Just a quick "shout-out" to City Council

[Pghuser]

Originally Posted by Evergrey

How does she compare to Dan Deasy?

Both door knobs.

[Moby Hick]

Originally Posted by Pghuser

It's more that that Environmental Services department is the best run department in the city.

I don't know enough about other departments to say "best" or not, but they've always done a good job and I've never had any issue with them in ten years.

[youngabe]

Originally Posted by I_Like_Spam

I'm glad it all worked out well for you.

But why didn't you just call Environmental Services first, and then if you didn't get a response phone the mayor's office.

Ms. Kail-Smith is in the legislative branch, the refuse collectors don't report her, they report to the executive branch and ultimately to Mr. Peduto.

I did. I called Environmental Services first. The woman that answered had an attitude and acted like she did me a favor by picking up the phone. A trash foreman came out and took care of the surface issue, but then left me a note I didn't understand. That's when I reached out to Kail-Smith, who then got Bill Klimovich involved. (I see another person mentioned his name.) He was great to talk to on the phone and was 100% accommodating.

[szug-bot]

Originally Posted by youngabe

...The woman that answered had an attitude and acted like she did me a favor by picking up the phone. A trash foreman came out and took care of the surface issue, but then left me a note I didn't understand....

so yea, the administrators give customer service. the people who actually do the work? lousy. there is a difference potential and kinetic. see, kail-smith and klimovich shouldnt have had to be called at all.
i dont mean to rain on the successful outcome of your story, abe - im pointing out what maybe one large, overlooked problem in the fuctioning of this city is...and i dont mean the suits.

[youngabe]

Originally Posted by szug-bot

so yea, the administrators give customer service. the people who actually do the work? lousy. there is a difference potential and kinetic. see, kail-smith and klimovich shouldnt have had to be called at all.
i dont mean to rain on the successful outcome of your story, abe - im pointing out what maybe one large, overlooked problem in the fuctioning of this city is...and i dont mean the suits.

You're exactly right. I've called some other city offices and the people that answer the phone have such an attitude, I personally would have to physically TRY to sound as sharp and nasty as they do. It can't be THAT bad of a job, right? I assume they all have a decent benefits package and are a standard 8 to 430. If I treated clients at work like those folks do, I would be out on my ass...fast!

[szug-bot]

Originally Posted by youngabe

You're exactly right. I've called some other city offices and the people that answer the phone have such an attitude, I personally would have to physically TRY to sound as sharp and nasty as they do. It can't be THAT bad of a job, right? I assume they all have a decent benefits package and are a standard 8 to 430. If I treated clients at work like those folks do, I would be out on my ass...fast!

often times, its a 'snow job' (am i showing my age with that never used term?) if you are lucky enough to meet with a department head, an engineer, or other city offiicial, you get treated like a rock star. but i wonder if your 311 call, or your well-written, reasonably brief letter are then put into the "stuff to shred for Jeanine the secretary with big hair" pile.

if you somehow end up talking face to face with a city technician or surveyor or inspector, you get their opinion on their bosses....and usually its sour grapes. you have to be a real pain in the butt...i mean, have SOME seat of prominence - be rich and somewhat well known, the publisher of a neighborhood paper, or the chair of a neighborhood community group.

and if youre not, get to be THEIR best friend.

thats not a flaw in our system, or our city. thats PEOPLE and the way we are, since the times of Julius Ceasar, i suppose.