Boston, MA - Boston Business Journal's bizjournals.com:
Tech Hub Talk
December 22, 2006 12:00 AM
Boston Mayor Thomas Menino recently sat down with Mass High Tech editor Douglas Banks and reporter Catherine Williams to discuss the city's technology infrastructure and the innovation horizon for New England's capital city. From the controversial Biosafety Lab in the South End to the citywide wi-fi project, the four-term mayor weighs in on Boston's biggest technology challenges.
MHT: New England is one of the leading technology regions, and Boston is the flagship city of New England. Does that put an extra burden of responsibility on Boston to foster innovation?
MENINO: As the capital city, we have to be leading the way when it comes to technology. For a while we were not leading the way -- but I think with our new chief information officer, Bill Oates, we're starting to play catch-up. We're leading the wi-fi piece that some people said we would never get. Last winter we used GPS technology in the snowplow trucks and were able to get more efficient delivery of the equipment to neighborhoods. Also we're going to put in a CRM system so we have more response when people call our 24-hour service. Governments are about helping the people. Technology can help people get information...