Scott Beyer is a journalist specializing in urban issues. He is the owner of a media company called the Market Urbanism Report, which promotes free-market urban policies. In addition to his work for Governing, Beyer writes regular columns for Forbes, the Independent Institute, and Tax Credit Advisor. He recently completed a three-year journey across the United States to study urban issues and recently wrote a book called Market Urbanism: A vision for free-market cities. Beyer is based in New York City, and his work can be found at MarketUrbanismReport.com.In this episode we discuss:A new model of city governance where people can choose to live based on government structure satisfactionProductivity and avoiding wasting time on politics The dynamic and changing nature of cities is importantPeople in Latin America have a higher level of tech-savvy than expectedPeople may have different preferences, so having a variety of cities with different governing models can help people find a city that suits their needsThe city is like a product or a service that needs to accommodate the needs of its inhabitants or they will leaveThe use of technology in remote areasClick here to learn more about Scott's work.

In this week's episode, Michael is joined by Zach, an accomplished software engineer and technology leader, who has specialized in working with early-stage companies. He is the founder of the concept of "Startup Cities," which refers to neighborhoods or cities that are built and developed by startup companies. Zach's work has been recognized with multiple awards and has been published in academic journals.Michael and Zach discuss a range of topics related to Startup Cities, ranging from the relationship between Startup Cities and traditional cities, the role of residents in the development and operation of a city, as well as the importance of civic engagement in shaping the future of a city.Interested in Zach's work and want to learn more? You can follow Zach's fascinating writing about startup cities HERE.#SmartCities #innovation #MayorAdams #blockchain #technology #web3

In this episode, we interview Denise Felipe Adams and Jonathan Salomons from the Innovation and Emerging Market team in the Office of the Mayor of New York City.The Innovation and Emerging Market team is a department within the Office of the Mayor that focuses on promoting innovation and economic growth in New York City.In this episode we talk about:The intersection of the New York City Police Department (NYPD) and innovationDenise and Jonathan's roles in finding solutionsStructures and strategies for promoting innovation and getting people to agree to new ideasBest ways to present new ideas to Mayor AdamsProcess for selecting technologies to deploy in New York CityApplications of blockchain technology in local governmentsImportance of equity and inclusion in technology-related decision-making in New York CityPost-pandemic plans for New York CityMayor Adams' approach to "getting stuff done"

 Jeffrey Mason and Carl Peterson discuss their extensive experience in development economics, law, international relations, and business. Before joining the Charter Cities Institute as a researcher, Jeffrey worked as an MA Fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. Carl is a returned Peace Corps Volunteer who has also worked in pre-seed and post-Series A startups.In this round-the-world interview, Jeffrey and Carl will provide insight into the history of some of the world's most successful and struggling regions, including South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the West. They will also discuss their research and experience in finding solutions to developing cities, and why the Charter City model - a model that seeks to create cities with their own governance systems and economies - may be a potential solution. Tune in to learn more about the fascinating world of development economics and international relations, and the potential of the Charter City model.In this episode we talk about:What a Charter City isHow a Charter City is set upThe biggest challenges when setting up a Charter CityAfrica’s NXT50 Cities CoalitionThe benefits of a Charter City and how it compares to some of the more conventional modelsThe future of Charter CitiesTo learn more about the Charter Cities Institute and the work they are doing, check out their website here.

David Zipper is a Visiting Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School's Taubman Center for State and Local Government, where he examines the interplay between urban policy and new mobility technologies. David’s perspective on urban development is rooted in his experience working within city hall as well as being a venture capitalist, policy researcher, and startup advocate. He has consulted with numerous startups and public officials about regulatory strategy.  In this episode we talk about:The role of cars in citiesBenefits of a less car-centric cityChicken and egg problem for modes other than driving Post-pandemic communicating patternsThe problem with road safety in US citiesHype cycle of autonomous vehiclesMicrocars and three-wheel podsTo learn more about David's work and writing you can find him on Twitter or by visiting his website.

Ayinde (pronounced eye-yin-day). Ayinde is the co-founder and General Partner of Pathway OZ, which is an Opportunity Zone Fund that partners with HBCUs, community leaders, and government officials to invest in early stage companies.In this episode we talk about: Pathway OZHBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) located in opportunity zones The HBCU Smart City Challenge and how it works Working with local governments Importance of exposing students at HBCUs to relevant skills How city officials can connect with HBCUs and bring in more diverse talentCultivating entrepreneurs in Opportunity Zones To learn more about HBCUs and opportunity zones feel free to reach out to Ayinde at [email protected] 

Mark Wheeler is the Chief Information Officer in the City of Philadelphia. Some of Mark's recent accomplishments are: Ensured continuity of government services during the pandemic guiding business leaders to rapidly shift 32,000 employees to secure remote work operations. Set smart city vision resulting in 20 private-public partnership projects in two years, four national awards Set direction for rollout of edge compute AI optical sensors in a Center City business corridor. Launched city’s first Digital Equity Plan, Information Technology Strategic Plan and Smart City Roadmap. Raised $17M in philanthropic funds to setup PHLConnectED program to provide free broadband internet and digital navigator services to over 21,000 households in partnership with Mayor’s Office for Education.Explored utility of blockchain with local Web 3.0 startup leaders on proofs of concept for verifiable credentials and decentralized open data storage with FileCoin.In this episode we talk about: How Mark became interested in blockchain technology back in 2018.Mark's 18 months of research on how blockchain and web3 could be utilized by local government Verified credentials and the multijurisdictional dilemma Web2.5 vs. Web3State of blockchain and public sector Constituant feedback loop  Using data in citiesCentralizing data analytics and software development teamWhen to outsource staff and when to use in-house staffLinks:Mark's Twitter profileMark's BlogThis podcast was created in partnership with the Urban Change Foundation

David Graham, Chief Innovation Officer, City of Carlsbad, Ca, is a veteran smart cities leader having worked for several San Diego Mayors, the County of San Diego and a stint in private sector public affairs. He is the chair of the San Diego Regional Inclusive Connected Communities initiative and the Chief Innovation Officer for the City of Carlsbad in the northern coastal part of the region. His work has included the first all-electric car share fleet in North America, the largest municipal Internet of Things network using streetlights and digital transformation for solar permitting. His passion for land use, sustainability, and civic engagement has led him to be an author and regular speaker on civic innovation in cities including at Harvard TECH, Smart Cities Week, Minds + Machines, and Smart Cities World Congress.In this episode we talk about:Traits of civic innovatorsCommunity engagement vs. community outreach What's wrong with the "fire and forget" mindsetMeasuring impact using dataValue and impact of combining Innovation and Economic Development departments in local governmentWhen to outsource talent and when to hire in-houseCybersecurityLong-term planning and executionInnovation fellowships Data This podcast was created in partnership with the Urban Change Foundation. 

Raimundo is the Director of Innovation of Technology and Chief Innovation Officer at the City of Coral Gables, Florida. He is an award-winning engineering and technology visionary leader with over 28 years of working experience delivering value, continuous improvement, sustainability, growth and innovation to customers and organizations in Telecommunications, Smart Cities, Information Technology and Electronics industries.In this episode we talk about:Coral Gables built as a planned community with a holistic approach and the value of proximity to academic institutionsRaimundo's transition from the private sector to the public sector Creating value for citizens with the agility and execution speed of the private sectorMaximizing the ROI of taxpayer dollarsWhy an entrepreneurial mindset is so criticalWhen to hire an in-house team and when to outsourceAdvice for those who are people joining local government who want to innovate Links: Coral Gables Smart City Hub 

Clair Whitmer works at the California Office of the Small Business Advocate, part of Go-Biz in the State of California. She is the North California Regional Economic Advisor. Clair is an Economic development consultant passionate about applying design thinking and strategic doing to problems of economic inclusion. After 20 successful years as a product and operations manager for major Silicon Valley brands, Clair found her mission in helping local economic development agencies drive the creation of community wealth in underserved communities. In this episode we talk about:How Clair made the jump from Silicon Valley to the public sector through FUSE Corps. How Clair found her mission to support local businesses as part of her FUSE Corps fellowship in the City of Fresno.The learning curve of joining the public sector Opportunity Fresno - how to maximize the impact of federal grants on the community Why it's challenging for governments to innovateHow the State of California is working to create a network to provide a rapid response to businesses that need it most Why digital solutions are not enough - the importance of boots-on-the-ground and why local partners are so importantFor more information about FUSE Corps: see here: https://fuse.org/