How open data helps cities be more accountable

On this week’s episode of the Priorities Podcast, Los Angeles City Controller Ron Galperin talks to StateScoop’s Ryan Johnston about how his office uses data — and open data — to make the city more accountable.

Galperin, who is now running to be California’s state controller, warned city leaders this week to be cautious about the way they’re spending pandemic relief dollars this year. The controller said the programs the relief funding helped “could be in trouble” because of a future budget shortfall after the funding expires. Galperin’s office released a data visualization dashboard alongside the warning for leaders.

In the news this week:

The Justice Department will appoint a chief prosecutor to target fraudulent activity against the U.S. government’s pandemic relief programs.

A report from New York University’s Brennan Center for Justice says 23 states are using voting equipment that’s more than a decade old and no longer manufactured.

City CIOs across the country are taking on new responsibilities and new titles.

Also new this week from Scoop News Group: the Cutting EDge podcast, which explores the trending topics and news across the higher education technology landscape. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

StateScoop’s Priorities Podcast is available every Thursday. Listen more here.

If you want to hear more of the latest across the state and local government technology community, subscribe to the Priorities Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Soundcloud, Spotify and Stitcher.