The awards recognize cities using technology to strengthen cybersecurity and enhance transparency, digital privacy rights and digital equity, and those finding innovative ways to support solutions for social challenges facing cities today. The top 10 ranking cities in each of five population categories will be honored during the Digital Cities Awards event at the National League of Cities “City Summit” on Nov. 16 in Atlanta. Registration is complimentary and open to the public sector only.
Following are California’s top finishers in their respective population categories.
LOS ANGELES (500,000 or more population category): L.A.’s Information Technology Agency (ITA) uses technology to support housing the homeless, to increase public safety, and to make Los Angeles more livable for every community. For Mayor Karen Bass’s “Inside Safe” homelessness program, the ITA built a Data Analysis Solutions for Homelessness (DASH) platform for decision-makers; and utilizes the 311 Call Center and App, and the city’s TV station and social media as a communication platform for homeless initiatives with over 250,000 impressions monthly. ITA is also expanding infrastructure and devices, including Wi-Fi in homeless housing and tablets for service workers.
LONG BEACH (250,000 – 499,999 population category): The Long Beach Technology & Innovation Department (TID) provides a customer-focused environment. TID developed an original Digital Rights Platform and set up the Homelessness Services and Information Hub with a dashboard to track results, a development map to show progress on affordable housing projects, and a homelessness survey with nearly 3,000 responses that uses AI technology. In addition, TID administered more than 2,400 free hotspots and 2,900 free computing devices to qualified Long Beach residents, businesses and nonprofits.
CARLSBAD (75,000 – 124,999 population category): Connectivity is a cornerstone of IT’s approach in Carlsbad. Connected Carlsbad, a comprehensive innovation roadmap, prioritizes community-wide digital transformation, capacity for data-driven governance, civic engagement, accessibility and transparency, and promotion of safety and sustainability through interconnectedness. For example, the city’s Innovation and Technology partnered with the Fire Department using data and technology to create a real-time fire operations insight and strategy system.
Here’s where California cities ranked overall nationally in their respective population categories:
500,000 or more population
1st Los Angeles
2nd San Diego
2nd San Jose
7th Sacramento
250,000 – 499,999 population
1st Long Beach
7th Riverside
8th Irvine
125,000 – 249,999 population
3rd Modesto
5th Corona
7th Rancho Cucamonga
7th Roseville
75,000 – 124,999 population
1st Carlsbad
10th Santa Monica
Up to 75,000 population
7th Newark
Full coverage can be found in Government Technology*, from this article was excerpted.
*The Center for Digital Government, Government Technology magazine and Industry Insider — California are part of e.Republic.
