Ethics Discussion Group at Perzel Community Center

A City That Works - May 7, 2008

This neighborhood group was small, with only four members, but was very active and took on the issue with serious energy. A focus of concern and frustration is the circular and complex relationships between the criminal justice system, the courts, fairness and honesty in government, and transparency. This group measured an ethical government as effective and efficient.

What does this goal mean to you?

• “It means caring, proud city employees and a proud citizenry.”

• "Honest and respectful service, from top to bottom.”

• “Hope that change can and will happen…Workers care about their jobs.”

• "City government would be an example of integrity and honesty.

Performance measures (What success would look like?):

• Cleanliness. A clean city is a reflection of an honest and accountable government. Citizens should be surveyed and reflect a 75 percent improvement in enforcement and service over the next two years.

• As a reflection of honesty and integrity, the incidence of police brutality should be zero!

• But, this has to coincide with a more equitable and sensible system of criminal justice that does not undermine and frustrate police efforts. There needs to be less people with minor crimes in jail, and more people with repeat major crimes in jail (system integrity). There needs to be more transparency in how the court system operates and why decisions are made the way they are, and this needs to be a major public education effort. Over the next year, there needs to be at least a 50 percent improvement in the public’s understanding of how the courts operate (by survey).

• The city needs to strive to improve the citizen’s knowledge and access of and to the election process, issues, and candidates. This whole area continues to demand more transparency. Again, this would be measured through a survey with improvement indicated by 50 percent to 98 percent positive responses over the next three to four years.

• There needs to be continuous improvement in efficiency (increased productivity/decreased cost) of government services, both qualitative and quantitative, at measurable amount of 20 percent per year. This effort should start at the top (not the bottom) and reports need to be made public about how it is done and the amount of progress being made.

Customer-service standards:

• Complaints should be answered and problems responded to promptly

• 311:

→ Citizens are heard…

→ Live voice: polite and courteous…”How can I help”?

→ Follow-up call to caller in 24 hours, with disposition.

→ TTY for hearing impaired and multi-lingual capacity 24/7.

•  “The customer is right!”

• Do not cut the budget of 311. That is, do not create a service that will not last.

• Government should engage all the media to publish and make public the results of citizen surveys and feedback.

• City workers should be acknowledged and recognized for their good work as well as remediated for less than good service.

• City needs to distribute information efficiently and effectively.

• Election winners should be assigned the responsibility of picking up all the flyers and posters after an election.