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Code Across Challenges: Community Boards

jmkerns00 edited this page Feb 22, 2014 · 6 revisions

#Community Boards

Scope

  • There are 59 community boards in NYC. Community boards are the first stop in NYC’s local democracy.

What has changed recently?

  • Several community boards along with Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer have started reaching out to betaNYC expressing a willingness to work with new tools created by the civic tech community.

Why is this issue relevant broadly?

  • Community Boards currently lack the staff, tools, and analytical ability needed to use NYC’s open data and have an effective online presence that engages the community.

What are the specific issues at hand?

From Community Boards:

  • Construction (e.g., After-hours variances, which allow construction up to 24/7; stop work orders)
  • Department of Building (DOB) violations (e.g., time to follow up on violation by DOB, time to correct problem)
  • Homeless Services (e.g., outreach team / visibility / locations / suggestions)
  • Housing and Social Services (e.g., locations, property tax certificates (e.g, 421a) certificates, apartment status and expiration dates)
  • Succession rights (e.g., mapping of all rent stabilized and controlled units, visualize air rights and who owns them)
  • Liquor licenses (e.g., number of violations, stipulations actually levied, list of penalties and enforcement)

Sample Challenges:

For Community Boards:

  • Transparency and Trends: Tools and tracking for aforementioned issues, neighborhood trends, track 311 tickets / resolutions
  • Digitization tools: Easy ways to record, archive and distribute meeting minutes/video/audio; Embedding 311 ticket submission forms on their websites; Engage with community groups, local businesses, and city agencies online

Data:

Overview:

Other CB Data Sets

Examples of successful projects:

  • Chicago: Search, browse, subscribe and comment on everything the City Council has done since Jan 1st 2010: http://opencityapps.org/