Quick Hit News
ZeroEyes, a Pennsylvania-based public safety tech firm known for its AI gun detection tools, has introduced its Aerial Detection Kits (ZAD). These portable drone systems offer real-time situational awareness by identifying firearms, vehicles, boats, drones, and individuals in outdoor environments. Designed to support law enforcement in managing perimeter security, armed suspect searches, and hostage scenarios, the ZAD solution addresses the challenges of securing large, open spaces. Read →
Faced with rising volumes of digital materials, the Miami-Dade County, Fla.,
Public Defenderʼs Office has adopted CoCounsel, an AI platform that helps
build timelines, draft briefs, and summarize complex records like medical and school files. The system integrates with document management tools to
automate intake, convert handwritten notes, and accelerate case processing. With 75,000 cases annually, the office sees AI as essential to maintaining diligence and efficiency in modern legal practice. Read →
Backed by $400,000 in state funding, the Michigan airport will host testing of drone missions near the US-Canada border. The initiative will support law
enforcement and environmental monitoring through aerial surveillance of
waterways and transport corridors. The hub will integrate radar, cloud-based airspace tools, and mobile control centers to ensure secure, FAA-compliant operations. Live flight demos and workshops are planned by mid-2026 to
advance regional drone readiness. Read →
Community Spotlight
Mayor Gina Leichty, City of Goshen: Innovation Rooted in Community and Collaboration
Under Mayor Gina Leichtyʼs leadership, Goshen earned the inaugural Stephen Goldsmith Prize for Innovation in Local Government, a national recognition of the cityʼs practical, resident-first approach to engagement and housing quality.
A cornerstone of that approach is the Community Relations Commission (CRC), which serves as a bridge between residents and City Hall. The CRCʼs charge is to make participation easy and welcoming. The city backs that up with formal language-access practices, routinely providing Spanish materials and accommodations. Bilingual staff, including roles within permitting and inspections, help residents and small businesses navigate processes without guesswork.
On housing, Goshen operates a rental registration and inspection program administered by the Building Department to raise baseline quality and safety. The policy sets clear standards for property owners and gives tenants predictable expectations about maintenance and habitability. The city pairs enforcement with education so compliance is achievable, emphasizing shared responsibility between landlords and renters and offering guidance on how to meet code requirements before resorting to penalties.
Innovation also shows up inside City Hall. Departments work together to embed data transparency, equity goals, and resident feedback into everyday operations. Public-facing reports, permit and inspection updates, and multi-year capital plans make it easier for residents to see whatʼs being done, why it matters, and how to weigh in.
At the neighborhood level, Goshenʼs priorities are translated through notices and forms, bilingual assistance at the counter and on inspections, and plain-language outreach that reduces friction for families, seniors, and newcomers. The result is not just higher participation but better policy, because more voices shape how services are delivered.
Looking ahead, Mayor Leichty frames innovation as a civic practice rooted in empathy, equity, and shared progress. The goal is steady, accountable improvement by keeping city data open, rules clear and fair, and listening, so that Goshenʼs growth reflects the needs of every resident who calls it home.
Resources & Events
📅 Smart Cities Connect Fall Conference & Expo (National Harbor, MD - November 19-21, 2025)
This flagship event convenes city leaders, technologists, and solution providers to explore the next generation of smart-city innovation. Hosted by Smart Cities Connect, the Fall 2025 edition, emphasizes real-world deployments of AI, data platforms, and digital infrastructure that enhance urban living, mobility, and sustainability. With dedicated programming tracks and a major expo floor, the conference serves as a nexus for public-sector innovation, vendor partnerships, and future-ready policy design. Details →
Where to find us
Booth 214
Wednesday, Nov 19, 2-6 PM
Thursday, Nov 20, 2-6 PM
Sessions
Public Safety Panel
Thu, Nov 20, 9:25–10:15 AM ET
Moderator: James Mitchell (Fractional Source)
Speakers: John Holden (City of Raleigh), Vince Bettinazzi (City of Myrtle Beach), Darek Pleasants (Microsoft)
📅 Defense TechConnect Innovation Summit & Expo (Washington, D.C. - November 19-21, 2025)
The Defense TechConnect Innovation Summit & Expo 2025 unites the U.S. Department of Defense, federal agencies, research institutions, and private innovators to advance dual-use technologies for national security. Focused on AI, autonomy, advanced materials, biosecurity, energy resilience, and next-gen manufacturing, the event features sessions on defense modernization, microelectronics, and secure data infrastructure, along with one of the nationʼs largest innovation expos and matchmaking sessions. Details →
Sessions
Innovation Spotlights: Data/AI/Cyber III
Thu, Nov 20, 2:30 PM ET
Review Panelist: James Mitchell (Fractional Source)
Daryl Haegley, Office of the Secretary of Defense
Insight of the Week
Fractional leadership is emerging as a strategic solution for communities and organizations facing uncertainty. By engaging experienced leaders on a part-time or project basis, this model enables rapid problem-solving, cost-effective innovation, and scalable impact, especially for small and mid-sized governments.
Unlike traditional consulting, fractional leaders focus on delivering measurable outcomes within short timeframes, often transitioning successful initiatives back to internal teams. This approach helps de-risk transformation efforts, foster cross- sector collaboration, and build resilience in the face of evolving challenges.
For the Commute
Meredith Whittaker on AI hype and the end of privacy (POLITICO Tech)
Host Steven Overly speaks with Meredith Whittaker (President of Signal Foundation, co-founder of the AI Now Institute) to explore how the surge in AI is intersecting with surveillance capitalism, personal data rights, and Big Techʼs evolving role in governance. The conversation covers real-world data privacy risks, how the AI hype cycle is accelerating infrastructure and monitoring imperatives, vendor and platform power consolidation, and the balancing act between innovation, public trust, and regulation.
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