Basing our analysis of key Bloomberg-era policy processes on
the models proposed by Kingdon and the IOTF enabled observation
of two crucial differences. Firstly, the involvement of the political
stream was kept to a minimum due to the administration’s decision
to keep decision-making largely within the domain of experts. At
the same time, political will played an important role in initiating
and sustaining policy development. Kingdon’s model does not fore
foresee
the development of innovative policies from theoretical
research evidence nor does it take into account the need to first
build capabilities for such policy development to occur. Conceptualizing
policy-entrepreneurs as figures that pop up occasionally
only to link pre-existing elements does not capture the strategic
approach taken by Bloomberg and lower-level policy entrepreneurs
in changing administrative structures to sustain agenda change.
Secondly, the expert decision-making routes favored by the Bloomberg
administration presented the challenge of balancing institutional
secrecy, maintained to protect policy development, with
the need to build community and legislative support. The executive
branch clearly underestimated the importance of the latter two elements.
As a result, the loss of the soda lawsuit, partially attributed
to legislative and public opposition, is now considered a possible
inhibitor for future regulatory innovation. Nevertheless, there is
also anecdotal evidence that this and other widely discussed measures
changed public and policy-maker perceptions.