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Q&A
Commissioner Bozorg and panelists discuss past instances of improved contract timeliness
0:49:52
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109 sec
Commissioner Leila Bozorg asks if there were times when contract timeliness improved and what contributed to those periods. Frederick Shack (Urban Pathways) notes improvements occurred when there was focused administrative commitment and collaboration between nonprofits and agencies, including transparency around performance. Michelle Jackson (HSC) adds that the current administration cleared a significant backlog early on, demonstrating feasibility, and points to the Administration for Children's Services (ACS) as an agency with a historically better track record.
- Improvement requires sustained focus and commitment from city administration.
- Collaboration and transparency regarding agency performance data are key elements.
- The current administration cleared a $6 billion backlog, showing progress is possible.
- Some agencies, like ACS, have demonstrated better performance historically.
Leila Bozorg
0:49:52
Okay.
0:49:52
Oh, there we go.
0:49:53
Thank you.
0:49:54
Sorry.
0:49:55
Thanks for the work you all do.
0:49:57
I'm curious if in the time you all have been doing this, have there been any periods where you have seen conditions improve or timeliness improve over time timely payments actually happen?
0:50:10
And if so, what were some of the kind of elements to those moments of bliss or when when it was going right?
0:50:18
Right?
Frederick Shack
0:50:23
Don't think it was pointless.
0:50:25
But, you know, I I think that when there's real focus and real commitment on the part of the administration, When there's real collaboration between the nonprofit sector and leadership within the agency, then things can begin.
0:50:39
There were periods of time where there was more transparency so that we were able to sit down, take a look at where the issues were, and really sort of both our energies on trying to business.
0:50:49
And when that was happening, we we saw the needle begin to that organizations, different agencies understood how they were performing against decisions expectations, but information is available to the top line sector, and there was a real focus.
0:51:03
Right?
0:51:04
That's what they're
Joshua Cajas
0:51:07
I'll just
Michelle Jackson
0:51:07
add really quickly that this administration, mayor Adams actually cleared a backlog of $6,000,000,000 that he inherited within the first six months, six ish months of administration.
0:51:18
And so we know that it can be done.
0:51:20
Like, that's a huge amount of volume of contracts we have to register.
0:51:23
So I would just know we have that moment.
0:51:25
I would also say to the question of, you know, there are city agencies who do this better.
0:51:30
The administration of children services certainly has a better track record even now across administrations and now of registering things.
0:51:37
So I would point to that, I think, as another just there are some bright spots.