The City and Social Media

Well, it all started in a column written by Kevin Leininger in Saturday’s News Sentinel.  He dropped the “bombshell” that the city had spent $72,000 on a contract on a consultant to work with the city on how to best use social media.  Local bloggers then picked up the ball and ran with it.  Fort Wayne Politics covered the story, as did Angry White Boy.

The problem is none of these sources really understood what the true purpose of the contract was.  This is NOT about teaching employees how to set up a facebook page.  It is about developing and implementing a long term strategy to make it easier for residents to get information from, and to, the city.

Today’s JG has a great editorial about the issue- they did their homework BEFORE writing about it:

The Chicago consultant wasn’t hired to spruce up the city’s Web page or make its Facebook profile more appealing, as opponents assumed when hearing about the contract. The city hired Carolyn Grisko & Associates to help analyze how the city can use social media to better interact with residents.

That can mean better informing residents, but it means much more, too. The greatest potential lies in giving residents more opportunities to give the city direct information. This comes as the city – largely at the direction of Deputy Mayor Beth Malloy – is also striving to make better use of the 311 city information center, using complaints and reports of problems to not only speed response but anticipate future problems.

Yes, the mayor’s city council opponents are criticizing the contract – some of the same council members who attempted to short-circuit the 311 efforts by capriciously eliminating a 311 administrative position.

Let’s not be fooled by anything here.  The concern and criticism from some council members have very little to do with the contract- the GOP is already trying to find a way to win the Mayor’s office next year (after 3 straight losses)- and have been trying to find an achilles tendon on which to run against Mayor Henry.   The opposition is about politics, not about policy. 

As the JG Editorial says:

At the same time, the Henry administration has demonstrated fiscal responsibility and good planning at a time when many Indiana local governments went to crisis mode. Council members have suggested city officials cut more spending but have agreed on precious few cutbacks.

Good-government advocates have long called out for the city and county to better use technology. In an era when citizens feel more disconnected than ever from their elected officials, seeking ways to better serve residents by using technology should be commended.

Indeed!