Interview Questions for Melissa Schigoda, Director of the Performance and Accountability Office in New Orleans
In the heart of Louisiana, New Orleans is embracing a new era of smarter governance, thanks to the implementation of data-driven municipal programs. Melissa Schigoda, Director of the Office of Performance and Accountability, has been instrumental in this transformation.
After Hurricane Katrina disrupted her senior year at Tulane, Schigoda found her calling in public service. Her journey led her to spearhead or partner on initiatives like ResultsNOLA and ComSTAT, which have revolutionised the city's approach to urban challenges.
One of the most notable impacts of these programs is the smarter, data-guided infrastructure management and flood mitigation. For instance, the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans uses tools like FloodTracker, a platform powered by AI and resident inputs, to manage stormwater infrastructure more effectively. This approach has enabled the identification of flooding hotspots and transparent communication with communities [1].
Data-driven initiatives also guide urban flood mitigation by integrating community input and hydrologic and hydraulic studies. The result is equitable, cost-effective infrastructure solutions tailored to specific neighbourhoods [3][4].
These programs foster stronger civic engagement by leveraging community reports and participation in planning. They also support resilience-building by addressing vulnerabilities more precisely, which is crucial given New Orleans' susceptibility to flooding and other disaster risks [2].
The benefits extend beyond infrastructure. These programs have empowered department heads to speak with numbers, improved department performance, and addressed stickier problems by using targeted analytics projects. The NOLAlytics program, for example, partners with various city departments for analytics projects [5].
For cities starting their journey with data and analytics, it's important to assess current strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges. Schigoda advises cities to be wary of expensive technologies that claim to solve all problems, as their effectiveness depends on the processes and city employees' ability to utilize them [6].
The city's focus on data and analytics has been crucial in responding to the pandemic, particularly in tracking key COVID-19 measures. The What Works Cities criteria can help cities understand where they stand compared to others in various areas [7].
However, challenges remain in getting agencies to pursue new analytics projects. Staff time constraints and data constraints are common hurdles. To build buy-in, Schigoda suggests demonstrating quick wins and showing the positive impact of data projects on residents [8].
In summary, the data-driven approach in New Orleans is contributing to smarter governance through smarter infrastructure management, increased transparency, and targeted, community-informed interventions. These impacts reflect the broader municipal trend of leveraging data to create more responsive, efficient, and equitable urban services.
[1] https://www.nola.gov/flood-info/stormwater/floodtracker/ [2] https://www.nola.gov/resilience/ [3] https://www.nola.gov/resilience/projects/ [4] https://www.nola.gov/resilience/community-engagement/ [5] https://www.nola.gov/nolalyytics/ [6] https://www.nola.gov/performance-accountability/ [7] https://whatworkscities.bloomberg.org/ [8] https://www.nola.gov/performance-accountability/data-culture/
- Melissa Schigoda, the Director of the Office of Performance and Accountability in New Orleans, has been pivotal in transforming the city's governance by implementing data-driven municipal programs.
- The Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans utilizes AI-powered platforms like FloodTracker, a data-and-cloud-computing tool, to optimally manage stormwater infrastructure and mitigate flood risks.
- The data-driven initiatives in New Orleans not only improve infrastructure but also enhance civic engagement and resilience-building by integrating community input and targeted analytics projects.
- Cities embarking on a data and analytics journey are advised to assess their current capabilities, avoid over-reliance on expensive technologies, and demonstrate quick wins to build buy-in from agencies.
