The Times Australia
The Times World News

.

The ‘world’s mayor’ – how Michael Bloomberg uses philanthropy to change the way cities are run

  • Written by Tom Baker, Associate Professor in Human Geography, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau

Since the end of his three-term New York City mayoralty in 2013, Michael Bloomberg[1] hasn’t shied away from public attention. Presidential ambitions and global climate policy advocacy have kept him busy.

But what is shaping up to be one of the most ambitious projects of the 82-year-old billionaire’s public life is not happening on the highly visible stages of national and international politics. It is unfolding in the stereotypically humdrum halls of city government.

Through Bloomberg Philanthropies[2] – the vehicle for his personal and corporate giving – he has advanced an array of initiatives for city government leaders. The organisation is now providing funding and technical support to around 700 city governments across 150 countries[3] – including Wellington City Council’s new digital community engagement tools[4].

In the process, Bloomberg has created for himself a historically unique and highly influential quasi-public position.

As a kind of “world’s mayor”, he promotes a burnished version of his self-styled image while New York City mayor: eking out efficiency and effectiveness gains within city government through assiduous managerial control and better use of evidence.

But Bloomberg’s inroads into global local government also raise important questions about the reliability of philanthropy over the long term – and its democratic legitimacy.

A ‘perfect match’?

Bloomberg has described partnerships[5] between philanthropists and government as a “perfect match”. “Philanthropists,” he notes, “have resources that governments need for innovation, and governments have powers that philanthropists need for solving problems.”

City governments are especially short of resources. Most face growing demands but diminishing financial capacity. They often contend with indifferent or actively hostile state and national governments, as well as the slow progress of international agreements.

Without the necessary resources and capabilities, they struggle to address a range of problems felt intensely at the local scale, from unaffordable housing to climate change.

Enter the “government innovation program” from Bloomberg Philanthropies, a pro-bono system of capacity-building initiatives for city governments. It has been growing for over a decade, tentatively at first, and concentrating initially on the United States.

Since 2017, more than 275 mayors and 400 city officials[6], mainly American, have attended year-long intensive training by the Bloomberg-funded City Leadership Initiative at Harvard University. Last year, one-third of American cities were reportedly led[7] by a participant in the program.

But the “Bloomberg world” – as one of several city officials we interviewed described it – has expanded and diversified over time. It is now one of the most influential global players in urban policy dialogue and practice.

Power couple: US President Joe Biden and Michael Bloomberg at the Bloomberg Global Business Forum, September 24, in New York City. Getty Images

Soft power

Bloomberg Philanthropies’ “Mayors Challenge” competition was initially specific to the US, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean.

But in 2021 it began to expand globally, receiving entries from 631 cities in 99 countries[8]. Fifteen winning cities, including Wellington, were each awarded US$1 million (NZ$1.57 million) and substantial technical support.

The organisation has established around 40 “innovation teams” within city governments. And its certification system for data-driven decision making has become something city leaders now strive toward. There are over 60 “certified cities” in the US, with plans to expand abroad[9].

Bloomberg-funded initiatives are now announced with such consistency it would be hard for a city government practitioner to avoid them.

In just one month recently, 20 mayors signed a public declaration of their adherence to data-driven decision making, as part of their induction into the second round of the Bloomberg Philanthropies’ City Data Alliance.

Ten cities won US$1 million each to implement sustainable transport projects; 60 city leaders attended a workshop run by the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative on making “procurement an engine of innovation”; and the tenth Bloomberg CityLab summit was announced for Washington DC.

There have been examples of philanthropic foundations using their financial heft as a form of hard power to push city governments around – Detroit’s post-bankruptcy “Grand Bargain[10]”, for example, or New Orleans’ post-hurricane rebuild[11].

But Bloomberg Philanthropies favours a soft-power model. It gauges and anticipates the needs of city governments, and supports them as they align toward shared goals and methods. They “gently steer”, according to one city government official we interviewed.

Democratic legitimacy

The difference between pushing and steering is evident in Bloomberg Philanthropies’ tendency to avoid advocating for particular policy solutions. Any perception of political interference could dampen cities’ willingness to partner.

Instead, the organisation’s expanding reach and growing indispensability rest on providing know-how: offering access to technical assistance, funding and networks to implement “best process”, informed by better data.

In this sense, its role is one of “meta-governor” – adjudicating, promoting and embedding the practices of good governance.

But while Bloomberg’s philanthropy seems welcomed by city governments, it raises important political issues. Philanthropic funding can be appealing because it comes with fewer strings attached. However, it also comes without democratic accountability. And there are risks in relying on funding streams subject to the whims of billionaires.

As ever, the big question about philanthropy is not whether it is useful to those receiving it, but rather should it even exist? Faced with a forbidding fiscal outlook and mounting policy challenges, it’s a question city governments might not have the luxury of asking.

This article is based on the authors’ forthcoming paper in the International Journal of Urban and Regional Research.

References

  1. ^ Michael Bloomberg (www.mikebloomberg.com)
  2. ^ Bloomberg Philanthropies (www.bloomberg.org)
  3. ^ around 700 city governments across 150 countries (associates.bloomberg.org)
  4. ^ new digital community engagement tools (wellington.govt.nz)
  5. ^ described partnerships (www.bloombergbybloomberg.com)
  6. ^ more than 275 mayors and 400 city officials (time.com)
  7. ^ reportedly led (www.axios.com)
  8. ^ 631 cities in 99 countries (www.bloomberg.org)
  9. ^ plans to expand abroad (www.bloomberg.org)
  10. ^ Grand Bargain (www.rockpa.org)
  11. ^ post-hurricane rebuild (scholarworks.umb.edu)

Read more https://theconversation.com/the-worlds-mayor-how-michael-bloomberg-uses-philanthropy-to-change-the-way-cities-are-run-237538

Times Magazine

What AI Adoption Means for the Future of Workplace Risk Management

Image by freepik As industrial operations become more complex and fast-paced, the risks faced by workers and employers alike continue to grow. Traditional safety models—reliant on manual oversight, reactive investigations, and standardised checklist...

From Beach Bops to Alpine Anthems: Your Sonos Survival Guide for a Long Weekend Escape

Alright, fellow adventurers and relaxation enthusiasts! So, you've packed your bags, charged your devices, and mentally prepared for that glorious King's Birthday long weekend. But hold on, are you really ready? Because a true long weekend warrior kn...

Effective Commercial Pest Control Solutions for a Safer Workplace

Keeping a workplace clean, safe, and free from pests is essential for maintaining productivity, protecting employee health, and upholding a company's reputation. Pests pose health risks, can cause structural damage, and can lead to serious legal an...

The Science Behind Reverse Osmosis and Why It Matters

What is reverse osmosis? Reverse osmosis (RO) is a water purification process that removes contaminants by forcing water through a semi-permeable membrane. This membrane allows only water molecules to pass through while blocking impurities such as...

Foodbank Queensland celebrates local hero for National Volunteer Week

Stephen Carey is a bit bananas.   He splits his time between his insurance broker business, caring for his young family, and volunteering for Foodbank Queensland one day a week. He’s even run the Bridge to Brisbane in a banana suit to raise mon...

Senior of the Year Nominations Open

The Allan Labor Government is encouraging all Victorians to recognise the valuable contributions of older members of our community by nominating them for the 2025 Victorian Senior of the Year Awards.  Minister for Ageing Ingrid Stitt today annou...

The Times Features

How to Know If You’re Actually on Track for a Comfortable Retirement

Image by Drazen Zigic on Freepik It’s the kind of question that sits in the back of your mind, especially as you tick past your 30s or 40s: Am I actually saving enough for retire...

Onsite Caterer vs a Full Service Venue: 9 important things to explore

Choosing between an external catering company and an all-inclusive venue is a major decision that affects cost, flexibility, food quality, and the overall event experience. Venue...

The Hidden Vision Problem Impacting Mid Life Australians Every Day

New research from Specsavers reveals millions of Australians are living with an undiagnosed condition that could be putting their safety at risk. For many Australians aged 35 ...

Meal Prep as Self-Care? The One Small Habit That Could Improve Your Mood, Focus & Confidence

What if the secret to feeling calmer, more focused, and emotionally resilient wasn’t found in a supplement or self-help book — but in your fridge? That’s the surprising link uncov...

From a Girlfriend’s Moisturiser to a Men’s Skincare Movement: How Two Mates Built Two Dudes

In a men’s skincare market that often feels like a choice between hyper-masculinity and poorly disguised women’s products, Two Dudes stands out. It’s not trying to be macho. It’s n...

The Great Fleecing: Time for Aussies to demand more from their banks

By Anhar Khanbhai, Chief Anti-Fleecing Officer, Wise   As Australians escape the winter chill for Europe’s summer or Southeast Asia’s sun, many don’t realise they’re walking strai...