This story isn’t insane. It’s a pretty good explanation of how we got here.
What’s insane is that we’ve built systems with no escape valves. We still lack an experimentalist governance model where someone can say “waive this” or “opt out of that” when compliance starts defeating the public good.
Tesla received billions in government loans, tax credits and subsidies, making Elon Musk the world's richest person. The public? No equity stake, no profit-sharing, no guarantee of affordable access.
My working paper with @rodrikdani has now been published in Industrial and Corporate Change. It explores the conditionalities—profit-sharing, reinvestment requirements, knowledge transfer—that can ensure industrial policy delivers public value, not just private wealth. [LINK IN NEXT POST]
The practice of municipal innovation is maturing – and that evolution is visible in the 24 winners of our 2025 – 2026 Mayors Challenge.
These local governments begin by mapping how residents experience government. They organize around outcomes rather than department silos. They analyze data before prescribing fixes. And more.
From @CityofBoise to @bcn_ajuntament to Beira, our team @BloombergDotOrg is thrilled to back their work – and help it spread. From @GlennGamboa in @AP: https://t.co/El8bJU922i
Terrible News for Congestion Pricing Naysayers: It not only works, even drivers who never enter NYC congestion toll zone see quicker trip times, a new paper finds: https://t.co/jIOrSgdXka
This is an inflection point in our future. We need someone who will fight for our values — and someone who will fix our problems. Join us at https://t.co/zN1cftqpSW
Interesting. One of Mike Bloomberg’s most underrated moves as mayor was a daily 30-minute senior staff huddle (DMs + comms + CoS). Shared situational awareness: crises, priorities, and where teams could reinforce each other. Governing is choreography. https://t.co/1z1ddKSA6e
Vanderbilt University—one of the great research universities in the world—has chosen San Francisco as the home for a full-time academic campus.
Beginning in 2027, Vanderbilt plans to bring students, faculty, and all the energy that comes with academic life into the heart of our city.
If we want San Francisco to lead the future, we must compete for the institutions that shape it.
Today shows what happens when we stay focused, work together, and aim high.
San Francisco is on the rise.
And we’re just getting started.
We’re in a “show me, not a trust me” moment. Local government needs to show the work—and deliver impact residents see and feel. That’s the focus on our mayoral programming, now expanded to Europe. https://t.co/8bio0UZzxm
Hard to take the doomsayers seriously when only ~20% vote in local elections. That’s not a system to defend. We need experimentation. Great to see Anchorage pilot mobile voting — and commit to learning and sharing what they find. https://t.co/Ox7jnOVUFB
Thank you, @POTUS, for your tireless work to end the war in Gaza and bring every Israeli hostage home. A moment to feel proud of America — above politics. https://t.co/LYa7ZzjGZh
The Bloomberg LSE European City Leadership Initiative mayors spent the week with the continent’s fiercest public innovation minds — from @MazzucatoM to @geoffmulgan to @DavidHalpernCBE to our terrific partners at @LSECities and @TheHertieSchool.
Now, they head back to their city halls to put these lessons to work for their residents.
Here's more on the week from The Urbanist: https://t.co/PGbSrciUyp
The measure of a country is not how tightly power is held at the center, but how widely progress is felt at the edges.
That is why the launch of the Bloomberg LSE European City Leadership Initiative matters.
@MetroMayorSteve in @ProSyn: https://t.co/ACqrv8PB9d
Coming to a city hall near you: local government will be where human-centered AI meets the street—and shows what it can do.
Great speaking with @politico’s @StevenOverly on all things @BloombergDotOrg City Data Alliance, mayors, and more: https://t.co/ijg8lMvSWD
A supervisor was recalled for choosing a coastal park for the whole city over a highway for his neighborhood. He lost—but he was right. Cities fail when the conveniences of the few trump the needs of the many. https://t.co/4OY8eDm4cn
We launched GovEx over a decade ago to fill a critical gap: no one was helping municipalities build the internal capacity to use data to improve residents’ lives. Today, GovEx begins an exciting new chapter under new leadership. Take a look!
Our team is thrilled to welcome @ojwise as GovEx's Executive Director.
A leader in shaping and deploying data and AI strategies, Oliver will further our work to help mayors and cities build the next generation of data and AI-driven solutions that improve residents’ lives.
As James Anderson, head of the Government Innovation program at Bloomberg Philanthropies, says: “Local government is the first line and the last mile in solving almost every major challenge that we face today.”