February 12, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Chris Myers, is announcing the creation of two new Web sites for the Toledo area to encourage openness and promote tech friendly citizen government.
In the spirit of http://www.ideasfortps.com, http://www.ideasfortoledo.com, and http://www.tpssearch.com, Chris is announcing the http://www.GreatOpenSwamp.com and http://www.Governmentfor.Us .
GreatOpenSwamp.com is a site that informs citizens on how to pursue public information as well as providing a forum for citizens to highlight their problems in getting public information. Another great feature of GreatOpenSwamp.com is a government search. This search feature enables citizens to search all local government Web sites for specific information and get results (e.g. getting all local government tax information by searching for taxes). The search can be refined to municipal, school district, or university only searches. This feature will allow citizens to quickly get information on any topic they want from all local government sites. This site is intended to be the citizens weapon to demand open government as well as peering into what is currently on local government sites.
GovernmentFor.Us is a site devoted to encouraging governments to embrace citizen-embracing technology. Many government Web sites are way far behind the 8 ball in using technology engage with its citizens. This site is here to give a gentle nudge to governments and inspire them to embrace technology to embrace its citizens. We live in the 21st century and citizens are expecting a lot. One of the initiatives on the site is the Real-Time Government Initiative (RTGI) encouraging the government to operate in real-time by using technology. The site also encourages citizens to become Internet Citizens for Open Government or (ICOGs) to demand their governments to embrace technology.
These two sites, as well as the ones above are living examples of how government can become better by using the Internet and other technologies. Chris develops these sites himself to serve a useful purpose as well as inspire others.
