Champions of Change
One process that bogs down cities is answering zoning questions. Apps for Californians winner ZonabilitySF is an iPhone app for helping San Francisco homebuyers, renters, remodelers and others answer zoning questions about various properties. The app includes an “e-mail a planner” function for follow-up questions. The app has an interactive zoning map with geo-location functionality and pre-formatted messaging to allow for quick confirmation of basic zoning information. The map combines the Google API with San Francisco's zoning GIS layer and its zoning ordinance. Leigh Budlong is a passionate advocate of government open data.