Email
Print
ShareBoston's CIO Caught Between Politics And Transparency
Posted by Bob Evans on Jan 5, 2009 09:57 AM
A Boston councilman wants more details about city business posted on its Web site, but a 1947 law says such details can appear only in the paper-based City Record. Stuck in the middle is Boston's CIO, who's installing 21st-century tools but lacks authority to decide what information gets published. And you thought your office politics were ugly.
Boston CIO William Oates told boston.com that while his team has been upgrading the city's content-management system, it's still the individual departments that determine what details do -- and don't -- get released for public consumption. Caught in that untenable position, Oates appears to be doing his best to get the mechanisms in place to allow taxpayers eventually to see how their money is being spent by anonymous bureaucrats with zero accountability. But as the article explains, while Oates can install the plumbing, he can't control what gets pumped through it:
The $200,000 effort will allow departments to post more information at a faster clip and will help them track items that haven't been updated in a while, so information doesn't get stale. "It gives us a better capability of getting more on there and keeping it fresh" while eliminating data bottlenecks, Oates said.
Well, give Oates credit for putting a brave face on it: While city departments might continue to hide what's going on from Boston citizens, at least they'll be able to do it with fewer "data bottlenecks," whatever that means.
Meanwhile, the councilman who's trying to increase transparency, Sam Yoon, said it's "ridiculous" that Bostonians can't go online to find identities of members of "about 30 city boards and committees, such as the liquor licensing board, the Boston Redevelopment Authority, and the School Committee; see the length of appointment terms; or view meeting schedules, agendas, and minutes," according to the story yesterday on boston.com, which is The Boston Globe's Web site.
For such a great city, that's a sorry story. On the flip side, anybody out there live in a city that's doing a great job at offering transparency for its citizens? C'mon, brag about it a little -- let me know.
And Mr. Oates, the best of luck to you as you attempt to let some much-needed fresh air and sunshine into your city's business. Let's hope that eventually, since you've built it, they will come -- even if kicking and screaming.
This is a public forum. United Business Media and its affiliates are not responsible for and do not control what is posted herein. United Business Media makes no warranties or guarantees concerning any advice dispensed by its staff members or readers.
Community standards in this comment area do not permit hate language, excessive profanity, or other patently offensive language. Please be aware that all information posted to this comment area becomes the property of United Business Media LLC and may be edited and republished in print or electronic format as outlined in United Business Media's Terms of Service.
Important Note: This comment area is NOT intended for commercial messages or solicitations of business.