MAYOR ERIC GARCETTI
City of Los Angeles
August 20, 2014
CONTACT: Communications Office, 213-978-0741
MAYOR GARCETTI APPOINTS ABHI NEMANI AS CITY’S FIRST CHIEF DATA OFFICER
LOS ANGELES — Mayor Garcetti has appointed Abhi Nemani as Los Angeles’ first Chief Data Officer. As part of Mayor Garcetti’s effort to build a data-driven culture of innovation and excellence in city government, Nemani will work with city departments to collect and analyze data, and will lead the operation of the city’s new open-data portal at https://data.lacity.org/.
Mayor Garcetti said, “I’m pleased that Abhi Nemani is joining my team to manage the collection of data citywide and create tools to use data that will help solve everyday challenges for our residents.”
Los Angeles’ open data initiative began with Mayor Eric Garcetti’s third executive directive issued on December 18th, 2013. The directive states: “To promote transparency and accountability, the City of Los Angeles (“City”) will make publicly available raw data in easy-to-find and accessible formats. Open Data is raw data generated or collected by government agencies made freely available for use by the public, subject only to valid privacy, confidentiality, security, and other legal restrictions.”
Previously, Nemani served as Co-Executive Director of the non-profit Code for America, a technology organization dedicated to reinventing government for the 21st century.
“Data has the power to transform the daily lives of LA residents and visitors. Knowing where your money is going, where a parking space is available, and where an event is taking place puts information into the hands of those who need it most,” said Nemani. “Mayor Garcetti is committed to opening city data for innovators and users everywhere, and I’m thrilled to join his team to help him get there.”
Nemani will join Mayor Garcetti’s Office of Budget and Innovation, headed by Deputy Mayor Rick Cole, and will work closely with Chief Technology Officer Steve Reneker, Chief Innovation Technology Officer Peter Marx, and the Mayor’s Innovation Performance Technology Unit. Nemani will start on September 2.
