The Citizen Reporter - A Tool Every Community Should Have!
Within every city, there are some neighborhoods which bloom with pride, many neighborhoods which show promise but lack 'something,' a few which show signs of neglect, and there is always one (maybe two) which looks like it (or they) is an over-spill from the local landfill. Perhaps the last is a bit dramatic, but that is for you to decide - once you drive around your own hometown.
My hometown has most, if not every one of these classifications. But I can proudly say, we have recently taken a small step toward change and in the months ahead, perhaps a giant leap toward community progress. This small step is called "The Citizen Reporter." I will explain the 'what and how' in a few minutes. Meanwhile, how many of these pictures look familiar, not literally but figuratively: A home with a neglected lawn. A building downtown which has peeling paint or deteriorating facade. A house whose owners or occupants pile everything out front for the world to see. And, do not forget the home whose front yard becomes an auto repair shop. These pictures 'could have' been taken in my hometown, or perhaps yours.
(imcarcade.com) (commons.wikimedia.org)
(wpxi.com) (mccookgazette.com)
Take the time to drive around your town, not only to look, but to see. There is a difference. Many of us have lived (or live) beside, in front of, or in sight of one or all of these pictures. What to do? The answer is not always easy. In a previous generation, you would go and talk. Today, you could become a victim. In a previous generation, we all knew our neighbors. Today?
However, my town has taken a giant step toward achieving a solution to 'ugly' without subjecting its citizens to potentially unpleasant situations or becoming a victim. It is called The Citizen Reporter - an application which is now available to its citizens. Simply, it is a way for citizens to take pictures of non-emergency problems like blight, graffiti, trash, potholes, and flooding and send them directly to the city from smartphones, tablets, or desktops. You can identify yourself or remain anonymous. Point. Click. Send. The online app sends your picture and description to the appropriate department.
This is a wonderful feature, a small step toward solving giant problems and avoiding face-to-face confrontations. Clarksburg, West Virginia is fortunate to have this application. If you live in Clarksburg, here is how to install the app on your smartphone:
For IOS:
-Open up safari and load the app from the link above.
-At the bottom of the screen you’ll see an icon depicting an arrow inside a square. Tap this button.
-Select “Add to Home Screen.”
For Android:
-Launch Chrome for Android and open the app from the link above.
-Tap the menu button and tap Add to home screen.
-You’ll be able to enter a name for the shortcut and then Chrome will add it to your home screen.
So simple to install, even I accomplished it on the first try. Please take a few minutes to be comfortable with the app before you 'Point. Click. Send.'
This is a much-needed tool for neighborhood, town, and community revitalization. I only hope it is not abused - used as a vendetta between warring factions. I also hope each report is objectively reviewed, investigated, and attended to without political interference. Its success will depend upon how quickly the city reacts to reported problems. Right now, I have full confidence in my city's reaction time.
If your community does not have this application, it is certainly worth investigating. The Citizen Reporter.
And that's the way I see it.
Until next time,
Michael