Municipal Blogging

From the Boston Globe via ICMA's News Briefings

Municipal officials blog to engage citizens.
In continuing coverage from previous briefings, the Boston Globe (3/9, Viser) reported that more municipal officials are using blogs "to target younger constituents and promote civic engagement in a virtual forum," although the Globe concluded the "posts are...kind of boring," because they are not typical of "the type of saucy language that blogs typically thrive upon." The report chronicles the list of Massachusetts officials who are blogging about everything from "roof inspections, police details, and city council meetings," to "budget proposals, and a sewer infrastructure agreement." Mayors who are blogging include those in Haverhill, Methuen, and Somerville. Lowell's city manager, Bernie Lynch, also is blogging. Mayor Joe Curtatone (D) of Somerville told the Globe that "blogging is this uncharted territory. You put yourself out there in real time, and you get responses in real time." He is among the officials who are learning about blog responses from readers. He said, "You may talk about how great it was to work at the Special Olympics," only to have a citizen respond, "That's great, Mr. Mayor, but what about my pothole?"