The first logo was this:
Then, it was most recently this:
What this continues to exemplify is that the City has no unified branding campaign, and therefore, a lack of a solid identity as the City of Los Angeles.
Also, did you know there was a 311 Board Game in the City?
Just for fun, look what other City's are doing for their logos:
14 comments:
I don't understand that game at all. It doesn't really sound like it's very positive about the city.
I think the majority of cities have branding problems. A lot of them have the problem of what to use. Should they use the city seal as a logo? Or should they develop a logo.
City of Calabasas developed a logo based on the falcon (or whatever it is, I forget at the moment). Upon speaking to their city clerk, the bird logo is used with everything to brand the city and the city seal is only seen on official documents and in the council chambers.
I LOVE 3-1-1...I call it about 20 times a day...40 or 50 is probably more like it. I never bother to write the numbers down they give me. it's easier to just call 3-1-1 everytime. And I'd like to remind you:
3-1-1 is not to complain that your neighbor's stereo is too loud, or dog barking or kids selling crack. It's for serious Zuma Dogg buisness...so please don't tie up the operators with that unimportant stuff.
I'm trying to get some answers and hold some shady fools accountable for their fraud, waste and abuse, y'all...
Did 311 replace 411 as a means of finding businesses in Los Angeles and other cities? This is the first time I have heard of 311 and have no clue what it’s used for.
Why can't you call 311 from an office phone or can you? I work in 310 and dial 9 to get out and whenever I dial 311 from work, it simply won't let me.
3-1-1 was started back in 2002 as the first "hotline" in the area. It is billed as "One Call to City Hall."(For the opening ceremony, Tommy Lasorda was the one that called in.) Then, LA County instituted 211 for County info (and I believe Metro has 611 for roadside assistance).
It should work from all phones in the area, even cell phones. You may have to hit "9" to get an outside line on your phone, but it should still work. If it doesn't for some reason, you can dial 1-866-4LACITY.
So, whatever service you need from Bulky Item pick-up to reporting illegal construction or a double-parked car blocking you in - call 311. It's the City's non-emergency number, too, for any city service.
Miles and LA City Nerd,
Thank you for the quick answers to my question. I will give the 311 a try when I return to Los Angeles Monday. I’m unsure if our phones at work still allow outside calls using 9 first, or not?
I'll try the 866 number, thanks.
NYC says 40,000 calls A DAY come into their 3-1-1 (30 million calls logged since the launch in 2003!). Ask a random New Yorker what the 3-1-1 logo looks like, and chances are they'd probably be able to tell you -- NYC advertises in and on busses and subways and there's a bumper sticker on every taxi and city-owned car.
L.A. only gets 45,000 calls MONTHLY, and the only thing they seem to advertise is that that they use "low cost marketing strategies" to promote this great service. What gives?
(and I believe Metro has 611 for roadside assistance).
The 611 number is for your cell phone's customer service. At least it is for Cingular phones.
Metro's Freeway Service Patrol number is 399.
Thanks, Wad. (That's why I prefaced the number I gave with "I believe" - I wasn't really sure what it was, but I knew there was a number you could call.)
FYI. The 3-1-1 board game was created for internal use. It was presented at a meeting for the content editors to encourage them to keep the 3-1-1 Citywide Services Dire ctory (CSD) up to date with city information so that the public and the agents can find the needed information. Each city dept. has assigned editors and approvers to manage their content. Hope that explains the game a bit.
Jacob, LA 311 now receives closer to 80,000 calls per month and is expecting 1 million calls this year. If you are looking for lower wait times you should call anytime between 7pm and 7am. As for advertisement I think the city is attempting to synchronize their marketing with their ability to respond to calls in a timely manner. As the capacity to answer calls increased so does the marketing.
Thanks for the update, anonymous. I called 3-1-1 today to get in touch with the Cultural Affairs Dep't and there was no wait. That I'm still waiting for a call back from their press person is a different story. :)
I still think we should see 3-1-1 ads on Metro busses and trains and bumper stickers on all City cars and trucks (from Rec & Parks to the PD and FD) like NYC does it. That still fits into the "low cost marketing strategies" touted by L.A. on the website.
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