By Lookout Staff

February 9, 2010 -- Got an iPhone. With just a tap, you can now let the City know that pothole needs filling, that tree needs a trim and that graffiti's got to go.

With the launch of the City’s new GORequest mobile applet, all iPhone users need to do is open the applet, select an issue, take a picture, and tap submit – the applet knows the exact location and sends the issue directly to the staff member who can fix it.

“Santa Monica is known to be a leader in the use of technology for providing information and services to the public," said Jory Wolf, the City's Chief Information Officer.

"The new mobile applet is the latest example of the City using technology for connecting government with the community and for improved customer service,” he said.

The new program takes advantage of the GPS and camera built into the iPhone, making it

simple to alert City officials from anywhere at anytime "without ever going to an office, making a phone call or sitting down at a computer," City officials said.

The photo and the precise location go directly to the right person who can fix the issue, officials said. Users will receive status updates on their requests.

The new program will both improve service and save the City money, Wolf said.

The iPhone applet is downloaded from the iPhone App Store by searching for GORequest.

If you don't have an iPhone, don't fret. The applet is the latest enhancement to the City’s citizen relationship management (CRM) solution, called GO Santa Monica, from Government Outreach, Inc., who plans to develop a similar mobile application for other handheld devices.