How New Orleans’ smart city programme is doing more with less

There’s been plenty of speculation that the pandemic could see a serious scaling back of “smart city” programmes, with municipal budgets stretched to the limit and debate about whether what tech companies are selling matches local government priorities.

But on the ground in the midst of the global health and economic crisis, many city technology leaders are finding that while their role may be changing, it is usually expanding, and their work has become more urgent and important than ever.

Kim Walker LaGrue, Chief Information Officer, City of New Orleans, told Cities Today that the recent message to her team from Mayor LaToya Cantrell was unequivocal: “The work can’t wait”.

LaGrue s...