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Cybersecurity regulation finalized in New York; barber shops fight domestic violence in Illinois; and, new book from the Ash Center untangles bureaucratic dysfunction in the public sector
Government Innovators Network 
 
April 27, 2017
In This Issue

Feature: New Ash Center Book Untangles Bureaucratic Dysfunction

What's New

In the News

Data-Smart City Solutions

Better, Faster, Cheaper

New Ash Center Book Untangles Bureaucratic Dysfunction

By Jorrit de Jong

Dealing with Dysfunction: Innovative Problem Solving in the Public Sector asks how the systemic bureaucratic dysfunction that beleaguers the public sector can be remedied. Jorrit de Jong examines the roots of this dysfunction and presents a novel approach to solving it. De Jong is a lecturer at Harvard Kennedy School, where he is also faculty director of the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative. Learn more>>

WHAT'S NEW


New Map of the Month Contest

Submit your map today!

Harvard Kennedy School’s Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation has launched a new initiative to highlight the impactful work being done in the area of data visualization and mapping in the US. We are seeking data visualizations and maps that illustrate, enhance understanding of, or solve a complex problem faced by the public sector. Learn more and submit your map>>

Harnessing Big Data for Development and Humanitarian Action

Innovators Insights Blog

Read our interview with the director of UN Global Pulse in which he discusses the role of big data in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and outlines three areas of impact. UN Global Pulse is an initiative that works to harness data science for sustainable development and humanitarian action. Read more>>

IN THE NEWS


Madrid Wants Its Seniors to Find Roommates

Madrid wants to manage the resources needed to serve its fast-growing elderly population by incentivizing older residents to live in shared private housing. Officials believe that the move would result in cheaper living expenses, facilitate care, and avoid the loss of independence and diminished feelings of wellbeing that often comes with living in retirement homes. The city also plans to expand contact between its seniors and social services using WhatsApp and Skype. For now, in addition to touting the benefits of shared living, Madrid is recruiting interested individuals looking to rent to other senior roommates by offering free tickets to cultural events.

High School Opening Washroom, Laundry Facilities for Homeless Students

East High School in Salt Lake City has installed showers and laundry facilities on campus for homeless students to use. Towels, soap, shampoo and detergent, along with other donated items, are also available for use. The school estimates between 50 and 100 of its students do not have access to a shower or a washing machine on a daily basis. Officials note that access to these basic sanitary items will help students to be less self-conscious, freeing up mental and physical space to focus on their studies. The school also runs a food pantry for needy students and their families.

New York State Finalizes First-in-Nation Cyber Security Regulation

To combat cybercrime and limit damages to consumers, the state of New York has issued final regulations requiring banks and insurers to meet minimum cybersecurity standards and report breaches to state regulators. The protections require firms to scrutinize the data practices of third-party vendors that provide goods and services to firms, undertake internal risk assessments in order to design a cybersecurity program uniquely tailored to the firm, and receive annual certifications of compliance. The regulation is a response to a series of high-profile data breaches that resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars in losses to consumers and companies.

Driverless Shuttle Bus to Be Tested by Public in London

In Greenwich, London, members of the British public are getting their first extended trial of a driverless shuttle bus. The autonomous vehicle carries four people, is guided by five cameras and three lasers, and will navigate a two-mile riverside path shared by pedestrians and cyclists. A trained staff member will be on board to stop the vehicle if the need arises. Officials predict that passengers could begin paying to use the system by 2019, and that other autonomous shuttles will be introduced elsewhere.

Nigeria Unveils Indigenous Solar-Powered Voting Machine

To help make the ballot box more accessible and more secure in Nigeria, the country’s National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure has developed a solar-powered electronic voting machine. The device will use facial and thumbprint biometric authentications as well as cloud-based storage to ensure that potential thieves cannot alter voter information if they steal the device. Voting data will be transmitted directly to a central database where it can be viewed online in real-time. It is expected that the device will help make the electoral process more efficient and fair.

More Than a Haircut: Barbershops Are Hubs for Social Change

All beauty professionals in the state of Illinois must now take domestic violence training as part of their biennial continuing education requirement. State lawmakers believe that barbers, hairstylists, manicurists, and other beauty-related workers are in a good position to recognize and respond to signs of domestic abuse given the close relationships they have with their clients and how often some of them see each other. This bill follows in the footsteps of programs around that country that are taking advantage of salons and barbershops to improve the health and wellbeing of their communities.

DATA-SMART CITY SOLUTIONS


How Cities Are Using the Internet of Things to Map Air Quality

This post examines the various models cities have implemented to map air quality using the Internet of Things, providing a guide that can help cities determine the best approach for them. City air quality initiatives fall into three main categories — initiatives that integrate sensors into existing infrastructure, those that leverage mobile sensors, and others that analyze cellphone data to understand resident exposure to poor air quality — and a city’s choice of model should depend on its unique needs and capabilities.

User-Friendliness Defines Chicago’s New Data Portal

Chicago’s newly redesigned open data portal streamlines the city’s digital offerings into a central, user-friendly format. In developing the portal, Chicago drew on the input of developers and data professionals as well as everyday residents in an effort to create a more inclusive product.

BETTER, FASTER, CHEAPER


How Government's Data Can Be Truly Usable

Stephen Goldsmith argues that cities should prioritize making their open data usable, emphasizing the power of data visualizations to make data accessible and therefore more actionable. Goldsmith points to Pittsburgh’s Burgh’s Eye View — a site that maps service requests, arrests, police actions, and building code violations to help residents better understand their neighborhoods — as one example of the empowering potential of data visualizations.

ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER


Innovators Insights is the news digest from the Government Innovators Network on the latest in government innovations. This digest is sent out every two weeks and is compiled and written by the editorial staff of the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard Kennedy School. In each issue, the editorial team identifies top policy and programmatic news that is related to government innovations so that you can stay informed about creative government at its best.

Editor: Jessica Engelman
Researcher & Writer: Brendan St. Amant
Note: The stories in this newsletter link to source articles on other websites and may not be available after a certain length of time.



ABOUT THE ASH CENTER


The Roy and Lila Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation advances excellence in governance and strengthens democratic institutions worldwide. Through its research, education, international programs, and government innovations awards, the Center fosters creative and effective problem solving and serves as a catalyst for addressing many of the most pressing needs of the world's citizens. The Ford Foundation is a founding donor of the Center. Additional information about the Ash Center is available at http://ash.harvard.edu.

 
 
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