Government Uses ‘Cutting-Edge Technology:’ Texting and Email

Local government wants to keep people in the loop. So the city of Binghamton, New York is rolling out a messaging service. The goal is to use text messages and email to keep citizens informed.

“As top technology changes, we want to continue to embrace current cutting-edge technology and information distribution initiatives,” the city’s mayor tells the Press & Sun-Bulletin newspaper.

The paper adds that city government intends to send “public safety alerts, traffic updates and other urgent information to registered residents via text messages and emails.”

As Mayor Richard David put it earlier this month: “This alert system keeps residents informed and keeps city government on the cutting edge of public safety technology.” The goal, the newspaper adds, is to “undo the perception that government lags behind in the technology game.”

Mission accomplished.