Almis Udrys Discusses AI and Civic Innovation for Local Government
On September 23, 2024, the Davenport Institute welcomed Almis Udrys to Pepperdine’s School of Public Policy (SPP) in a Davenport Discussion event, which was co-hosted by the Office of Student Services and the International City/County Managers Association (ICMA) student chapter. The event was well attended with more than 40 current students and staff of SPP in attendance.
Udrys began by speaking of his experience as an immigrant to the United States and having to deal with the dichotomy of being excited and grateful to have been allowed to come, while also going through the very real experience of prejudice and hate that was directed towards him and his family by some of his neighbors. This did not deter him from appreciating the freedom that he was now experiencing, however, as he grew up under Soviet oppression in Lithuania. His experiences eventually led him to SPP and then onto the State Legislatures office where he gained extensive knowledge in how to review and analyze policies, as well as write reviews on their benefits and drawbacks. Udrys worked for the City of San Diego before moving to the private sector and assisting local governments with data collection and improving efficiency with the company OpenGov.
He specializes in the intersection of technology and governance, with a focus on how AI is transforming local government’s ability to respond to the needs of its residents. In the Q&A portion of his talk, Udrys highlighted a project designed to streamline the city's response to infrastructure issues, such as potholes or burned-out streetlights. Traditionally, the city relied on residents' phone calls or reports from municipal workers to identify these problems. However, with the launch of a new app available to all residents, the process has become significantly more efficient. Now, issues can be flagged and addressed faster than ever before. These advancements not only enhance city operations but also ensure that residents' concerns are heard and resolved in a timely manner, ultimately making urban governance more responsive and effective.
The Davenport Institute, Office of Student Services, and the ICMA student chapter all appreciated the time and effort Udrys gave in addressing the students and giving them career advice and insights into what it looks like being a local government professional.