Empowered Participation: How Citizens Use Technology in Local Goverance
summary
Three-year study of three Chicago beats collects 48 meetings, 27 interviews, 300 pages of field notes and scrapes 7,000 messages from email lists, Yahoo/Google Groups, EveryBlock and forums using Python; finds citizens use email lists and web forums to raise visibility, record agendas/minutes, and pressure officials but outcomes vary: the wealthiest beat records at least eight direct alderman responses while the poorest sees only two documented online responses and one commander visit. Proposes tools that surface officials’ action/inaction and map who holds influence.
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