Boston, MA "Smart City" Documentation (New Urban Mechanics)

Hi there,

Thanks for reaching out. We are working to compile the related records and
you can expect to receive them by end of the day Tuesday, January 12, if
not sooner.

Best,
Nayeli

On Mon, Jan 4, 2021 at 5:00 AM <requests@muckrock.com>
wrote:

>
> New Urban Mechanics
> PRL Office
> 1 CITY HALL SQUARE 5TH FLOOR
> BOSTON, MA 02201
>
> January 4, 2021
>
> This is a follow up to a previous request:
>
> To Whom It May Concern:
>
> I wanted to follow up on the following Massachusetts Public Records Law
> request, copied below, and originally submitted on Dec. 17, 2020. Please
> let me know when I can expect to receive a response.
>
> Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
>
> Filed via MuckRock.com
> E-mail (Preferred): requests@muckrock.com
> Upload documents directly:
> https://www.muckrock.com/
> Is this email coming to the wrong contact? Something else wrong? Use the
> above link to let us know.
>
> For mailed responses, please address (see note):
> MuckRock News
> DEPT MR 106061
> 411A Highland Ave
> Somerville, MA 02144-2516
>
> PLEASE NOTE: This request is not filed by a MuckRock staff member, but is
> being sent through MuckRock by the above in order to better track, share,
> and manage public records requests. Also note that improperly addressed
> (i.e., with the requester's name rather than "MuckRock News" and the
> department number) requests might be returned as undeliverable.
>
> ---
>
> On Dec. 17, 2020:
> Subject: Massachusetts Public Records Law Request: Boston, MA "Smart City"
> Documentation (New Urban Mechanics)
>
> To Whom It May Concern:
>
> Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, I hereby request the
> following records:
>
> This request for contract documents related to all smart city technology
> purchased or in operation by this agency for the period from 1/1/2015 -
> present.
>
> These smart city technologies include any contract document that contains:
> - The terms “smart city.”
> - Internet of Things (IoT) technologies (such as connected sensors,
> lights, and meters that collect data).
> - Mobility data collection (such as “intelligent transportation system" or
> rideshare or cell-phone location data agreements).
> - Video technologies (such as “closed-circuit television,” traffic,
> security, or streetlight cameras).
>
> Specifically, I am requesting contract documents to which this agency and
> any smart city technology vendor are parties. These materials include:
> - Any lists of related contracts.
> - Any contracts, including any pilot, proof-of-concept, and public-private
> partnership agreements.
> - Any data purchase, licensing, or exchange agreements.
> - Any privacy policies or terms of use/service.
> - Any vendor distribution lists for related requests for proposals.
>
> If another office would be a more appropriate destination for this
> request, I would be happy to forward this request according to your
> direction. If additional agencies or jurisdictions would also have
> responsive or associated materials, the provision of the names of those
> entities would also be appreciated.
>
> These records will be used to inform research on “smart city system” best
> practices as part of Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center for Science and
> International Affairs’ Technology and Public Purpose (TAPP) Project that
> culminates in May 2020. To accommodate this deadline and inclusion in
> analysis please expedite this request so that it is filled by February
> 2020. Because of our not-for-profit status and the fact that this request
> is about a matter in the public interest, I request a fee waiver. If you
> have any questions or would like to discuss narrowing the request, please
> contact me directly at rebeccawilliams@hks.harvard.edu or ‪(857) 400-0323.
>
> I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this
> request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by the
> recommendations of the Massachusetts Supervisor of Public Records. The
> requested documents will be made available to the general public free of
> charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed
> by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of
> news gathering and not for commercial usage.
>
> I expect the request to be filled in an accessible format, including for
> screen readers, which provide text-to-speech for persons unable to read
> print. Files that are not accessible to screen readers include, for
> example, .pdf image files as well as physical documents.
>
> In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform
> me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer
> the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or
> CD-ROM if not.
>
> Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I
> look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 business
> days, as the statute requires.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Rebecca Williams
>
> Filed via MuckRock.com
> E-mail (Preferred): requests@muckrock.com
> Upload documents directly:
> https://www.muckrock.com/
> Is this email coming to the wrong contact? Something else wrong? Use the
> above link to let us know.
>
> For mailed responses, please address (see note):
> MuckRock News
> DEPT MR 106061
> 411A Highland Ave
> Somerville, MA 02144-2516
>
> PLEASE NOTE: This request is not filed by a MuckRock staff member, but is
> being sent through MuckRock by the above in order to better track, share,
> and manage public records requests. Also note that improperly addressed
> (i.e., with the requester's name rather than "MuckRock News" and the
> department number) requests might be returned as undeliverable.
>
>

--
*Nayeli Rodriguez*
Technologist for the Public Realm
Mayor's Office of New Urban Mechanics
<https://www.boston.gov/departments/new-urban-mechanics>, City of Boston

Good Morning:

A response to this request was sent to the individual's personal email
address. A copy of that response is enclosed with this email. Please make
a note for your records.

Yours truly,

Shawn A. Williams, Esq.

Director of Public Records
<http://www.boston.gov/departments/public-records>

Records Access Officer

City of Boston

One City Hall Square

Boston, MA 02201

publicrecords@boston.gov

Good Morning:

A response was previously provided. Please close out this request.

Yours truly,

Shawn A. Williams, Esq.

Director of Public Records
<http://www.boston.gov/departments/public-records>

Records Access Officer

City of Boston

One City Hall Square

Boston, MA 02201

publicrecords@boston.gov

Sorry about that Shawn! I got it. Will work to close it out.

—
Rebecca Williams
Fellow, Technology & Public Purpose Project
Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
Harvard Kennedy School
+1-413-387-8268

No worries, thank you for your email.

Yours truly,

Shawn A. Williams, Esq.

Director of Public Records
<http://www.boston.gov/departments/public-records>

Records Access Officer

City of Boston

One City Hall Square

Boston, MA 02201

publicrecords@boston.gov