Stimulus Watch: Where the Money Goes

Change, accountability, and responsibility should not simply be buzzwords. This is what Jerry Brito thought when he rounded up a team to create Stimulus Watch, a web-based community where one can find all the project proposals by any local government by the city and state.

"President Obama has promised that stimulus funding would go to smart investments -- not to pet projects -- and that elected representatives would be held accountable for how they spend taxpayer money," Brito said.  "Stimulus Watch aims to help President Obama keep that pledge by allowing citizens to discuss and rate the different "shovel-ready" projects that will be candidates for funding once the stimulus bill passes."  Brito and his team at Stimulus Watch are ready to create a place where people can become informed and hold the government accountable for their decisions.

Stimulus Watch's web site lists proposed projects and an estimate of the cost of the individual project. As Brito puts it, "For each project, the site asks users, 'Is this project critical?' We can then see which projects have been judged by the crowd as the most and least critical. You can also see the best and worst in a particular state or city."  The site is a great insight into the government beyond the newspaper.  Brito created this web site because he believes that individual involvement in the government can make a difference, but the first step is being informed about the government.

"Individuals do have the power to make change, especially when they band together in a community effort, like Stimulus Watch. One citizen in Buffalo making a call to the local government might have little effect on a project, but 1,000 votes for or against a Buffalo project on the site is bound to get the attention of officials."

It is amazing how much projects cost.  For example, it's easy to watch the new streetlights go up on your block, but do you know how much they cost? There are a little over 100 listings for Buffalo.  Take a look at Stimulus Watch.