More well-put thoughts on the city of Asheville and its use of social media, from loyal reader Leigh, following up yesterday’s post:
I absolutely and completely agree that we need to transform the way people think about local government. Reading these comments illustrates that perfectly.
1. Local government’s primary focus is to serve citizens. In order to serve effectively, people need to think first, then speak up instead of throwaway “what a waste of tax dollars” soundbytes (Have you read the City of Asheville budget summary for last fiscal year??) or people taking unnecessary advantage of a city council meeting to rant without context or cohesion.
People barely understand what a council-manager form of government is or how things are structured at the local level.
2. Real critical thinking about ways to improve government effectiveness needs to occur and the citizenry needs to be engaged. Social media might finally bridge that gap. I think it’s a great step forward, if overdue.
It is significantly easier to Twitter a question than to pick up the phone and actually call some ‘faceless bureaucrat.’ By getting in on social media, local government is able to reach a totally new group of citizens and provide them with good information.
3. EVERYONE who works in local government works at community relations. To those that view LOCAL government as a ‘tired old bureaucracy’ – local government is more self contained, more able to make things happen, less likely to ignore their customers (which, as citizens, is what we are), than at any other stage of government, county included. As far as accomplishing things on the cheap, I disagree.
A compromise was made during what is essentially a hiring freeze because this was viewed as too critical to put off any longer.
2 Comments
Seems unlikely that many citizens will use or benefit from this sort of thing, but its nice to have in the communications mix.
The City of Asheville really does need to get busy, especially with its clunky web site. Instead of hiring social media contractors, put resources to work to overhaul and improve the web site.
http://ashevillenc.gov/
Much more information, data and interactive functionality are needed.
Just compare to the Buncombe County Government’s web very robust site
http://www.buncombecounty.org/
Alas, social media links can be found the County’s home page.
I’d agree that if social media gets intelligent information to city officials efficiently, the appointment, in a time of financial hardship, of social media staff might be justified. But that’s a big if.
Too much social media commentary is fluff and spamy nonsense.
Social media participants are young, affluent and connected. What about the elderly, poor, and disenfranchised?