Sponsored message
Logged in as
Audience-funded nonprofit news
radio tower icon laist logo
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Subscribe
  • Listen Now Playing Listen

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

Arts & Entertainment

CitySourced Launches at TechCrunch50: Fix Potholes with Your Phone

One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.

citysourced

Imagine if you could make unauthorized graffiti disappear with a shake of your iPhone.... It's not that easy -- yet -- but LA-based FreedomSpeaks.com launched a new mobile tool that comes close.

CitySourced enables anyone with an iPhone to report to 311 with the click of a button. See a pothole, snap a photo, and send it off. With the added geotagging, civic engagement has never been so easy, it's no longer necessary to wait on hold at 3-1-1 and put up with the irritating welcome message from Mayor Tony in both English and Spanish.

CitySourced was one of more than 50 internet startups launched this week at TechCrunch50 in San Francisco and was one a few based in our own backyard. With a few cities, including San Jose, ready to use the tool, Citysourced is already plugged into many 3-1-1 databases and is ready to be put to use as soon as local governments are (attn: LA City Council). For now there is a rudimentary online anti-graffiti form available on the city website (and sometimes it pays).

We talked about CitySourced with co-founders Kurt Daradics and Jason Kiesel in the TechCrunch50 demo pit.

Watch CitySourced's demo at TechCrunch50 below:

Photo via CitySourced website.

One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.

You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.

If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief

Make your tax-deductible donation today