Late yesterday I went to the City of Jacksonville’s website. Wednesday is recycle day and though I recycle everything that can be recycled I don’t purchase much in such containers. With that being the case, along with a recycle bin that is three times the size of my trash can, I only set recycle out about every 4-6 weeks.
Recycle is picked up every other week and I seldom keep track of when the next pickup will be. When the recycle bin is ¾ full I go to the city’s website, click on recycle, enter my address and it tells me when my next pick up is.
The city’s website is where you can find out your evacuation route, what council district you’re in, parks and recreation events, and a host of other city services. It is where you can file a complaint and or submit a request, basically it’s where you can go and get answers within a minute or two to questions you used to have to call and wait 15-20 minutes, or longer for.
At least that is what it used to be. The city’s website was shut down last Friday to make “improvements”. The new site was back online yesterday.
Welcome to MyJax
MyJax is your connection to city services and information. Submit a request for service, check the status of your request or find answers to city related questions. One City. One Jacksonville, block by block ensuring quality of life for everyone.
When I tried to access my recycle information I was prompted with;
Create an account here at MyJax with your current address. I didn’t think much about it as I always have to type in my address to get the schedule but when I followed the link I found out I would also be required to provide my name, my email,and my phone number, and that the city would be keeping my information.
Why should I, or any citizen, be required to provide personal information, information that will be kept on the city servers, to obtain answers about basic city services?
We never had to before. We shouldn’t have to now.
It seems there is a data breach every other week. Corporations that handle millions of dollars and have the latest in cyber security have been breached.
The city’s new website doesn’t handle money, at least not yet, but that also doesn’t help alleviate any concerns about them storing my personal information. Websites that handle money have higher standards they must meet with regard to safeguarding personal information. What standards does the city maintain?
I decided to call (904) 630-City and find out. I set the stopwatch on my phone to see how long it would take to get an answer, using the old fashioned way.
I asked about the changes made to the city’s website that require I create an account and by doing so have to divulge personal information.
I also expressed my concerns with the city keeping my information and asked what precautions were being taken to prevent personal information being compromised.
I was told “We’ve made it so it’s easier for you to find the answers you need.”
I countered with, you didn’t make it easier, you’ve forced citizens to give up their personal information.
Why not offer the option to make an account and allow those who choose to opt out to still access the information they need?
I was told “I’ll need to get your name and number and have someone contact you, sir.”
I asked if I should be talking to Nikki Kimbleton, Director of Public Affairs for the City of Jacksonville? Or maybe
Ken Lathrop, Chief Information Officer for the City of Jacksonville, instead?
“We’ll just write up a service request to better serve you, sir.”
The City CSR took down my contact information, I gave him a fake name but had to use my real phone number for the call back and he still tried to get my street and my email address.
Why?
Anyway, the CSR finished up, read everything back to me and said someone would call me soon.
Basically; don’t call us, we’ll call you, because we have your phone number.
From the time I called the city until the call ended 22 minutes 38 seconds had elapsed.
And I still don’t know whether my recycle day is tomorrow or next Wednesday.
