Q&A
Comparing MyCity portal to previous 311 feasibility study
1:51:53
·
3 min
Council Member Gutiérrez brings up a 2018 feasibility study that recommended leveraging 311 online as the city's single web portal. Commissioner Fraser explains how MyCity differs from this approach and clarifies the distinct roles of MyCity and 311.
- Fraser acknowledges the 2018 study but suggests that capabilities and vision have evolved since then
- He emphasizes that MyCity has shown rapid progress in delivering a multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional effort
- Fraser explains that 311 is focused on anonymity and quality of life complaints, while MyCity is geared towards services rendered by the city
- He clarifies that MyCity is for applying for and receiving city services, while 311 is for reporting issues or seeking information
- The discussion highlights how MyCity and 311 can complement each other, sharing some backend systems while serving different primary functions
Jennifer Gutiérrez
1:51:53
I'm glad I'm glad we're talking about wearing 1 very briefly.
1:51:55
I know that prior to to me in in the last administration back in 2018 prior prior to your leadership, OTI had issued this report, this feasibility report based on a legislation Mhmm.
1:52:07
Really to determine, like, is it is it feasible to use a centralized single web portal know, the the results of that report, if I'm if I'm not if I'm not wrong, was that 31 the leveraging 311 online as the city's single web portal is the optimal solution.
1:52:27
Again, this was back in 2018.
1:52:32
Does the MyCity portal use any of the infrastructure from 311?
Matthew Fraser
1:52:37
And so the MyCity infrastructure is is it stands outside of the 311 universe, but things like content databases and things along that lines that use some of that.
1:52:47
What I'd say from 2018 in that report, when Henry Ford was building a car, at the time everyone said, if they could get something, what they could get, and they wanted a faster horse.
1:52:58
And I think at that time, people's capability to see the future and I think that we could deliver may have been limited.
1:53:05
And I'd say through my city in a very short span of time based on the multi agency, multi jurisdictional effort, we've shown that Getting there is not only achievable, but it's it's achievable in, you know, in a decent amount of time, and it's gonna require a lot of energy and effort to to make sure that we stay stay in that path.
Jennifer Gutiérrez
1:53:30
So there's no I guess because I I think that there's a lot of some potential overlap in similarities with 311, and, like, the future of of my city, all with the goal of, like, providing my service, directing me workers, making things easier.
1:53:44
Improving quality of life.
1:53:46
So what what I guess, what are what are some what are some of the, like, the infrastructure that everyone currently has that maybe you're think that you currently use or you're thinking about And how do you we're not gonna do away with 3, one more time.
1:53:58
How do you plan on, like it seems like quality of life is important.
1:54:02
It's important to the agency and and important to, like, the the success of this portal.
1:54:07
How do you see that those kind of married that marriage happening or living together.
1:54:11
And then the distinction being clear enough for for New Yorkers to understand, 311 is here, my city is here.
1:54:17
I don't have to create a profile here.
1:54:19
I have to create a profile here.
Matthew Fraser
1:54:20
So, 311 is about anonymity.
1:54:23
Should you choose to have should you choose to want it, or being able to submit a request around something that is impacting quality of life.
1:54:32
So a pothole in the street, noise complaints, things along that lines clearly within the three one umbrella.
1:54:39
My city is geared towards services rendered by the city.
1:54:42
You need you need subsidies.
1:54:46
You need access to licensing and permitting.
1:54:48
You need something from the city that you have to apply, and the city has to render to you.
1:54:53
That's the difference between the 2.
1:54:54
One is something isn't right or something is is impacting me to some degree, and the other one is I need something so that I can do something.
1:55:03
Those are the 2.
1:55:04
That's how the world is separated.
1:55:05
I think that out of the success that we had out of 301, we've got a lot of a lot of information around design, a lot of information around usability, a lot of information around what the public expects.
1:55:17
And I think But under the covers, things like geolocation and addresses, using common engines in the background so that we do that consistently.
1:55:26
I think that's one area where things are shared.
1:55:30
But outside of that, the 301 service model is very different than what my city stands positioned to do.
1:55:38
And in areas where we can learn and we can complement what's already been delivered, we will.
