Today the City of Seattle and the Seattle Police Department marked the one-year anniversary of its partnership with Nextdoor, the free and private social network for neighborhoods. The partnership was established to improve citywide and neighbor-to-neighbor communications as well as aid in the SPD Micro-Community Policing Plan initiative. At today’s event, Mayor Ed Murray, Chief Kathleen O’Toole and Department of Neighborhoods Director Kathy Nyland presented certificates to neighborhood leaders to celebrate some of the most engaged neighborhoods on Nextdoor.
The City of Seattle partnered with Nextdoor in October 2014 to provide another citywide and neighbor-to-neighbor communications channel.
Over the past year, adoption of Nextdoor across Seattle has risen dramatically. There has been a 140 percent increase in membership on Nextdoor. There are now 196 Seattle neighborhoods representing 98% of the city’s neighborhoods. Nextdoor and the City of Seattle have set a joint goal to double Nextdoor membership again in the next year.
“Our city is stronger when we have informed, active and involved residents,” said Mayor Ed Murray. “Nextdoor is an efficient tool for residents to become more engaged within their own communities and with the City. We are excited that so many neighborhoods are participating and encourage more residents to join the network.”
The City of Seattle and neighbors have worked together on Nextdoor to significantly increase communication and engagement. The City has actively generated and shared more than 600 informative posts and updates with members either on a city-wide level or neighborhood level in the last year.
“We are constantly looking for new and innovative ways to engage with those living in our diverse neighborhoods,” said Chief Kathleen O’Toole. “Our community policing teams are now using next door as another valuable tool to identify and address crime and quality of life issues in our city.”
Mayor Murray, Chief O’Toole and Director Nyland gave a tour of the new SPD Real Time Crime Center to community members and honored their respective neighborhoods for dedication to building stronger, safer Seattle communities:
- Most Social Neighborhood: Nextdoor Colman
- Most Helpful Neighborhood: Nextdoor Sandpoint
- Most Generous Neighborhood: Nextdoor Upper Rainier Beach
Nextdoor is free for residents. Each Seattle neighborhood has its own private Nextdoor neighborhood website, accessible only to residents of that neighborhood. Neighborhoods establish and self-manage their own Nextdoor website and the City cannot access residents’ websites, contact information or content. All members must verify that they live within the neighborhood before joining Nextdoor. Information shared on Nextdoor is password protected and cannot be accessed by Google or other search engines.
Those interested in joining their neighborhood’s Nextdoor website can visit www.nextdoor.com and enter their address.
If residents have questions about their Nextdoor website, please visit help.nextdoor.com.