Center ranks El Paso 10th in cities using technology to aid, engage residents

When it comes to free Wi-Fi accessibility — from buses and city buildings to libraries and recreation centers — El Paso is among the top 10.

According to the Center for Digital Government, El Paso was No. 10 in a list of U.S. cities with populations over 500,000 that use technology to improve resident services, enhance transparency and encourage engagement.

The cities of Los Angeles, Albuquerque and San Diego respectively came in first, second and third.

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"Thanks to the efforts of these innovative cities, citizens can now meaningfully interact with city government more easily than in any other time in history," said Teri Takai, executive director of the Center for Digital Government on its Website article.

El Paso made the cut because of its variety of engagement and mobile-first strategies, according to officials.

“El Paso has a mobile-strong strategy and has worked on new content management to ensure that the city websites are available for citizens and staff,” said Enrique Martinez, director of the city's Department of Information Technology Services.

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The city also was recognized for upgrading all city websites to a new content management system, having an online agenda management system, which streamlines creation of City Council agendas, and having City TV, an award-winning municipal TV station with livestream capabilities and programming available on YouTube.

The city also has "Ask Laura," an artificial intelligence virtual information officer who can answer website visitors’ purchasing questions and a pay-by-cellphone app for remote payment of parking meters.

María Cortés González may be reached at 546-6150; mcortes@elpasotimes.com; @EPTMaria on Twitter.