New York City, London Announce "Innovation Exchange" Program

New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg met with London's newly-elected Mayor Boris Johnson at London's City Hall today to share ideas and strategies on how to run two of the world's largest cities and announce a new exchange program between the cities to share best practices in government innovation. In addition to welcoming any officials from London who wish to meet with their counterparts in New York City, New York officials will travel to London as part of Innovation Exchange to help Mayor Johnson and his administration design and implement initiatives drawn from New York.

"New York and London have a special relationship as two of the world's greatest cities: we not only compete with one another, we learn from each other. No matter where in the world you're mayor, the goals are always the same: clean streets; strong schools; thriving businesses; and, most important, safe neighborhoods. In New York, we've worked extremely hard in each of these areas, and now our citizens are living longer and healthier lives, our schools are turning around, crime has fallen to historic lows, and tourists continue to visit in record numbers. Mayor Johnson and I had a productive discussion about these and other issues this morning, and I look forward to working with him on the challenges we share," New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg said.

"Mayor Bloomberg has shown inspirational leadership and I am delighted we are establishing this new era of co-operation. I have been particularly impressed by Mayor Bloomberg's achievements in expanding educational opportunities, providing more accountable government and delivering taxpayer value. I am looking forward to working closely in the future," London Mayor Boris Johnson said.

The Innovation Exchange program will focus on designing practical and effective policies, overcoming implementation challenges, and evaluating program success in making government more transparent, accountable, accessible and efficient, with an emphasis on public safety and emergency management. As part of the exchange, New York City officials will share insights on core mayoral principles and best practices including:

Transparency and Accountability

Mayor Bloomberg has sought to make the workings of government transparent to all citizens and ensure that city agencies are accountable for their performance and for producing results. For example, each year, the Mayor's Management Report (MMR) serves as a public report card about the way City services affect the lives of city residents. In February 2008, the Mayor unveiled the Citywide Performance Reporting (CPR) system as a supplement to the MMR, which makes 300 of the MMR's indicators available to the public online, along with an additional 200 indicators, updated monthly.

Accessibility

Mayor Bloomberg has worked to expand access to City services through technology initiatives and other strategies. For example, in 2003, Mayor Bloomberg created the 311 Customer Service Center, a unique model for access to government information, social services, and referrals. All calls are answered by a live operator, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with the public able to receive quick and easy access to all New York City services.

Efficiency

Mayor Bloomberg has sought to enhance project management and strategic planning, making City agencies more efficient and responsive to citizen concerns:

In 2006, the Mayor's Office of Operations was overhauled, with a new Agency Services group created to assist agencies in improving service quality and delivery. In particular, the group helps to manage multi-agency projects and offer solutions to interdisciplinary problems.

Public Safety/Emergency Management

Mayor Bloomberg has made it a key priority to improve the quality of life and safety as well as enhance the City's ability to plan for, and respond to, emergency situations. For example, New