Seattle council greenlights digital kiosks on city streets
Why it matters: The interactive kiosks — each more than 8 feet tall and more than 3 feet wide — will offer information about local events and attractions, alongside a heavy dose of advertising.
The latest: Mayor Bruce Harrell is expected to sign off on the plan, which he supported in a news release this week. That would greenlight the Downtown Seattle Association to begin installing the kiosks in public spaces.
By the numbers: Thirty kiosks are planned for the business district between Denny Way and Pioneer Square, with installation expected to wrap by next summer — just in time for Seattle to host six FIFA World Cup matches.
Another 30 kiosks may later go up downtown.
Twenty more could be installed across business hubs in West Seattle, SoDo, Ballard and the University District.
Follow the money: The first wave of kiosks is expected to generate about $1.1 million annually in advertising revenue, which the Downtown Seattle Association plans to use for downtown improvement projects. Additional revenue would go to the city.
Yes, but: Privacy advocates have raised concerns that the devices, which include cameras, could eventually be used to record or track passersby.
The City Council's ordinance bans the kiosks from taking photographs or video, except for a user-operated selfie booth feature. Those images wouldn't be retained, the ordinance says.
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2 days ago
- Yahoo
Jamestown City Council to consider tax exemption for Cavendish Farms
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Cavendish Farms is planning an expansion that will replace the fryer, expand the building by 55 feet and provide a better working environment and storage at the facility, Agweek reported in November. The expansion would modernize the existing facility and add 80 million pounds of production capacity, The Jamestown Sun reported in June. The request at the June 26 Finance and Legal Committee meeting was for a payment in lieu of taxes for about $2 million annually or $30 million over 15 years for the projects. "It'll actually be quite a bit lower than that number," said Josh Teigen, principal of Harvest Group which represents Cavendish. "The overall project will still be about the same size but just reallocation between real property and machinery and equipment." He said the request for the payment in lieu of taxes could be less than $1 million annually for up to 15 years. Teigen said the building expansion will be around $21 million for just the materials and labor. 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3 days ago
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Metro momentum: Kansas City gains steam across multiple sectors
If diversification makes for a healthy portfolio, the Kansas City metro area is accumulating a robust one. Developments across a broad swath of sectors reveal growing momentum, with the region's services expanding alongside to offer support. Looking at and beyond the reverberations of being a host city for next year's FIFA World Cup, game-changing initiatives promise to reshape Kansas City during the next decade. At a discussion sponsored by JE Dunn Construction and moderated by its Kansas City office director, Jeff Blaesing, panelists from a sampling of those arenas — sports, health care, the arts, economic development — described what's planned, anticipated effects, and how Kansas Citians can get involved. expand 'ROWING TOGETHER' When the Kansas City Area Development Council urges businesses to expand or relocate to the area, the economic development organization leans into the diverse options across its two states, 18 counties and 50 cities, said Samatha Jefferson, KCADC vice president. 'You have a lot of choices,' she said. There are different lifestyles, from urban to rural; a range of affordability; big city amenities with smaller town quality of life; and easy accessibility via plane, train, vehicle or river. The city also boasts a strong workforce that is well-educated and loyal. It's when the region flaunts those combined assets that Kansas City truly stands out, panelists said. 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The group ensures that the health system can influence what happens in the vicinity. CULTURE AS GLUE The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art's efforts to galvanize cultural institutions in the heart of Kansas City also followed an epiphany. About a decade ago, the museum hired architects for its expansion. They noticed that the area boasted plenty of walkable institutions, but nobody walked. 'There were a lot of elements that I was just paying attention to for the first time,' recalled Julián Zugazagoitia, the museum's director and CEO. Now, as the streetcar route extends toward the art museums and the World Cup promises an influx of visitors, the area's cultural institutions hope to work together to capitalize on the walkable opportunities. The Nelson-Atkins has reached out to peers, exploring ways to encourage density and connectivity, as well as access and visibility. Specific to the World Cup, the museum plans a special exhibition about artists who also are athletes, Zugazagoitia said. Even as it explores near-term efforts, the Nelson-Atkins continues with projects intended to add fluidity, balance, capacity and interest to its campus. 'In a way, just like the hospitals, we are not satisfying all the demand that we have,' Zugazagoitia said. The museum's attendance has doubled during the past 10 years, its big events draw new people who become repeat visitors, and cuts to education budgets mean more demand for hosting school children. 'We are trying to do a museum that changes the perception of what a museum is, and that also makes it more your own museum — a sense of belonging,' Zugazagoitia said. THE PERSISTING LABOR QUESTION Panelists recognize that the workforce isn't static; local companies need a pipeline of qualified workers to continue thriving. 'It starts with workforce,' Blaesing said. 'It's a constant battle, and that is our only limiting factor.' Finding good people and training them within a company takes time, panelists said. The University of Kansas Health System has had to get creative to find enough workers. For example, it no longer requires a high school diploma for certain positions. However, it partnered with Kansas City Kansas Community College on a GED program and lets employees use work time to pursue their GEDs. Some have continued their education beyond that program, which can be transformative for families, Dykstra said. Industry needs to be in school buildings, from K-12 schools to colleges and universities, communicating the message that trades have great career potential, Blaesing said. Companies also must convince the adults in kids' lives that viable options include the trades, not just college, Jefferson said. The KCADC aims to put Kansas City on the radar of young workers. Among its efforts: Bringing influential architecture, engineering and construction educators from across the nation to Kansas City to see what it's like, the companies available, the innovation, and the career potential. The KCADC hopes such efforts will shift the balance in favor of Kansas City when students get offers from multiple places, Jefferson said. Artificial intelligence has been a buzz word lately, with alarm that it will replace human workers. But it should be viewed as a tool rather than a threat, said Zugazagoitia. 'Let's think, 'How can we use the tool and also bring knowledge to it so we are faster, we are better?'' he said. 'The talent we have around shines, because it is the talent that will control the AI tool.'
Business Insider
3 days ago
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Morocco touts a $4.2 billion plan ahead of its World Cup duties
Morocco has announced a major infrastructure investment of 38 billion dirhams ($4.2 billion) over the next five years to upgrade its main airports in preparation for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which it will co-host with Spain and Portugal. Morocco announced a $4.2 billion investment plan to upgrade its main airports to prepare for co-hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup. The initiative aims to increase airport capacity from 38 million to 80 million passengers annually by 2030. The 2030 World Cup will span three continents and involve symbolic matches in South American countries to honor the inaugural event. The Moroccan government officially announced on Thursday that a significant agreement had been reached with the National Airports Authority (ONDA). This pivotal deal is set to facilitate the execution of a highly anticipated and ambitious refurbishment project aimed at modernizing and upgrading the nation's airport infrastructure. The objective is to increase the country's airport capacity from 38 million to 80 million people per year by 2030, a critical step as Morocco prepares for an increase in foreign visitors. The centerpiece of this development will be a new terminal at Casablanca's Mohammed V International Airport, the country's largest, which is estimated to increase capacity by 20 million passengers. Morocco has previously called for bids on this project. Tourism is also growing. The country received a record 17.4 million visitors in 2024, a 20% increase over the previous year, and aims to reach 26 million tourists by 2030, as per Reuters. While the expansion may result in additional cash from television rights, sponsorships, and ticket sales, it also poses considerable logistical issues, such as more matches and lodging requirements. Plans for the FIFA World Cup 2030 The FIFA World Cup, a tournament steeped in tradition and global anticipation, is set to embark on a new chapter in 2030, marking its centenary with an unprecedented geographical spread. This landmark iteration will be the most diversified in history, spanning three continents and bringing together nations from across the globe. While the core of the tournament's matches will be predominantly hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, a significant and symbolic gesture will see Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay each host one match. This arrangement pays homage to the inaugural World Cup in 1930, which was held in Uruguay. This multi-continental approach reflects FIFA's vision for a more inclusive and globally representative World Cup. The logistical complexities of such a widespread event will be considerable, but the opportunity to connect different regions of the world through the unifying power of football is a key driver behind this innovative hosting model. The football governing body also plans to host a 64-team format tournament in 2030, as opposed to one that hosts 48 teams. FIFA had only recently increased the tournament from 32 to 48 teams for the 2026 edition in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
