City Mayor Lobbies Citizens On 311
posted by on October 10 at 14:09 PM
Mayor Greg Nickels is once againcampaigning for one of his pet initiatives on the public dime. Two years ago, Nickels got busted for producing and distributing an eight-page color document touting his achievements during an election year; last year, his department of transportation produced a glossy color flier promoting his $4 billion-plus waterfront tunnel (rejected by voters in a subsequent election.)
Well, he’s at it again. This time, he’s using a city e-mail list to urge citizens to lobby the council on behalf of his $9 million automated “311” system. In a letter that went out to everyone on the Customer Service Bureau’s e-mail list, bureau head Darcy DuComb says Nickels is “working to make it easier to access city services” by creating “a one-stop shop for all the services City government provides.” The system, DuComb’s letter continues, “is much more than a new call center and telephone number [something some council members dispute]. It is a fundamental attitude change making local government more open, accountable, inclusive and responsive to everyone.” The letter then urges recipients to take “action” by “shar[ing] your thoughts about this with the City Council at its upcoming public hearing on the proposed budget. … Testify in person or call or e-mail all Council members.” Information on the public hearing and council members’ contact information follows.
City ethics law prohibits campaigning on city time or with city funding but does not prohibit lobbying on city time; therefore, ethics director Wayne Barnett says, “I don’t think [the letter] violates ethics law.” Nick Licata’s lobbying legislation, which would require people who lobby the city to register as lobbyists (much as state law does), however, would be an vehicle for such a restriction.
Council members are skeptical that the costly ($9 million) system will do much to fix the city’s notoriously slow response times, and several say there are more important priorities, such as libraries, parks, and public safety.
I don't support Nickels, but 311 works pretty well in NYC.
Wow. Doesn't Seattle have a 311 system in place? Or is this initiative an improvement on the system you already have?
ECB - as transportation reporter how about going after the $400,000 RTID/ST2 agency spent on their PR mailing. Go after the millions ST has spent on PR. Go after the funding of TCC and Futurewise etc. Really, so someone wrote a letter...
Politician tries to drum up support for a proposal - yawn.
I agree with @3. Bigger fish to fry.
Well *someone* has to kick the collective butts of the Do-Nothing City Council of this city to *do* anything. I mean, seriously. Nickels should be kicking their butts more than he does. Because all we've got are Do-Nothing Della, Do-Nothing McIver, and Do-Nothing Godden (well, she may have done one or two things but doesn't think that grand initiatives should come from the council), and Whiny Pants Licata (who has been complaining in the media that the mean old mayor has been hogging power).
Sometimes I wish we'd just abolish the council all together. Save money on digs, salaries, and speed things up. Darth Nickels can crown himself Emperor and run Yoda out of town; that would be an improvement.
Besides, we don't have a Yoda anyway. Seattle needs a Yoda.
Erica,
Does Nick dictate your slog items or does he type them for you?
@6 - GWB reminds me of Yoda. "Putting food on top of our children, yeees?" "Is our children learning, hmmmm?"
Same beady eyes. Same puppet like character. Same lack of humanity.
Personally, I think the idea of a one stop shopping dispatch and analytics center (ie, 311) is a good idea. As previous commenters have noted, it's working great in New York.
But then again, the anti-RTID folks dig the idea of lesser Seattle, so I can see why they're against it.
This is an outrage. Is there a handy phone number at City Hall that can direct my complaint?
No, anti-RTID people aren't Lesser Seattle. They just don't see why we should be building pollution-creating roads that we'll within 3 years have to pay even more money to get rid of the emissions from.
I think you mean anti-ST people. They hate America. People like the anti-RTID/ST2 are in different groups - some are pro-America (anti-RTID) and some are anti-America (anti-ST).
I.Am.SHOCKED!!! The Mayor proposes a program to deliver better services and has the TEMERITY to ask them to support it at council. THE HORROR!!!! Why would we want Licata to ban this? Why would we want a Mayor not to care? Why read the Stranger if this is the crap they are chasing???
Erica - please reroute your tiny brain to something that matters. For fuck's sake, 311 is a good idea, and only a self-promoting fucktard like yourself would argue against good ideas.
Do you ride thru stop signs on your bicycle as well? I hope so, as I've got a jousting pole ready to ram up your ass when you do.
I am not clear how this is "campaigning" on city time. Is there going to be a vote on this? Actually, there probably will be, given the council's inability to decide anything on their own. Plus now it looks like they will be playing a man down without the chair of the budget committee for a while...
wait, what does this have to do with rtid/st2?
wait, i posted that last one as a joke, but since hearts have been broken...
vote yes. yoda would totally be with me on this one.
Support the 311 idea completely
Takes the press off the 911 staff who field thousands of non emergency calls
Easy link to the city folks supposed to do for the people
Cheap compared to all the perks the city payroll elites give them selves
The mayor is right on, the council is a bunch of grumps mired in their collective lack of wit
Run from a call center in India - good business, and love the accents
I've known Darby DuComb for years, she is brilliant and the right person to help the city become more responsive to its citizens. Support this program as it works great in New York and Chicago.
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