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Boston CIO Discusses Importance of Connectivity in City Services

Jascha Franklin-Hodge says connecting with the city’s tech community is part of his job, as is making sure technology in City Hall is running well and up-to-date.

Boston’s chief information officer was in the Innovation District yesterday, talking about technology and city services with constituents.

“Technology is something that is incredibly important to people,” said Jascha Franklin-Hodge.

“Issues around connectivity, free Wi-Fi, what we’re doing to make sure that we support technology in our schools, these are things that are critically important to people around the city.”

Franklin-Hodge said connecting with the city’s tech community is part of his job, along with making sure technology in City Hall is running well and up-to-date.

“We have a responsibility around how we engage the technology community, making sure that we’re a good partner,” he said. “I don’t think we can think about the role of the CIO as being solely focused on internal technology initiatives. It’s really how do we help make sure that the city stays a leader in technology-driven government and ensuring that the technology that our citizens have access to ... is just top notch.”

Franklin-Hodge was in the Innovation District with the City Hall To Go truck — which offers basic services such as birth certificates and dog licenses — as part of the city’s “Chief Chats.”

“City Hall to Go allows Boston residents to utilize various city services in their own neighborhoods and our Chief Chats are an opportunity for residents to take this a step further, and directly engage with leaders in the Walsh Administration,” said spokeswoman Gabrielle Farrell.

Other chief chats have included Chief of Staff Daniel Koh and Sheila Dillon, head of the Department of Neighborhood Development.

©2014 the Boston Herald