The SeeClickFix team proudly announces its inaugural SeeClickFix Venture Capitalist Battle Royale! Starting today and ending June 24th, Omidyar Network and OATV will be going head-to-head to see which organization can report the most issues in just two weeks---while simultaneously improving their communities. Who doesn't love some good ol' fashioned competition?

The two organizations must work as teams to fight blight through SeeClickFix's various reporting channels. Luckily, we've set up two team accounts, TeamOmidyar and TeamOATV, through which everyone can report their concerns or suggestions.  At the end of each week, we will track the progress and post the stats on this blog, Facebook page, and @SeeClickFix.

Both teams should keep in mind two things. When reporting issues, team members should include their full initials (first, middle, and last) at the bottom of their issue description. We will be using this information to identify a weekly team MVP. Similarly, points will not be rewarded for duplicate issues, so be sure everyone keeps track of what their fellow teammates are reporting.

To follow the action, check out their SeeClickFix profiles: TeamOATV and TeamOmidyar. We'll be periodically updating our social media channels with competition news during the two weeks, so stay tuned. Let the games begin!

A big congrats to SeeClickFix client La Plata County, CO for accomplishing their goal of becoming our Top Performing City! With a City Score of 111, La Plata County is now on top of our leader boards for their superstar response to citizens using SeeClickFix.

Since signing on with SeeClickFix in April, our partnership with La Plata County has allowed residents to report country road maintenance, damage, or other minor issues directly to the La Plata County Department of Public Works. Upon learning of their Top Performing City status, La Plata County spread the good news to the community in a press release on their website. In addition to some much earned bragging, Director of La Plata County Public Works Jim Davis also explained in their release the importance of our tool for the public. 

See click fix is another communication tool that the public can use to alert the County Public Works Department of public safety or maintenance issues impacting our county roads. Most comments have been relevant and about issues that we can address.

Want to know out how your city stacks up against La Plata County? Check out the SeeClickFix Top Performing Cities rankings by clicking here. If you think your city has what it takes to dethrone our new champ, let them know you think they have what it takes to become a SeeClickFix Top Performer! Report an issue, share it with your neighbors and friends, and be sure you sign up your local government to receive alerts about community concerns!
 

We know at first glance Issue #94891- Manholes sticking out of the road, is no laughing matter. However, SeeClickFix government client Raleigh, NC gave us a pretty good laugh while delivering a timely response to the citizen reporter. The issue description read:

When heading Eastbound on Morgan, if you are in the middle lane and traveling through Person St there are two manholes side by side protruding from the ground.It will give you a pretty good jolt as I have accidentally hit send many times on my Blackberry while texting through that intersection.

While SeeClickFix users were quick to point out the issue with this issue, the City of Raleigh officially (and hilariously) acknowledged both.


Shortly after the issue was acknowledged, the issue was closed out along with another friendly reminder to Raleigh residents (and everyone, really!).

Thank you to the City of Raleigh for demonstrating how governmental transparency helps promote both civic engagement and a good sense of humor!

Spoiler alert: the suggestions offered in the article discussed below are not only valuable and awesome, but also are being voiced by citizens on SeeClickFix each day!

According to the U.S. Census, the population of people 65 or older in America is expected to double by the year 2030. Worldwide, it is estimated that the global population of people over 60 will double by 2050. As the population of senior citizens continues to grow, the number of people living in urban areas does as well. What does this simultaneous surge in population mean for the aging? How will urban planners and local officials with limited resources ensure cities are accessible to everyone? A recent article in Governing titled Seniors and the City explores what is being done to make cities more age-friendly. 

...there are steps cities can take to make a place more attractive to the elderly without costing an arm and a leg. Take crosswalks. By adding more time, cities can turn what seem like fast dashes for some into less stressful pedestrian crossings. If lengthening crosswalk time might trip up traffic patterns, the use of pedestrian islands at major intersections could be another solution to this small but nagging problem.

The article illustrates how small, inexpensive changes in urban environments can make a positive impact on our aging population.  A few extra seconds on a crosswalk signal or additional handicap parking spaces are examples of the types of minor tweaks that can create a major improvement in quality of life for older residents. Furthermore, creating more accommodating urban public spaces that are inviting to all citizens benefits everyone who calls a city "home", regardless of age!

Here at SeeClickFix, the idea of using our platform to benefit our elders isn't a new idea. With help from citizens of all ages, cities and towns can use our technology to promote an inclusive, age-friendly urban environment. As the saying goes, we're not getting any younger. We all must take an active role in making our cities accessible to everyone, not only to benefit our elders but for our own benefit as well. How would you improve your community to benefit an aging population? Know of a scary sidewalk or a bus stop that needs more benches? Tell us! Report an issue on SeeClickFix and share it with us here, on Facebook, or on Twitter @seeclickfix.

(June 7, 2011) – Today, Mayor Pedro E. Segarra announced a new partnership to increase and expand how Hartford residents can request city services and report non-emergency problems. Powered by SeeClickFix, the place-based reporting platform allows residents to document neighborhood concerns and improvements alike, ranging from potholes and graffiti to tree requests and speeding.

“This new partnership will engage and empower all of our residents to actively participate in improving the quality of life in our neighborhoods,” said Mayor Segarra. “With its online tool and mobile apps, SeeClickFix places the power directly in the hands of the people who live, work, and visit our City.”

Last month, City Council Minority Leader Luis Cotto invited city residents to start reporting quality of life issues via SeeClickFix.com and its mobile apps.

“311 is great for internal routing of work orders and intra-governmental accountability, but its user interface is somewhat opaque to residents,” Cotto said. “By using SeeClickFix, residents can see what others have identified as problems and interact to help solve quality of life and infrastructure problems in their neighborhoods.”

With the online reporting platform, residents and visitors alike can report quality-of-life concerns through custom service request categories via SeeClickFix.com, Facebook, or mobile application, and provide additional information about the problem through the in-depth description or image options. Once someone submits an issue, the reporter and Hartford 311 Call Center will receive email notifications. Hartford 311 will then acknowledge the service request, route it to the proper department, and update the issue page once it’s been resolved.

“SeeClickFix provides residents and our 311 constituent representatives with an efficient, transparent, and user-friendly forum where everyone can be kept informed about challenges (and projects completed) in their community,” said Andy Jaffee, Director of Emergency Services and Telecommunications which oversees the 311 Call Center. “It will not only improve the lines of communication between 311 and the people it serves, but also help improve our city services overall.”

The partnership allows individuals to not only report community issues, but also view, comment on, and vote to fix problems submitted by others. Citizens can even create their own “watch areas” to receive notifications about issues reported throughout the entire city or just in their neighborhood, enabling individuals to follow the progress of all service requests.

“Being based in Connecticut, we’re extremely excited to now count the city of Hartford among our government partners,” said Ben Berkowitz, SeeClickFix CEO. “The Internet continues to prove itself as a tool for civic empowerment. With our technology, we hope Hartford residents will actively engage with one another and their local government online to enact change offline.”

The SeeClickFix Hartford website can be found here: http://www.seeclickfix.com/hartford.
Residents can download iPhone, Android, and Blackberry apps here: http://www.seeclickfix.com/apps.

About SeeClickFix


SeeClickFix allows citizens anywhere in the world to report and monitor non-emergency community issues ranging from potholes and planted trees to garbage and graffiti. Launched in 2008, it empowers citizens, community groups, media organizations, and governments to work together and improve their neighborhoods. Through mobile web, web, iPhone, Android, and Blackberry apps, the SeeClickFix platform is the most widely-distributed citizen reporting tool in the country. The platform is fun and easy to use for citizens while being inexpensive and easily adaptable for governments. Over 40 percent of issues reported on SeeClickFix are ultimately resolved. For more information or to report an issue, visit www.seeclickfix.com.

SeeClickFix media partner The Saratogian is at it again, bringing attention to a hazardous stretch of road in Saratoga Springs, New York. As part of their ongoing SeeClickFix Series, The Saratogian recently highlighted Issue #55010 - Large dip creates horrific accidents. The issue was anonymously reported nearly 9 months ago.

The large dip in Petrified Sea Gardens Road is quite a dangerous spot. I have seen three major accidents in which an ambulance took one or more severely injured people. At the very least, would it be possible to put signs at the top of the hill? If you take this hill too fast, you run a strong risk of wiping out. It is very steep, and cannot see who is coming until you crest over the hill.

Shortly after being reported, other residents began commenting on the issue and voting for it's fix. From speeding drivers to lack of signage, SeeClickFix users had a variety of opinions about what exactly makes this hill so dangerous to motorists and cyclists. A commenter named Von summarized the number of factors that contribute to this issue:

Even if both parties are traveling the speed limit this area is still a dangerous location. The problem is a combination of a blind hill and the fact that the road also bends at that point. This mean someone who's traveling south needs to adjust to the right as they crest the hill otherwise they'll find themselves in the oncoming lane. This is all compounded by the fact that few people adhere to the speed limits while traveling through here. Something certainly needs to be done to make this situation safe.

With the help of The Saratogian, and the 20 SeeClickFixers who voted on this report, this issue is getting the attention of public officials in Saratoga Springs. Public Safety Commissioner Richard Wirth told The Saratogian he was not familiar with the commenters’ particular concerns, but said that he would gladly send staff to investigate the SeeClickFix issue. Wirth also explained to the paper that the city can review the accident history on the road and see if it merits a traffic study.


We're proud to again see media, citizens and local government coming together to resolve community issues using SeeClickFix. Thank you to The Saratogian and all in Saratoga Springs who voiced their concerns about the hazardous street. SeeClickFix is looking forward to seeing the final fix for this problem!

New York, New York (June 6, 2011) -- With hopes of engaging public imagination and soliciting ideas from subway riders, SubSeries announces its new partnership with citizen-reporting platform SeeClickFix to transform the urban landscape of New York City subway stations. Curated by design partnership Baukunst Studio, SubSeries serves as an unsolicited design initiative to visualize the future of the public space at twelve subway stations.

The project brings together over 20 emerging New York-based architects, designers, and artists to address the question: "What are the most optimistic strategies for reforming this network of unclaimed public space?" SubSeries will not only highlight existing problems, but also envision a positive urban future that builds upon the existing subway infrastructure.

Through SeeClickFix's platform, SubSeries hopes to collect information and suggestions from NYC residents about how to improve these urban environments. The project opened one 'ticket' for each of the twelve SubSeries subway stations including Grand Central, Columbus Circle, and Harlem 125th Street. By posting comments, users can share what they think should change and suggest their visions for these spaces.

“Over the years, the Internet has proven itself as a powerful tool for empowering citizens and enacting change,” said Ben Berkowitz, SeeClickFix CEO and co-founder. “With our technology, we hope NYC residents will actively engage with one another and suggest offline changes to reclaim the city’s public spaces.”

This evening, SubSeries will continue sparking public dialogue at the “preview” of its upcoming fall exhibition (date TBD) at Columbia University’s Studio X gallery (180 Varick Street). The free event starts at 6:00pm and will be open to the public.

“We plan to present a rapid synopsis of the design ideas for the twelve subway stations followed by an open conversation about the future of SubSeries,” said Elizabeth Lasater, exhibition co-curator and Baukunst Studio co-founder. “The goal of this discussion is to develop a strategy to attract attention from city and community organizations so that the project reaches beyond the architecture community to penetrate the imagination of New York City residents.”

Throughout the year, SubSeries hosted 12 charrettes, or in-depth conversations focused on re-imagining the public space of subway stations, which resulted in visual documentation of these visions. SubSeries presented these work-in-progress sketches at the Festival of Ideas for the New City earlier this month. Next year, SubSeries is invited to display its exhibition in both Rio de Janeiro and Mumbai. These exhibitions will act as catalysts for two additional unsolicited design series about the public space and urban infrastructure within each of these cities.

About SeeClickFix

SeeClickFix allows citizens anywhere in the world to report and monitor non-emergency community issues ranging from potholes and planted trees to garbage and graffiti. Launched in 2008, it empowers citizens, community groups, media organizations, and governments to work together and improve their neighborhoods. Through mobile web, web, iPhone, Android, and Blackberry apps, the SeeClickFix platform is the most widely-distributed citizen reporting tool in the country. The platform is fun and easy to use for citizens while being inexpensive and easily adaptable for governments. Over 40 percent of issues reported on SeeClickFix are ultimately resolved. For more information or to report an issue, visit www.seeclickfix.com.