March 13, 2008
Give City the 4-1-1 on Richmond’s 3-1-1
From the Office of the Press Secretary: Mayor L. Douglas Wilder announced today the beginning of a month-long “Give Us the 4-1-1″ campaign to help the City improve its new 311 Call Center to handle citizen requests for municipal services. Residents can dial 311 to report potholes, downed trees, utility issues, request social services, and other City matters. The campaign, which will run from March 11 through mid-April, is an invitation for City residents who have used the phone system and encountered problems to let the City know what those problems were so they can be corrected and the system improved.
The campaign is also an invitation for residents who have not used the system to try it and let the City know what needs to be addressed in their neighborhoods.
“Now is the perfect time for a campaign of citizen feedback,” the Mayor said. “The 311 Call Center has been up and running for just over 60 days. It was officially launched January 2 and we intend to step back and see where it works and where it does not.”
“There are bugs to be worked out in the system and feedback from residents will help us improve the system and make it more efficient.”
Residents can use a special email address (311comments@RichmondGov.com) or call 311 and let the operator know they have feedback about the system.
The City plans to analyze the feedback and integrate it into the system by this summer.
I called the #311 yesterday after noticing the (re)development of a HUGE pothole @20th and Broad, which seemed to reopen in just over a week . . . and they were closed.
We called 311 last night to report several street light outages in our neighborhood in Highland Park, and got the recording asking us to call back during business hours. Remebering how politely, quickly and efficiently the street light outage folks responded in the past when we called at all hours, one can only question whether this 311 system is actually an improvement. Way to go with the improvements, Douggie! How’s that workin’ out for all of us?