The New NYC.gov and the Promise of E-Government
By Mayor Rudy Giuliani

From my first day as Mayor, I have worked to bring greater efficiency and accountability to City government. My administration has been delivering on that promise by cutting crime rates and welfare rolls in half, and creating a safer, cleaner, more fiscally sound city.

But we are always looking for ways to do things better, and extraordinary developments in technology have given us an unprecedented opportunity to replace bureaucratic structures of the 19th Century with a 21st Century technological infrastructure that is directly responsive to the people it serves.

E-government - the use of technology to transform the delivery of government services - is revolutionizing the way citizens interact with their local government. It is providing better services at lower cost and making information more accessible, which will make it easier for people to become more involved in the civic life of their City and State.

Last week at City Hall we unveiled the new NYC.gov portal. It seems only fitting that in the city that never sleeps we now have a government that is available and accessible 24 hours a day - not just for emergency services, but for informational services and traditional business transactions.

Our City's website now offers the public more online information and interactive services, providing users with the ability to interact with City government online, rather than by standing in line. NYC.gov already provides access to over 100 interactive services, more than any other City or State government website.

Visitors to New York City's award-winning government website no longer need to know what City agency is responsible for a particular service delivery, but only the type of information or service they are interested in accessing.

NYC.gov's new design helps New Yorkers, businesses, and visitors find the information and services they need without having to navigate the complex organization of City government. Whether you are looking for information about park events or ordering a birth certificate, this one-stop portal puts New York City at your fingertips.

NYC.gov now allows users to access information using the "Services" directory, which aggregates all City government information into 12 frequently accessed categories. In addition, the "I Want To" directory leads users to information based on what they want to do, as well as the City's agency-based directory.

According to the City's Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications, the most popular website is the NYPD's, which posts neighborhood crime statistics. The Department of Transportation's site features closed-circuit cameras on major roadways to monitor traffic conditions and offers real-time views of traffic routes that could cut your commute time considerably. The Department of Finance offers the ability to pay parking tickets over the Web. The Department of Health posts restaurant inspections.

We are acutely aware of the fact that while computers are becoming increasingly commonplace, not every New Yorker has access to one. That's why the City is deploying Information Kiosks in prominent neighborhood locations such as libraries, train stations and shopping malls throughout the five boroughs. Through these kiosks every e-government function that is available online will be accessible to people without a computer at home.

E-government offers the promise of defining a role for government that is helpful in the daily lives of citizens. If that promise is fulfilled, it will replace the current cynicism about government with a realistic and renewed appreciation of the appropriate role of government in the lives of all New Yorkers.