I find this an interesting concept on how local governments are starting to deal with deep budget cuts.  I wonder what other services could become on-line like this – and the bigger question of what government services *should* be delivered like this.  I found the recent app contest to be an interesting concept – and considered a few entry ideas myself.  Right now, there is already an iPhone app that allows you to report problems – but only for city-owned lands. However, it appears individual departments aren’t waiting for others to come up with ideas for them:

Last week, the City of Portland launched a pilot program that encourages neighbors to send in online complaints with photographs of overgrown grass and weeds on other people’s lawns.  Offending property owners could face fines of $216 a month.  The city requirement is that grass be less than 10 inches high.

The Bureau of Development Services ran into deep financial problems last year when building permits and fees dried up because construction slowed amid the recession. The bureau responded to the reduction by slashing jobs (they laid off 18 people of their 34 – over half the staff) . One of the first casualties was the enforcement program for getting rid of neighborhood eyesores and hazards like dry grass, which can cause fires.

One consequence of complaining online is that the names of people who inform on their neighbors will become a matter of public record, so there’s no hope of remaining anonymous. (BDS says it won’t volunteer the name of the complainant to the bad neighbor, however.)

So, if you wanna rat out your neighbors, go here:
http://portlandonline.com/bds/gwcomplaints