CAGW Not Gaga Over Google Software Switch

(Washington, D.C.) – The nation’s premier taxpayer watchdog group, Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW), today sent a letter to the Los Angeles City Council expressing concerns with the implementation of Google Apps as a replacement for e-mail and software applications.  Since August 5, 2009, CAGW has cautioned the Los Angeles City Council about cost and privacy issues concerning a potential software switch and it looks like these concerns were well-founded.  The letter, which was sent to the entire Los Angeles City Council, and can be viewed on CAGW’s website, reads in part as follows:

“In August of 2009, CAGW cautioned the Los Angeles City Council about cost and privacy issues associated with Google Apps that could negatively impact taxpayers and put critical information at risk. The letter stated that ‘Even though some news reports have claimed that there will be cost savings from the switch, a July 10, 2009 report from the Office of the City Administrative Officer to the Information Technology Agency (ITA) contradicts those assertions.’ 
 
“According to a July 23, 2010 article on marketwatch.com, ‘City Council members were informed earlier this month that L.A. could incur up to $415,000 in costs over the full fiscal year, thanks to the delay in getting all city employees switched over to Google on time -- a message that was not well received. ‘Google comes in with this sweetheart deal that was supposed to be state of the art ... and obviously they haven't performed,’ Councilman Dennis Zine said during a July 13 council meeting. ‘I don't see why we are required to take care of their inability to measure up.’’
 
“Marketwatch.com also went on to say that privacy is also a problem, ‘In particular, the LAPD, which must meet California Department of Justice security requirements, said in the report that it had concerns about Google Apps’ data encryption, ‘segregation of city data from other data maintained by Google,’ and background checks for Google employees with access to police department information.’
 
“A July 9, 2010 Inter-Departmental Correspondence to the Chair of the Information Technology and Government Affairs Committee from Miguel A. Santana, City Administrative Officer, noted that ‘Implementation of the Google system for the LAPD has been delayed until all security requirements are met, either with suitable interim solutions or the permanent solutions.  In addition, while approximately 10,200 employees from other City departments have already migrated to Google, approximately 6,000 additional employees are still using GroupWise.’

“In the interest of transparency, CAGW urges you to initiate a study on productivity lost to determine the true extent of this fiscal debacle.”

Citizens Against Government Waste is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in government. 

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