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511 Has News You Can Use! Or At Least, News That SOMEBODY Can Use, Hopefully

Matt Baume — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 14:27:49 GMT

But hey, this is 511 we're talking about! The most competent information service since Larry, Moe, and Curly's ill-fated map-selling venture! Maybe this new Embarcadero-based "InTransit Kiosk" is actually useful. Have you run into it? Have you used it? Is it, you know, ? We can't help but notice that in the attached press photo, the screen is telling visitors to "visit 511.org for more info," rather than asking the kiosk staff who are standing INCHES AWAY.

But go check it out for us if you have a chance -- it's apparently located in a "mezzanine," which we think is Italian for "operating room." The booth is staffed with friendly helpers from 7am to 7pm on weekdays (because nobody ever needs transit help at night, or on the weekend). Better yet: stop by for a free pin! While supplies last! We tried to find a number for the kiosk so we could call and ask if they still had any pins left; but shockingly, 511 was unable to provide us with that information.

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San Francisco's 311 Gets Its One Millionth Caller

Brock Keeling — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 10:19:27 GMT

"This is Gavin Newsom, what the hell do you want?" Newsom (might have) said when he answered yesterday's one millionth call to 311.

Since its launch in April, 311 helps SF residents bypass "over 2,300 telephone numbers that existed previously to access city services...[and] reduces calls to the City’s 911 center, where over 50% of calls received are for non-emergency services." (Really? Like, "Hi, I just called to chat, is all" or "I just saw Loni Anderson over on Chestnut!" kind of non-emergency calls? Because there should be an eleven-number just for those. That would be awesome.)

And what was the one millionth call concerning? A report of upturned newspaper racks at Geary and Kearny. Newsom told the man that he would make sure the problem was fixed right-quick, and to have a nice day. Us, we would have asked him if his arms were broken.

San Francisco's other and inferior eleven, 511, has no comment as of this time.