Waldo Jaquith

Have you talked to the folks over at VPAP? It seems like this would fall right into their bailiwick of government transparency and accessibility. Plus, their website works and whatever so I assume someone over there has some technical skills.

Posted by Anna on 13 January 2012 @ 8pm

I had the same thought but I know that VPAP has it’s own fiscal challenges also… and they’re still trying to expand their coverage to all local elections in Va (some day).

I give money to VPAP and I would to sunlight if there were a PayPal button.

VPAP has a type of “honor role” of supporters.

but without slathering it on too much… Sunlight is nothing short of brilliant in functionality and elegance!

I’m reminded of that every time I try to use the “official” Va GA website which probably has a team of highly paid folks but still has a strong whiff of CF at times. I especially get frustrated with them on how they do searches….

but I digress.. I fear that Sunlight left in someone else’s hands who does not appreciate the simple elegance of it’s design and functionality may not do it justice.

So I would hope that whatever happens that Waldo play a big role in deciding who is qualified to operate it and stay close enough to mentor and tutor…

Waldo apparently thinks that Sunlight is a simple thing that has now become perhaps “boring” (probably wrong word)… at any rate.. I do not think caring and feeding for it would be “boring” except for the most bright and capable …. and again.. I do not consider Waldo’s job truly finished until he finds that person to take over the helm.

Thank you Waldo and please don’t go running off until it is in good hands (and put that PayPal button on it and shame those guys in the GA to support it).

Posted by Larry G on 13 January 2012 @ 8pm

How much work are we really talking about here? The idea to post videos online was brilliant for fundraising… and I’m having a hard time even thinking of a good non-profit to hand this off to.

The Virginia Interfaith Center was perfect. Maybe they’ll reconsider?

Posted by Shaun Kenney on 13 January 2012 @ 8pm

Aren’t there other websites similar in purpose? How are they run?

Posted by Malena on 13 January 2012 @ 8pm

Richmond Sunlight is unique when you think that it was basically done by one guy. Most States, perhaps none others have anything like it as far as I know.

there is a National Sunlight website started with a $3.5 million contribution from co-founder Michael Klein and it has a staff of 38!

sunlightfoundation.com/people/

Posted by Larry G on 13 January 2012 @ 9pm

Have you talked to the folks over at VPAP?

Actually, yes—they were interested in taking this on, though didn’t have the capacity to do so just now. But VPAP has a very different approach to data than I do. They don’t have an API. They don’t allow comments. For perfectly reasonable reasons, they see their role as taking information, filtering it, and rebroadcasting it via their website. I, on the other hand, see my role (and Richmond Sunlight’s) as the facilitator of a huge conversation about government, where people can apply tags and create portfolios and debate the merits of legislation, and other sites can take all of that data and use it—every bit of it—for whatever they want.

The difference, of course, is that VPAP is financially healthy, has multiple employees, and will probably be around for years. Richmond Sunlight doesn’t have a penny. :)

I give money to VPAP and I would to sunlight if there were a PayPal button.

That’s a good point. When I asked for contributions last year for video (which I need to do again this year), dozens of people stepped up to the plate—including you, Larry, as I recall—and in less than two days, all of the costs were covered. When a need was identified, people addressed it. If I don’t ask for money, none will be provided. :)

Waldo apparently thinks that Sunlight is a simple thing that has now become perhaps “boring” (probably wrong word)…

Heavens, no! I enjoy the heck of out it, I really do. I bet I’ll be up until 1 AM tonight working on a fun new feature—promoting legislation to people based on their physical location. You’re in Henrico, so here are some bills that specifically mention Henrico. But I really need to tear myself away from it, because there are so many other needs for such websites. It’s a bit like pushing a baby bird out of the nest. He’s a great kid, but he’s got to fly on his own now.

How much work are we really talking about here?

When the legislature is in session, it really needs somebody working 20 hours/week. That’s just for basic maintenance, community management, answering e-mails, etc. Done properly, it would benefit from somebody full-time, who can use that period to enhance the website with new offerings, since there’s never quite as much raw material and inspiration as when the site is alive with legislation. The rest of the year, of course, the needs are much simpler.

The Virginia Interfaith Center was perfect. Maybe they’ll reconsider?

It was just too expensive for them, and really has no connection to the rest of what they do, in terms of technology and mission. When Doug Smith was the executive director, they at least had somebody running the show with tech experience. (He had a .com startup in the nineties, IIRC.) For nearly anybody else who would come on, this website is just a total disconnect for them. If they couldn’t capitalize on it in five years, I don’t think they’re liable to start now. :)

Aren’t there other websites similar in purpose? How are they run?

That’s a great question Malena. I really should make a study of that. There are dozens of open government websites that are at least similar in spirit. Some of them are funded by deep-pocketed grant-making organizations (like my fairy godmother, The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, who is funding The State Decoded), others are labors of love in the manner of Richmond Sunlight. I think to really be sustainable, there has to be a business model. Something of value must be provided, for which money is provided. That might sound obvious, but that’s different than hoping for grants. That might be advertising, that might be a product/service that’s sold, that might be an NPR-style pledge drive.

Posted by Waldo Jaquith on 13 January 2012 @ 11pm

This is a perfect lab project for one of Virginia’s university political science departments – giving students experience with legislation monitoring, analysis, and discussion. I suggest an offering to all state universities, and delivery to the most earnest, responsive, and deserving. Frankly, I am surprised that some innovative faculty member isn’t beating on your door. Gold in a box, ready to go!

Thank you for your service Mr. Jaquith. Well done.

Posted by Bubby Hussein, Hillbilly Sheikh on 14 January 2012 @ 12am

I agree – try one of the universities, either a poli sci dept or journalism department. A friend of mine, Jeff South, teaches at VCU and is interested in data analysis, so maybe he might know where to start.

Posted by Derek Willis on 14 January 2012 @ 7am

well.. I agree with the university idea but Sunlight is a computer tool and needs someone or a team that is capable with computer applications.

Just out of curiosity Waldo – what are the primary software components of the guts of Sunlight?

most really good computer tools these days require dual-discipline skills. 1. computer software/programming skills and 2. – content knowledge

put the two together in the right way and you get really valuable tools.

and FYI – I went back to the States Legislative Info system and tried to do some fairly simple things that are just incredibly easy to do on Sunlight and trying to replicate those things on the State’s site is just atrocious.

that’s what is truly incredible about Sunlight. It’s very, very well done especially when you compare it to other efforts.

Put that Paypal button up and I’ll step up and I bet others will also.

Posted by Larry G on 14 January 2012 @ 8am

I just went to Bearing Drift for unrelated reasons to Sunlight and saw what they’ve done for donations and it’s really COOL! http://bearingdrift.com//

Basically – they show the last 20 donors AND they have a separate list for the latest elected official donors then a third category for donor over $140.

they say than imitation is the sincerest form of flattery…. just saying…

;-)

Posted by Larry G on 14 January 2012 @ 8am

What about coalition on open government? http://www.opengovva.org/

Posted by Mary on 14 January 2012 @ 10am

You’ve created a monster, Waldo. Something that is absolutely essential to those of us interested in the machinations of the General Assembly. And something that, as others have pointed out, requires the operator to have both the technical skill and the content know-how to operate.

Seems to me that there would need to be at least a two-person operation to replace you: a techie with vision, and a GA observer. Perhaps you do need a non-profit entity, in order to raise the funds to hire and train these people.

And then some kind of subscription model, perhaps.

Honestly, I don’t see it happening any other way.

Posted by Vivian J. Paige on 14 January 2012 @ 11am

Just on the point of advertising, I’ve never had any substantial negative responses to the advertising on GovTrack. (There have been a few people here and there who are unhappy seeing political advertising, not understanding that the ads aren’t selected by me, but it’s been a very small number.)

Posted by Josh Tauberer on 14 January 2012 @ 11am

If this were 1998, you could have taken it public and been a billionaire….at least for a couple of years. But you’ve started the ball rolling in the right direction. I can’t imagine mid-winter without RS.

Posted by robert on 14 January 2012 @ 6pm

in terms of advertising, I really don’t have a problem with Va Corporations doing it. I would see that as an endorsement of what RS stands for… at it’s core good government, more transparent government… more accountable government.

some corporations would love to have their name associated with this idea.

so maybe what Waldo needs is someone to help with finding corporations and perhaps trusts that would help support it.

I actually think money won’t be as hard as finding talented staff who understand what a valuable resource RS is to people who depend on it to understand what the GA is doing (or not).

I have few of the skills needed myself as a heavy-duty retired geezer but I’m certainly willing to do my part to help fund RS (as I also do with VPAP).

I can only imagine what Va would be like without RS.

Posted by Larry G on 14 January 2012 @ 6pm

A friend of mine, Jeff South, teaches at VCU and is interested in data analysis, so maybe he might know where to start.

I brought Jeff into the loop a few weeks ago on this, Derek. He and I teamed up last year to provide his students’ Capital News Service articles on Richmond Sunlight, a partnership that I’m really happy with. You’re right, though, I should talk to him about this further—will do.

Just out of curiosity Waldo – what are the primary software components of the guts of Sunlight?

There’s no standard CMS or anything behind it—I built it all out of PHP and MySQL, but it is based on a series of standard, common open source libraries. Any decent LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP) hacker would have no trouble understanding it.

What about coalition on open government? http://www.opengovva.org/

Mary, I was actually on the VCOG board up until I had to step down recently (to avoid the appearance of conflict of interest when I took this job with the White House). VCOG is a lean organization, with a staff of one. A project like this is just way out of the scope of what the organization does, and that’s the very mistake that I think I made with giving the site to the Virginia Interfaith Center.

You’ve created a monster, Waldo. Something that is absolutely essential to those of us interested in the machinations of the General Assembly. And something that, as others have pointed out, requires the operator to have both the technical skill and the content know-how to operate.

You nailed it, Vivian. That’s a problem that I didn’t see clearly until a couple of years ago. (I’ve occasionally posited that a venn diagram of people who are really interested in Virginia government & politics and people who have the know-how and interest in building and running sites like this overlaps on exactly one person: me.) And I intend to create more such sites, and that’s what makes it tempting for me to form a corporation and hire a person or two to run those sites. Otherwise I’m just going to have the same problem over and over again. Maybe. :)

Just on the point of advertising, I’ve never had any substantial negative responses to the advertising on GovTrack. (There have been a few people here and there who are unhappy seeing political advertising, not understanding that the ads aren’t selected by me, but it’s been a very small number.)

Josh, I’m so glad you weighed in on this. When that point was brought up, I thought I recalled that you ran ads, and made a mental note that I should contact you about this. I think I should stop being so dismissive of advertising, and start to look at it more seriously. After all, I intend to run advertising on Virginia Decoded, so why not Richmond Sunlight?

in terms of advertising, I really don’t have a problem with Va Corporations doing it. I would see that as an endorsement of what RS stands for… at it’s core good government, more transparent government… more accountable government.

Larry, you make a good point that had been lost on me. What would be easy is to just run Google ads, but what might be more valuable (both economically and to the site’s readers) would be to actually sell and book ads directly. It’d be a lot more work, but I think that the result could really be much more relevant advertising. Surely there are lobbyists who would be thrilled to spend a grand to promote a legislative agenda via advertising on the site, after all.

OK, I think I’m coming around on the merits of advertising. :)

Posted by Waldo Jaquith on 14 January 2012 @ 7pm

How about the Virginia Press Association?

Posted by bubberella on 14 January 2012 @ 10pm

How about the folks at Charlottesville Tomorrow?

Posted by Lloyd Snook on 14 January 2012 @ 10pm