In a letter addressed to the Middletown Press, Middletown Common Council member and mayoral candidate Ron Klattenberg offers his thoughts on the cablecast TV transmission of town meetings:
During the January city-wide Community Conversations city residents told us they expect more transparency,better communication and greater openness with their local government. They noted that an informed electorate can make better choices for their community. Mayor Giuliano’s new plan to stop broadcasting Common Council and Planning and Zoning Commission meetings on the city’s public access channel flies in the face of these expectations. Ironically, the mayor announced his plan at the March 2 Common Council meeting when the broadcast’s audio failed, and people viewing at home could not hear his intentions.
For many residents, these broadcasts are their only available link to decisions being made by local elected officials. The nominal cost of these broadcasts (approx $13,000) is insignificant when compared to the direct access to government decision-making residents receive by this coverage. I will oppose the mayor as he attempts to limit the public's right to observe government's process and hold their elected officials accountable.
what did we do before the technology? What about ATT Uverse viewers, ATT does not offer the meetings. Maybe suspend until a better fiscal time. 13k is still money saved.
ReplyDeleteWe have been broadcasting the Common Council meetings for over a decade now. The P&Z and Inlands meetings have only been done for several years.
ReplyDeleteI also believe that we should continue broadcasting City meetings, including the Board of ED meetings.
The Common Council declined on partisan grounds to not approve a resolution that I proposed last Monday. If we really want to open up Municipal government, we need to review all the Committees and Commissions that feed the agenda of the mostly "preordained" Council meetings.
If Ron Klattenberg wants more transparency and civic participation, I would hope he might explain why he voted against a simple plan to review the Council's oversight of Municipal departments.
I believe that the Common Council needs to show some 'leadership by example' instead of staking out partisan points for the upcoming election.
I hope to hear some positive suggestions from the Democratic Party majority on how to open up our local government and allow more civic involvement in our City.
David made a good point that some of the Dems need to stop pulling the party lever letting the others do all the thinking for them. We do need leadership, and not pocket votes.
ReplyDeleteBut I cannot imagine what the Mayor is thinking suggesting an end to the live broadcasts of our public meetings. Access to information is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy, and that's what the cable broadcasts do along with a free press.
But even worse, it would be just awful to have my favorite reality shows dropped from the channel line up! What an un-American suggestion!