Sue brings to our attention a reasonable approach to keeping meetings of public bodies transparent in the day of text messages and bluetooth headsets.
From her post, quoting the
Washington Post:
When the San Jose City Council meets just miles from the Apple and Google campuses, its members shut down all portable electronic devices, as though they were in a theater. If they’re on and they get a text or e-mail from a lobbyist or anyone discussing city business, they must say so right then and there.
Experts say San Jose’s policy is a model for open government in the digital age. Other cities and state legislatures are adopting their own rules at a time when officials are increasingly fielding requests for lawmakers’ cellphone records, e-mails and text messages.
“Essentially what we’ve said is a public record is a public record,” San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed said, “no matter where it exists.”
"If they’re on and they get a text or e-mail from a lobbyist or anyone discussing city business, they must say so right then and there."
ReplyDeleteThis requires honesty from the politician. Don't think that will fly here in GSO.