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Eyragon Eidam

Eyragon is the Managing Editor for Industry Insider — California. He previously served as the Daily News Editor for Government Technology. He lives in Sacramento, Calif.

News

CDT Seeks Bidders for CALNET Mobility, Satellite Service Contracts
What to Know
- The California Department of Technology is soliciting bids for a broad range of wireless services — including cellular, satellite and fixed wireless access — as part of its CALNET telecommunications program.
- The state plans to award multiple contracts across specialized service categories, with final bids due by Aug. 25.
Insider
June 27, 2025
· Eyragon Eidam
News

San Jose Targets Aging Tech Systems in $45.8M IT Overhaul Plan
What to Know
- San Jose faces a $45.8 million deferred maintenance backlog, with several mission-critical systems operating decades past their intended lifespans.
- Some of the outdated technologies include the financial, human capital and business tax management systems.
- The IT Department is pursuing a cloud-based modernization strategy where applicable.
Insider
June 27, 2025
· Eyragon Eidam
News

L.A. County Probation Deputy CIO: Balance IT Needs With Value, Risk

Vendors interested in doing business with Los Angeles County's Probation Department should come prepared for the long haul. The department values long-term relationships and solutions that provide immediate value over flash and innovation.

Insider
June 26, 2025
· Eyragon Eidam
News

Legislature, Governor Reach Budget Agreement
What to Know
- California lawmakers and Gov. Newsom reached a tentative agreement on a $321.1 billion budget, opting for fund shifts and borrowing to ease cuts.
- The California Department of Technology’s budget, as of the May Revision, is $798.8 million.
Insider
June 25, 2025
· Eyragon Eidam
News

L.A. County Officials Offer Glimpse Behind IT Curtain

IT leaders with the county's departments of Public Social Services, Internal Services and Probation outlined at an exclusive members' briefing their upcoming needs, their outlook on new technology and what they prefer to see from vendors.

Insider
June 24, 2025
· Eyragon Eidam
News

Jim Jennings Joins Stack Monitoring Firm New Relic

Jennings comes to the company with more than 20 years of IT industry experience. He most recently held a position with cloud monitoring and security firm Datadog.

Insider
June 20, 2025
· Eyragon Eidam
News

Superior Court Seeks Jury Management System Overhaul

The Superior Court of California, County of San Bernardino, aims to replace its 20-year-old in-house system with a modern, paperless-capable Jury Management System.

Insider
June 18, 2025
· Eyragon Eidam
News

CAL FIRE Hiring Push Hints at Back-Office and IT Expansion
What to Know
- A multiyear hiring initiative includes 18 IT classifications, ranging from entry-level to supervisory roles, signaling the potential need for digital infrastructure and support personnel.
- CAL FIRE’s operating budget is set to grow from $4.17 billion in FY 2024-25 to $4.47 billion in FY 2025-26, budget negotiations notwithstanding.
- CAL FIRE is prioritizing mission-critical improvements such as the CAD and GIS enhancement project. Solicitation was in May.
Insider
June 18, 2025
· Eyragon Eidam
News

California, We (Almost) Have a Budget
What to Know
- Late last week, state lawmakers passed a slimmed-down $327 billion version of Gov. Gavin Newsom's proposed May budget.
- The state is working against a $12 billion budget shortfall, down significantly from the 2024-25 fiscal year shortfall that topped $46 billion.
- Lawmakers and the governor will now negotiate the finer points of the legislation ahead of a June 27 deadline.
Insider
June 17, 2025
· Eyragon Eidam
News

State Releases Frontier AI Policy Study Amid Looming Threat of Federal Limits
What to Know
- The California Report on Frontier AI Policy outlines regulatory principles prioritizing transparency, risk mitigation, post-deployment oversight and evidence-based policymaking.
- It categorizes AI risks into malicious, malfunction and systemic threats, urging early governance interventions to minimize potentially irreversible harm.
- Released amid federal efforts to limit state-level AI laws, the report emphasizes California’s role in shaping national policy frameworks.
Insider
June 17, 2025
· Eyragon Eidam
News

DWR, CalHHS and EDD Seek Tech Leadership, Talent

Two state departments are seeking executive IT leadership; another seeks an IT specialist to oversee cybersecurity and anti-fraud operations.

Insider
June 13, 2025
· Eyragon Eidam
News

Member Briefing: L.A. County Officials to Outline Priorities, New Opportunities
What to Know
- The county's annual IT budget is estimated at more than $1 billion.
- Officials from the departments of Public Social Services, Internal Services and Probation will share ongoing initiatives and upcoming opportunities.
- The June 24 briefing will be held exclusively for Industry Insider members in Hacienda Heights, Calif.
Insider
June 13, 2025
· Eyragon Eidam
News

Accenture’s 'What If' Guy, Michael Kelly, Promoted to Managing Director

Kelly, who has been with Accenture for the last 12 years, says his superpower is pushing the limits of convention and finding innovative solutions to age-old government problems.

Insider
June 13, 2025
· Eyragon Eidam
News

LAUSD Looks to Outsource Cybersecurity With $6.6M SOCaaS RFP
What to Know
- LAUSD has issued an RFP for a security operations center-as-a-service (SOCaaS) vendor, worth up to $6.6 million.
- The district is seeking vendors to manage security information and event management (SIEM) and security orchestration, automation and response (SOAR) technologies.
- The district is facing "significant financial headwinds" with a $94.5 million deficit for FY2025-26.
Insider
June 12, 2025
· Eyragon Eidam
News

Bruce Koop, SLED's 'Accidental Tourist,' Joins Wiz

The relatively young cloud security company Wiz has been on a growth spurt in recent years. Now, SLED expert Bruce Koop has joined its ranks as western regional manager.

June 12, 2025
· Eyragon Eidam
News

Veteran Technologist Herman Chao Joins Datadog

Chao, a technologist with more than three decades of experience, has joined cloud application monitoring and security company Datadog as a strategic account executive.

Insider
June 10, 2025
· Eyragon Eidam
News

OCTA Teases Asset Management System RFP
What to Know
- The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) is preparing to release a solicitation for the second phase of its Enterprise Asset Management System project, estimated at $1.5 million.
- The first phase involved replacing the legacy Ellipse system with INFOR, and details about the second phase will be very limited until an RFP is published later this month.
Insider
June 10, 2025
· Eyragon Eidam
News

Modesto Budget Plan Outlines Upcoming Tech Opportunities
What to Know
- Modesto’s $639.2 million FY 2025–26 budget includes major IT investments; $15.8 million is allocated to the IT Department.
- Planned tech projects include a citizen service portal, a new procurement and billing system, smart city infrastructure, and cybersecurity upgrades.
Insider
June 06, 2025
· Eyragon Eidam
News

Senate Sends Chatbot Safety, Audit Bill to Assembly
What to Know
- Senate Bill 243 would create new reporting and audit requirements for operators of so-called "companion chatbots."
- The legislation, authored by Sen. Steve Padilla, was approved in a 28-4 vote and sent to the Assembly for review June 4.
Insider
June 05, 2025
· Eyragon Eidam
News

EDD and DHCS Search for Security Analyst, IT Management Talent
What to Know
- The departments are in search of an information security analyst, an agile delivery manager and a modern development branch chief.
Insider
June 05, 2025
· Eyragon Eidam
News

Lawmakers Push Governor to Delay the Return to State Offices
What to Know
- Under Executive Order N-22-25, many state workers are expected to return to physical offices as of July 1.
- A letter from a bipartisan group of lawmakers seeks to postpone the return until an impending audit is received and can be studied.
Insider
June 05, 2025
· Eyragon Eidam
News

SANDAG Approves $1.3B Budget, Highlighting Major Tech Projects
What to Know
- More than $2.3 million was allocated to upgrade the regional justice information system with AI tools, cloud migration, and enhanced infrastructure.
- Significant funding has been earmarked for toll tech upgrades, including $14.5 million for system maintenance and over $5 million for improved customer service.
- More than $1.8 million will be invested in transportation modeling, regional forecasting, GIS tools, and research tools.
Insider
June 03, 2025
· Eyragon Eidam
News

San Diego IT Budget Grows Slightly Amid Citywide $258M Deficit
What to Know:
- San Diego faces a $258 million deficit in the coming fiscal year, driving tough and programmatic shifts.
- The IT department’s proposed $139.4 million budget appears to be a slight increase over the previous fiscal year.
- Guided by its FY25–FY29 strategic plan, city IT is focusing on resilience, security, digital equity and service modernization.
Insider
May 30, 2025
· Eyragon Eidam
News

From Data Centers to Emergency Ops: Inside Santa Clara County’s Ambitious CIP
What to Know:
- Santa Clara County’s 10-year Capital Improvement Plan outlines $8.6 billion in planned projects through 2035.
- The upcoming fiscal year includes $1.2 million for data center improvements.
- Despite a $70 million deficit, the county is investing heavily in tech, infrastructure and sustainability in the coming years.
Insider
May 29, 2025
· Eyragon Eidam
News

CAL FIRE Seeks Offers for CAD, GIS Enhancement Services

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection has issued a solicitation for technology, digital and data consulting related to its computer-aided dispatch system.

Insider
May 27, 2025
· Eyragon Eidam
News

Riverside County Advances Several Tech-Related Projects

The Riverside County Board of Supervisors recently approved new funding for several IT projects throughout the jurisdiction. Unrelated to that action, an RFP has also been issued for a new infrastructure management platform.

Insider
May 22, 2025
· Eyragon Eidam
News

San Francisco's Flightpath Through an $818M Budget Deficit Storm

Cities across the state are tightening belts and measuring their options going into the next fiscal year. San Francisco is one jurisdiction facing significant financial headwinds.

Insider
May 20, 2025
· Eyragon Eidam
News

Newsom Unveils Revised Budget: What We Know and Don’t About His Proposal

Early estimates about a state budget surplus have fallen flat, and officials now predict they'll have to contend with a $12 billion deficit. The good news is that some tech projects could see a fiscal boost under Gov. Gavin Newsom's proposed budget.

May 14, 2025
· Eyragon Eidam
News

What’s Next for EDDNext: CIO Girn Talks Strategy, Next Steps

Ajit Girn, chief information officer for the Employment Development Department, talks about his department's modernization journey and what lies ahead in the next few years.

Insider
May 13, 2025
· Eyragon Eidam
News

CAL FIRE Launches AI-Powered Chatbot

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection has unveiled a new AI-powered chatbot, Ask CAL FIRE, to provide users with streamlined access to wildfire information and frequently asked questions.

Insider
May 13, 2025
· Eyragon Eidam