California Forward, a nonpartisan, non profit organization whose mission is to bring government closer to the people has highlighted the efforts of Long Beach Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske in its “State of Transparency in California: 2013” report.
The report,
which is an analysis that explores the core
issues of governmental accountability and transparency in California, was
released this week to coincide with Sunshine Week, which is an initiative
promoting dialogue about the importance of having an open government and being
able to access public information. Three cities are highlighted as “City Hall
Success Stories in Public Engagement” in the report. The first story discusses
the efforts of Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske to make Long Beach more open,
transparent and accountable:
Long
Beach Launches “Open Up Long Beach” In January of 2012 Councilwoman Gerrie
Schipske of the City of Long Beach took public education and transparency
efforts one step further. Her initiative “Open Up Long Beach” provides
residents with increased access to the city’s every day affairs and includes
opportunities to learn about what individual council members are working on,
what committees they sit on and what projects they spearhead. The project
combines an online resource with “Open Up Long Beach” community meetings.
“I am very
honored that California Forward has acknowledged ‘Open Up Long Beach’,” says
Schipske. “I agree that with so many difficult decisions facing local
government that the demand and need for transparency is great. I am doing what
I can to make certain that Long Beach is open, transparent and accountable.”
Schipske
frequently writes on her two blogs (www.openuplongbeach.com and www.gerrieschipske.com) , Facebook and
Belmont Shore Patch on the issues before city council and posts city documents that provide readers
with background information on the issues. She also sends email alerts on
events and issues and has launched a “behind the scenes” tour of city
operations to give residents a closer look at how their government and its
agencies operate. To date, Open Up Long Beach has visited: the oil islands,
SERRF waste to energy plant, the Emergency Operations Center, the Long Beach
Health and Human Services department and laboratories, and the inter workings
of the Aquarium of the Pacific. Schipske was the first councilmember to post
her schedule on line and to provide a 24/7 problem/complaint system on the city
website.