C'est Vrai is the computer-assisted Web application that forms a cornerstone of the Progress New York news Web site. The use of the C'est Vrai App has been extended to include a new function that shares on the Twitter social media platform heat and water outages self-reported by the New York City Housing Authority. Progress New York

C’est Vrai computer-assisted reporting Web app extended to report NYCHA heat and water outages

Transparency reporting Web app adds political accountability to heat and water outages at the New York City Housing Authority

By PROGRESS NEW YORK STAFF

The use of C’est Vrai, the computer-assisted Web application that forms the backbone of the Progress New York news Web site, has been extended to include a new function that shares on the Twitter social media platform heat and water outages self-reported by the New York City Housing Authority, or NYCHA. The NYCHA-related tweets can be followed on the @CestVraiApp Twitter account.

Tweets programmed from the C’est Vrai Web app note an outage of heat, water, or hot water at NYCHA public housing apartment complexes. The tweets add the New York City Councilmember and the Brough President of the respective neighborhood in which the public housing apartment complex is located. The data that is the source of the social media posts are processed into the database that powers the C’est Vrai Web app. The beta NYCHA tweets began on Jan. 6, 2020.

First tweet of C’est Vrai app, noting the New York City Councilmember and Borough President, for a utility outage at a NYCHA public housing apartment complex.

About C’est Vrai

C’est Vrai [ ph: \s‿ɛ\ \vʁɛ\ ] is a Django Web application built upon a SQL database. Development of the Web app began after a data journalist had to process several Gigabytes of data received in response to a request filed under the State’s Freedom of Information Law, or FOIL. C’est Vrai’s purpose is to create efficiencies in journalism to make investigative reporting feasible in a changing media environment. With C’est Vrai, it will take a few clicks to collect fact­-based and sourced information about relationships or situations that affect the integrity or accountability of Government, thereby helping journalists to write and edit articles about Government, business, and the role of money in politics in New York City–and eventually beyond.

Your support of Progress New York makes Web app tools like C’est Vrai possible

Progress New York is redefining independent journalism. As revenue and funding collapses for journalism enterprises, Progress New York is turning to technology for computer-assisted research, data analysis, and social media posting. An example of the consequential work that Progress New York makes possible is the C’est Vrai Web app. Your support of Progress New York makes transparency and accountability work possible. Please make a donation today.