Civic Engagement

Calgary Experiments With Crowdsourcing Its Budget

In order to educate its citizens on how budgeting decisions are made, and inform decision makers on the priorities of its citizens, Calgary has engaged in an ambitious outreach process to get citizens to participate in drafting the city's budget.

3 February 2012 - 11:00am

The Atlantic Cities

The Tea Party vs. Urban Planning

Anthony Flint reports on a number of planning initiatives stopped in their tracks by protesting Tea Party members, who are strongly opposed to "smart growth communism."

19 December 2011 - 9:00am

The Atlantic Cities

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6 comments

NYC Residents Suggesting Locations for New Bike Share Stations

Earlier this week, New York City officials announced a new bikeshare system that will be available to New Yorkers in 2012.

16 September 2011 - 7:00am

TheCityFix.com

For Women Only: Safety by Segregation

Women's safety on public transit is increasingly in focus worldwide. Many systems have turned to designating separate areas for women, but what happens after they get off?

21 December 2010 - 1:00pm

TheCityFix

City Branding Can't Be Lipstick on a Pig

PlaceMaker Scott Doyon says that for cities -- maybe more than any other organization -- branding is about who you really are, and what what you really do, not a meaningless slogan or logo.

7 November 2010 - 11:00am

PlaceShakers

Suburban Civics in the Age of Facebook

The recently retired Don Waldie, an impassioned observer and critic of metropolitan Los Angeles, spent his career finding ways for residents to participate to the civic process.

4 November 2010 - 10:00am

The Planning Report

Ken Bernstein

Can "Webinars" Make Planning Workshops Obsolete?

Fri, 08/06/2010 - 17:53

Can planners effectively use on-line meeting technology to host public participation workshops? The City of Los Angeles' Department of City Planning recently decided to find out for itself by experimenting with a "webinar" format for two kickoff workshops highlighting the City's 2010 draft citywide Bicycle Plan.

A webinar is a web conference, where participants can access a virtual meeting using a computer and Internet connection. Participants access a website to see the presente's computer screen and also listen to the presenter through the computer's speakers or using a telephone.

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Project Region

Project Region, the process to create a 30-year transportation plan for the 10-county region of southwestern Pennsylvania, is a document created by some 3,000 people. The APA award winner culminated its planning process with a web-based regional town meeting that allowed around 600 attendees at 11 different simultaneous meetings throughout the area to interact. Led by the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission, the cooperative effort resulted in "Our Region's Plan," — a vision that covers 7,112 square miles and is home to 2.6 million people.

19 February 2010 - 12:37pm

Americans Buying Less, Doing More

Americans are starting to value experiences over things, according to a new poll. Nearly half of Americans report spending less time purchasing non-essential goods, while many are spending more time on friends, family, and hobbies.

9 February 2010 - 11:00am

New York Times

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1 comment

Gov 2.0 On the Rise

Twitter, iPhones, and new sites like SeeClickFix make it increasingly easy for citizens and governments to communicate. Along with newly available data sets, these "Gov 2.0" apps may signal a new era of active citizens and responsive governments.

29 January 2010 - 5:00am

CNN

Civic Engagement Low in Arizona

A new study finds that while Arizona residents like where they live, they have low levels of civic engagement.

18 December 2009 - 7:00am

The Arizona Republic

The Challenge (and Importance) of Engaging the Public

David Villano takes an in-depth survey of the state of public engagement practices in the U.S., and the positive effects of the processes that work.

2 November 2009 - 12:00pm

Miller-McCune

Wikiplanning a City

As part of their Envision 2040 process, the City of San José is soliciting user input through a web-based wiki.

10 September 2009 - 12:00pm

Government Technology

Downtowns Not the Economic Engines They Used to Be

Downtowns used to serve primarily as the economic and job hub of a community, but are shifting to be more focused on providing a entertainment center and civic forum.

4 August 2009 - 6:00am

New Geography

The Noise of Online Collaboration

Beth Noveck, deputy director for Open Government in the Obama Administration, talks about dealing with the noise of online collaboration and how to make social networks functional for civic participation.

16 May 2009 - 9:00am

Government Techonlogy