The Observation Deck

It was my understanding that the city was advised by the CitiStat people to implement the program incrementally and that the city is following the advice. (That was per Vic Nogalo)

dl meckes wrote:It was my understanding that the city was advised by the CitiStat people to implement the program incrementally and that the city is following the advice. (That was per Vic Nogalo)

By incrementally they mean bury it.

City officials are not interested in the Citistat program because they are afraid to let the citizens (voters) know how the money is being spent. They prefer discussions on how many slinkees the recycling department hands out.

From what I have seen I have to agree with you. I'd think there would be somewhere else cuts could be made.

It was my understanding that the city was advised by the CitiStat people to implement the program incrementally and that the city is following the advice. (That was per Vic Nogalo)

I've heard that the citistat guy won't be coming back until the city is ready to commit. That doesn't sound like they are implementing the program. The lack of communication from the administration in regards to this matter speaks volumes. Some honest answers from the administration regarding this issue would be nice.

I know one thing, Lakewood Alive has not supplied the full Grow Lakewood report to the library.

But the only way to insist that local elected officials endorse transparency is to show up at council meetings, write them, arrange face-to-face meetings, and hammer away.

Then, if they don't cooperate, elect new ones.

I'd like to know several things about CityStat.

(1) What was the full analysis about its up and down sides?

(2) What kinds of professional or otherwise expert managerial skills are required to steward its successful implementation?

Any Lakewood politico is welcome to forthrightly address these two questions sooner rather than later.

Any Lakewood politico is welcome to forthrightly address these two questions sooner rather than later.

Stephen, we have been asking away and have gotten anything but forthright answers to this issue. I would like anyone from council or the mayor's office to please tell us where we stand on this issue. Money has been spent and we deserve some answers from our elected officials.

Danielle, methinks one has to call the politicians up or write them. For instance why not make this inquiry directly of the councilperson who represents you in your ward (?)?

As for Mayor George, he's either willing to lay it out or not. If he isn't willing to do so...

For instance why not make this inquiry directly of the councilperson who represents you in your ward (?)?

I have done so and what I learned was that they have done what they can do. Council cannot hire the necessary personal only the mayor can do so. When we get an answer I'm quite certain it will be "due to current budget constraints" which is fine, but I wish that they would have thought about that before tax dollars were thrown away. JMHO.

your kidding!!!!!!!!!

I thought that this program was already in motion!!!!!!!

At the council meeting i attended they were working on three department as a test...with results due out sometime in July...

Now I am really confused!!!!!!!

Can anyone clarify....Mayor?? Council??

Rhonda Loje

I am no expert on CitiStat, but I know there typically is *tremendous* cultural resistance to any type of CRM http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Customer_Relationship_Management implementation, especially at a governmental entity. I wish I had a magic solution.

I do not know of any business of sufficient size that can operate efficiently in today's marketplace without effectively using CRM.

Doug

DougHuntingdon wrote:I do not know of any business of sufficient size that can operate efficiently in today's marketplace without effectively using CRM.

Doug

Great article.

The implementation of Citistat requires transparency in City finances. City officials are desperate to keep people in the dark and so are unlikely to ever implement a real citistat program.

Rhonda

The program is moving ahead. I spoke with someone in the know Tuesday and was assured it is moving ahead, and on time.



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We are excited about the potential of CitiStat and will make every effort to keep everyone abreast of the program and its progress.

That was from November 13th, why haven't we had any updates. Have they hired the personnel? Are they currently implementing the program or is it still in the works? Can we get an answer from the city?

Danielle Masters wrote:

We are excited about the potential of CitiStat and will make every effort to keep everyone abreast of the program and its progress.

That was from November 13th, why haven't we had any updates. Have they hired the personnel? Are they currently implementing the program or is it still in the works? Can we get an answer from the city?

Danielle

The person who is now heading up the project is a member of this board and I will try to get him to jump in while I am at City Hall today.



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The person who is now heading up the project is a member of this board and I will try to get him to jump in while I am at City Hall today.

Thank you Jim.

The program is moving ahead. I spoke with someone in the know Tuesday and was assured it is moving ahead, and on time.

If we roll back to Ken Warren's initial post, and then fold in questions asked, (and begged to be asked,) in our critical process on this topic, the overall thrust is:

should Citistat be moving ahead?

Not: what's up with its progress?

I asked what was revealed to be CitiStat's potential downsides when the politicians elected to serve the citizenry vetted CitiStat.

More questions have hit the table. They're smart questions but the response on the Observation Deck to these questions has been

silence.

Okay, this is telling but I don't know why Lakewood's politicians, when asked here, remain silent. I'd like to know why, but I have no evidence which addresses this question.

***

If Citistat is a bad idea, or at least could potentially realize bad effects in the bonfire lit at the altar of efficiency, then it seems basic that local politicians might wish to clarify all this mystery by introducing the details of their own critical thought processes when they did the cost/benefi, SWOT, analysis prior to endorsing the implementation of CitiStat.

It's not like they didn't subject it to (their own) intelligent scrutiny, right?