Too often, the systems we rely on for public input and civic participation are outdated, hard to navigate, or overly reliant on passive forms of outreach. Real engagement means meeting people where they are, giving them clear pathways to participate, and treating their time and input as valuable. That starts with modernizing how we communicate and how government is structured to listen.

Despite the central role government plays in our daily lives—managing streets, schools, safety, water, waste, and more—we rarely fund it in ways that reflect the importance of effective communication. Too often, public agencies are asked to deliver critical services while relying on outdated systems and under-resourced staff to explain them. This disconnect leads to frustration, misinformation, and disengagement. If we want government to be more transparent and accessible, we need to treat communication itself as a core function—not an afterthought. That means investing in the tools, staffing, and strategies that make public information clear, timely, and responsive to the needs of the people it serves.

Government must operate with the same level of service that people expect from other aspects of daily life. Residents shouldn’t have to search endlessly for basic information or wonder how to get involved in decisions that affect their neighborhoods. Traditional newsletters and public meetings are important—but they aren’t enough. We need to shift toward a service-level model of communication, where updates are timely, relevant, and accessible across platforms. Residents deserve to know not just what government is doing, but how they can shape it. That means adopting better digital tools, proactively sharing updates, and improving transparency in ways that reflect how people actually consume information.