So here I am finally recovering from bronchitis, I learned that although I can’t type and cough at the same time I can make it to City Council meetings…my question is this, does anyone really care whether City Council is televised? It certainly isn’t as entertaining as the Monroe County Legislature, especially on a “good” Lej night, but I am wondering who besides my family is watching? Anyone who caught the last meeting please let me know. Don’t get me wrong, I fully support televising meetings, I am just wondering if anyone else cares. We (meaning the Democrats) pushed for televising Lej meetings — they shut down the referral at every chance. Their claim… its “too expensive”  the is “no cable access” outside the city and the big one “people will talk too much – act like asses —  act of for the camera”  take your pick it was essentially the you are jerks and will make us look like jerks defense (and you eat worms, I am pretty sure they often wanted to make us eat worms). So when the Dems put together their website — they said,  hey we can webcast meetings — same answer — can’t do it, too expensive etc….. Okay fast forward to election day 2007, Republicans nearly lose the majority their lack of transparency a major issue, the secretiveness….. guess what referral is going to the Legislature this month coming up? A Republican sponsored referral to webcast the meetings (thank you Travis Heider D, Brighton for your original referral) and posting minutes and agenda on the website (thank you Democratic Caucus for your website that did it first). Ummmmm what changed…. did it get cheaper? Are they less afraid of the Dems making them look like jerks?? Oh right they LOST two seats! They want to look more transparent!

Now what happens to this legislation in light of the last public safety meeting is a good question. It might get referred to the Administration never to see the light of the TV camera again — or they may figure out that enough people are filming the crazy stuff already they ought to just keep filming the rest.

Personally, I think its a good thing. I think the more you take away the mystery, the more access you give the public then the more responsive government will be. I think with a camera pointed on them, the Legislators (and City Council) will pay closer attention, be more interested, sound more eloquent — they will know someone — even if its just my mother — will be watching. We the public should support this proposal, and we should also tune in and make our thoughts known.

 ps:  Here’s another idea, let’s put cameras back in the Court Room too! What do you think?

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2 Responses to “Public Access to Electeds…..”

• realgreecer says:

  January 23, 2008 at 3:52 pm

  Of course leg meeting ought to be televised and city meetings as well. Out her on the west side the televised meetings are popular and there is a lot of comment about the meetings. claims of playing to the audience are not well founded but it does give elected officials a chance to air views.

  County meetings could easily be put on all access channels.

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• rochesterturning.com: turning the tide upstate says:

  January 31, 2008 at 3:49 pm

  [...] Palumbo notes that the GOP in the county leg are stealing Dem ideas & proposals on opening up the leg and calling them their own: We (meaning the Democrats) pushed for televising [...]

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