TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND FROM: Mayor Matt Mahan
CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT: REQUEST TO TRA VEL
FOR MAYOR’S STAFF DATE: 10/28/2024
Approved Date 10/28/2024
Recommendation: Authorize travel, accept travel payments to the City of San Jose, and designate Mayor’s Staff, Stephen Caines, as the City representative to attend the Project on Municipal Innovation Fall 2024 Convening in Cambridge, MA from November 7th to 9th, 2024.
Location: Cambridge, MA
Meeting Dates: November 7-9, 2024
Source of Funds: Harvard University through the Kresge Foundation (Travel and Lodging) Purpose: The Project on Municipal Innovation is led by Harvard Kennedy School professor Stephen Goldsmith and consists of the chiefs of staff of the 35 largest cities across the United States. This conference is dedicated to bringing together mayors, city innovators, urban experts, and academics to uncover best practices and novel solutions to pressing issues. Bloomberg has long been a pillar in the civic innovation community and supports the community through grantmaking, publicity, and media creation. Bloomberg Center for Cities has historically invited the Mayor and Chief Innovation Officer from San Jose to their programming.
Stephen Caines is the Chief Innovation Officer and Budget Director for the Mayor’s Office. He is a lawyer and published expert on the ethics and regulation of Surveillance AI. He will speak with other civic technology leaders, elected officials, and public servants throughout the conference. He will advance the development of San Jose’s AI ecosystem by continuing to build public-private partnerships. Stephen will also participate in a workshop focused on creating “fairness of place,” where the economic, social, and racial circumstances of someone’s birth don’t serve as a barrier to or predictor of their future economic success. San Jose benefits from attending such conferences as it unlocks opportunities for fundraising, partnerships, and establishing best practices.
COUNCIL AGENDA: 11/5/2024
FILE: 24-2166
ITEM: 2.9