Deidre Woollard

Amazon's Ring, years into a shift from a self-styled crime-fighting shop to a hub for peace of mind (and pet videos), is getting a new mission statement: "Keeping people close to what’s important" has come a long way from the original pitch, "Reduce crime in neighborhoods." More bits: -Ring boss Liz Hamren tells me the unit recently became profitable, thanks to a subscription push (and a few rounds of price hikes). It's a bet that users would pay to save videos and do more with their doorbells and cameras -It's tough to overstate how single-minded Ring was in its early years. Veterans say projects without a clear home security mandate didn't tend to last long. Employee docs outlined Ring product set like one might describe a fortress. -Ring's Always Home Cam, three years after it was supposed to hit the market, is still in development. Teams are working to enable the drone to navigate unusual home setups -- curved walls, low ceilings, and the like. read the rest here: https://lnkd.in/gAsY_Bcx

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Very interesting discussion of code switching here and using that term re: Vance's identity, something I'd considered, but not seen in previous stories

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The Best Places to Live rankings are here! My small but mighty team updated countless city pages as our methodology made an important shift from metro-based data to city-based data. Another important change to our methodology rebalanced our scores after a nationwide survey revealed the increasing importance of a city's value and its job market. Check out the 2024-2025 #BestPlacestoLive rankings and see if your city made this year’s list. https://lnkd.in/gc_C_UfR #usnews #bestplaces

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Political life is defined by moderation and compromise. The recent push to describe politics in apocalyptic terms is dangerous. I discuss this in my latest column. https://lnkd.in/eU2jGfiX

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We talk about the evolution of #AI @CadeMetz, technology correspondent at @the-new-york-times on the latest episode of "Night Owls."  https://lnkd.in/eJc-VWW4  Cade wrote a great book on the subject, called "Genius Makers." https://lnkd.in/eUZPtrbe It is well worth reading and very readable.

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Congestion pricing was supposed to start today in New York City. It didn't after Gov. Kathy Hochul earlier this month announced an indefinite pause. My latest article in The Wall Street Journal traces the rise and pause of congestion pricing — a tale that involves 17 years and around $700 million. The abrupt reversal, which some attribute to Hochul’s reluctance to impose a new fee in an election year, leaves metro New York grappling with a historic missed opportunity and fiscal mess. There is no relief in sight for the city’s traffic congestion, which is the worst in the world, according to data published last week. The epic collapse in New York shows how a fear of dramatic change can give the status quo stubborn power over those trying to solve some of America’s most intractable challenges. That leaves policymakers nibbling at the edges of deeply rooted problems, even after investing huge sums of money and political capital. Blown up in a New York minute were plans for around $15 billion of planned improvements to the city’s ailing mass-transit system, the largest transportation network in North America. The reversal cast aside around $700 million in meticulous prep work, including a $555-million contract to install tolling cameras—which are already up and ready to go—and $33 million for a customer-service center with 100 employees who have already been brought on, officials said. Planners invested thousands of hours, including going to London and Stockholm to research their congestion-pricing programs, according to people familiar with the travel. What was supposed to be a transformative moment when New York led the way and boldly tackled traffic congestion, air pollution and transit funding, has instead turned into a surprising loss for a broad coalition that includes major employers, real-estate developers and subway riders. Surprised by the reversal were Hochul’s own lieutenants, including Janno Lieber, a fierce champion of congestion pricing and the chief executive of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The MTA—which carries around 5.5 million passengers each day in the New York metro area—now faces a $16.5 billion-financial hole from the loss of money from congestion pricing and federal matching funds. Just days after Hochul’s announcement, a beleaguered Lieber joined a conference call with advocates in which he said he was equally shocked and remained committed to the program, three people familiar with the exchange said. “This is devastating,” he said, according to a person on the call. Here's the latest from me and Joseph De Avila —>

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Heaps of adulation to PJ Vogt and Kashmir Hill for so eloquently and clearly bringing this important story front and center… All pedestrian Internet users are subject to search and there’s not much you can do about it. https://lnkd.in/ge2S48ux #AI #machinelearning #neuralnetworks #facialrecognition #privacy #ethics #opensource #algorithms #scraping #content #compliance #termsofuse #internet #searchengine #risk #pii #cybersecurity

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💲#VentureCapital is increasingly eyeing physical and in-person #BehavioralHealth businesses as investment opportunities. Why? These investments offer the potential for integrated care models, combining traditional in-person services with digital health solutions, and could help give health systems/payers what they want. Example: GV (Google Ventures) recently invested in hybrid outpatient provider Guidelight Health. 🏢 At the same time, many VCs remain hesitant to place their bets on capital-intensive business models with real estate components. “It’s just a matter of your investment thesis and what you’re willing to underwrite to,” Marissa Moore, CFA of OMERS Ventures told Morgan Gonzales for Behavioral Health Business. Story here 👉 https://lnkd.in/gj6Vpyt9

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This article from Columbia Journalism Review is fascinating, and an argument for the importance of a reputation management communication plan. There are volumes authored by PR pros advising against ignoring reporters inquiries, yet this article documents how frequently it happens. Throughout my career, I can count on one hand the number of times I have made a calculated decision not to respond to a media request, and 99.9% of the time it was after multiple engagements with a reporter who repeatedly misrepresented or distorted information (even if not intentionally). I suspect, more often than not, reporters get ghosted because the brand is caught off guard. They haven't planned how they will respond in a reputation crisis. Or haven't socialized the planned response with stakeholders. If the PR team is haggling with executives and lawyers on what to say or how to say it when the reporters' questions start rolling in, the opportunity to frame the narrative is quickly lost. Thanks for sharing the article Jennifer Johnson Avril! https://lnkd.in/gYmTA9CW

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These commentary on Robert Longo is my latest post on Cultural Capital-Art, Politics, and Everything Else https://lnkd.in/ezKYP5Nb

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My first front page story as a White House correspondent for USA TODAY — and it is an #exclusive! Our analysis found that in some swing states, which are critical to President Joe Biden’s reelection bid, rental costs have more than doubled in the past four years. In fact, 6 out of the top 10 markets and 34 of the top 100 markets with the largest increases are in swing states. (Also, the print edition came with a QR code that can be scanned to view data on the top 100 markets with the largest increases). Inflation and the economy have long worried American voters, polling shows. But as housing costs continue to be the biggest driver of core inflation, renters are feeling increasingly disillusioned with politicians. #rent #rental Rent.com #NationalLowIncomeHousingCoaltion Link to story: https://lnkd.in/eyaPpTE5

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Public perceptions of crime don't always match reality, a problem fueled by dodgy campaign rhetoric and (drum roll, please) ... old and incomplete crime data. Unlike readily available data on inflation and unemployment trends, national crime data lag by many months. The consequences? Here's what our Crime Trends Working Group says in its new report outlining a roadmap for progress: “Even small discrepancies can have big consequences in the policy and political environment. The potential fallout can be huge — in terms of crime tactics and strategies, whether the police chief stays on the job or gets fired, even whether the mayor or prosecutor is re-elected or driven from office. At stake are billions in government spending on public safety and criminal justice, the viability of businesses and urban centers, and the extent to which Americans are safe, and feel safe, in their homes and communities.” Tom Jackman of The Washington Post wrote a thoughtful summary of the problem and our group's recommendations this week. https://lnkd.in/gj4yXqje And please see the post below before turning on the TV tonight:

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Here is a link to "Art and Authority," my latest post on Cultural Capital-Art, Politics, and Everything else. https://lnkd.in/ePAqUBja

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Two weeks ago, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit ruled against the Fearless Fund’s Fearless Strivers Grant Contest. Their ruling found that this contest is “substantially likely to violate” the provisions of Title 42 of the US Code, which prohibits race from being a factor when awarding and enforcing contracts. According to CNN: "The appellate court ordered a federal court in Georgia to enter a preliminary injunction blocking the fund from closing its grant application process while the case continues to be litigated . . . The court’s decision marks a victory for anti-affirmative action legal strategist Edward Blum, who filed a lawsuit last August against the fund on behalf of his group American Alliance for Equal Rights." Shortly after the ruling, Fearless Fund CEO Arian Simone called the court's actions devastating: "I am shattered for every girl of color who has a dream but will grow up in a nation determined not to give her a shot to live it," said Simone. "On their behalf, we will turn the pain into purpose and fight with all our might. America is supposed to be a nation where one has the freedom to achieve, the freedom to earn, and the freedom to prosper. Yet, when we have attempted to level the playing field for underrepresented groups, our freedoms were stifled." While we don't yet know what Simone's next move will be to create a more equitable funding landscape for founders from marginalized communities, we do know that she doesn't quickly back down from a fight. Understand more about the passion, energy and long-term vision that she brings to her mission by listening to the audio recording of her presentation from SXSW 2024 via the link below; https://lnkd.in/gkgBPncg What does the ruling against the Fearless Fund mean for the future for startups led by women and people of color? How can non-traditional founders get a larger slice of the venture capital dollars if not for these kinds of programs? If you have forward-thinking ideas creating a better ecosystem for entrepreneurs of all backgrounds, then you should enter a speaking proposal for SXSW 2025. The speaking proposal process opens on Tuesday, June 25 via the PanelPicker interface. Speaking proposals are accepted through the end of the day on Sunday, July 21. https://lnkd.in/eSXnqtA #funding, #venturecapital, Arian Simone, Fearless Fund, #sxsw, #sxsw2024, #sxsw2025, #DEI, #founders, #founderstories, #entrepreneur, #VC, #panelpicker, #inclusion, #leveltheplayingfield, #diversity, #equity

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These are unusually challenging times for individuals and households navigating affordability challenges, including with homeownership. While inflation gets so much attention, my sense is that affordability (or lack of it) is really the issue now. New data from Bankrate reveals that nearly half of homeowners harbor regrets post-purchase, with a significant portion citing unexpected maintenance costs and hidden expenses. Other regrets include: -Buying a house that's too small. -Buying a house in a bad location. -Paying too much for the home. -Having too high of a mortgage payment. Despite these challenges, a majority express willingness to make the same choice again, emphasizing the enduring allure of homeownership. Affordability remains a pressing concern, especially with elevated home prices and high mortgage rates. However, with yields on savings accounts currently at their highest levels in years, there is a unique opportunity to bolster savings and prepare for future homeownership expenses. Building a robust financial cushion can mitigate the impact of unforeseen costs, ensuring a more secure homeownership journey. Approximately 4 in 5 Americans view owning a home as part of the American dream, underscoring the enduring importance of homeownership. This remains an opportune time to navigate a dynamic landscape, leveraging financial prudence to achieve homeownership aspirations. 🏡💰 Pro tip: Yields paid on savings accounts remain at the highest levels in years, providing an opportunity to build savings and prepare for future homeownership expenses. Also, 10% of homeowners with regret about their experience say they failed to get the best interest rate on their mortgage. This serves as a reminder to shop around for the best rate. Check out details about our homeownership surveys and please comment if you have insights or advice for others on the subject.

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When the American Journalism Project launched five years ago, our mandate was to create the conditions for community-led nonprofit news organizations to sustainably provide the journalism our democracy requires. Today, I’m pleased to share our 2024 Impact Report, a look at the progress we’ve made since our inception. In the five years since our launch, we’ve raised $175 million from national and local philanthropy, and built a portfolio of 44 nonprofit local news organizations —  diverse in size, scope, reach and leadership. Some highlights from the report: -In the last year alone, our portfolio of 44 grantee organizations generated $86 million in revenue — a 36% increase over their 2022 revenue. -Year over year, the organizations in our portfolio are seeing a 58% median growth. -And this growth is leading to more journalism – last year, our portfolio of grantees employed 568 editorial and newsroom staff – an 18% increase over 2022. Organizations are growing, diversifying their revenue, adding journalists, and strengthening their communities. I’m proud of the progress the portfolio has made, and remain clear-eyed about the future. This report sheds light on how far we’ve come and sets the stage for what’s ahead. I hope you'll take a moment to read it. https://lnkd.in/eipwwhxN

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Does your digital advocacy campaign need a bubble bath? Axios has identified 12 bubbles impacting the 2024 presidential campaign and there are implications for issue advocacy here as well. It's useful to think in "bubbles"- it provides a way of thinking about reaching your audience that's less tactical than thinking channel by channel. How many places can you reach your audience? How can you surround them with your message in their bubble? And be nimble...bubbles burst. And new ones form.

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Curious about the opportunities and pitfalls in using AI for advocacy campaigns? I'll be participating in a panel discussion next Thursday (May 16) at 2:00 ET with some AI superstars. This webinar will be a great chance to introduce yourself to the world of AI and the dos and don'ts for using AI in your advocacy campaigns. Thank you to VoterVoice (Part of FiscalNote) for inviting me to be part of this event. I hope to "see" you there. #grassroots #advocacy #digitalstrategy #ai Rubenstein Impact Group, LLC FiscalNote

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Corporate and Startups keep a close eye on the elections, government affairs and public notices. Why??? Because it impacts their businesses. Politicians are Policy Makers. Policies they make have a direct and indirect impact on the business operations. Corporate Communications professionals need to be an expert in Public Policy tracking and Public Affairs too apart from Public Relations. Government and Politicians are a key external stakeholders and influencers for businesses. Lobbying by entrepreneurs across the globe since a century is a common phenomenon. Industry Bodies of varying ministries gives an option to varying entrepreneurs and organisations to share their feedback to the Ministry, elect their representative for that body, suggest changes in policies, propose policy plans and participate in the engagement for nation building. Public Affairs is a serious business and needs to align with the PR planning. #hemamalini #superstar #loksabha #memberofparliament #parliament #delhi #mathura #legacy #legend #publicpolicy #publicaffairs #corporateaffairs #artist #influencer #keyinfluencer #messaging #governmentaffairs #publicrelations #pr #corporatecommunications #internalcommunication #stakeholdermanagement #stakeholderengagement #brandengagement #thoughtleader #thoughtleadership

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