Portland joins Bloomberg’s public data initiative – "What Works Cities"

Portland began targeting "zombie homes" last spring, seeking to foreclose on abandoned and neglected properties that had become a blight in their neighborhoods. The city didn’t know, though, how many of these derelicts there were.

The city had the information to figure it out, according to Mayor Charlie Hales: One bureau had been collecting data on neighborhood complaints. Another had data on liens. But there was no way to put them together.

Portland has been working to change that for several years, and now will have an important partner in that effort. The city has signed on to a national project designed to make government data more available to the public, and to help government offices use that information more effectively.

The initiative is called What Works Cities https://whatworkscities.bloomberg.org/ . It’s run by Bloomberg Philanthropies, through which former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg directs his charitable giving.

By Mike Rogoway | The Oregonian/OregonLive

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