Is the Inland Empire Receiving TARP Funds?
December 10, 2009
Yesterday evening I had the opportunity to attend the ESRI/University of Redlands Town and Gown program in which the speaker was Earl Devaney, Chairman, Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board. Mr Devaney was in Redlands to Meet with ESRI administrators and staff. An important process in establishing accountability and transparency for the TARP funds is the creation of an interactive web site. The use of the GIS mapping software has made the information posted on the site accessible to any person interested in learning how these funds are being allocated.
The site is http://www.recovery.gov/ and does not require user names or passwords. The home page features a map of the USA. By clicking on a state, you go to information on allocations to the state. The site allows you to enter a zip code and obtain information for that municipality. It takes a little experimentation to navigate, but once you get an understanding of how to open the multiple windows, the information obtainable is unbelievable.
You can learn to whom the monies were awarded, how much of the grant or contract has been spent and whether or not it created any jobs.
The site just went up in October and the next updated postings will be in January or February.
The site is interactive and includes facebook and other social networks. Citizens can report their concerns about the recipients and about how the funds have been allocated.
For the first time, citizens can take an active role in monitoring government spending. The word used yesterday evening was "transformational".
Washington may not be acquainted with the local recipient, but local citizens are and the hope is that citizens will be motivated to critique the use of the funds. The hope is that enough citizens care and will participate in the monitoring process. Let's make sure that the funds received in the Inland Empire play their intended role in our economic recovery.
Yesterday evening I had the opportunity to attend the ESRI/University of Redlands Town and Gown program in which the speaker was Earl Devaney, Chairman, Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board. Mr Devaney was in Redlands to Meet with ESRI administrators and staff. An important process in establishing accountability and transparency for the TARP funds is the creation of an interactive web site. The use of the GIS mapping software has made the information posted on the site accessible to any person interested in learning how these funds are being allocated.
The site is http://www.recovery.gov/ and does not require user names or passwords. The home page features a map of the USA. By clicking on a state, you go to information on allocations to the state. The site allows you to enter a zip code and obtain information for that municipality. It takes a little experimentation to navigate, but once you get an understanding of how to open the multiple windows, the information obtainable is unbelievable.
You can learn to whom the monies were awarded, how much of the grant or contract has been spent and whether or not it created any jobs.
The site just went up in October and the next updated postings will be in January or February.
The site is interactive and includes facebook and other social networks. Citizens can report their concerns about the recipients and about how the funds have been allocated.
For the first time, citizens can take an active role in monitoring government spending. The word used yesterday evening was "transformational".
Washington may not be acquainted with the local recipient, but local citizens are and the hope is that citizens will be motivated to critique the use of the funds. The hope is that enough citizens care and will participate in the monitoring process. Let's make sure that the funds received in the Inland Empire play their intended role in our economic recovery.
posted by shirley harry at 8:10 AM
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