"Unleashing the full power of change requires freeing federal employees to be more creative, data driven, and productive in their jobs. We need to remember that most public employees took their jobs in order to make a difference." Shared my #DOGE thoughts with @Kennedy_School

I had the pleasure of speaking with Amanda Ford, from the Mayor's Office of Innovation in San Francisco, about the principles of innovation + how to apply to our toughest urban challenges; in this case, homelessness and supporting vulnerable residents.

I ceded my hosting duties for our 1st #DataSmartCityPod episode of 2025 & took on the guest role, to reflect on 2024/discuss my predictions and ideas for this year. I hope you take a listen and let me know your thoughts - maybe even share your "lightening round" answers below!

Sharing some thoughts over at @govtechnews today, reflecting on the past year and, most recently, the GovAI Coalition Summit.

2/ to make a measurable difference in the health of its residents. This model also serves as an example for how we are helping cities take similar actions now under a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation grant.

1/ This case describes the amazing work of Mayor @MikeBloomberg w/ PlaNYC. The work, done with @AdamMFreed, @EnvDefenseFund + many others, remains one of the world's preeminent examples of how a city can use regulations, education and creative financing...

And many thanks to Mayor @MattMahanSJ and @iKTawfik for bringing us to your city, and to the @govtechnews team for putting together such a great event.

2/ A big thank you to these powerhouse panelists, @eyalFeder, Arti Tangri, @carriebish, and @EnzhouWang, who made moderating this session a great experience and shared fantastic insights.

1/ Moderating a great conversation today at the 2024 GovAI Coalition Summit @CityofSanJose and @govtechnews. I had the honor of leading a data governance session discussing ethics and best practices for public sector employees on the front lines of integrating #AI and #GenAI...

Few local data officials have accomplished as much as @SantiOnCities. Whether working in @CityofSouthBend for #MayorPete or as CIO of @Pittsburgh or @CityOfBoston, my colleague Santi shows how initiative can drive municipal progress at the #localgov level.

Starting our final day of the @NACoTweets County Executive Roundtable with a crucially important conversation with @kimberlynleary, my colleague at the @CenterforCities, founding director of the Center's new Equity & Innovation Hub, and a national leader on diversity + equity.

During this whole interview, I just kept coming back to the word "fascinating." The work @HeikoAydt is doing in @SEC_ETH @govsingapore is so impressive. Coupling #digitaltwin technology with #climatechange #data is an important frontier in the future of policy making.

A topic I've been thinking about for much of my career; the (sometimes tense) relationship between accountability and discretion. See how #GenAI and other types of #artificialintelligence can transform this aspect of governance in my newest paper.

A great example for other cities looking to improve their data collection ⬇️

It was a privilege to talk with Grace about the role of city leaders in mitigating - and preventing - the harm caused to children by environmental toxins, extreme heat, and air pollution. I highly encourage taking a listen to better understand @EPA's existing tools and resources:

A highlight of this work is seeing how data-smart programs grow and develop over time. Continued great work coming out of LA, based in #data @Esri #GIS, enhancing the livability and cleanliness of the city.

RT @DataSmartCities: In 2017 we wrote about the LA CleanStat program, a revolutionary use of #GIS + #opendata in the livability + sanitatio…

An extremely important episode for all audiences: place-based interventions are possible, and protecting kids from extreme heat, from pre-natal to early childhood, is imperative for a healthy, functioning society.

Very proud of the work we've done and continue to do on this initiative. With a focus on communities most vulnerable to #extremeheat #airpollution and #lead, our team is working directly with 4 cities to identify, map and mitigate the harm caused by those environmental pollutants

We also published a corresponding article on Smart's work, sharing her expertise and recommendations for other large agencies and local governments.