James Anderson

Lead for Bloomberg Philanthropies' global public sector innovation programs | dad of twins | swimmer | Brooklyn | 🏳️‍🌈

[James Anderson @JamesAnderson]

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.

[Alec Stapp @AlecStapp]

Insane story from NYC:

[Mariana Mazzucato @MazzucatoM]

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]

[UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose @IIPP_UCL]

✍️ How Do Cities Adapt to Tackle Grand Challenges?

Catch up on our 2025 @IIPP_UCL #RethinkingTheState Forum panel with @cityofsound in conversation with @MazzucatoM, @JamesAnderson, @RPuttick & Bridgette Morris.

📷 Read our recap & watch the recording: https://t.co/alyWGHH3ZW

[James Anderson @JamesAnderson]

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

[Michael Powell @powellAtlantic]

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

[James Anderson @JamesAnderson]

The latest graduate of our mayoral leadership programs to throw his hat in the ring for higher office.

[Mayor Matt Mahan @MattMahanSJ]

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

[James Anderson @JamesAnderson]

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

[Daniel Lurie 丹尼爾·羅偉 @DanielLurie]

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.

[James Anderson @JamesAnderson]

@KGforNYC @PANYNJ Great news, Kathryn.

[James Anderson @JamesAnderson]

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

[James Anderson @JamesAnderson]

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

[James Anderson @JamesAnderson]

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

[James Anderson @JamesAnderson]

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

[James Anderson @JamesAnderson]

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

[James Anderson @JamesAnderson]

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

[James Anderson @JamesAnderson]

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

[James Anderson @JamesAnderson]

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!

[Bloomberg Center for Government Excellence @govex_jhu]

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.

[Strong Towns @StrongTowns]

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.”