Phoenix Considers Zencity Surveys to Enhance Community Safety Insights

In an effort to enhance community engagement and address public safety concerns, Phoenix is considering a novel digital tool. During a recent presentation to the city’s public safety subcommittee, Bar Asherov introduced Zencity’s innovative technology that aims to reach about 90% of the city’s residents through comprehensive digital surveys.

Asherov highlighted that these monthly surveys are designed to capture the pulse of various demographics and areas, providing insights into prevalent issues. “One of the most valuable pieces of it is that we can actually collect open-ended feedback so that we can get context around some of the answers that we’re getting,” he explained. This approach allows Phoenix to gather data beyond typical emergency calls, offering a broader view of community concerns.

To illustrate the effectiveness of this tool, Asherov shared examples from Los Angeles, where Zencity has collaborated with the police department for over a year.

Eyal Halamish, vice president of strategic accounts at Zencity, elaborated on the survey’s methodology in an interview with KJZZ News. The surveys are disseminated through various ad networks, such as Facebook, Google, and others, ensuring a representative sample without collecting personally identifiable information. “What we do is we go onto the ad networks… and we’ll basically say, okay, these are the different samples we need to get to within the city of Phoenix,” Halamish noted.

Halamish also conveyed to council members that these surveys could significantly impact Phoenix’s ability to measure trust and safety within the community. “It means that we’ll be able to provide insights for the chief, command staff, city manager, and city council as to how we’re performing,” he stated, emphasizing the value of using this data alongside crime statistics to inform decision-making.

The city council is expected to deliberate on a potential contract with Zencity for this initiative in the upcoming months. Phoenix already employs Zencity’s technology for quarterly assessments, which help gauge community satisfaction with city services.

Insights from previous surveys indicated a lack of communal feeling among residents, prompting the city to establish 602 Day. This event, named after Phoenix’s primary area code, aims to foster community spirit by celebrating local businesses and organizations, with the inaugural celebration set for June 2, 2024.