Stephen Goldsmith
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Contributor
Email :
stephen_goldsmith@harvard.edu
Twitter :
@GoldsmithOnGov
Stephen Goldsmith is a professor of practice at the Harvard Kennedy School and director of the Innovations in American Government Program at the Kennedy School's Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation. The former deputy mayor for operations for New York City, he previously served two terms as mayor of Indianapolis.
Goldsmith served as the chief domestic policy advisor to the George W. Bush campaign in 2000, as chair of the Corporation for National and Community Service, and, from 1979 to 1990, as the district attorney for Marion County, Ind.
His most recent book is A New City O/S: The Power of Open, Collaborative, and Distributed Governance, which he co-authored with Neil Kleiman. He also is the author or co-author of The Responsive City: Engaging Communities Through Data-Smart Governance; The Power of Social Innovation; Governing by Network: the New Shape of the Public Sector; Putting Faith in Neighborhoods: Making Cities Work through Grassroots Citizenship; and The Twenty-First Century City: Resurrecting Urban America.
THE FUTURE OF Community Design
The False Choices for Urban Policy That We Need to Get Past
It shouldn't be about Republicans favoring suburbs or Democrats favoring cities. Cities and their suburbs will succeed or fail together. We need reforms and dialogue that benefit both.
December 3, 2020
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THE FUTURE OF What’s Happening Now
The 2020 Census: Mapping the Undercounted
A collaborative of civil rights organizations is using geospatial data to help in the effort to improve response rates among the populations that are hard to count.
September 17, 2020
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THE FUTURE OF What’s Happening Now
A New Role for Public Employees: Staffing the Polls
Jurisdictions across the country are facing a shortage of poll workers for the November election. Local government workers should be deployed to augment the volunteers who do show up.
August 19, 2020
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THE FUTURE OF Finance
The Pandemic’s Opportunity to Improve Government Procurement
The emergency has underlined outdated procedures and rules that hamper effective, efficient public purchasing. There are principles for creating better systems that can outlast the current crisis.
THE FUTURE OF What’s Next
A Better Way to Connect People with the Benefits They Need
Designed around the user and not the bureaucracy, an innovative Philadelphia program uses data-matching so applicants won't have to fill out multiple forms for different assistance programs.
THE FUTURE OF Finance
Strategic Fiscal Management for a Crisis — and Beyond
The coronavirus pandemic is forcing local governments to find new ways to cut costs. It's an opportunity to build effective financial practices into their cultures, not just for now but for the long term.
THE FUTURE OF What’s Happening Now
Rheostat Government: Replacing the On/Off Switch with a Dimmer
When the coronavirus pandemic begins to subside, communities should use a nuanced, calibrated approach to allowing businesses to reopen and residents to return to work and school.
THE FUTURE OF What’s Happening Now
The Role of Maps in Crafting a Shared Narrative in a Crisis
In an emergency like the coronavirus pandemic, local leaders can use powerful tools for visualizing data to highlight our residents' interconnectivity and the need for collective action.
THE FUTURE OF Community Design
The Regulatory Framework Cities Need for a New Age of Mobility
Yesterday's reporting and compliance mechanisms aren't dynamic enough. Today's evolving transportation marketplace calls for nuanced, citizen-centric control driven by actionable real-time data.
THE FUTURE OF What’s Happening Now
How Courageous Leadership Can Help a Community Through a Pandemic
As they deal with an emergency like the novel coronavirus, mayors and county executives need to be ready to ask their residents to sacrifice, break bureaucratic rules, and move quickly and decisively.
THE FUTURE OF What’s Next
An Ambitious Plan to Bring All of a State’s Data Together
California is working to consolidate all of its geographical data, with the longer-term goal of providing a central portal for everything. It's a chance to enrich governmental collaboration.
February 19, 2020
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THE FUTURE OF Community Design
An Impact Framework for the New Mobility
Our cities' transportation landscape is being dramatically altered. But a focus on small disputes overlooks the larger value questions that need to be addressed.
January 21, 2020
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The Problem With One-Stop Government
It was a big improvement for permitting and other forms of service delivery, but it's already outdated. The new goal should be no-stop government.
August 19, 2019
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Maps That Can Guide a Changing City
The evolving technology of 'digital twins' can provide a dynamic, real-time view of the urban environment and the impact of ideas for improving it.
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Participatory Budgeting: A Powerful Civic Education Tool
In expanding its program that lets residents vote on public spending, New York City is enlivening democracy and engaging the electorate.
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Government Employment for Those Who Need a Leg Up
An innovative apprenticeship program is working to bring some of Los Angeles' neediest residents into the city's workforce.
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Bringing Market Forces to the Transportation Equation
Protecting providers from competition is the enemy of efficiency and integrated mobility. It's an issue that New York City's congestion pricing will address.
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The Art of Governing Through Questions
Socrates had it right: Dealing with the problems public leaders face requires knowing how and what to ask.
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A Permanent Place for Data Analytics
In codifying its innovative operation into law, New York City has provided a useful guide for other localities.
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Development Incentives That Make Sense
The lesson from New York City's experience with Amazon: There are smarter ways to attract businesses than just dangling tax breaks.
February 26, 2019
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Data and the Human Side of Criminal Justice
As a project in Long Beach demonstrates, treating people as individuals rather than as statistics can yield big benefits.
February 20, 2019
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The Bus System of the Future
Indianapolis is rethinking its approach, seeking new efficiencies that will better serve those from disadvantaged communities.
January 23, 2019
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A Data-Driven Approach to Cooling a City
Urban heat islands threaten public health. Dallas is turning to a smart growth strategy -- and lots of trees -- to deal with the problem.
December 18, 2018
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What Urban Policymakers Can Learn From the Rideshare Wars
New transportation options that make increasing demands for curb and sidewalk space call for innovative regulatory approaches.
December 6, 2018
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One Path to Cutting the Costs of Incarceration
A New York City program is showing striking success at keeping young offenders from returning to jail.
November 20, 2018
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Local Government and the Myth That Democracy Is Declining
To maintain voters' favorable opinion and trust, municipal leaders need to keep some things in mind.
October 22, 2018
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Distracted by Data
With all the new information governments have available, it's too easy to focus on improving existing processes rather than on better ways to address underlying problems.
October 16, 2018
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Getting Smart About Trash
Local governments are turning to data-driven tools to meet growing waste management challenges.
September 18, 2018
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One City's Path to Smart City Leadership
As San Jose has shown, it's as much about having the right people and organizational structures in place as it is about technology.
August 21, 2018
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Cashing In on the Curb
Smart cities are paying more attention to the fixtures that define their streets, looking to improve mobility and maximize the value of these assets.
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New Tools for Visualizing a Changing City
As Seattle works to significantly and quickly boost affordable housing, it's finding better ways to engage residents in the process.
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Cities, Data and the Future of Work
New tools are being put to use to prepare workers for new trades and match them to a changing labor market.
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What Networked CDOs Can Bring to Their Cities
Chief data officers are not only working to solve their own cities' problems. They're working together to share their approaches among their peers.
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How New York City Got Its Fleet Under Control
A nearly decade-long effort to consolidate vehicle services and improve operations has saved hundreds of millions of dollars.
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One City’s Collaborative Approach to Putting Data to Work
The thriving Canadian municipality of Mississauga is harnessing innovative technology and stakeholder buy-in to become a model for connected communities.
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A Better Way for Cities to Buy
A new online platform aims not only to take some of the risk out of municipal procurement but to make the process smarter as well.
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What the Trump Infrastructure Plan Gets Right
There are strong arguments for its proposals that would remove barriers to innovative financing and streamline the regulatory process.
February 20, 2018
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The Gold (and Silver) Standard for Data-Driven Governance
The cities that achieved the top grades in a new certification program have important things in common.
January 30, 2018
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When Old Regulatory Systems Meet New Technology
Boston's CIO has worked to transform traditional bureaucratic procedures to speed the rollout of the latest mobile broadband infrastructure.
January 23, 2018
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Bringing the Power of Lean to Education
The Des Moines school district has embraced the continuous improvement approach. It's making a lot of progress toward eliminating wasteful practices and transforming performance.
December 19, 2017
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A Do-It-Now Approach to Getting Roads Fixed
Milwaukee's program focuses on quick, cost-effective improvements that give its streets years more service.
December 12, 2017
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A Comprehensive Approach to Equitable Procurement in Government
Minnesota's efforts to bring diversity and inclusivity to its contracting and purchasing are setting the pace.
December 7, 2017
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Why Every Mayor Should Consider Launching a Policy Lab
As D.C. is demonstrating, it's a way to use evidence and rigorous research to produce better outcomes.
November 30, 2017
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Smart Procurement for Smart Cities
Building out digital infrastructure raises a host of complex questions, from avoiding obsolescence to sorting through funding options.
November 21, 2017
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How Government Can Tap Internal Resources to Boost Efficiency
Atlanta turned to cross-departmental metrics to craft a shared-services arrangement for transporting detainees.
November 15, 2017
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Cities and the Lessons of the Great Amazon Hunt
They need to be nimbler than ever, looking for better ways to leverage local talent and institutions to ensure that their residents are the real winners.
October 17, 2017
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How Civic Tech Can Address Urban Inequality
Cities shouldn't just work for their neediest citizens. They also should work with them.
October 5, 2017
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The Autonomy a School Needs for Success
In transforming its public-education structure and bureaucracy, Indianapolis is showing that there is more than one route to excellence.
September 19, 2017
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Can Well-Being Define What Government Does?
Santa Monica is convinced that it can and should. It's putting a lot of effort into aligning services around that goal.
September 13, 2017
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The Formula for Operational Excellence in Government
Successful efficiency efforts have several important things in common, as three case studies illustrate.
September 7, 2017
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What a Digital City Hall Could Be
Redesigning a government website should be about more than attractiveness and easy navigation. It's a chance to reengineer underlying processes.
August 22, 2017
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The Need to Manage Mobility From the Ground Up
A top-down view of transportation is important, but it's crucial to focus on the needs of individuals and underserved communities.
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A Better Way to Manage How We Get Around
Old models for managing urban transportation are insufficient. New options demand that we think in terms of mobility.
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How Government Can Nurture the Nudge
Behaviorally informed interventions can improve outcomes. Louisville's approach shows the wisdom of starting small.
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How Government's Data Can Be Truly Useable
Forget spreadsheets. Visualization is what residents need to be able to drive action on issues.
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A Way to Unlock the Value of an Airport
St. Louis is looking at a public-private partnership. If the issues are properly addressed, it's an idea well worth considering.
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Certifying Data-Driven Government
A new initiative aims to identify and codify approaches that make cities more effective.
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A Shared Space for Operational Excellence
Governments looking for ways to improve efficiency now have access to a rich trove of good ideas and best practices.
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Kick-Starting Data-Driven Government
There are some key questions a city should ask itself before moving forward.
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Social Media's Growing Utility for Government
Public agencies keep finding creative ways to leverage its power for service delivery.
February 22, 2017
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The Nexus Between Data and Public Health
New analytical tools are allowing policymakers to focus on community wellness, not just on treating sickness.
January 24, 2017
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Federal Inefficiencies that Stifle Innovation in Infrastructure
There's a lot of capital out there waiting to be deployed, but outdated regulations are standing in the way.
December 23, 2016
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7 Likely Technology Breakthroughs in 2017
We've just begun to tap the potential. What does 2017 have in store?
December 21, 2016
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The Power of Partnerships in Economic Rebirth
South Bend is leveraging its higher-education assets and better use of data to begin turning things around.
December 5, 2016
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Innovation in Education: Unleashing the Talent
As one successful experiment has shown, giving educators the discretion to perform is key.
November 16, 2016
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The Need for Governing Intelligence
A focus on making data accessible across the enterprise is the basis for organizational wisdom.
October 19, 2016
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Why Data Sharing Should Be Government's Default
It enables more efficient and effective government. The obstacles are often more rooted in folklore than in law.
September 21, 2016
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Why We Need to Move Away From Jailing the Mentally Ill
Diverting low-level, nonviolent offenders into treatment saves millions of dollars and makes our streets safer.
September 2, 2016
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Managing Marijuana: the Role of Data-Driven Regulation
Colorado's robust system for tracking the drug and its effects provides a glimpse of a better system of controls.
August 17, 2016
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The Big Power of Data in a Small City
Mississippi's capital is showing that you don't have to be a Chicago or a New York to make good things happen.
August 10, 2016
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A Key Efficiency Ingredient: Dissent
Encouraging informed disagreement is the only way a public leader can learn whether an initiative might -- or might not -- succeed.
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The Billions We're Wasting in Our Jails
By using data analytics to make decisions about pretrial detention, local governments could find substantial savings while making their communities safer.
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Infusing Government with a Data-Driven Culture
Philadelphia's former mayor explains the steps his city took to make effective use of data and bring it to bear on performance.
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Social Media's Place in Data-Smart Governance
Cities are learning to mine this trove of information to predict the impact of future events and significantly improve operations.
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The Power of Vision in Urban Governance
Indianapolis' longtime mayor worked hard at crafting a big idea for his city, and it paid off handsomely.
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Engaging Entrepreneurs to Solve Urban Problems
A project in Philadelphia used a streamlined approach to procurement to get quick results.
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L.A.'s Testing Ground for Transportation Efficiency
The city is at the forefront of the emerging concept of mobility management.
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In Snow Removal, a Model for Change
St. Paul took an unusual path to improving a vital public service, one that holds promise for other city operations.
February 17, 2016
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What a Brown Delivery Truck Could Teach Government
The technology that UPS uses to optimize its routes and achieve big savings shows how powerful data analytics could be across the public sector.
January 20, 2016
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A New Standard for What Works in City Government
Bloomberg Philanthropies is providing a useful roadmap for results-oriented governance.
December 21, 2015
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Cashing In on the Public Right of Way
From parking meters to freeway lighting, governments are finding new ways to turn infrastructure liabilities into assets and improve services.
December 16, 2015
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What Good Data and Good People Can Accomplish
Houston's mayor has set the pace for leveraging data-driven management to improve city-government efficiency.
December 4, 2015
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The Leadership of a Truly Connected City
Nashville's former mayor led his city as a single, networked entity. His approach is paying off.
November 18, 2015
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How a Good Idea Can Survive a Mayoral Transition
Providence's new mayor has taken an innovative program for preschoolers launched by his predecessor and expanded it.
October 21, 2015
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How New York City Is Mainstreaming Data-Driven Governance
What began as a niche innovation is creating a wider transformation of government culture.
September 16, 2015
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Why Trust in Local Government Should Be Even Higher Than It Is
Far more than the public realizes, innovators are making extraordinary efforts in communities across America.
August 18, 2015
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A Gathering Revolution in Regulation
Empowered consumers and data analytics are driving cities to re-think how they protect health and safety.
August 19, 2015
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Good Ideas From Government's Front Lines
The people who deliver services directly to the public know a lot. Denver is setting the pace for tapping that resource.
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San Francisco's Holistic Approach to Helping the Homeless
Aiming to get more people into housing faster, the city is breaking down a lot of barriers.
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Chicago's Data-Powered Recipe for Food Safety
A pilot program that brought efficiency to restaurant inspections has broad potential for public health and safety.
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A $42 Million Bet on Cities and the Power of Data
A new Bloomberg Philanthropies initiative aims to help 100 cities govern more effectively.
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The Special Skills an Innovation Team Leader Needs
Directing a city-government "i-team" demands distinctive traits that are unique to the process.
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The Growing Evidence That P3s Are Delivering Value
Early signs are positive for the latest crop of big infrastructure public-private partnerships.
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Utah Applies Social Impact Bonds to Early Childhood Education
The investment tool is catching on as a better, safer way to invest scarce public resources.
February 18, 2015
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Getting Smart About the Water We Use
Modern metering systems can save money and make water management more efficient. Local officials are finding ways to overcome obstacles to putting them in place.
January 21, 2015
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Doubling Down on the Innovation-Team Model
Another 14 cities are about to build their own "i-teams." No longer an experimental approach, it's a proven route to cross-cutting accomplishments.
December 16, 2014
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A 5-Part Test for Public-Private Partnerships
To get a P3 proposal to the finish line, public officials need to keep some important principles in mind.
December 17, 2014
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How Portland Is Tackling the Innovation Dilemma
The Oregon city is using a special fund to spark new thinking in its agencies while minimizing financial risk.
November 19, 2014
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How New Orleans Is Winning a War against Murder
Mayor Mitch Landrieu has achieved remarkable results quickly with a systemic approach that relies on the effective use of data.
October 22, 2014
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The Core Features of the Data-Powered City
Today's most innovative civic leaders are using technology to fulfill the promise of efficient and responsive local government.
September 17, 2014
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An Essential Guide to the ‘Stat’ Revolution in Government
A new book provides a comprehensive picture of the performance-management practice that has taken the public sector by storm.
August 27, 2014
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City Finances and the Promise of Data Visualization
New tools that make it easy to find and view government financial data are enabling big gains in efficiency and transparency.
August 20, 2014
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Culture Change at the Waterworks
By investing in customer service and innovation, D.C. Water has done far more than simply rebrand an essential public service.
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How Indiana Is Supercharging Data for Efficiency
By making all of its data easily and quickly available across agencies, the state stands to save money and improve services.
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Water Infrastructure That Delivers More Public Value
Rather than just building more and bigger pipes, Columbus is taking a greener, more holistic approach.
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Milwaukee’s Push to Turn Vacant Land into Urban Farms
The city's new urban agriculture initiative aims to revitalize distressed neighborhoods with new economic activity.
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A Quasi-Governmental Recipe for Efficiency
There are many lessons for public leaders in how a New York City park was brought back from chaos.
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Unleashing a Community of Innovators
Government-sponsored challenge competitions save money and harness the public's ingenuity to solve difficult problems.
February 19, 2014
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How Washington, D.C., Is Working to Nourish Its Hidden Assets
The city is using a variety of innovative approaches to leverage the tech sector and diversify a government-dependent economy.
January 22, 2014
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HealthCare.gov: Lessons from a Fiasco
The botched rollout of the federal health exchange underlines the need for changes in how governments at all levels handle major technology projects.
December 18, 2013
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Chicago's Better Way to Dig Up the Streets
With a major effort to coordinate the needs of city departments, private utilities and residents, the city is tearing up its roadways less and saving a lot of money.
November 20, 2013
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The Importance of Chief Data Officers
Big data presents not only challenges but also the potential to radically improve what governments do. The need for a point person to manage that information and build strategies for using it is clear.
October 16, 2013
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Data Analysis and the Promise of Speedy Government
Combining data with new analytics techniques can help governments react nimbly and purposefully. It's hard work, but the potential payoff is worth it.
September 18, 2013
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The Breathtaking Promise of 311
These customer-service systems are evolving into far more than a way to get a pothole filled or graffiti cleaned up.
August 21, 2013
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Unlocking the Value of Infrastructure
Roads and bridges and utilities should be financed, built and managed as the assets they are.
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How Some Cities Are Creating Permanent Pipelines of Innovation
Some cities are finding ways to create the urgency and political will to produce permanent pipelines of innovation.
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LouieStat: Performance Improvement Done Right
Louisville, Ky., is showing how a performance metrics initiative can transform a government's operational culture.
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Big Data and Even Bigger Efficiencies
The ever-growing volume of information created and captured by the modern digitized world is an opportunity for government to reinvent itself.
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When Data Drives Innovation
Many of the top entrants for Innovations Awards demonstrate that technology applied creatively can shift governments from reactive service delivery to prescriptive solutions.
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Infrastructure at the Speed of Light
It took just a year for Indiana officials to put together a major public-private bridge project. How did they do it?
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Building a Culture of Efficiency in Government
Small savings can add up to real money--and better services.
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Maximizing the Value of Infrastructure
To realize the most long-term value, governments must take a sensible approach to asset management.
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Public Debt and the Quest for Efficiency
All government debt is not the same. Pension debt starves government of the people and tools it needs, but creative borrowing for infrastructure can save more money than it costs.
February 20, 2013
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Giving Citizens the Tools to Grade Their Governments
Washington, D.C., is pioneering a system that takes performance and accountability to a new level.
January 23, 2013
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A Reinvention Drama in the Air
The FAA is working to transform the nation's air transportation system in dramatic ways, deploying new technology collaboratively with an array of stakeholders.
December 20, 2012
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Kansas City, Google and the Leveraging of Public Value
To Mayor Sly James, the first-in-the-nation Google Fiber project is about a lot more than blazing-fast broadband.
December 19, 2012
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How a Smart Grid Can Get the Lights Back on Faster
Smart meters are playing a crucial role in speeding the recovery from Hurricane Sandy. They have the potential to do much more.
November 16, 2012
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Water Infrastructure and the Gush of Creativity
Innovative public officials and utility managers are finding cost-effective ways to fix our aging water systems and save billions of dollars in the process.
November 21, 2012
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Taxes that Keep Businesses in Town
Building on a successful tax break for Twitter, San Francisco's mayor is asking voters to change the way the city taxes businesses that create jobs.
November 5, 2012
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Financing Efficiency in the Delivery of Social Services
Traditional approaches reward activities, not results. Some innovative new approaches aim to turn that around through creative financing.
October 17, 2012
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Disruptive Change, and How to Make It Happen
Is the path to excellence paved by continuous improvement, transformation or both?
September 19, 2012
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Boston's Pioneering Way of Innovating
The mayor's chief of staff describes how the city's aggressive pursuit of citizen-friendly tools aims to increase civic participation.
September 12, 2012
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An Old-School Mayor on the Forefront of Innovation
Boston's Tom Menino may be an "urban mechanic," but he's taking that concept to new and exciting levels.
September 6, 2012
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The Bottom-Line Benefits of Greening a City
Value engineering can reduce the costs of capital projects. But it also can save money over the long haul.
August 27, 2012
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Value Engineering: Saving Money While Enhancing Quality of Life
In dealing with its combined-sewer-overflow problem, Philly is demonstrating a better approach to big infrastructure projects.
August 22, 2012
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A Mayor’s Roadmap for Reforming Pensions
San Diego’s mayor explains how financial catastrophe provided the seeds for major structural changes that the city needed to continue providing services.
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Collecting What Government is Owed Efficiently -- and Equitably
Enforcing laws and regulations to collect fines isn’t just good for the bottom line. It’s fairer to honest citizens and businesses.
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How to Reform Pensions at the Ballot Box
San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed explains what led up to voters’ approval of major changes to the city’s retirement system.
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Public Pensions and the Verdict of the Voters
What happened in San Diego and San Jose is likely to reverberate across the country. And it isn't all bad news for the public workforce.
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Efficiency Lessons from Our City Halls and Statehouses
State and local governments are finding ways to cut spending while improving services. There are signs that the federal government is beginning to take notice.
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311’s Coming Transformations
Much has been accomplished with the widespread deployment of these citizen-service systems. In the future, they will do much more.
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Supercharging Economic Development in Indianapolis and New York City
To attract the investment they need, cities need entities that can move both quickly and strategically.
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Government’s Underappreciated Resource
Citizen volunteers, properly deployed, can extend government’s reach quickly and effectively.
February 22, 2012
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The Man Who Put the 'M' in OMB
Roy Ash, former director of the Office of Management and Budget, is gone, but his legacy is a profound change in the way we manage our governments.
January 18, 2012
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Out of Desperation, Innovation
Tough times create an appetite for change. Nowhere has that been more true than in government this year.
December 12, 2011
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Proof That Government Can Work
There is no shortage of innovative programs that can go a long way towards maintaining public confidence in our public institutions.
November 16, 2011
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Creative Mayors and the Infrastructure Puzzle
As Washington argues about a federal approach to infrastructure, two Midwestern mayors are forging ahead with local solutions that focus strongly on economic development.
October 19, 2011
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The Coming Era of Preemptive Government
What if, instead of waiting until problems occur, a city could address them before they happen?
September 21, 2011
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Grassroots-Powered Innovation
Some citizens just want to complain, but a lot them have good ideas for improving their neighborhoods and communities. A new social-media collaboration platform in NYC is helping citizens achieve that.
August 17, 2011
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Supercharging Structural Innovation
Can dedicated teams deliver new solutions? A new grant program will test the concept in five cities.
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Better Contracting, Greater Diversity
To increase minority and women contracting, New York City is working to remove obstacles that impede an efficient marketplace for goods and services.
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Groundbreaking Environmentalism
Finding a way to redevelop a contaminated site, such as a brownfield, is often the best solution, both environmentally and economically.
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Fostering an Innovation Culture
When public officials fear bad press, it dampens innovation. Here are five principles to help leaders embrace change.
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Weighing the Value of Green Outcomes
Instead of thinking of how they can go green for less, local governments are jumping through expensive state and federal hoops.
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The Wisdom of the Crowd in New York City
Actively engaging the crowd, even if it's sometimes rowdy, can actually enhance government's problem-solving ability.
February 16, 2011
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More Than Social Networking
Social media is about more than socializing. It is a powerful tool for government to empower and mobilize its citizens.
January 19, 2011
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Mending the City-State Relationship
If cities are to see fewer dollars from states in these tough times, then they should see fewer rules too.
December 22, 2010
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Breaking Job Routines
When work is reduced to a routine, innovative breakthroughs that lead to better, faster, cheaper government become rare.
November 17, 2010
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How Rules and Contracts Demean Public Workers
Laws, arbitrary rulings and contracts keep employees locked in an unrewarding work environment.
November 1, 2010
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Silo Busting in NYC
Creating a more efficient government first requires breaking open the internal silos that hamper collaboration and productivity.
October 25, 2010
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Defining the Role of Government
Is it government's obligation to provide services, or to see that they are provided?
October 20, 2010
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How Rules Demean Public Workers
Public-sector unions and management mean well, but they often fail to reward those actually doing the work: front-line employees.
September 22, 2010
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The High Cost of No Risk
When public officials seek to totally eliminate risk in the wake of a tragedy, you can be certain they're not thinking about the high cost of no risk.
August 18, 2010
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Fewer Rules, More Results
The fiscal crisis demands change. It’s time for a Post-Progressive Era, one predicated on creating public value as efficiently as possible.
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Lessons from the Gusher in the Gulf
As the damaged BP oil well continues to spew millions of gallons of crude into the Gulf of Mexico, these four lessons will challenge officials to rethink how risk is mitigated and regulated.
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Fiscal Watchdog: D.C,’s Independent CFO Yields (Uncomfortable) Benefits
A professional, independent municipal CFO can be a strong protector of taxpayer interest. At the same time, they can also be a source of sand in the gears of government.
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Louisville’s COOL Approach to Growing Jobs
Louisville Metro Mayor Jerry Abramson has created COOL, an innovative retail-focused economic development program.
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America's Innovative Leaders: Mayor Robert Duffy
Implementing a long-term strategy to address a major problem like crime or illiteracy is a difficult and risky proposition for a mayor.
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Government Through the Crisis
Public officials need to strike the right balance between dealing with the daily emergencies and leading structural improvements in how government delivers essential services.
Archive
Leading a Culture of Cost Savings
As elected officials contemplate a “new normal” where financial needs and wants will substantially outstrip financial resources for years, it’s worth asking how public executives should organize their administrations to address this systemic challenge.
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Making Government Better in Angry Times
To survive these challenging times, leaders must embrace a relentless commitment to better, faster and cheaper government.
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Social Innovation Knocks
They call it "Opportunity NYC" and it was controversial from the start. New York City sought to incent poor people to improve their behavior by...
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Taking Care of the Goose:
You've probably seen the scary projections of the latest White House budget that highlight the imbalance between Washington's policy promises and its capacity to pay...
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California: State On Hold
In January, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger basically refused to give his State of the State Address during his State of the State Address: "It doesn't make...
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Innovation Amidst Crisis
Contrary to stereotypes, governments innovate. Public officials, and the non-profit and for-profit partners they work with, are continuously developing creative approaches to solving difficult challenges....
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Innovative Government Shouldn't Be an Oxymoron
Atlanta tried a four day work week. The Santa Clara jail now takes reservations--for visitors, not inmates--greatly streamlining the process. New York City is creating...
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Going Green, Saving Green
Green is good. But right now there isn't enough of the "green stuff" to go around. Which is why the column by Lynn Scarlett is...
Archive
311 Systems Just Scratching the Surface
Municipal "311" systems have transformed the way cities hear about problems like broken street lights and car crunching potholes. But a column by Zach Tumin of...
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Private Funding for Public Infrastructure
Private investors in the Indiana Toll Road have taken a bath. In April, a $2.5 billion deal to lease Chicago's Midway Airport to a private operator...
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Better at Doing What?
Private companies think about their "value proposition" all the time. What are we doing for our customers that make them happy to pay our price?...
August 19, 2009
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For Labor Day, a few words from organized labor
In honor of Labor Day, we are happy to share with readers a column from Andy Stern, the president of the Service Employees International Union....
September 7, 2009
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Six Public Innovations Honored
Without innovation there is stagnation. While much of the media focus belongs to those public endeavors that belly-flop, the Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and...
September 14, 2009
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Some Good News for a Change
Anyone looking for inspiration would have found it at the Innovations in American Government Awards dinner, held tonight in Washington DC.
I wish I could...
September 14, 2009
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Information for Innovation
Last week, Harvard Kennedy School through its Innovations in American Government Awards Program recognized a group of government programs for their contribution to the public...
September 23, 2009
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Putting Citizens First
The notion of organizing government services around customer needs has been around for a long time--but mostly in the form of a hoped for goal...
September 29, 2009
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Making Data Sharing Possible
A few years ago Harvard Kennedy School recognized the Department of Justice Global HTML project that simply by defining data protocols dramatically improved the ability...
October 15, 2009
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Tough Choices
All public managers are aware of the Washington Monument ploy--where the agency faced with a deficit threatens to close an iconic or critical public activity...
October 20, 2009
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Jonathan Walters on the Culture of Innovation
Jonathan Walters of Governing magazine has been writing about state and local innovation for more than 20 years. He recently sat down with John O'Leary, executive...
October 19, 2009
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Outsourcing, Insourcing, Rightsourcing
If you outsourced your angels, would more of them dance on the head of a pin?
It's a nonsense question, of course. Here's another: What...
October 21, 2009
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Massive shortfalls in Massachusetts
Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick recently announced plans to lay off up to 2,000 state workers, as the Bay State joins the growing list of states in...
October 20, 2009
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The Lessons of the 2009 Elections
News stories from many national reporters suggest the 2009 elections amount to a statement about the Obama presidency. Maybe, but in mayor and governor races local...
November 5, 2009
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Expensive Elections
In Atlanta and Houston, mayoral races failed to produce a candidate with a majority, meaning both cities will have to conduct costly "runoff" elections between...
November 4, 2009
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Veterans Day--Better Ideas for Vets
Veterans Day provides an opportunity to consider ways to serve those who have served their country.
Two newly announced federal initiatives can produce opportunities for...
November 11, 2009
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The Hazards of Bold Reform
When Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels took office, he inherited a social services department that had distinguished itself only in bad ways. The state's Family and...
November 18, 2009
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Tackling Our Biggest Problems
William D. Eggers and our own John O'Leary have just come out with a new book looking at how government handles large undertakings. "If We...
November 17, 2009
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Contract Cancelled, but Outsourcing Wasn't the Problem
In my article below, I look at the recent decision by Indiana to cancel a major contract with IBM. The problem wasn't the shift from...
November 18, 2009
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Collaboration Isn't Easy
How can different levels of government and a variety of public agencies work together effectively? That's a challenge with implications for crime, health, and a...
November 23, 2009
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Dedicated to Transformation
Given the day-to-day demands of political leadership, it is hard to focus on innovation. In his article, John O'Leary highlights how the city of Detroit...
December 2, 2009
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How Paying a Price Can Cut Your Costs
In a market economy, prices communicate information, helping to shift resources to more efficient uses. Government can take advantage of this through a shared services...
December 6, 2009
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Crime, Punishment and Data
Just weeks ago, career criminal Maurice Clemmons walked into a Lakewood, Washington, coffee shop and gunned down four police officers. Although this particular crime could...
December 16, 2009
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Taking Aim at Systemic Risk
We've seen what happens when risk isn't accounted for properly. The mortage meltdown has prompted government to address enterprise risk in a more systematic way....
December 20, 2009
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Welcome to 2010 -- Are You Ready?
In the good old days, economic slumps were followed by recoveries. To survive lean times, governments tightened their belts, maybe raised some taxes, and life...
January 3, 2010
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Mindful Innovation
There is no magic formula for public sector innovation, but there are tools and techniques that can help governments find ways to do things better,...
January 6, 2010
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Red-Ink Tsunami: Why Old Ideas Can't Fix the New Government Perma-Crisis
State and local governments have faced big budget gaps before. Typically, things get tight for a while, then the economy perks up, tax revenues recover,...
January 13, 2010
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Reading List on Transforming Government
I've put together a list of some of my favorite resources and reading materials for those interested in transforming government. Based in part on courses...
January 13, 2010
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Chicago's Meter 'Fiasco'
It should have been a relatively straightforward public-private partnership. In exchange for a lump sum, the city of Chicago would turn over the operation and...
January 20, 2010
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More on Chicago Parking Meters
Over the last five years no city in the United States has more experience in large infrastructure public private partnerships than Chicago, including major deals...
January 19, 2010
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Digital City
You've probably seen the ads touting the notion of "building a smarter city." There is little doubt that the technology revolution around Gov 2.0 holds enormous...
January 25, 2010
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Executing on a Good Idea
The use of 311 systems by municipalities to intelligently respond to citizen inquiries is no longer cutting edge, but neither is its use universal. A column...
January 24, 2010
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The New Political Reality
For decades, public officials viewed voters either as passive recipients of government largesse or as active advocates for special treatment. Getting reelected generally meant launching...
February 8, 2010
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Innovations and Social Edge: Join the Conversation
You may have heard President Obama speak about the need for a new approach to community problem solving, or heard that he's created a White...
February 9, 2010
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Webinar: Fighting Poverty
February 16, 2010: 3 - 5 pm (EST)
Despite decades of work and billions of dollars, millions of American families remain stuck in a cycle of poverty--often exacerbated by...
February 11, 2010
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Cutting Costs Without Cutting Benefits
The stress on public budgets is real. When public officials say there's nothing left to cut, they really mean it. Truth is, there aren't a...
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Burdening the Future: It's Not Just the Feds
The recently released federal budget has shed a harsh spotlight on government's tendency to spend today while leaving the bill for our children to pay....
February 19, 2010
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Monopsony and Social Innovation
As I write this column I am listening to my iPod and typing on my new Dell computer. Both of these products impressed me from...
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Phone + GPS + Camera = Revolution
Three simple tools are revolutionizing the delivery of city services. The phone, the camera and the GPS, now generally contained in the same device, are...
Archive
Fixing What's Broken
This interesting article in the Washington Post by Bill Eggers and John O'Leary lays out some of the challenges associated with getting big things done...
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The High Cost of Hidden Pension Promises
For mayors across the country a single budget item threatens their cities' capacity to maintain parks, keep the streets safe, pick up the trash and...
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Getting Big Things Done in Government
John O'Leary on C-SPAN's "Washington Journal" talks about his recent Washington Post piece, "Can the U.S. Still Tackle Big Problems? Lessons from the Health...