MANAGEMENT UPDATE.

HOT TOPICS CITIES SHARE IN AN INTERNATIONAL FORUM

In 2022, What Works Cities expanded dramatically, welcoming cities from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America to join US peers that are focused on achieving excellence in data practices, governance and use. Entrance into this community requires cities have populations of 30,000 or more and apply for the organization’s data assessment. Since 2017, when the program began, 170 cities have applied with about half earning the honor of having their data practices certified at silver, gold or platinum levels. (Several weeks ago, we wrote about nine new cities that have qualified at the silver level.)

For the last seven years, What Works Cities, which is part of Results for America, has offered advice and capacity building assistance to its network of cities. It also has an online forum, available in three languages – English, Spanish and Portuguese -- to help its cities talk to each other, share insights, discuss problems, and vet solutions. “We’ve created this community around what it means to be data-informed and evidence-based,” says Rochelle Haynes, managing director. “They can connect with one another to do that. They don’t have to start from scratch.”

While the forum discussions are private, we recently talked with Haynes to get a sense of the top issues that cities are sharing.

Here’s what she reports are “hot topics”, regardless of cities’ geography, demographic mix, or cultural history.

Homelessness. It doesn’t matter where you are, says Haynes. One of the forum’s hot topics is homelessness. “The issues are the same whether you’re in North America, Central or South America. Everyone, across the board, is having conversations on unhoused individuals. Everyone.”
Artificial Intelligence. “A lot of times, local governments are a little bit slow in terms of being able to have the resources and support to be on the cutting edge of new technology,” says Haynes. But this time? “We’re seeing cities think about how to get ahead of the curve this time on technology. Every city is talking about AI, particularly generative AI – how to use it; how to give staff guidance on using it; how to create governance and engage residents.” On using AI to connect with residents, Haynes finds some of the Latin American cities are more advanced than US counterparts.
Climate Change. “There isn’t a city that we work with that isn’t either doing or thinking about climate change and approaching climate change in an equitable way. That’s a hot topic in the forum, as well, says Haynes.
Sustainability. The sustainability of data practices is also of concern, particularly as cities move through mayoral transitions. Questions that come up in the forum focus on how to keep data portfolios “front and center” and how to leverage budgets to direct funding towards performance-based management.