About three months after the launch of Los Angeles’ open data site, Mayor Eric Garcetti has announced the appointment of LA’s first chief of data officer. Garcetti has selected Abhi Nemani, who previously worked for the nonprofit Code for America—to be the first person to hold the position in LA.
Nemai’s work with Code for America related to developing and utilizing technology to help governments solve civic issues. “Data has the power to transform the daily lives of L.A. 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 in a statement provided by the Mayor’s office.
The mayor said the city will be focusing on data-driven innovation and policies in the coming years. The recently launched open data site, DataLA, focuses on reporting crime statistics, employment figures and city vendor information, all in an accessible and easy-to-navigate way.
Nemani will be working with the city’s Office of Budget and Innovation, where he will work with other top city officials such as Deputy Mayor Rick Cole and Chief Technology Officer Steve Reneker.
Nemani will begin the position on September 2nd.
Read more about the appointment here.