Although most Southern California cities have Web sites, the majority use them as brochures rather than to conduct business. Only recently have more cities begun upgrading their sites. City and county officials say the interactive sites are a way to cut down on paperwork and phone calls.
Politicians argue that it improves communication with their constituents.
And residents say it simply makes life easier. In Oxnard, residents can report a broken street lamp or a graffiti-covered wall on the Web site. In Pasadena, they can pay parking tickets online. In Torrance, they can apply for city jobs. Critics say that e-government is not worth the effort or the money.