UPDATED: 7:34pm March 19, 2012
Fellow Lincolnites, Mayor Chris Beutler wants to hear from you in the annual “Taking Charge Citizen Satisfaction Survey“. Input will be taken through this Wednesday, March 21.
I have just filled out the survey myself and would advise making use of the comment box at its conclusion. Long time readers of this site and GiN members may recall a Local View column written by Linda in 2009, which was published in the Lincoln Journal Star. She wrote the column following some GiN members’ participation in that year’s in-person input session, which is conducted in the months following the online survey. Note that part of Linda’s formal education, training, and some of her professional experience is in the arena of public policy analysis. In fact, some of her education was received via the University of Nebraska Public Policy Center (see graphic, below). The article we published on the GiN site – a somewhat expanded version of the LJS Local View column, “City of Lincoln Budget Process: The Mayor’s Approach is Flawed” – points out problems with the construction of the input session.
I cite Linda’s 2009 article because I noticed some similar problems with construction of this year’s survey. Using the comment box to articulate specific reasons for at least some of the opinions given should result in less open-ended interpretations by those gathering the data.
Beyond what I’ve already stated, I will not attempt in any way to influence readers in regards to their survey input. But, for anyone who might be generally curious, the song included at the end of this article might provide some insight… 
Click on the image below to participate.
NOTE REGARDING CONCERNS ABOUT PRIVACY: I received a complaint on Facebook regarding the fact that I recommended people participate in this survey. The word “stunned” was actually used. While criticism always stings, of course, I am actually GLAD to have someone show their concern.
The reason the person was stunned, they stated, regarded why I would encourage people to engage in an effort to help the City collect data. Again, glad that people are becoming more concerned!
Outside of the possibility of IP address1 capturing – something you DO risk with every website you visit, fyi! – information about you is not requested when you participate in the survey UNLESS you are interested in participating in the in-person input session (like the one mentioned above in 2009).
In other words, if you do not wish your contact information to be collected in association with the survey you fill out, say “no” to the question regarding that participation, and you shouldn’t be asked for that information.
Finally on this point – since there are no evident concerns about helping the City to collect data, especially in association with anyone who is registering negative opinions, I say that if more people in Lincoln do not 1) pay more attention to what City government is doing 2) understand how City government’s policies affect their lives {including the business climate, taxation, “Cleaner Greener Lincoln”, etc.}, the only people giving input will be those who want more spending!
Click the image to take the survey
- There is readily available technology that website owners / managers can set up which allows the automatic capture of IP addresses from individuals who visit a particular website. Email address and other information can be procured with an IP address. I have personally experienced, on multiple occasions, when a mere visit to a website has resulted in my receipt of an email from a website, either immediately following, or soon after my visit, despite the fact that I did nothing but visit the site. ↩
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