Four U.S. cities—Dallas, Boise (Idaho), Issaquah (Washington), and Sugar Land (Texas)—were honored by Results for America and Bloomberg Philanthropies for their exceptional use of data in policy-making, funding allocation, and community engagement.

• Certified Cities: These cities were newly certified through the What Works Cities Certification program, joining 74 others since 2017.

• Key Achievements:

  • Issaquah: Used data to connect the homeless with resources and reduce local crime.

  • Boise: Engaged residents in building a new water treatment facility through data.

  • Sugar Land: Developed a housing upgrade program based on population and code violation data.

  • Dallas: Allocated $40 million in equity investments to address race and income inequities.

Rochelle Haynes, managing director of What Works Cities Certification, emphasized that these cities are not just collecting data but actively leveraging it to make informed decisions that benefit residents.

While cities have improved public engagement through open data portals and routine data discussions, Haynes noted the challenge of evaluating initiative effectiveness due to time and resource constraints. She advocated for integrating evaluation from the project outset and aligning stakeholders to make strategic decisions.

Artificial intelligence is also becoming a key focus, with cities exploring AI for chatbots, traffic flow analysis, and some criminal justice applications, despite concerns about bias and equity.

The ‘Yes in God’s Backyard’ movement is gaining momentum as more faith-based communities across the country address the affordable housing crisis, reports Rachel M. Cohen in Vox.

• Terner Center Estimate: Over 47,000 acres of land owned by faith-based organizations in California could be developed into affordable housing.

• Local Adjustments: Cities like San Diego have adjusted zoning laws to allow places of worship to build housing on their properties.

• Statewide Action: California enacted the Affordable Housing on Faith Lands Act.

Faith leaders are also motivated by declining congregations, which make church properties less useful. Some religious institutions view housing projects as a way to welcome and support the needy, while others see it as a means to secure their legacy amid shrinking memberships.

Cities are exploring how to leverage AI to improve local government efficiency while minimizing negative consequences.

“AI is going to work its way into your city at some point,” said Stephen Caines, chief innovation officer for San Jose, California, at the Smart City Expo USA. He advised cities to establish guidelines early.

Stockton will be the first California city to use City Detect’s software, officials told CBS News. The company’s vehicle-mounted cameras analyze city environments, with machine learning assessing conditions much faster than traditional methods.

• Pilot Results: Stockton’s five-day pilot in January identified 4,000 code violations at over 2,000 locations.

• Blight Score: The technology assigns a blight score to locations, helping code enforcement officers prioritize resources.

Other cities are adopting similar AI technologies:

• Memphis, Tennessee: Using vehicle-mounted cameras to detect potholes.

• Columbia, South Carolina: Testing City Detect’s technology with cameras on garbage trucks.

However, some residents express privacy concerns, as reported by The State.

The nation’s first utility-owned networked geothermal system went live on June 4 in Framingham, Massachusetts. The $15 million project, led by Eversource Energy, uses ground-source heat pumps to cool and heat 36 buildings without fossil fuels.

Networked geothermal systems use consistent underground temperatures of around 55 degrees Fahrenheit to heat and cool buildings. Buried pipes transfer heat into homes during winter and out in summer, or between buildings with varying heat needs. For instance, a data center can transfer excess heat to nearby homes, explained Ania Camargo, senior manager at the Building Decarbonization Coalition. This system is highly efficient and helps transition away from fossil fuels, providing a path for gas companies and workers.

• The DOE supported 11 community geothermal projects with $13 million.

• Eversource’s pilot in Framingham charges customers a monthly fee ($10 residential, $7 income-qualified, $21 commercial) plus electricity costs, with expected savings.

• Initial projects are costly, but utilities spread costs over customers, and the Inflation Reduction Act can assist with retrofits.

Some college campuses and single-entity developments already use networked geothermal systems. Legislation in six states allows or mandates utility pilots, with six more filing similar legislation. Nine pilots are in progress in New York, four in Massachusetts (one under construction), and proposals exist in Minnesota.

Cities can use geothermal for municipal buildings, encourage utilities, and advocate for state legislation. “Utility companies are more excited to work with informed towns,” said Camargo.