Ald. Flores Brings Even More Transparency to Chicago

By Kate Gardiner in News on May 19, 2009 2:20PM

Ald. Manny Flores (1st) is still fighting the bacterial infection that is traditional Chicago politics - with sunshine. First he, with Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd), pushed hard enough to pass the so-called TIF Sunshine Ordinance. Then he and Ald. Ed Burke (14th) won the baby bottle battle last week. Then he proposed even more legislation requiring city government to clear up its muddy financing via online publishing. And somewhere in there, he was the first alderman to attract our attention to the plight of charity magazine Streetwise. So what's he up to this time? More transparency, combined with his favorite constituent-focused hobbies: social media and cable television.

Flores said in a press release Monday night he, with Mike Bueltmann of Clear Content, and Comcast CN 100, will provide a new Web site and television channel geared towards an interactive, multi-platform audience. "This website will serve as a resource and an impetus for Chicagoans wishing to promote the development of a competitive and lasting economy in our city," said Flores. "It is based ultimately on the philosophy that the most effective government is transparent government that engages the community it governs in each step of policy making."

"This is about clarifying the too often opaque interface between government and the public," said Flores."We've seen it demonstrated in the private sector that ground-level involvement through social media and technologies is an extremely effective way of involving people and transforming information into initiative."

Flores said the website, along with the television program, will be launched Thursday at 10:00 am following a city hall press conference.