Riga City Council's Social Media Campaign

Yesterday on LTV1 I saw Riga city's representative N. Ušakovs. I rarely watch TV, but I watch adverts without sound as they are usually considerably louder, so possibly some detail slipped past me. He was advertising how Twitter can be used to get Riga City Council to come and fix a lift in a private building. Well, if that's the case, this morning I wrote that a light bulb has burned out at home - could someone be asked to replace it? To which the Riga City Council's Twitter account kindly replied:

If the light bulb was installed by the City Council, we'll replace it. If not - we'll recommend the nearest hardware store.

After some hesitation it also added:

If the building's residents have chosen RNP as their building manager, they will also organise the lift repair.

To which I objected that Riga Housing Manager (RNP - Rīgas namu pārvaldnieks), although it is a municipal enterprise, nonetheless operates on general commercial principles. I, for my part, pay taxes to the municipality, not to RNP. I have no contractual relationship with RNP, but this is not stated in the advertisement - so I feel misled. Thoughts about distortion of competition and in that vein flashed through my mind, but remembering that Riga City Council can not only engage in commercial activities aimed at the common benefit of residents, but also, for example, bottle water - I left this "aspect" to the people's servants, the opposition and the competition authority.

Thank you for your opinion, it is very important to us!

With that our conversation ended.

In another Twitter exchange on the question of public space lighting, Riga City Council gives the following explanation (see image 1), that:
[..] unfortunately, there are still very many such places in Riga. [..] We warn that this is a gradual process, and street repairs in your neighbourhood are not planned for next year.

Summary:

In the autumn of 2012, for similar questions on Twitter, I earned N. Ušakovs's and Riga City Council's reprisals - I was blocked. In response to an official submission, N. Ušakovs provided the reply that the only way to communicate with Riga City Council - including himself - is a written, signed submission. (see image 2)

In August 2015, the Riga City Council's and N. Ušakovs's Twitter accounts were verified, meaning there is no longer any doubt that they are genuine.

In December 2015, Riga City Council launched an advertising campaign inviting residents to communicate with the municipality online - via Twitter and Facebook.

Such openness from the municipality and the desire to listen to Riga's residents is wholly commendable, however belated. True, knowing that the municipality previously had a ready answer for any submission - no money - it is unlikely that the municipality doesn't know what is happening in the city. Rather, this is a way to help residents let off steam, and quite possibly - to encourage them to become more actively involved themselves and perhaps even resolve under their own steam the problems associated with the outdoor spaces of their place of residence.