Just got notified about a new Droid App the City of Phoenix is launching. The purpose is for people to notify the Neighborhood services department of graffiti, weed issues, and other concerns that create ugly in our fair city. The app will allow Droid users, like me, to take a picture of the problem and send it, with captured GPS coordinates, to the City for clean up. A similar IPhone app was launched in June.

See The Press Release Of The New Droid App

Phoenix Launches Free Droid App for Residents to Report Blight and Graffiti

The city of Phoenix is the first municipality in the nation to launch a free Droid application that will allow residents with Droid phones to point, click and send photos of graffiti, over-height weeds, abandoned shopping carts and other blight violations to the city’s Neighborhood Services Department.
Droid phone users may download the application for free from the Droid Market by searching for the keyword “myphoenix” and then clicking on My Phoenix. Once installed, users will simply open the application and follow the prompts to take a picture of the violation and then tap “submit.” Using built-in global positioning system technology, the application will attach a location to the picture and send the complaint to the Neighborhood Services Department. Residents also can choose an option to receive updates on the status of their request.
The My Phoenix Droid app follows the June launch of an iPhone app, which was enthusiastically received by residents and neighborhood groups, resulting in more than 400 downloads to date. Phoenix has received calls and e-mails from other government agencies around the nation interested in developing their own applications.  “These applications allow us to provide Phoenix residents with convenient mobile options for reporting blight violations in the community to supplement our existing intake options.”  said Chris Hallett Neighborhood Services Department Acting Director.
Phoenix residents may also continue to report blight to Neighborhood Services by e-mail at blight@phoenix.gov and by phone at 602-262-7844.
The Droid and iPhone applications were created at no cost to the city by Graffiti Protective Coatings, a graffiti cleanup company that serves government agencies in Arizona.
Neighborhood Services offers a wide range of programs to assist residents, including a graffiti removal program, a free tool-lending program, and classes and events designed to support neighborhood improvements. For more information, residents may visit phoenix.gov/cleanphx or call 602-534-4444, which is dedicated to answering residents’ questions about how to get involved.

I hear they are fixing a few bugs in the program… nothing new with any app I’ve seen. I love this use of tech and human to help find and fix some of the problems in our neighborhoods. Can you think of other apps that could offer solutions? Put your thoughts in the comment section and we’ll pass them on.

Best to you,

Gene Urban & Ron Urban
The Urban Connection Team
602-234-5777

connecting people to the perfect space