July 2008 Archives

Hello!  I had the good fortune of addressing some legislators last week at the National Conference of State Legislatures in New Orleans.  It is always a good sign when technology is on the agenda with legislators.  I was on a panel with Gopal Khanna, the CIO of Minnesota and incoming president of NASCIO and David Clark the Majority House Leader of Utah.  I know both of these fine gentlemen and think very highly of both of them.  We engaged the audience with our topic, "Creating an Effective State IT Policy."

It turns out there are laws against stupid - or at least a policy - after all.  The Port of Seattle enforced its zero tolerance policy on inappropriate use of computing resources after an internal investigation.  The violations proved to be career defining for 19 workers in and around the survey team in the engineering department at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

The Port has not released the full report of an investigation but a one page press release announces the decision to fire 8 employees and terminate 4 contractors for trading e-mails and Internet links that included sexually-explicit photos, sexually-oriented jokes, and jokes about race, gender and national origin.  Another seven employees have been disciplined.

Harsh medicine?  Perhaps.  But these employees and contractors in particular should have known how investigations of inappropriate use end. Just last year, the Port was scandalized when a number of its police officers were caught and subsequently disciplined for sending e-mails the Port Commission called "sexually explicit, sexist and racist."

Anxiety over today's crisis clusters -- including aging and failing public infrastructures (roads, bridges, civil aviation, the electrical grid and the Internet); sustainability (energy costs, climate change, transportation); and, community viability (the interrelated downward spiral of housing and credit markets with its attendant effects on employment and the tax base) -- is showing up in a pair of new public opinion polls.  But they are not pointing in the same direction.

On one hand, a Rasmussen poll found that 61 percent of respondents preferred a smaller government with fewer services and lower taxes rather than a more active government with more services and higher taxes.

On the other hand, respondents to contemporary TIME/Rockefeller Foundation poll looked to "Big Government to solve the biggest problems of our time."  Specifically, they are looking to government for policies and programs that create jobs -including public-work projects (82%), new measures to improve energy efficiency (84%), and initiatives to provide more access to quality health care (77%).  The Rockefeller poll also indicates the younger the respondent, the more they expect of government in getting through the current troubles.

These two polls may not be fully reconcilable except to say that Americans see a vital role for government.  They value it when the need it, and they need it now ... and they want it to be effective (cheap and small).  There is latent transformational potential in all of this through government modernization.

I know, I know.  This is supposed to be about inside scoops on big IT opportunities and trends analysis.  But I am starting a new video show on GTTV all about where to eat in state capitals and wanted to also share some highlights with all our Navigator users.  The deal is that I will share with you as long as you all promise to share your favorite places with me and my blog.

I will begin with a few hot spots in Sacramento.  For breakfast you have to check out either Tower Cafe or The Fox and Goose.   For lunch check out Celestin's, a Caribbean cafe where the gumbo is the best.  Or stop by Willie's Burgers for something messier and more casual.  For dinner you have to try Kru, for  Japanese food with a sophisticated twist.  And just for tradition's sake, you must dine at Biba -- a Sacramento classic and the best pasta in town.  For dessert, I recommend Rick's Dessert Diner.  Or come over to my house as I try to make the best desserts in town.

All of these restaurants are conveniently located in downtown or midtown Sacramento, close to all the government buildings and our state capitol.  Happy eating while you are closing those deals!

Greetings from Kansas City!  We have just completed our 2008 Digital Counties Survey and hosted our awards reception in conjunction with the National Association of Counties at their annual conference.  There were a few points of interest this year regarding our survey and awards.

First of all, we had a packed room of officials from around the country.  Most of this group were county elected officials -- supervisors, commissioners, etc.  Usually the IT crowd stays for the whole reception and awards program.  Some elected officials drop in and collect their award and are off to their next event.  This year, not one elected official left early.  Every single official stayed until the very end.  They were engaged, interested and all ears about getting their counties to number one.  

I have been hosting these types of events for many years and I was really interested in this definite change in the market.  San Diego County took first place in our large county category.  Both the county administrator, Walter Ekard and County Supervisor Greg Cox were present to accept their award.  They both told me this award meant the most to them and they value and understand technology in running modern government.  A county supervisor from Loudoun County had been a community activist who mobilized her community online and only with the internet.  This project launched her political career and she keeps her sights on technology accomplishments in the county.

The stories were tremendous.  The enthusiasm was high.  Counties value technology and handle certain aspects of the heavy lifting of government services.  I highly recommend you watch for opportunities here and make sure local government is in your sales mix.  I personally love local government.  The right decision maker can find funding for what really needs to get done.  Let me know if you need any help.  I am pretty passionate about local government.