Recently ran across a great article at The American Prospect on technology, civic engagement, and social change with a thought-provoking premise, but a disappointing conclusion. The article, “Why Civic Tech Can’t Be Neutral” summarizes perfectly the role and responsibility of those building or advocating “civic tech” as a means of engagement to understand technology not just as a means to improving services, but a tool for breaking down barriers to participation. Advocates and builders need to understand (and build toward) what those barriers are, not remain neutral on them. And…
Tag: civic engagement
Could Your City Be the Next Ferguson?
The real lesson coming out of Ferguson, MO is how a city government can abysmally fail. Sure, they aren’t declaring bankruptcy like Orange County, CA, or bulldozing entire empty neighborhoods like Detroit, MI, but the inability to serve the needs of their citizens is just as stark. The most disturbing part of the failure is that just like being financially over-extended or turning into a ghost town, it can happen to your town too. So how do you avoid it? If your city has low voter participation and city council attendance,…