The GetLAMoving.com Action Plan
In the 2004 election the internet helped draft a presidential candidate and catapult another into frontrunner status. And almost 20 months before the 2008 election, the strength of this media and networking tool was already apparent. The net is such a powerful political organizing tool because at a very low cost people who are geographically distanced can come together to strategize and publicize. Each individual brings certain talents, energy and personal networks, which begets more individuals - more talents, energy, networks and investments. Tasks that in the past required conventions and countless conference calls can be accomplished through email, blogs and community forums.
Some time late last year the transition from conceptual map to organizational plan occurred. I was encouraged by the response from the local blogs and outpouring of support when people found out what we were doing on the Transit Coalition and SkyscraperPage forums. But it primarily was a result of a survey and calculation using my background as a political activist and operative.
Seeing gas surge above $3 a gallon, the environment return to the top tier of political issues, and traffic relief become the #1 priority of Los Angeles voters, I and others were unsatisfied with the lack of action and vision from our politicians. There appeared to be a disconnect, and in such situations it has always been my instinct to rally the people to force political change.
Below the cut is the GetLAMoving.com action plan. It’s a general explanation of how we indend to build this movement through this website. As always we want to know what you think. What are we missing? What should be a higher priority?
To achieve our long term goals, we need a temporary site, which can be as simple as the map with a manner for people to sign up for more information and offer to help, and possibly a blog. The primary purpose of the temporary site is to increase the size of the group working on the website, while also establish ourselves as a link.
The eventual goal is an activist–oriented website, using proven campaign online outreach principles and tactics, with the primary objective of constantly and progressively activating average voting citizens for the cause of increasing mass transit in Los Angeles County. The success of the website will in large part depend on it’s ability to turn site visitors simply interested in mass transit into mass transit activists by directing them to existing coalitions and providing the forum, materials and support to create new ones and grow the movement.
To achieve this goal the multilingual website will need:
- Content to persuade visitors that a countywide urban rail system is possible, desirable and necessary including:
- Succinct explanations of complicated issues, frequently using maps and other illustrations, and interactive technology
- Explanation of current and possible bureaucratic structures, funding mechanisms and construction techniques
- References to comparable existing and planned rail transportation construction projects across the globe
- References to MTA and predecessor agency documents and accomplishments
- Explanation of the history of rail in Southern California.
- Networking tools that allow and encourage site visitors:
- Join the web community
- Become stakeholders
- Convince them their participation, ideas and talents are desired and will have an impact.
- Lobbying tools to:
- Communicate support to existing stakeholders, public officials and the media
- Respond to specific movement needs, allowing the site to become a primary route for contacting politicians, stakeholders and the media when necessary.
- Communication tools to encourage visitors to reference the website to ensure that the site readership and email list progressively grow in size and diversity.
- Downloadable general and constituency-focused outreach material and paraphernalia to increase awareness of the plan and website offline.
- A frequently updated blog, with a variety of authors of diverse backgrounds commenting on transportation and alternative/clean energy issues, which will allow the site to remain dynamic and sticky and to develop partnerships and engage the local and transit-related blogosphere.
- Compatibility with existing online networks such as YouTube, MySpace and Facebook.