each state will be affected differently. Under the AHCA, many states that participate in the federal exchange would see a decrease in premium tax credits available to individuals.
Friday, March 31, 2017
New Player On Mesa City Council Team Steps Up To The Plate Hitting A Homer Outta The Ball Park
That's Amy Poehler from popular TV show Parks & Recreation giving a wink and a knowing nod @ left
Your MesaZona blogger is so thrilled and so excited to say that local politics is not a spectator sport . . . let's qualify that by stating that the action is on social media: here and here
Concerned? Curious?
1. Ryan Winkle on Facebook March 27, 2017[almost 50 replies and comments]
We have recently heard a proposal to privatize the Mesa jail operations. Please read (really read) and watch the following links and let me know your thoughts. Please keep in mind;
1. People Concerns
2. City Budget Issues
3. Jail vs. Prison (transport, booking and length of stay)
4. Unforeseen Consequences of being the first AZ Municipality to do this.
You can send your thoughts, addressed to all the Mayor and Council at council@mesaaz.gov
Please no knee jerk reactions, at minimum please review this.
Mesa Police Presentation on privatization for jail:
http://mesa.legistar.com/View.ashx…
2. Ryan Winkle on Facebook March 30, 2017 [over 100 replies and comments]
Long post warning. Some clarifications needed.
1. There are some councilmembers that want to use the allocation approved by voters and by council numerous times on other projects. Only one of which is a new council member.
2. If there is a change of mind regarding the use of this voter and council approved money, it should go through an open & public process.
Is The City of Mesa Making The Mark In WhatWorksCities? Apply + Get Certified
The story [excerpts and links provided farther along in this post] received a whopping 17 views and no likes, shares, tweets linked-in or otherwise.
The published - and little-noticed story - stated that When What Works Cities partners Sunlight and the Center for Government Excellence began work with Mesa — the first city to officially sign on to the $42 million dollar Bloomberg Philanthropies program — city leaders had a clear vision for advancing open data in their community. . . Is the City of Mesa now ready to get certified that it's clear that they are headed down a path that will establish them as a leader in open data for mid-sized cities.
“I strongly believe that data and evidence are the fuel that will continue to power the positive momentum we’ve created as we work to grow Mesa into an even better place to live work and raise a family,” said Mayor John Giles in the city’s press release at that time featured in the image to the right, and as usual starts off with that we-are-excited thing: “We are excited that Mesa is a leader in open data for Arizona.” One might ask how's it going, Mister Mayor?
How does Mesa measure up now?
There's now a certification to prove that leadership compared with the following statement made in the story last year: BLOOMBERG PHILANTHROPIES’ WHAT WORKS CITIES CERTIFICATION RECOGNIZES AND CELEBRATES U.S. LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, WITH A POPULATION OF 30,000 OR MORE, THAT ARE LEADING THE NATION IN THE USE OF DATA AND EVIDENCE TO INCREASE GOVERNMENT EFFECTIVENESS AND IMPROVE SERVICES FOR RESIDENTS.
By rewarding achievements and providing a clear path to excellence, What Works Cities Certification supports local leaders in leveraging what works to deliver unprecedented results for their residents.We encourage all cities to take the first step in the direction of understanding where they stand and what their next steps are to making, even more, progress for their communities. Please take a minute to let us know you’re interested in joining us by submitting your Statement of Interest by May 1.
HOW CERTIFICATION WORKS
When a city applies for What Works Cities Certification, its practices and policies are assessed across a number of criteria aligned with the What Works Cities Standard. For each criterion assessed, a local government earns points that reflect the presence and caliber of each policy or practice. A team from Results for America, along with its assembled experts, will conduct the assessments in on-site visits. Only local governments that are certified will be announced publicly.
Based on the total number of points earned, a local government can achieve one of three Certification tiers:
SILVER
Local governments are good at understanding data, tracking process, and using data and evidence to make decisions.
Local governments work across at least two components of the What Works Cities Standard
GOLD
Local governments are great at understanding data, tracking progress, and using data and evidence to inform decisions.
Local governments work across at least three components of the What Works Cities Standard
PLATINUM
Local governments set the precedent in understanding data, tracking progress, and using data and evidence to inform decisions.
Local governments work across all components of the What Works Cities Standard
The city’s Open Data Management Policy, signed by City Manager Chris Brady last October 2 years ago, affirms Mesa’s commitment to joining the open data movement. Meeting the majority of Sunlight’s open data policy guidelines - it firmly establishes processes for the collection and release of quality data, It takes major steps to ensure that data release is timely and is prioritized based on city priorities and public feedback.
It also mandates an annual open data report and review process — an activity that will be fundamental in the effort to achieve the policy’s ultimate goals.A mayor, whether working in a big city or a small one, sees needs every day that would benefit from the investment of public resources. With such opportunities essentially unlimited but resources quite constrained, how should a leader respond?
A comprehensive answer to this question was recently presented when Bloomberg Philanthropies' What Works Cities initiative lanched a certification program that provides much-needed clarity by identifying and endorsing clear, expert-tested indicators of the capacity to use data effectively.
HOW TO APPLY
What Works Cities Certification is currently open to all U.S. cities with a population of 30,000 or more. Certified cities will be announced annually, and any cities that do not initially qualify can reapply every other year. Cities earning Certification must reapply at a minimum every three years to maintain Certification status.If your city is interested in beginning your journey to becoming What Works Cities Certified, we invite you to get started. Please contact certification@whatworkscities.org with any questions.
The What Works Cities StandardWhat Works Cities leaders make powerful, public commitments to achieving better results for their residents by using data and evidence when making budget and policy decisions;
What Works Cities leaders collect and use data and tools to measure progress and engage residents along the way;
What Works Cities leaders consistently review and reflect on the data and evidence they have to learn and make improvements; and
What Works Cities leaders use data and evidence to inform major decisions and take action to improve outcomes.
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Mesa embraces open data with new portal and policy
Friday, March 4, 2016 11:40
Link: click or hover on this link Are Parks Play-Grounds For Politics? ...or GREEN SPACES for ReCreation?
Is it registered and licensed as a Non-Profit by the State of Arizona in official public records with all of its staff working inside City Hall as city employees earning salaries paid for with taxpayer dollars?
Do they do their job keeping residents informed in a fair-and-balanced way? ...or do they fall short of the mark?
What Works Here In Mesa??? Does Mayor John Giles Have The Grit & The Vision?
Ideas Welcome: by News Staff / April/May 2017
Government Technology’s Top 25 Doers, Dreamers and Drivers honors people inside and outside of government with a grand vision and the grit to execute on it. These are the people who aren’t afraid to bring a new, transformative idea to the table, and often times, that spirit is contagious.
Here are a few hints at their philosophies and priorities that have landed them on our list for 2017.
(Click on the infographic to view a full-size version of the image.)
An Inspiring Look at What’s Right in Government
BIG ideas, bold thinking and skillful execution on the potential of truly digital government.
Many commonalities run through this year’s honorees.
They think big.
They seize opportunity.
They collaborate.
Nobody has a monopoly on good ideas.
This 2017 Top 25 Doers, Dreamers and Drivers
serves up a fresh set of stories that are filled with them.
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Flash News: Ukraine Intercepts Russian Kh-59 Cruise Missile Using US VAMPIRE Air Defense System Mounted on Boat. Ukrainian forces have made ...
