San Francisco accepts citizen complaints and reports via Twitter

Government 311 Services via Twitter – The new citizen communications channel?

Local government officials in the City of San Francisco have embraced new Web 2.0 technologies and have today launched the new SF311 twitter service.

SF311 is a twitter based two-way communication channel that allows citizens to communicate with customer service representatives 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year.

The 311 service, first launched as a direct dial telephone services is the primary point of contact for the San Francisco Customer Service Center. This system has now been extended and residents can ‘tweet’ messages to local government officials – requesting information and reporting problems.

Recent residents tweets include:

@SF311 Where can I find a list of indoor gyms run by Recs & Parks and their hours of operation? I scoured SFGov/R&P’s website, but no luck

@SF311 can you add compost bins next to recycling & “trash” at Union Square?

@SF311 please pickup 20″ tv on sidewalk at northwest corner of california street and 19th avenue

One happy resident reported the following:

Sent a dm to @SF311 about a sanitation issue and the city sent a crew out to resolve the problem w/i 2 hours. I was definitely impressed!

Very impressive.

Q. Is this the new model for civic communications?
More information:

“The San Francisco 311 Customer Service Center is the primary point of contact for City and County of San Francisco government general services.”

Official Website: http://www.sfgov.org/site/sf311rfs_index.asp?id=66008

Twitter Profile: http://twitter.com/SF311