civic-infrastructure
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Toronto Built a 100-Branch Social Network - Then the Computers Went Dark
Toronto Public Library lends far more than books: bandwidth, tools, museum passes, job help and, increasingly, a place to find a crisis worker. Its 2023 cyberattack exposed the risk in that civic super-app - and the stubborn value of the rooms that stayed open.
Throne Labs
Throne Labs builds solar-powered, sensor-equipped public restrooms that cities and transit agencies deploy on demand. Each self-contained unit pairs a flushing toilet, running-water sink, baby-changing station and free menstrual products with 21 sensors that feed real-time data on usage, cleanliness and maintenance, turning the long-neglected public bathroom into a measurable, turnkey service. Founded in Washington, D.C. in 2020, the company operates across four regions and more than 20 cities and is rolling out restrooms for LA Metro ahead of the 2028 Olympics.