Citizen Mystery Shopper (Part 14)

How hard is it to get a pothole stock-still? (Hint: very.)

Practise Something

Tell the states what to examination
Read More than

Mystery Shoppers

Citizen Mystery Shopper (Function 14)

How hard is it to go a pothole fixed? (Hint: very.)

Mar. eighteen, 2019

Several months agone, Citizen editor Larry Platt posed a question we've been wondering about always since: When was the the last time you encountered the urban center bureaucracy and said to yourself, "Wow, what great customer service?" Since then, nosotros've taken a page from individual industry and unleashed a team of mystery shoppers to collaborate with city service providers and report back on their experiences…the good, the bad, and the disfiguring.

Run across previous Mystery Shoppers here. Stay tuned for more.

Mystery Shopper Examination #32: Checking Publicly Bachelor Criminal History

Steps Taken :

Went to the Pennsylvania Judiciary Web Portal .
Navigated to the "Instance Information" tab, and then hovered over "Court Cases." When a second menu appeared, clicked on the "Magisterial District Courts" button.
Inverse the search type from the default setting—docket number—to participant name.
Here I entered my exact beginning and last name, as well equally date of nascency. If I was looking up someone else'due south info, I could as well have input any combination of county, court part, docket type, instance status, and appointment filed.
Voilà! There it was, the only stain on my permanent record—a speeding ticket for going 55 in 50 MPH speed limit.

Time Spent : v minutes

Upshot : Got what I was looking for—my own criminal history (such as it is).

Takeaways : It's a pretty intuitive process. It should exist noted, though, that this does not include Secure Spider web Docket Sheets—which are docket sheets not available to public. Also, information technology doesn't include ceremonious or criminal history outside of the country, therefore does not replace a criminal background check that can just be performed, for a fee, by PA State police.

Lightning commodities rating : ⚡️⚡️⚡️

Mystery Shopper Test #33: Reporting A Pothole Via the 311 App

Steps Taken

Downloaded the "Philly 311" app (it'southward rated 2 and a half stars—non a promising sign)
Pressed the first Icon on the home tab "Submit a Request"
Scrolled down through the "Select an Effect" folio to "Pothole Repair"
From here, the app took me to an interactive map that allowed me to drop a pivot exactly where the pothole is.
Afterward clicking the Side by side push button, it took me to a full request course where I filled out additional information almost the pothole. At that place was a section that included emergency info—Is information technology leaking gas? Is h2o running from the hole? Is it on an interstate highway?—and the option to click "no" or "yes, telephone call 911". There was as well an option department to depict the hole. (Wasn't sure what to write hither—large and round? Typically hole-y in nature?) The terminal section was the pick to get out my proper noun and contact number.
I submitted the request, and a notification popped up that told me the Section'southward estimate fourth dimension for my request is iii business days.

Time Spent: 5 minutes

Result: I successfully reported the pothole. Just as of a month from my original request, the pothole on my street remains unfilled.

Takeaways: The Philly 311 app is intuitive enough to navigate and use (though non any more efficient than calling 311 on the phone), and the pin drib is a smart way to use GPS technology. It's all for naught, though, if nothing happens.

Lightning bolt rating : ⚡️

Mystery Shopper Test #34: Checking the condition of a blocked sidewalk

The State of affairs: Ongoing construction in front end of my N Philly apartment edifice has left a x-foot hole that forces pedestrians to walk into the busy street.

Role 1—Reporting the Problem Through the Philly 311 App

Steps taken:

Go to Philly 311 app
Pressed the get-go icon on the domicile tab "Submit a Request"
Scrolled down through the "Select an Issue" page to "Right-of-Manner"
I went again to the interactive map, where I dropped a pin in forepart of my apartment building.
And so the app took me to a slightly dissimilar form to fill up out. Start I specified that the issue was something ongoing, not a cake party or moving van. It asked me what kind of work was being washed (private company construction) and for how long (2 + weeks).
Then it asked me information about the visitor's let—which I have no thought since I practice not even know the company's proper noun. I just selected "non sure."
I leave a name and number to be updated about my request.
I hit submit, and a notification popped up that told me the Street Department'south estimated time to resolve my request was 25 business days— whoa, much longer than the three days for a pothole request.

Fourth dimension Spent: five minutes

Consequence: Similar with the pothole report, the process was easy just not efficient. V weeks afterward submitting my request. I accept not heard back from the department, nor has has the sidewalk been reopened.

Takeaway : What's the point of an efficient reporting system if it doesn't result in really fixing the trouble?

Lightning bolt rating : ⚡️⚡️

Office 2—Checking Street/Sidewalk Closure and Permit Data Online

Steps taken:

I had heard near this new interactive map of the street and sidewalk closure permits registered with the Streets Section. Only considering the City of Philadelphia loves giving its denizen's a challenge—thanks, Urban center Hall!—there is no straight link to the map from the Streets Department website.
Instead, I Googled "Philadelphia Streets Department Street and Sidewalk Permit Portal" to find it. (Y'all can simply click on the link above.)
The website first displays a disclaimer that its data is updated every one-half hour—which is an impressive refresh charge per unit—then takes you right to the map.
From here it'south an piece of cake process. There is a search bar in the summit left corner where I could enter the accost of the sidewalk closure, or I could coil to it on the map. A legend on the side of page explains which color coded lines signifies sidewalk closures, partial street closures or full street closure.
When I clicked on the block I had in mind, a blue box popped up with the words "CLOSURE Permit."
Clicking on the arrow brought up a new window with the let's number and official purpose, likewise every bit the constructive and expiration dates. There was also a pdf copy of the original permit with more details. I found out that the construction would be going on until October (sigh).

Time Spent : 15 Minutes looking for the website, 5 minutes actually using information technology.

Upshot : I was able to discover the name of the company that had the let to work on the sidewalk exterior my building, discover out the (expected) duration of the construction project, equally well equally how long they have been given for the piece of work. That didn't fix the hole in the ground, merely can help me meliorate fill out another 311 study.

Takeaway : The interactive map is unnecessarily difficult to find—why not put information technology front and centre on the Streets Department homepage. (Admittedly, information technology has only been out for a couple weeks.) But the website itself is full of really practical information about street structure—like what exactly they're doing and when will it finally exist over.

Lightning bolt rating :

Photo: R. Nial Bradshaw/Flickr

tenthare1956.blogspot.com

Source: https://thephiladelphiacitizen.org/citizen-mystery-shopper-part-12-2/

Citizen Mystery Shopper (Part 14)

Read More than

Mystery Shoppers