218
Learning from Cities— The 2nd Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation
borrow and return bicycles at 200
urban planners and educators, who
stations by taking advantage of mobile
provide technological guidance
application and En Todo Estás Vos
on issues such as how to plan the
Card.
community wasteland and how to set the layout. Apart from that, the elites also support and provide technological
Experience and Inspiration
training for the public who also take
1.Technological Decision-
so as to guarantee that the public and
making with the Assistance of
community organizations can drive the
Elites
negotiation of public affairs in a more
Elites play the important role
part in the decision-making process,
effective manner.
of technology guide in the decisionmaking process of public affairs by
2. Social Organizations as
taking advantage of their expertise. To
Partners
what degree will the elites participate
Social organizations can aggregate
the decision-making process of public
decentralized citizens through common
affairs depends on the level of expertise
interests and value. This agglomeration
of the decision makers compared with
effect on one hand can help citizens
experts. In the practice of Buenos
with common interest act as a whole,
Aires, the participation of elites can
so as to exert greater influence on
be seen both in high level decision-
the participation of public affairs. On
making and community discussion.
the other hand, it is more convenient
In “Innovation and Creativity
for the government to identify the
Commission”, senior officials of the
common interests, and then bring
committee (mayor, Cabinet minister
more benefits to the community with
and senior officers of the municipal
the help of social organizations.
government) hold meetings regularly
With regards to concrete affairs,
with experts; in the building of
social organizations play important
community Villa 20, multi-disciplinary
roles in the implementation and the
groups drive the decision-making
supervision of public policies. In
process of community affairs. The
the management of Villa 20, SECHI
project group consists of elites from
subsidizes local sports and cultural
many industries including architects,
NGOs to carry out the planning of