Yahoo has always been an innovator in local, and today the company is rolling out (only in two California markets) a new feature that allows community members to identify, discuss, and potentially organize around local issues of concern. Called “Neighbors,” it combines functionality found on Yahoo’s suggestion boards and in Yahoo Answers. It came out of Yahoo Hack Day, and the company has decided to introduce it on a limited basis to test community reaction.

It’s a completely non-commercial offering and is intended to allow people to make suggestions for how to improve local communities, vote on those suggestions, and potentially organize volunteers to address local issues. Below is a screenshot:

It’s a program I hope succeeds and is more broadly rolled out. I have more discussion on my personal blog, Screenwerk.

Related Topics: Yahoo: Maps & Local

About The Author: Greg Sterling is a Contributing Editor at Search Engine Land. He writes a personal blog Screenwerk, about SoLoMo issues and connecting the dots between online and offline. He also posts at Internet2Go, which is focused on the mobile Internet. Follow him @gsterling. See more articles by Greg Sterling