Brad Lander Unveils Comprehensive Plan to Modernize City Government Technology
Lander: “In sharp juxtaposition to the Adams administration’s failed approach, under my leadership, New York City will enhance our government efficiency by leveraging modern technology to help City workers more effectively do their jobs and make our city run smoother.”
NEW YORK, NY — Today, Brad Lander released a plan to use modern technological advancements to significantly improve how city government works, how the public experiences government services, and the security of our city government systems. Lander’s plan, Leveraging Technology for a Government That Works, is his latest policy solution to make our city safer, more affordable, and better run.
“New Yorkers deserve a city government that delivers real results — not one beleaguered by outdated technological systems,” said Brad Lander. “In sharp juxtaposition to the Adams administration’s failed approach, under my leadership, New York City will enhance our government efficiency by leveraging modern technology to help City workers more effectively do their jobs and make our city run smoother. As Mayor, I will transform government access, scale up technical capacity, and prioritize data-driven decision-making.”
Lander knows from his time as NYC Comptroller that City government does not have the internal capacity to procure or develop strong tech products, meaning public-facing products suffer and the City cannot use data to manage outcomes effectively. As Mayor, Lander will:
Utilize Innovative Technology Tools to Solve Pressing City Problems
Establish Yelp for NYCHA Repairs — Coming out of an audit the Comptroller’s office found a gaping lack of oversight over NYCHA’s repair vendors who perform (or, often, fail to perform) repairs in tenants’ apartments, Lander is proposing “Yelp for NYCHA Repairs.”
Reduce Claims Against the City — In recent years, the City has paid out over $1 billion annually in claims and settlements. As Comptroller, Lander is in the process of releasing an RFP for a new AI tool that could help identify patterns and enable City agencies to reduce repeated claims.
Utilize Drones to Get Rid of Needless Scaffolding — One of the banes of NYC neighborhoods is the presence of scaffolding. Lander proposes piloting the use of drones for facade inspections, at NYCHA and privately-owned buildings, to identify buildings where facades are safe and scaffolding can be removed, or alternatively where real risks exist and must be addressed promptly.
Use Data to Improve City Outcomes Measurement Tools — Lander will commit to use data to drive outcomes because “we can’t manage what we can’t measure,” including increasing metrics on the quality of services City agencies are delivering to New Yorkers and soliciting feedback from government staff on how technology can improve outcomes.
Improve the City’s Public-Facing Tech Interfaces
Fulfill the Promise of MyCity with a Sovereign ID — Make it easier for people to learn about, access, and use public services by building on the success of Access NYC, which allows people to apply for SNAP, Cash Assistance, and Medicaid through the same process, and some of the additional infrastructure of MyCity to create a sovereign ID number, owned by the user, that can be used for understanding eligibility and accessing government services across agencies.
Deploy Artificial Intelligence Responsibly to Make New Yorkers’ Daily Lives Easier — Leverage Artificial Intelligence responsibly to make it easier for New Yorkers to search for information, such as asking if today is a snow day or what day their trash pickup is.
Improve Accessibility of City Websites — Upgrade the tech that powers translation of City websites, making them truly accessible in all languages and to people with disabilities.
Build Government Tech Capacity
Build Technical Capacity in Agencies — Lander will build technical capacity in agencies, both to do more tech work in-house and to better procure and manage outsourced tech projects, both of which will increase cybersecurity in City government.
Recruit Strategically — Lander will learn from organizations that have proven success in identifying tech talent interested in bringing their expertise to the public selector and develop a smarter recruitment strategy for specific positions.
Create Higher-paid Positions — Lander will explore as part of civil service reform the creation of higher-paid IT infrastructure management, design, and data positions at salary levels sufficient to attract applicants.
Provide Professional Development Opportunities — Lander will create a rotational fellowship program to seed cross-agency learning and collaboration that will contribute to the city’s broader technology strategy and help retain staff.
Read Leveraging Technology for a Government That Works here.
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