Want Government to Listen to You? There’s an App for That

Want Government to Listen to You? There’s an App for That

These days, there is seemingly a smart phone app for just about everything.

Now a city council candidate in Providence wants to use an app known as SeeClickFix to improve how local government works.  

“The idea is this—you shouldn’t have to know somebody in the city government to get something done,” said Bryan Principe, a Democrat who is running for the Ward 13 seat. “I feel that the process right now is not transparent—is not accountable.”

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If you ever wanted to report a pothole, a cracked sidewalk, or an overturned trash can and felt that your calls to city hall fell on deaf ears—this technology is for you. Just simply snap a photo of the issue with your iPhone, BlackBerry—or other smart phone that connects to the Internet—and use the SeeClickFix app to report it to city hall.

Those who don’t have smart phones can log onto seeclickfix.com from their home and report the issue. They can then track how their complaint is being addressed.

The company, which is based in New Haven, Conn., was founded in 2008. Its application was first used in its home city and Philadelphia.

Principe, who works as a publishing publicist, said he has no direct ties to the company and heard about it from a friend who is in the tech industry. “It’s a simple concept—it’s just brilliant in execution,” Principe told GoLocalProv. “It’s a good way for the citizens and government to communicate regarding the problems and how they’re being fixed in the city.”

The app is meant only for non-emergency issues, however. A crime in progress, a fire, or a car accident—all those should still be reported by calling 911.

Providence is currently using the program on a limited basis—and Principe wants to make sure the city makes it a permanent. He also wants to spread the word among residents and held a neighborhood walk last Saturday to demonstrate how See ClickFix works. “I don’t want to wait until I’m hopefully a city councilor to get this done,” Principe said.