A recent Next American City article highlights the trend of cities around the country that have begun to utilize free online web applications in order to more easily connect with their residents.

Social media tools such as Facebook and Twitter are becoming increasingly popular methods of communication between local government and the community.  In addition to an official website, many cities are creating blogs through free websites such as Wordpress and Blogger, and City Council and committee meetings are increasingly appearing online through websites like YouTube.  The increase in access to the activities of city government creates a positive trend towards more accountability and transparency in local government.

Last year, the City of Pittsburgh and Yinzcam released the innovative iPhone application iBurgh for City of Pittsburgh residents, allowing them to quickly photograph and report problems to the City’s 311 service.  Pittsburgh also has begun to broadcast City Council meetings online through the City of Pittsburgh website.

Read more about free web applications for cities in the New American City article.

This Thursday, April 15, the Guyasuta Fellowship Program will be holding a panel discussion for the 10 year anniversary of the Fifth/Forbes development program.

Panel speakers will include Rob Stephany (Executive Director of the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh), Bernie Lynch and Pat Clark (Fifth/Forbes Community activists) and Chris Potter (Editor of the Pittsburgh City Paper).

10 Years After – The Lessons of Fifth/Forbes
Piatt Place, 301 Fifth Avenue, Room 3023
6:30pm – 8:30pm
Please RSVP by calling (412) 361-1111

This community discussion is free and open to the public.  For more information, read the press release.

The Post Gazette’s Tim McNulty’s report can be found here.  Tim wanes nostalgic for the old days in City Hall when he covered this story a decade ago.

Learn more about the Guyasuta Fellowship and Thursday’s 10 year anniversary session here.

On Friday, May 21st, the Regional Green Economy Task Force will host the Green Pathways to Prosperity Summit in Pittsburgh.

This summit will bring together government officials, clergy, organizational leaders, business leaders and community advocates who represent traditionally disadvantaged constituencies for a day of discussion on how Pittsburgh can attain the goal of a socially just, economically prosperous and environmentally sustainable future.  Key topics of the summit will include climate change, environmental justice, emerging industries, and public policy.

The goals of the Green Pathways to Prosperity summit are to both contribute to a more informed group of community leaders, and to also inspire collaboration between those in attendance.  For more information on this summit, contact Khari Mosley at k.mosley@gtechstrategies.org.

This Saturday, March 27, join Pittsburgh City Councilman Bill Peduto for the return of PeduTube and help raise money for the Geek Art and Green Innovators Festival.

Saturday March 27, 2010
Cappy’s Cafe, Walnut Street
10pm – 2am

For a $5 donation you can request your favorite YouTube video to be played on the PeduTube screen.  All proceeds will go to the Geek Art and Green Innovators Festival.  Come out to Cappy’s Cafe for a night of videos, drinks, and fun with special guest DJ Muddy.

The Allegheny County district of the Rotary International club is offering two exciting opportunities for individuals in the Pittsburgh area.

First, they are offering the opportunity to take part in a Group Study Exchange trip to Argentina for 3 weeks in May. The opportunity to participate in this Group Study Exchange (GSE) is open to young professionals from age 20 to early 40s, and allows the participants to gain professional insight into the Argentinean culture through site visits, and meetings with local businesses, government and cultural leaders. The trip includes all travel and lodging expenses, but the entertainment expenses are the responsibility of the GSE participant. Last year, Councilman Bill Peduto participated in the GSE trip to Norway to study energy policy, and has remained involved with the rotary ever since. For more information, please contact Ron Gaydos at District 7300 of Rotary International at rgaydos@city-net.com.

The group is also accepting applications for the 2011-2012 Rotary Peace Fellowship program. This program invites non-Rotarian professionals who are interested in international relations, public administration, sustainable development, peace studies and conflict resolution or a related field to compete for one of 50 master’s degree fellowships or 50 professional development certificate fellowships to expand their knowledge in these areas.

For more information and instructions on the application process, visit the website. Applications are due by July 1, 2010.

Meetings Postponed Due to Snow

OnTuesday February 9th and Wednesday February 10th, CSX will hold public meetings to provide residents with information on the National Gateway Project.

Structures in Western Pennsylvania will be affected as CSX works to increase the vertical clearance along rail lines. This meeting will allow those in attendance to see the plans for the affected structures.

An open invitation has been extended to all for these meetings.  The February 9th meeting will be held in Somerset, PA, and the February 10th meeting will be held in Pittsburgh.

Click Here for More Information

No American can have freedom and justice until there is freedom and justice for all.

Last week, Pittsburgh City Council gave preliminary approval to a contract that will allow City Council meetings to be viewed online.

The webcasts will allow City Council meetings to be accessible to all, and will also integrate the new system with City Council’s existing legislative tracking system. Viewers will be able to search videos online and view specific portions that relate to different issues.

“This is the third step I have initiated to bring e-democracy to Pittsburgh, following the launch of iBurgh and the current beta test of MyGov365,” said Councilman Peduto. “This new system will allow Pittsburgh residents to have greater involvement in their government and greater access to information that is important to them.”

The system has come in under budget, and will be ready in time to broadcast the first meeting of Council in 2010.