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| Partnership |
To help urban areas utilize federal assistance more effectively, the Obama administration has unveiled the “Strong Cities, Strong Communities” initiative. The program, which will be piloted in six cities, will send dozens of federal officials to provide technical and planning assistance to meet the unique needs of each community, helping them to use their federal funds in the most beneficial way possible. Through this partnership, officials hope that the investment of federal resources can be accelerated to improve infrastructure and put residents to work.
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| Efficiency |
In Nevada, Clark County and its three largest cities are piloting the issuance of a unified license for contractors, allowing these mobile businesses to operate in multiple jurisdictions. If successful, the advent of the multi-jurisdictional license will push municipalities to integrate their ordinances and computer systems, and could serve as a model for other mobile businesses such as delivery companies, florists, and locksmiths.
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| Criminal Justice |
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The New York City Police Department has launched a social media unit to track criminal behavior as an increasing number of juveniles boast about upcoming or prior crimes online. With the backdrop of global social disturbances that are being coordinated using social media, New York is finding that mining these platforms to learn about gang showdowns or troublesome house parties can often result in the prevention of criminal acts or the apprehension of offenders.
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| Food Security |
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Across the country, officials are working towards making healthful, inexpensive foods more accessible to those living in "food deserts"—areas containing few grocery stores or nutritious food options within walking distance. In Baltimore, for example, residents can order groceries from a school and area libraries. In New York City and Pittsburgh, initiatives are assisting small stores in poorer neighborhoods in providing more fresh fruits and vegetables.
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| Education and Technology |
The West Virginia Board of Education is launching "Books on the Bus" to encourage learning right before and after the school day. The program will provide funding to schools to bulk up their digital library collections, and students will use their personal devices, or receive one from the school, to download titles to read while they are on the school bus.
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| Infrastructure |
An increasing number of states are adding flashing yellow left-turn signals to their intersections to improve traffic flow and safety, and save gas. These flashing lights allow drivers to make a left turn after they yield, even when other traffic going straight is stopped and opposing traffic has a green light. Texas, Minnesota, Florida, Oregon, and Washington are among the states that currently boast this type of intersection.
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| Accountability |
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New York's Department of Consumer Affairs wants to create a cadre of "secret shoppers" that will report to the agency if they are overcharged at the grocery store. Under the initiative, citizens can tweet overcharges, missing prices, incorrect item scans, and other issues occurring at specific supermarkets to @NYCDCA or post the information online to the Department's Facebook page. The Department will treat these messages as enforcement tips and will act accordingly.
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| Grassroots-Powered Innovation |
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A new social-media collaboration platform in New York City is helping citizens communicate many good ideas for improving their neighborhoods and communities.
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| How Many Governments Do We Need? |
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America’s web of local governments made sense in the 1600s. For efficiency’s sake, it’s time to rethink that structure. Process improvements will only take us so far. If we are to reduce America's debt, we must change governance structures as well.
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| The Messy Politics of Privatization |
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Outsourcing government services can save money. But governments need to bring their own expertise to bear to de-politicize the process. Creating a transparent process administered by procurement experts gives taxpayers the best opportunity to realize privatization's potential to make government more efficient.
Newsletter produced by: Jessica Engelman, editor; Brendan St. Amant, researcher and writer.
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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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