New ‘Go Long Beach’ App

The old Go Long Beach app is out and a new one is up and running.

The new app does many of the things the former app did but with added features.

 “The Go Long Beach app is a useful way to help address community issues,” District 3 Councilwoman Suzie Price said in an emailed blast to her constituents.

“It helps residents report things like needed tree trimming, potholes, sign damage, graffiti, and many other city services. Last year the City Council approved a plan to replace the old Go Long Beach app with an updated Go Long Beach app.”

The new app can be downloaded via the Apple App Store or Google Play.

“If a resident already has the old Go Long Beach App installed, they will see a new button announcing that a new version of the app was released on September 28,” Price wrote in the email headlined “New and Improved Go Long Beach App.”

However, District 3 resident Debbie Davis said the new app is difficult to maneuver and takes more time than the previous one.

“It’s way more complicated,” she said. “I don’t like it.”

Davis was a big fan of the old Go Long Beach app and promoted it to friends. She has made more than 40 reports over the years via her cell phone – things including graffiti, dumped items, potholes, nonworking street lights and even a waste collector leaving a mess after collecting garbage – to which the city sent him back to clean it up.

Davis would take pictures of the problem with her phone and send it in.

Graffiti and other things would get taken care of quickly, she said.

“They respond to all of it,” she said. “The idea is great. I hate it when they fix something that works.”

Davis said the new app asks more questions; for instance, whether the dumped item for sleeping is a mattress or a box spring.

“What difference does it make?” she said. “It requires the same size truck.”

Davis said the old app had an efficient pop-up menu that was user-friendly.

“This one, there’s a whole long thing,” she said. “Now you have to go through some hoops.”

All in all, Davis said she stands behind the app, calling the concept “fantastic,” but hopes it will be simplified.

“Don’t get me wrong, it’s wonderful. It works,” she said. “It’s just more complicated now. They ask more questions than before.”

Davis, 75, said perhaps younger, more computer-savvy people will have a better experience.

“I’m just having a difficult time with the new app,” she said. “The old way was easier.”

The Beachcomber emailed the city Davis’s concerns and a response was provided:

“The new Go Long Beach app provides a newly developed version of the city’s original app and will introduce a number of features, including enhanced language accessibility with the ability to use the app in Spanish, Khmer and Tagalog in addition to English; a comprehensive knowledge base to address the city’s most frequently asked questions; and improved transparency by enabling users to view service requests taking place throughout the city,” explained Long Beach spokeswoman Chelsey Finegan.

“While there have been some growing pains as the city and users fully transition to the new app, we are committed to ensuring the most seamless and user-friendly experience for residents, businesses and visitors who download the new app,” Finegan wrote.

“Our project team is working diligently to address any technical issues during the current soft launch phase to ultimately deliver an app that all will enjoy and find convenient and useful moving forward.

“The city will continue to look at opportunities to expand the app’s capabilities as we receive data and feedback from users. We welcome all comments and feedback, which can be submitted to the city via email at golongbeach@longbeach.gov.”

Davis said she would provide feedback.

“I’m 100 percent behind it,” she said of the app’s concept. “I think it’s fantastic. They just have to work out a few things.”

Davis said she hopes people will use the mobile application.

“It’s a really good thing,” she said. “Hopefully they’ll simplify it.”

Meanwhile, in addition to reporting dumped items, graffiti and nonworking street lights, the app can be used to notify the city of dead animals, public restroom maintenance issues, shoes hanging on wires, street and sidewalk repairs, and others.

It can take up to 48 hours for the request to be reviewed. Then it will be forwarded to the appropriate department for action to be taken.

The app should not be used for emergency situations, however.

For those who prefer using a computer or phone to report problems, they may do so via the city’s website: longbeach.gov/lbrecycles/refuse/illegal-dumping/report-illegal-dumping/ or by calling (562) 570-2876.

kirt@beachcomber.news