“This book will be invaluable to those looking to understand the complexities of life as a public servant and to anyone striving to become the champion of innovation that urban administrations in modern societies require among their ranks. The case studies illustrate how strategies for interconnected networks among city agencies, NGOs, individuals, and technology would dramatically improve life within New York City’s ‘gorgeous mosaic.’ ” —David N. Dinkins, 106th Mayor of the City of New York
“Despite countless examples, we often forget just how good cities are at coming up with creative solutions to pressing problems. This volume’s contributors provide us with a critical reminder of how important—and challenging—it is for local governments to put new technology to work for residents. The thoughtful ideas explored here offer key lessons for how city officials, civic groups, and private-sector partners can bring the great tradition of urban innovation into the digital age.” —Daniel L. Doctoroff, CEO, Sidewalk Labs, and former NYC Deputy Mayor for Economic Development and Rebuilding “Editor André Corrêa d’Almeida takes us on a journey into the many different lives of technological innovations. His concern is to detect what works for cities and their many diverse places, people, and needs. He succeeds, and gives us a refreshingly original book about technology in the public sector.” —Saskia Sassen, Columbia University, author of Cities in a World Economy “Smarter New York City is a terrific guide to New York City’s seminal experience in developing and delivering a smarter city. The exploration of strategy and real-world applications, the solutions that New York City developed, and the process it went through will be invaluable to both cities and solutions providers in North America and beyond.” —Jonathan Woetzel, director and senior partner, McKinsey Global Institute ANDRÉ CORRÊA D’ALMEIDA is adjunct associate professor of international and public affairs at Columbia University, where he is also assistant director of the MPA in Development Practice program at the School of International and Public Affairs and the Earth Institute. He is also the founder of ARCx‑Applied Research for Change and a former senior advisor to the United Nations Development Program. Cover design: Catherine Casalino Cover photograph: © Francois Roux/Alamy Stock Photo
Printed in the U.S.A. ISBN: 978-0-231-18375-8
Columbia University Press New York cup.columbia.edu
9 780231 183758
Smarter New York City
Smarter New York City
“Cities today are hotbeds of innovation for sustainable development, and Smarter New York City presents a compendium of fascinating and insightful case studies of how New York City is building a smarter, fairer, and greener city. This is a brilliant, timely, and remarkably useful guidebook to promote sustainable development innovation in cities around the world.” —Jeffrey D. Sachs, University Professor, Columbia University, and director, UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network
EDITOR
How can innovation from within city agencies and administrations make for smarter urban systems in New York City? Featuring a foreword by Stephen K. Benjamin, president of the United States Conference of Mayors, Smarter New York City describes the drivers and constraints behind urban innovation to provide practical and replicable lessons and to imagine new possibilities for cities in the United States and around the world, using a series of case studies produced by a multidisciplinary team from New York City universities and research institutes.
Corrêa d’Almeida
$
COLUMBIA
How City Agencies Innovate EDITED BY
André Corrêa d’Almeida
$