Thomas L Friedman Op-Ed column NYT praises Andrew Rasiej, Democratic candidate for New York City public advocate, who is running of platform that calls for wireless and cellphone Internet access from every home, business and school in city; says it is appalling that US should lag behind Ghana in cellphone service and behind 15 other countries in broadband connectivity.

(Thank you Micah Sifry !)

Friedman embraces the power of networks, civic photoblogging, and municipal wifi and hails the rise of a new generation of politicians who getting it. Micah comments: Andrew Rasiej’s platform is about as close as you can get to implementing open-source politics; he envisions linking together the hundreds of thousands of volunteer public advocates who every day work to make the city a better place and helping to amplify their voices (rather than the old industrial model of one guy on a soapbox wagging their finger at problems).

Andrew envisions linking together the hundreds of thousands of volunteer public advocates who every day work to make the city a better place and helping to amplify their voices (rather than the old industrial model of one guy on a soapbox wagging their finger at problems).

See also http://www.wefixnyc.com where Andrew’s campaign is building a photoblog of the city’s potholes, fueled by cellphone photos sent in by supporters.