Genie N. L. Stowers

Becoming cyberactive: State and local governments on the World Wide Web

This article describes an empirical study of the current level and type of state and local public activity on the World Wide Web (WWW), providing some important baseline information on government activities in this area. Moving governments onto the WWW represents a paradigm shift in the use of technology, and some governments are moving faster and are becoming more innovative than others. Governments are clearly becoming “cyberactive” but are emphasizing information and services for business and other economic development activities rather than dissemination of policy information, encouraging policy discussions, or delivering public services. Internet activity has been growing at a rapid pace during the past several years. Much of this activity has been in the private sector and in education but many U.S. state and local governments have also moved onto the WWW. The purpose of this empirical research is to provide baseline descriptive data on the current level and type of state and local public sector activity on the WWW. Like many other social science phenomena (e.g., public opinion, electoral behavior, and public policy itself), the WWW and Internet activity are dynamic phenomena, constantly changing and reorganizing. This study recognizes that and assumes that the empirical data gathered here are a snapshot in time of the entire public sector WWW phenomena.

Understanding the content and features of open data portals in American cities

Abstract In this paper, we present the results of research on features and content of open data portals in American cities. Five scales are developed to categorize and describe these portals: the Open Data Portal Index (ODPI), Data Content Index (DCI), a compilation of the two (Overall Index), the Number of Datasets and Number of Datasets per 100,000. Regression models explaining variation between cities on these scales indicate city population as an important influence, along with participation in a regional consortium. More variation could be explained in the number of datasets model (79.8%) than in any other model. Overall, results indicate portals are in a very early stage of development and need a great deal of work to improve user help and analysis features as well as inclusion of features to help citizens understand the data, such as more charting and analysis.

User Help and Service Navigation Features in Government Web Sites

This article examines the user help and service navigation features in government Web sites and compares them across levels of government. These features are critical to ensuring that users unfamiliar with government are able to successfully and easily access e-government services and information. The research finds clear patterns in the use of similar help and navigation features across governments, leading to a conclusion that these features are diffusing in the public sector Web development field. The article concludes by stating that Web developers should work to overcome a second digital divide, one of a lack of knowledge of Web site organization and government structure. Users need to be actively assisted to find information by Web developers.

Earmarking as a Strategy Against Budgetary Constraints: San Francisco's Children's Amendment

The passage and implementation of the San Francisco Childrens Amendment or Proposition J, in 1991, represents an important expansion of the increasingly common strategy of budgetary earmarking by human service organizations. The core of the initiative was a city charter amendment that earmarked a portion of existing property taxes and established a baseline budget for childrens services. Of these provisions, the baseline budget has proven most important in preserving childrens services and preventing any substitution effects in a time of increasing fiscal stress for the city/county of San Francisco. This case also illustrates the role of a strong political appeal in passing technical budgetary initiatives over the objections of elected officials and others. While there was concern about the reduced flexibility created by earmarking a citys budget during a period of retrenchment, this concern was overlooked because of the overwhelming political support for the childrens cause. However, conflict between groups was created by the measure as groups fought to be included in the provisions of the amendment and over whether each group had obtained its fair share of funding.

Group Differences in California Community College Transfers

This study explores the extent to which community colleges succeed in assisting students to transfer to four-year colleges. The study uses data from the California Community College system to test hypotheses about overall transfers and transfers of underrepresented students, It utilizes a framework based upon social reproduction theory (Bowles & Gintis, 1976) that also includes institutional factors. First, transfer rates differed significantly between groups, with African-American transfer rates being the lowest. Some of our hypotheses were supported, particularly those on the significance of communities with younger students and higher levels of education for transfer levels. A critical mass of students of underrepresented groups is also important for institutions that wish to transfer higher numbers of these students. Institutional effectiveness and level of funds spent on transfer programs did not appear to make any difference in transfer levels. One of the most important findings is that transfer dynamics are very different for each group, suggesting that administrators and policy-makers need to develop more detailed strategies to encourage higher rates of transfer.

e-Review: Public Policy Web Sites

In this months Review Essay section, we inaugurate a new feature: the e-Review, a brief look at electronic media. Genie Stowers (gstowers@sfsu.edu), B. J. Reed (breed@unomaha.edu), and Linda deLeon (ldeleon@carbon.cudenver.com.) are scheduled to contribute e-Reviews regularly. If you have ideas for reviews or would like to contribute a review, send your ideas or manuscripts to the editor-in-chief and the managing editor. Manuscripts should be no more than four double-spaced, typed pages.

Innovations in Human Services Financing

Many funding innovations have developed in the human services field in the last decade. This paper describes some of those innovations, the trends in these innovations, and suggests other potential developments in the area. Funding innovations in four categories have developed - charges for specific services rendered, dedicated fees or charges, earmarked added-on charges, and earmarked portions of traditional, broad-based funding sources. Several trends may be seen in these developments. First, human service managers have developed considerable entrepreneurial skill, placing an emphasis upon a substantive connection between the funding source and the service funded. At the same time, they are exhibiting conservative implementation strategies by deliberately seeking out new funding sources that have been successfully tested elsewhere. Finally, the need for innovations in this area will increase as traditional funding sources continue to fail to keep pace with increased demand for services.