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Regardless of whether the justification is fiscal restraint or trying to encourage serious debate, the Norfolk City Council's continuing refusal to broadcast all of its deliberations seems to citizens like something else - and nothing good.
At their retreat Tuesday, council members once again rejected a chance to open up informal meetings to TV cameras. Since informal meetings are where the debate takes place, citizens are left to conclude that the council just doesn't want them to hear it.
The city manager noted that broadcasting the informal sessions - which don't take place in council chambers - would carry a cost for the installation of new equipment ($32,000), to broadcast ($10,000) and to apply captions for the hearing impaired ($40,000).
But given the clear benefits in transparency and good will, that $82,000 seems like a bargain, especially since more than half of it could be saved by simply moving the meetings to council chambers.
The latest push for broadcasting the sessions came from two new members of the council: Andy Protogyrou and Tommy Smigiel, who have already shown a refreshing dedication to airing out a City Hall that seems out of step.
All the other cities of Hampton Roads broadcast their work sessions. Some go further, broadcasting and streaming council meetings and even planning commission sessions.
A dozen people showed up at Tuesday's City Council retreat at the Attucks Theatre. The session wasn't televised. A few of the spectators in the room said they still couldn't hear the conversation.
"Nobody has made a rational argument as to why we shouldn't televise our council meetings," Smigiel said. "It sends a bad message to the citizens that surrounding cities do it and we do not."
It certainly does.
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Post election, the word "transparency" is offensive
Before the May elections, when the candidates' platforms were all about open, accountable, transparent government, the incumbents were all for that too. During Monday's discussions at the Council retreat when they were talking about public trust, Mr. Riddick said, "I've never heard anyone say they don't trust us." (He must not read any of the comments made after the Pilot articles.) As I was thinking "What are they afraid of?" only it was all caps in my notes, Mr. Smigiel said it, "What do we have to hide?" Smigiel suggested streaming the sessions to the web, which would pretty much make the cost negligable, and Mr. Protogyrou was in favor of "doing it cheaply." Mr. Riddick said, "It's not a dog and pony show," showing his disapproval of the suggestion. Mr. Burfoot added his disapproval saying, "I continue to be offended by the word 'transparency.'" Citizens should just pull out their cell phones and record their own videos, if they can't keep their campaign promises!
Finally
Norfolk finally has at least two people doing the jobs they were elected to do. It's time to run the rest of them out and actually get something acomplished.
Accountability
If there is no one to see/hear what's going on, the council can pretty much do whatever it likes. I, too, would like to see the work sessions and ALL the formal meetings, not just those that turn into an "I Love Me" session. I asked Mayor Fraim, once, at a civic league meeting why there was no program. His response was to say that not enough people would want it to make it worth while. At another meeting, I asked again, and he flatly denied ever saying that! There are too many people who for whatever reason can't get to the meetings. Health, transportation, working hours, etc. I wonder if the City Council would provide child care facilities so those with children could attend?
Virginia Beach does deserve praise
The City Council of VA Beach does deserve praise for broadcasting our City Council meetings and informal sessons. Having them available online using streaming video is excellent. Citizens cannot intelligently participate in self governance without the benefit of knowing what is being discussed by our elected representatives. Norfolk citizens will benefit from the broadcast of their government discussions. Now is also the time to broadcast the discussions of the VBDA (Virginia Beach Development Authority). The VBDA is a critical portion of the total governance of the near 2 billion dollar budget in VA Beach. The VBDA issues billions in debt. Each of the region's governing bodies needs to have their discussions broadcast too. The more informed citizens are - the better decisions they can make when they step into the ballot box and cast their votes.
Oh ... so now she's concerned about the cost?
The city manager has a lot of cojones expressing concern over what something costs!
I hate to agree with Tommy but....
As a citizen of Virginia Beach, I really appreciate the fact that our council meetings are streamed over the Internet-there was one Council meeting I DESPERATELY wanted to be there for, but my job had me in Toledo, Ohio that night, so I could watch it all on the Internet.
It is a good move and it gives the people another means to watch their government.