Will the New D13 App Help Improve our Neighborhoods?

“Our 311 app for iPhone and Blackberry to launch soon—we had the training today and will announce a big download day for everyone when we hit the streets!” reads a post from Eric Garcetti’s Facebook page.

What exactly is a 311 app? Constituents in District 13 (which includes Echo Park, parts of Hollywood, Thai Town, Little Armenia, Silver Lake,  Atwater Village, Glassell Park and other neighborhoods) will be able to submit “concerns” to the district. Users can submit report problems via the “Garcetti 311” app, including photos of graffiti, reports of deceased animals on the street, illegal dumping, potholes, etc.

The question is whether or not these submissions will actually be read (and by whom?) and if it will improve city efficiency for graffiti removal and filling in those pesky pot holes. According to Garcetti’s blog post, the application uses “geo-tagging technology to automatically provide the problem’s location, simplifying the reporting process for users. During the year-long pilot program, my staff members will submit the requests to the appropriate city departments for action.”

It’s unclear as to whether or not Blackberry will be included in the end-of-the-month release (as mentioned by Garcetti’s Facebook post), but it looks like other platforms (like Google Android, Palm, and Windows Mobile) will be released in the next three months. I don’t have an iPhone but I’ll be happy to test out the Blackberry app when it comes out!