Government

Civic startup shows real-time performance of city governments
150 150 Alexandra Bjerg

In a time of scarce resources and looming bankruptcies, cities are increasingly turning to Big Data to become more efficient. Into this space is where civic startups are putting some Silicon Valley innovation and know-how into making government work better.

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Riverside named top tech city in the country
150 150 Cheryl Getuiza

It looks like turning to technology paid off for the City of Riverside, which, for the sixth year in a row, was named a Top Digital City in the U.S. by e.Republic’s Center for Digital Government and Digital Communities.

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California state payroll transparency site reveals interesting city data
150 150 Alexandra Bjerg

According to a completely redesigned website showing wage and benefit data for public employees across California, at an average annual salary of over $100,000, Indian Wells city employees have the highest average wages compared to any city in the state.

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Northern California city uses technology for a more open and transparent government
150 150 Cheryl Getuiza

Code for America recently selected the Bay Area city to participate in its 2013 Code for America program. The organization will connect the city with top talent from the tech industry to develop civic technology.

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Forward Thinker: How Larry Gerston would fix California
150 150 Cheryl Getuiza

Larry Gerston, author and California politics expert, sits down with California Forward Executive Director Jim Mayer to discuss what why our Golden State isn’t shining anymore and how more people can get involved and engaged.

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A look at campaign coffers in the San Joaquin Valley
150 150 Niki Woodard

We dug around on the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) website and observed a few interesting trends that made us think in broader strokes about the notion of transparency. Law dictates that campaigns hold up their end of the bargain by making this data available, but outside of some local reporters, who is actually using it? It is our right, afterall, as citizens, to do so.

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CEQA Reform in California: Is it time?
150 150 Cheryl Getuiza

Environmentalists say CEQA is a necessary defense against development and urban sprawl that would harm the ecosystem. On the other hand, developers and business leaders often see the law as excessive red tape and regulations that cause delays and increase construction costs. Is it time to reform the 42 year old law?

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