{"id":112,"date":"2019-03-29T00:35:51","date_gmt":"2019-03-29T00:35:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/council.nyc.gov\/data\/?page_id=112"},"modified":"2022-11-10T18:07:38","modified_gmt":"2022-11-10T18:07:38","slug":"311-agency","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/council.nyc.gov\/data\/311-agency\/","title":{"rendered":"Are City Agencies Responding to 311?"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3> 311 Service Requests<\/h3>\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"columns large-5\">\n<p>    First launched in 2003, <a href=\"https:\/\/www1.nyc.gov\/311\/\">New York\u2019s 311 Customer Service Center (known as \u201c311\u201d)<\/a> allows New York City residents to receive information, register complaints and access non-emergency services.<\/p>\n<p>Today, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www1.nyc.gov\/311\/\">311<\/a> system fields more than 42 million individual contacts per year \u2013 more than any municipal non-emergency line in the nation.<\/p>\n<p>While both 311 and cooperating agencies attempt to provide appropriate responses to complaints in reasonable time, they do not always succeed.<\/p>\n<p>Analyzing the problem proves challenging. Publicly available data on 311 requests indicate that complaint resolutions are not always reported accurately.<\/p>\n<p>For a surprising number of requests, issues are not addressed and resolutions stated by 311 are vague or inadequate.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"columns large-4\">\n    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/council.nyc.gov\/public-advocate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/74\/2019\/01\/01_29_19__06.jpg\" alt=\"311 on Mobile App\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"columns large-3\">\n    <a class=\"button expanded\" href=\"https:\/\/council.nyc.gov\/data\/\">Home<\/a><\/p>\n<div align=\"center\">\n<div class=\"callout\">\n<h4 class=\"header-tiny\">2018<\/h4>\n<div style=\"color:#228AE6\">\n          <i class=\"fas fa-bullhorn fa-4x\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/div>\n<p>Top Issue<br \/>\n<strong>All Noise<\/strong><br \/>\n<small>436,941 Requests<\/small><\/p>\n<hr>\n<div style=\"color:#D05D4E\">\n          <i class=\"far fa-hand-paper fa-4x\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/div>\n<p>Most Requested Agency<br \/>\n<strong>NYPD<\/strong><br \/>\n<small>269,669 Requests<\/small><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a class=\"button expanded\" href=\"https:\/\/nycopendata.socrata.com\/Social-Services\/311-Service-Requests-from-2010-to-Present\/erm2-nwe9\" style=\"margin-bottom:0;\">Download the Data <i class=\"fa fa-bar-chart \" ><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<hr>\n<h3>Top 311 Requests<\/h3>\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"columns large-4\">\n        The top 311 requests for 2018 involve building conditions and basic quality of life concerns like noise, parking, and trash collection.<\/p>\n<h4 class=\"header-tiny\">311 Issues<br \/>\n<small> % of All Requests<\/small><\/h4>\n<p class=\"text-small\">\n            <span style=\"display:inline-block;background:#F59F00;height:0.75rem;width:0.75rem;margin-right:0.5rem;\"><\/span>All Noise (16.9%)<br \/>\n<span style=\"display:inline-block;background:#12B886;height:0.75rem;width:0.75rem;margin-right:0.5rem;\"><\/span>Heat \/ Hot Water (8.6%)<br \/>\n<span style=\"display:inline-block;background:#82C91E;height:0.75rem;width:0.75rem;margin-right:0.5rem;\"><\/span>Large Bulky Item Collection (7.0%)<br \/>\n<span style=\"display:inline-block;background:#228AE6;height:0.75rem;width:0.75rem;margin-right:0.5rem;\"><\/span>Illegal Parking (6.3%)<br \/>\n<span style=\"display:inline-block;background:#2F56A6;height:0.75rem;width:0.75rem;margin-right:0.5rem;\"><\/span>Blocked Driveway (5.3%)<br \/>\n<span style=\"display:inline-block;background:#D05D4E;height:0.75rem;width:0.75rem;margin-right:0.5rem;\"><\/span>Street Condition (3.9%)<br \/>\n<span style=\"display:inline-block;background:#BE4BDB;height:0.75rem;width:0.75rem;margin-right:0.5rem;\"><\/span>Unsanitary Condition (3.2%)<br \/>\n<span style=\"display:inline-block;background:#228AE6;height:0.75rem;width:0.75rem;margin-right:0.5rem;\"><\/span>Street Light Condition (2.9%)<br \/>\n<span style=\"display:inline-block;background:#12B886;height:0.75rem;width:0.75rem;margin-right:0.5rem;\"><\/span>Water System (2.8%)<br \/>\n<span style=\"display:inline-block;background:#82C91E;height:0.75rem;width:0.75rem;margin-right:0.5rem;\"><\/span>Plumbing (2.3%)<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"columns large-8\">\n            <center><\/p>\n<h4 class=\"header-tiny\">Top 311 Request Types<small> 2018<\/small><\/h4>\n<p><\/center><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex-video\" style=\"padding-bottom:70%;\">\n              <iframe src=\"https:\/\/newyorkcitycouncil.github.io\/datavis\/templates\/barhorizontal27\/\" title=\"Top 311 Request Types 2018\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<hr>\n<h3>Top 311 Agency Responders<\/h3>\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"columns large-5\">\n              The <strong>New York Police Department (NYPD)<\/strong> fields the most requests, followed by <strong>Housing Preservation and Development (HPD)<\/strong>, <strong>Department of Transportation (DOT)<\/strong>, <strong>Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)<\/strong>, and <strong>Department of Sanitation (DSNY)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h4 class=\"header-tiny\">311 Request by Agency<small> % of All Requests<\/small><\/h4>\n<p class=\"text-small\">\n                <span style=\"display:inline-block;background:#82C91E;height:0.75rem;width:0.75rem;margin-right:0.5rem;\"><\/span>NYC Police Department <small>NYPD<\/small> (29.0%)<br \/>\n<span style=\"display:inline-block;background:#12B886;height:0.75rem;width:0.75rem;margin-right:0.5rem;\"><\/span>Department of Housing Preservation and Development <small>HPD<\/small> (23.0%)<br \/>\n<span style=\"display:inline-block;background:#228AE6;height:0.75rem;width:0.75rem;margin-right:0.5rem;\"><\/span>Department of Sanitation <small>DSNY<\/small> (15.4%)<br \/>\n<span style=\"display:inline-block;background:#2F56A6;height:0.75rem;width:0.75rem;margin-right:0.5rem;\"><\/span>Department of Transportation <small>DOT<\/small> (11.2%)<br \/>\n<span style=\"display:inline-block;background:#F59F00;height:0.75rem;width:0.75rem;margin-right:0.5rem;\"><\/span>Department of Environmental Protection <small>DEP<\/small> (7.4%)<br \/>\n<span style=\"display:inline-block;background:#D05D4E;height:0.75rem;width:0.75rem;margin-right:0.5rem;\"><\/span>Department of Buildings <small>DOB<\/small> (3.6%)<br \/>\n<span style=\"display:inline-block;background:#BE4BDB;height:0.75rem;width:0.75rem;margin-right:0.5rem;\"><\/span>Department of Parks and Recreation <small>Parks<\/small> (3.2%)<br \/>\n<span style=\"display:inline-block;background:#228AE6;height:0.75rem;width:0.75rem;margin-right:0.5rem;\"><\/span>Department of Finanance <small>DOF<\/small> (2.1%)<br \/>\n<span style=\"display:inline-block;background:#12B886;height:0.75rem;width:0.75rem;margin-right:0.5rem;\"><\/span>Department of Health and Mental Hygiene <small>DOHMH<\/small> (1.9%)<br \/>\n<span style=\"display:inline-block;background:#82C91E;height:0.75rem;width:0.75rem;margin-right:0.5rem;\"><\/span>Taxi and Limousine Commission <small>TLC<\/small> (0.8%)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"columns large-7\">\n                <center><\/p>\n<h4 class=\"header-tiny\">Top 311 Responding Agencies by Volume<small> 2018<\/small><\/h4>\n<p><\/center><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex-video\" style=\"padding-bottom:70%;\">\n                  <iframe src=\"https:\/\/newyorkcitycouncil.github.io\/datavis\/templates\/bar16\/\" title=\"Top 311 Responding Agencies by Volume\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<hr>\n<h3>Longest 311 Response Time by Issue Type<\/h3>\n<p><em>Longest Average Response Time by Per Issue in Days 2018<\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"columns large-8\">\n<div align=\"center\">\n<div class=\"flex-video\" style=\"padding-bottom:70%;\">\n                      <iframe src=\"https:\/\/newyorkcitycouncil.github.io\/datavis\/templates\/barhorizontal23\/\" title=\"Longest 311 Response Time by Issue Type\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"columns large-4\">\n                    Some issues take longer to close out than others.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Dead\/Dying Tree:<\/strong> 89 Days<\/li>\n<li><strong>For Hire Vehicle Complaint:<\/strong> 72 Days<\/li>\n<li><strong>Graffiti:<\/strong> 69 Days<\/li>\n<li><strong>New Tree Request:<\/strong> 62 Days<\/li>\n<li><strong>Food Establishment:<\/strong> 60 Days<\/li>\n<li><strong>Taxi Complaint:<\/strong> 51 Days<\/li>\n<li><strong>Illegal Tree Damage:<\/strong> 47 Days<\/li>\n<li><strong>Special Projects Inspection Team (SPIT):<\/strong> 41 Days<\/li>\n<li><strong>Vacant Lot:<\/strong> 37 Days<\/li>\n<li><strong>School Maintenance:<\/strong> 36 Days<\/li>\n<li><strong>Plumbing:<\/strong> 32 Days<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<hr>\n<h3>311 Response Types<\/h3>\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"columns large-6\">\n                    While responses to complaints vary greatly depending on the agency, complaint type, and outcome of the complaint, resolutions can be grouped into a handful of categories:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Did Not Observe:<\/strong> The complaint reported was not observed<\/li>\n<li><strong>Fixed:<\/strong> The issue has been resolved<\/li>\n<li><strong>No Action Taken:<\/strong> The investigating agency either determines a complaint was not warranted, or does not act beyond the investigation<\/li>\n<li><strong>Ambiguous:<\/strong> The resolution description offers no clarity as to whether the issue was resolved or not<\/li>\n<li><strong>Duplicate:<\/strong> The complaint is marked as a duplicate of a previous complaint<\/li>\n<li><strong>Ongoing:<\/strong> The resolution description indicates the issue is under investigation\/in progress<\/li>\n<li><strong>Violations Issued:<\/strong> The investigating agency issued a violation<\/li>\n<li><strong>Wrong Agency:<\/strong> The complaint was forwarded to an incorrect agency.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"columns large-6\">\n<div class=\"row collapse\">\n<div class=\"columns medium-4 medium-push-8\">\n<div class=\"show-for-medium\" style=\"padding-top:4rem;\"><\/div>\n<p class=\"text-small\">\n                          <span style=\"display:inline-block;background:#228AE6;height:0.75rem;width:0.75rem;margin-right:0.5rem;\"><\/span>Did Not Observe (24.8%)<br \/>\n<span style=\"display:inline-block;background:#82C91E;height:0.75rem;width:0.75rem;margin-right:0.5rem;\"><\/span>Fixed (21.5%)<br \/>\n<span style=\"display:inline-block;background:#BE4BDB;height:0.75rem;width:0.75rem;margin-right:0.5rem;\"><\/span>No Action Taken (18.7%)<br \/>\n<span style=\"display:inline-block;background:#D05D4E;height:0.75rem;width:0.75rem;margin-right:0.5rem;\"><\/span>Ambiguous (17.3%)<br \/>\n<span style=\"display:inline-block;background:#F59F00;height:0.75rem;width:0.75rem;margin-right:0.5rem;\"><\/span>Ongoing (6.2%)<br \/>\n<span style=\"display:inline-block;background:#A07952;height:0.75rem;width:0.75rem;margin-right:0.5rem;\"><\/span>Duplicate (5.5%)<br \/>\n<span style=\"display:inline-block;background:#12B886;height:0.75rem;width:0.75rem;margin-right:0.5rem;\"><\/span>Violation Issued (4.8%)<br \/>\n<span style=\"display:inline-block;background:#2F56A6;height:0.75rem;width:0.75rem;margin-right:0.5rem;\"><\/span>Wrong Agency (0.8%)<br \/>\n<span style=\"display:inline-block;background:#666666;height:0.75rem;width:0.75rem;margin-right:0.5rem;\"><\/span>Other (0.4%)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"columns medium-8 medium-pull-4\">\n                          <center><\/p>\n<h4 class=\"header-tiny\">311 Response Types<\/h4>\n<h4 class=\"header-tiny\"><small> Cases Created 2018<\/small><\/h4>\n<p><\/center><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex-video\" style=\"padding-bottom:90%;\">\n                            <iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/newyorkcitycouncil.github.io\/datavis\/templates\/doughnut25\/\" title=\"311 Response Types\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<hr>\n<h3>311 Responses by Agency<\/h3>\n<p><em>Cases Created 2018<\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex-video\" style=\"padding-bottom:60%;\">\n                      <iframe src=\"https:\/\/newyorkcitycouncil.github.io\/datavis\/templates\/stackedbar14\/index.html\" title=\"311 Responses by Agency\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<h5>Top Volume Agency 311 Responses<\/h5>\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"columns large-6\">\n<p>                          Agencies have different ways of denoting a resolution to a case. Some agencies provide ambiguous text regarding closing out a case, while others provide a rich set of accurate information.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"columns large-6\">\n<p>                          Clarity and specificity allows for a quality analysis of the issues that the agency faces, while inaccurate information leaves the public wondering how agencies are truly resolving resident problems.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<hr>\n<h3>Peculiar Response Times<\/h3>\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"columns large-8\">\n                          Certain requests are more likely to be reported with inaccurate response times.<\/p>\n<p>For example, 20% of complaints about rodents were reportedly addressed by the <strong>Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH)<\/strong> before the complaint was submitted.<\/p>\n<p>Some agencies, like <strong>Department of Transportation (DOT)<\/strong>, close out cases quickly at first, then experience a slow down, and finally rush to close out cases. In particular, street sign complaints are mostly resolved within two weeks and then an unusual spike occurs near the six month (180 day) mark where nearly 10% of cases are resolved.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"columns large-4\">\n<div align=\"center\">\n<div class=\"callout\">\n<h4 class=\"header-tiny\"><small>2018<\/small><\/h4>\n<h4 class=\"header-tiny\">Rodent Cases: Negative Time<\/h4>\n<div style=\"color:#D05D4E\">\n                                <i class=\"fa fa-clock-o fa-4x \" ><\/i><\/div>\n<p><strong>23% of Rodent Cases<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<br \/>\n<center><\/p>\n<h4 class=\"header-tiny\">Street Sign Cases: 6 Months to Close<\/h4>\n<p><\/center><\/p>\n<div class=\"responsive-embed\" style=\"padding-bottom:47%;\">\n                          <iframe src=\"https:\/\/newyorkcitycouncil.github.io\/datavis\/templates\/histogram\/\" title=\"Street Sign Cases: 6 Months to Close\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<hr>\n<h3>Vague Responses<\/h3>\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"columns large-8\">\n<p>                              Sometimes, agencies do not clarify the outcomes of the complaints.<\/p>\n<p>Nearly all complaints forwarded to the <strong>Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC)<\/strong> and <strong>Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH)<\/strong> are <em>&#8220;closed&#8221;<\/em>, but the resolution descriptions imply an ongoing case.<\/p>\n<p>The most common resolution associated with a Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) complaints is: <em>\u201cThe taxi and limousine commission will contact you within 14 days to confirm your complaint details. Please note your service request number for future reference.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<p>While these complaints may have been addressed, there is no way to know based on the stated resolution. The actual resolutions are never posted.<\/p>\n<p>Also problematic are the ambiguous responses many agencies use in place of concrete resolution descriptions. Roughly 46% (134,000) of complaints handled by the <strong>Department of Transportation (DOT)<\/strong> in 2018 resulted in an ambiguous description.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"columns large-4\">\n<div align=\"center\">\n<div class=\"callout\">\n<h4 class=\"header-tiny\">TLC Cases: Always Ongoing<\/h4>\n<div style=\"color:#A07952\">\n                                    <i class=\"fa fa-taxi fa-4x \" ><\/i><\/div>\n<p><strong>100% of Cases<\/strong><\/p>\n<hr>\n<h4 class=\"header-tiny\">Transportation Cases: Ambiguous<\/h4>\n<div style=\"color:#BE4BDB\">\n                                      <i class=\"fa fa-road fa-4x \" ><\/i><\/div>\n<p><strong>46% of Cases<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>A common vague response from the Department of Transportation (DOT) states: <em>\u201cService request status for this request is available on the department of transportation\u2019s website. Please click the Learn More link below.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>For rodents complaints through the <strong>Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH)<\/strong>, the most common response is: <em>&#8220;The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene will review your complaint to determine appropriate action.  Complaints of this type usually result in an inspection.  Please call 311 in 30 days from the date of your complaint for status.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Department of Sanitation (DSNY)<\/strong> has the most substantive responses amongst the top responding agencies, with over 95% of case responses either <em>\u201cFixed\u201d,\u201dDid Not Observe\u201d, \u201cNo Action Taken\u201d, \u201cNo Violation\u201d<\/em>, or <em>\u201cViolations Issued\u201d<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Vague, misleading, or inaccurate resolution descriptions mean it can be nearly impossible to track whether an issue has been resolved.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><i class=\"fas fa-comments\" style=\"color:#2F56A6\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>&nbsp;For feedback, comments, and questions please email <a href=\"mailto:datainfo@council.nyc.gov\"><strong>DataInfo@council.nyc.gov<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Created by the <a href=\"https:\/\/council.nyc.gov\/data\/\"><strong>NYC City Council Data Team<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>New York City Agencies have differing levels of adequacy when responding to 311<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":134,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-112","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/council.nyc.gov\/data\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/112","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/council.nyc.gov\/data\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/council.nyc.gov\/data\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/council.nyc.gov\/data\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/134"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/council.nyc.gov\/data\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=112"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/council.nyc.gov\/data\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/112\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/council.nyc.gov\/data\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=112"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}