Open Illinois.org

Several local governments have taken up a creative new way to communicate with residents.

These municipalities should be commended in leading the charge for innovative problem solving. By using these new communication platforms, municipal governments are not only creating a richer dialogue between residents and government but also opening up new possibilities for openness and reform.

According to the article, the majority of messages conveyed to residents cover the latest local happenings, including road closures, special events, and in one case, the finding of a local missing person. As society becomes increasingly mobile, it becomes increasingly important for all levels of government to take forward-thinking steps and find new, better ways to communicate and provide information.

Similarly, a project of the Illinois Policy Institute, called TweetIllinois.org, uses this same communications platform and enables state politicians to post messages to their constituents. Perhaps the leaders of these towns will take their communications to the next level and use the Twitter platform to update constituents on government actions and decisions.

This is a terrific step in the right direction, let’s keep the ball moving!