Latest news with #PACT
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Drivers in England warned some vehicles will be seized but not others
Drivers have been warned after parking tickets were issued to caravans last Wednesday (July 16) in Morecambe. Reports say two others were also removed 'due to safety concerns'. Officers posted details on Facebook about the enforcement using powers granted under Section 99 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. They said S99 of the act 'primarily deals with the removal of vehicles that are illegally, obstructively, or dangerously parked, or abandoned or broken down'. Officers stated 'this does not include people who have just pulled up for 15 minutes to grab a quick bite to eat on their way up to the Lakes'. Instead they apply to caravans which have been 'unattached and unattended for some time' and those which pose 'pose dangerous risks' READ MORE: Martin Lewis issues warning to any driver expecting car finance compensation this summer READ MORE: Drivers could face £1,000 fine for not having item in cars this July READ MORE NatWest makes 'first of its kind' change with over one million set to benefit The full statement issued this morning (July 22) by Morecambe Area Police read: "You may remember last week we told you about activity we undertook to address unattended and unoccupied caravans on Morecambe prom (namely, issuing fines). It sparked a lot of discussion in the comments, so we wanted to make a dedicated post to address some of the concerns and questions raised. "We are able to take action against these caravans through Section 99 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, which primarily deals with the removal of vehicles that are illegally, obstructively, or dangerously parked, or abandoned or broken down. This does not include people who have just pulled up for 15 minutes to grab a quick bite to eat on their way up to the Lakes. "We apply s99 to caravans which have been unattached and unattended for some time. This is because they cause obstructions in the road which, in busy and 30/40MPH areas, can pose dangerous risks. "For example, the caravans we fined last week were for obstruction. S99 also empowers authorities to remove vehicles in these situations and make regulations for their removal and disposal, and we did this last week too. "Two caravans which had been left unattended for quite some time, were removed due to safety concerns. The caravans were in poor condition, were not secured and have no lights on, making them a hazard to other road users. "The caravans along the front are mentioned to us on a weekly basis, as is often a topic of discussion in PACT meetings (Police and Community Together). We are acting on what YOU tell us are safety concerns for Morecambe. And no, towing caravans does not mean we are not also dealing with other issues in the area. "We have many different teams in Morecambe who address various community concerns. We know this is a rather lengthy post so thank you for taking the time to read it, but we thought it was important to address some of the questions that came up last week."
North Wales Chronicle
16-07-2025
- North Wales Chronicle
North Wales preschool builds play area using crime proceeds
Andy Dunbobbin, North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) visited Cylch Meithrin Llanllyfni to see how the preschool had developed the space using Your Community, Your Choice funding. The funding was awarded after the site was damaged by antisocial behaviour. Mr Dunbobbin said: "It was wonderful to visit Cylch Meithrin Llanllyfni and see their determination to rebuild after being victims of crime. "This project demonstrates how we can turn the proceeds of criminal activity into positive outcomes for our youngest community members." Your Community, Your Choice is a grant scheme supported by the PCC, North Wales Police, and the North Wales Police and Community Trust (PACT). It allows the public to vote on projects and is funded partly through money seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act, with the remainder provided by the PCC. Over the past 12 years, the scheme has awarded nearly £660,000 to 214 community projects. Cylch Meithrin Llanllyfni used the funding to rebuild its outdoor area after relocating to a new site and being targeted by youths who damaged a shed, bikes, scooters, and other equipment. Saran Japheth, cylch leader at Cylch Meithrin Llanllyfni, said: "This funding means everything to us after what happened. "The criminal damage left us feeling distraught and the children had to go without the outdoor resources they need. "Thanks to Your Community, Your Choice, we can now rebuild and create an even better outdoor learning environment that will benefit all our children for years to come." READ MORE: Neil Foden: Chair of governors found 'serious issues' at Bangor school The preschool, which serves children aged two to four and runs an after-school club for those up to 11, has used the funding to purchase a new playhouse, mud kitchen, water play equipment, and replacement bikes and scooters. Ashley Rogers, PACT chairman, said: "Cylch Meithrin Llanllyfni's resilience in the face of criminal damage is inspiring. "Using funds seized from criminal activity to help them rebuild their outdoor area for children shows exactly why Your Community, Your Choice is so important to our communities." During his visit, Mr Dunbobbin toured the facilities, met with staff, and heard about the group's efforts to create the outdoor space.
Technical.ly
01-07-2025
- Business
- Technical.ly
Philly weekly roundup: Election deepfakes legislation; Pitch at PACT; Carisma Therapeutics merger
This week in Philly, an interactive map to find local donation sites, school robotics is struggling and more. Read on for weekly roundup of top news in the region. 📰 News Incubator: What else to know • Philadelphia recently ranked in the top 15 startup ecosystems in the world, proving the success of the region's tech coalition building. But, CEO Chris Wink wonders, why are people hesitant to acknowledge the win? [ ] • New Jersey's Transportation Needs Index provides data visualization about the state's transit infrastructure. The tool helps leaders see where more investments need to be made. [ ] • The Pennsylvania House approved a bill that bans the use of generative AI for deepfakes that would misrepresent election candidates. [ PA House ] • Are you planning to raise capital in the near future? Apply to pitch at PACT's annual Mid-Atlantic Capital Conference this fall. The deadline is July 31. [ PACT ] • The Shapiro Administration announced six new electric vehicle charging stations across the commonwealth, funded by the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program. [ Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ] • Medtech startup Vesteck is developing a type of endosuture called Suture-Tight to reinforce repairs on aortic aneurysms. Read all about it and 16 other startups we've profiled this year. [ / ] • Amazon plans to invest $20 billion in tech jobs and infrastructure in Pennsylvania, including two data centers. However, critics say there are drawbacks to this plan, including the amount of energy the data centers will use and a tax exemption for the tech giant. [ / Spotlight PA ] • Penn Spinout Carisma Therapeutics entered a merger agreement with OrthoCellix. This deal comes shortly after the company laid off most of its staff earlier this year. [ Philly Biz Journal ] • Tech education org Hopeworks selected five honorees to recognize for their contributions to the program as part of its 25th anniversary celebration this fall. [ LinkedIn ] • Small business resource org the Enterprise Center is shifting its strategy away from accelerators and incubators to focus on helping founders find capital. [ Philly Biz Journal ] 🗓️ On the Calendar • If you like drones and food, join DC215 for its hacker BBQ potluck on July 5. [ Details ] • Vote to choose the winner at Founders Live Philadelphia, a national pitch competition that will be in the city on July 8. [ Register ] • Mark your calendars for Code for Philly's July hack night. Join the civic tech group in person at Indy Hall on July 8. [ Register ]
Coin Geek
01-07-2025
- Business
- Coin Geek
Seattle uses AI to improve housing permit issuances
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... Seattle has unveiled plans to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into the issuance of housing and small business permits within the city, leveraging the emerging technology to circumvent traditional bottlenecks. According to a report, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell signed an executive order directing all applications to be reviewed and processed using AI. The signing creates an AI pilot program and a Permitting and Customer Trust (PACT) team to spearhead the AI-powered permit issuances. Seattle is teaming up with Chicago-based CivCheck, an AI-based startup with a streak of collaborations with regulators across 10 jurisdictions in Chicago. Harrell notes that the initiative aligns with the Responsible Artificial Intelligence policy and will usher in changes to the application processes for housing and small businesses. PACT will cut housing review cycles by up to 50%, reducing wait times and saving costs for individuals and small businesses. The team will also improve the permitting process by spotting and clarifying complex regulations for accommodation seekers. Furthermore, an AI-based platform will pre-screen applications, helping applicants achieve compliance before a formal review. The AI-based pre-screening system will enable applicants to turn in a compliant document that will scale through the review process, eliminating the traditional back-and-forth with regulators. 'The way that it works is the applicant has the ability to go into CivCheck, upload their plans, and then essentially work with the AI to improve the quality of their permit documents,' said CivCheck co-founder and CEO Dheekshita Kumar. Several U.S. state and city governments are using AI systems to streamline their permit processes. Honolulu, Austin, and Los Angeles have previously adopted AI systems for permits with impressive results, setting the stage for more cities across the U.S. to pivot to solutions leveraging emerging technologies. AI utility for public services skyrockets Governments worldwide embrace AI for public sector use cases for efficiency, transparency, and productivity. AI-powered systems are making an appearance in public schools and hospitals across the U.S. and North America. In the Asia Pacific, South Korea is increasing the size of its AI investment to integrate it into public services and key sectors of its economy. Despite the frenetic push for adoption, governments are adopting a cautious stance to safeguard the public from inherent AI risks. UNESCO launches new alliance to improve the public sector AI utility While the private sector is leading the race for AI, UNESCO has launched a new alliance to help government agencies catch up with enterprises. According to a press release, UNESCO has teamed up with a group of over 50 institutions involved in training civil servants to launch the AI alliance. Dubbed the Schools of Public Administration and Actors for Research and Knowledge on AI (SPAARK-AI Alliance), the new Alliance will improve the state of public sector adoption for emerging technologies. Unveiled during a high-level conference, alliance members will participate in a raft of dedicated workshops designed to explore ideal strategies to embed AI into their local institutional frameworks. The SPAARK-AI Alliance will have four focus areas, with developing AI training resources topping the list. Furthermore, Alliance members will pursue the establishment of competency frameworks and a dynamic knowledge hub for the cross-pollination of ideas. Finally, the SPAARK-AI Alliance will support building a global network while streamlining collaborative research and expert exchange among members. At the core of the mission is an alignment with key international AI frameworks to ensure the secure deployment of AI in public services. 'The SPAARK-AI Alliance represents a crucial step toward building inclusive governance systems where artificial intelligence strengthens democratic institutions,' said UNESCO Director Guilherme Canela. Per the statement, the Alliance will help public sectors face various challenges affecting AI integration. The training will alleviate fears of AI replacement while supporting the establishment of proper data management practices and keeping an eye on local peculiarities. UNESCO is extending its streak of establishing international AI governance frameworks. The UN agency has previously teamed up with the Netherlands to develop ethical AI governance standards, recording a spike in AI governance consultations. Public sector AI utility records steady growth Countries around the world are looking into AI. Nigeria and the U.S. have teamed up to explore public AI utility, while Canada has unveiled an AI strategy for public sector adoption. Japanese authorities are investing in research and development for the responsible adoption of AI across key sectors of the economy. Global lawmakers are hurrying to pass legislation to support the pivot to AI, while governments are increasing their budgets for AI integration to match the zest of the private sector. In order for artificial intelligence (AI) to work right within the law and thrive in the face of growing challenges, it needs to integrate an enterprise blockchain system that ensures data input quality and ownership—allowing it to keep data safe while also guaranteeing the immutability of data. Check out CoinGeek's coverage on this emerging tech to learn more why Enterprise blockchain will be the backbone of AI. Watch: Demonstrating the potential of blockchain's fusion with AI title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="">
Geek Wire
23-06-2025
- Business
- Geek Wire
Seattle to deploy AI to speed up housing and small business permit process
New apartments rise near the Space Needle in Seattle. Mayor Bruce Harrell's office wants to remove barriers and inefficiencies that slow such construction, especially for affordable housing. (GeekWire File Photo / Kurt Schlosser) Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell issued an executive order on Monday intended to speed the permitting process for housing and small businesses in the city — and artificial intelligence will play a part in aiding permit applicants and city staff who review it all. The Permitting and Customer Trust (PACT) Team is a new citywide initiative aimed at addressing Seattle's housing shortage and affordability crisis by cutting red tape, reducing delays, and delivering clear, consistent guidance. PACT also addresses the 'high startup costs, long timelines, and unclear requirements that can hinder small business growth,' according to the order. The mayor's office says the AI pilot program, which falls under the city's Responsible Artificial Intelligence policy, could cut housing review cycles by 50% or more. Seattle's Innovation and Performance team is partnering with the Seattle Department of Construction & Inspections and Seattle IT. A pilot AI program began in April, and public roll-out of the technology is expected in 2026. According to Harrell's order, AI is expected to improve the permitting process in several ways: Identifying unclear processes or overly complex regulations for future simplification. Pre-screening applications for completeness and compliance, helping applicants fix issues before formal review. Reducing back-and-forth between applicants and reviewers by resolving common errors early. Assisting in onboarding new reviewers with AI-guided training on frequently misunderstood rules. The city is working with Boston- and Chicago-based CivCheck, which was founded in 2023 and is currently working with about 10 jurisdictions across North America. 'The way that it works is the applicant has the ability to go into CivCheck, upload their plans, and then essentially work with the AI to improve the quality of their permit documents,' said Dheekshita Kumar, co-founder and CEO of the company. The tool flags missing information, code-compliance issues, and anything else that's relevant for a particular project scope, so the applicant can resolve those issues up front before they submit to the city. 'The idea is that the applicant is able to essentially hand the city a permit-ready application in the very first submission,' Kumar added. In a Department of Construction & Inspections job posting for a PACT manager, SDCI says it reviews land use and construction-related permits, 'annually approving more than 53,000 permits and performing approximately 240,000 on-site inspections.' 'Over the last decade, we have seen the days to issue a permit pretty much triple,' said Leah Trivoli, director of Innovation and Performance with the city. 'Clarity of requirements, code and regulation complexity, and navigating the city services and processes were really the top three issues.' The mayor's office cited a 2023 Seattle City Auditor report that identified deficiencies in the city's permitting processes, with a survey finding that the majority of applicants struggled to identify the appropriate point of contact for assistance. 'Permitting should be a pathway — not a barrier — to building homes, starting businesses, and investing in our city's future,' Harrell said in a statement. 'With this executive order, we're improving how the city does business and ensuring residents get clear answers and timely support, so they can turn their plans into reality more quickly and help our communities grow and thrive.' Seattle joins other state and city governments that are increasingly turning to AI to automate some permitting processes and improve wait times. Los Angeles and Austin, Texas, are using Australia-based Archistar to help expedite permit reviews. Computer vision, machine learning and automated rulesets can instantly check designs against local zoning and building codes, according to Industry Dive. The city of Honolulu is using CivCheck's AI to scan building plans and make sure they're code-compliant, and it will use technology developed by Vancouver-based Clariti to further guide owners through the permitting process, according to Government Technology. Kumar said a case study from the Honolulu pilot showed a 70% reduction in permit review times, from 60-90 minutes for a plan reviewer to get through an application to under 15 minutes. The mayor's office stressed that 'AI will assist applicants and staff but will not replace human expertise.' And Trivoli said that she hopes AI will help balance how the city offers staff support. 'I think the tech is going to fix like 80% of the issues out there, and then there's a 20% human-related need that we want to get more resources to do,' Trivoli said. 'That's the way I tend to think about the use of technology and fulfilling our mission as public servants.' But the use of the tech does come as more tech companies signal how some types of AI are being prioritized. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said last week that the tech giant's corporate workforce will shrink in the coming years as generative AI takes hold. His memo to employees comes amid growing fears that AI will replace white-collar jobs — including software engineering roles. In addition to the AI pilot program, the PACT initiative is designed to feature clear and consistent permit reviews, inspection, and enforcement. The city will also enhance service quality across departments and communication methods, increasing support speed, consistency, accessibility, and transparency. Harrell has made his 'Downtown Activation Plan' a central part of his time in office, with the goal of helping the city's urban core bounce back from the pandemic. The mayor's order on Monday linked permitting inefficiencies to some of downtown's struggles: 'Persistently high commercial vacancy rates continue to affect both Seattle's Downtown and neighborhood business districts, reducing foot traffic and weakening economic activity.' PACT will help the city work with small businesses to streamline permitting, reducing barriers to storefront improvements and more. Under Harrell's order, the PACT Team must establish a process by the end of 2025 to ensure permits are issued after no more than two review cycles when basic safety and zoning standards are met, according to the mayor's office. Harrell was among those named to an Artificial Intelligence Safety and Security Board organized by the Department of Homeland Security last year. 'Seattle is a technology hub, and Mayor Harrell has embraced strategic, phased adoption of AI to help the city deliver on its goals,' said Kate Jacobs, a communications advisor in Harrell's office.
