Why I document public meetings (and why you should too)

I wanted to take a moment to address (again) my practice of recording public meetings, especially as people become more familiar with who I am and that I write CHotR. I attend a lot of public community meetings and sometimes I record them either via video or audio for posting on CHotR (and sometimes just for myself).

The point of documenting these meetings is not to embarrass anyone (or to be a pain in the butt) but because I truly believe that in order to get people engaged sometimes we have to take the meetings to the people.  I also do it because I have horrible handwriting and it is hard to listen, tweet, take notes, and ask questions all at the same time. Perhaps if I had a staff or interns who could take copious notes (as opposed to just me volunteering)  I wouldn't need to record public meetings but this is the age of Youtube and iPhones. We should use the technology that we have to make outreach and information sharing as easy and as accessible as possible.  They don't call this the "information age" for nothing.

Lord knows we have a lot of community meetings in Ward 8 and not everyone has the ability to attend all the meetings, especially with the demands of work and family (for every meeting I attend, I miss 10 others).  Documenting meetings so they can be viewed later is another way for us to keep the community engaged in the process, this is why the District has Open Meetings Laws (AKA Sunshine Laws) that make the recording of public meetings legal and why our very own District Council records their meetings and hearings --- to keep the public informed and to reinforce at least the appearance of transparency.  When I record public meetings I try to keep the focus on those who are hosting the meeting but I will occasionally record audience questions and comments that are particularly insightful and informative. I also like showing those who are unfamiliar with Ward 8 that we are indeed engaged and passionate about what happens in our community.



I am always willing consider a reasonable (and respectful) request so if someone doesn't want to be recorded or moves out of the way when I am recording I am fine with that  but I am always a little thrown (and more than a little concerned)  when public  servants (whether they be ANC Commissioners, Councilmembers, or staff of Councilmembers)  get all riled up about a community resident (usually me)  documenting quietly and unobtrusively a public meeting. What is the big deal? Why are we not using every tool available to make sure we reach as many people as possible? Why are we not encouraging transparency on every level?

Better still, with all the operating budgets and stipends available to DC agencies and Advisory Neighborhood Commissions why aren't public meetings being recorded as standard operating practice?  Forget taking meeting notes, imagine the confusion that could be avoided if ANC meetings were recorded and stored. You can't argue with instant replay and I would imagine it would keep more ANCs in compliance with the DC Auditor's documentation requirements.

I know one of the reasons CHotR has become so popular over the years is because readers feel like they have a place to go to catch-up on information they either missed or didn't quite understand the first time around. I think they also like watching community meetings and coming to their own conclusions without my editorializing.

If East of the River wants to move forward and have the rest of the city take us seriously we really need to focus on the bigger issues and bring more attention to those issues, not hide them under a cloak of secrecy just because we might be camera shy. The same instrument that I use to record public meetings is the same instrument I have used to bring attention to Anacostia parking meters, "Cupcake-gate," and the Calvary Women's Shelter saga.  Without the documentation that those events happened and the community's reaction we might not have been able to elicit some positive change in how things are done East of the River and how we are regarded.

We have seen the ethical and legal lapses of judgement when things are not transparent.  So I ask our public officials (and their staff) who are uneasy when I pull out my iPhone or tape recorder to document a public meeting to please bear with me. I am doing this for all our sakes. Better still, find it in your heart to encourage more transparency in the community.

I promise, I am not at all interested in posting you on "Girls Gone Wild." :)

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