July 16 2012 was the first deadline for cities to sign up for Bloomberg Philanthropies Mayor challenge. The idea of this challenge is to help cities create new innovated ideas on how to save their cities. As many know, cities and the people living in them are taking a toll with the economy the way it is. This challenge opens a possibility of relief and hope for cities that are struggling. Though the first thing I wondered when I first saw the challenge, was 'why should a city spend time and resources working on a challenge when it clearly has other things it has to do. Then I saw the grand prize of 5,000,000. Don't get me wrong, this challenge is a great idea and a great way for cities to find creative ideas to save themselves and possibly others. though is it really necessary to pay the city to do what it was suppose to be doing in the first place?
I can't help but wonder how many cities are doing this just for the grand prize and not to find a new innovated idea. On the other hand something that newspapers talked a lot about though is that the prize creates competition, and nothing gets people going better than a competition. The other upside of the reward is that it is only for the cities and not the people who came up with the idea, so it's not as though they win 5,000,000 if they have the best idea. It is puzzling though, where the money is coming from, but I suppose during times like this, no one really cares.
All in all this is actually a really good idea. It is very rare for a challenge like this to appear, and in this great time of need as well. From 2007-2011city revenues decreased by 39 billion. This challenge gives cities the opportunity they need to help dig themselves out of their hole. If this idea is worth even half of the total prize money, it could not only help, but possibly save hundreds of cities. Image that just one innovated idea and save hundreds of cities and thousands of people. If you want to learn more about the challenge the link is bellow
http://mayorschallenge.bloomberg.org/
Hi Dan Great job writing this! I agree with a lot of your points you made, for example "and nothing gets people going better than a competition." I defintely agree there should be a bunch of great ideas, consirding that there is a grand prize of 5,000,000! The other interesting point that you brought up was "where the money is coming from"
ReplyDeleteI was thinking the same thing after I finished reading this article. Does it come from the government? maybe Mayor bloomberg because I belive he is a multi billionaire!
" From 2007-2011 city revenues decreased by 39 billion." Interesting stat! This is a great idea to get the economy moving upwards in America!