To: Livingston County Board of Commissioners
Televise Livingston County Commission Meetings!
A well-informed citizenry is the bedrock of democracy, but citizens in Livingston County find it difficult to know what is going on in their county government due to the county's lack of transparency. Many meetings are held at inconvenient times, such as 7:30 a.m., for example, when it is extremely difficult for anyone with a job or small children, to attend.
Many government entities in Livingston County, including townships and the city of Brighton, televise their meetings and make them available to citizens on line, but the highest level of local government -- the Livingston County Commission -- has refused to do so despite repeated requests over many years. The result is that many people in Livingston County cannot even tell you who their county commissioner is.
As a citizen and taxpayer of Livingston County, I demand access to our local government's dealings so that I can be better informed about the services, responsibilities, and potential opportunities for greater action in Livingston County.
New technology has made it extremely easy and economical to televise meetings so cost should no longer be a factor.
I call on our county commission to bring our local democracy into the 21st century by televising our county commission meetings.
Many government entities in Livingston County, including townships and the city of Brighton, televise their meetings and make them available to citizens on line, but the highest level of local government -- the Livingston County Commission -- has refused to do so despite repeated requests over many years. The result is that many people in Livingston County cannot even tell you who their county commissioner is.
As a citizen and taxpayer of Livingston County, I demand access to our local government's dealings so that I can be better informed about the services, responsibilities, and potential opportunities for greater action in Livingston County.
New technology has made it extremely easy and economical to televise meetings so cost should no longer be a factor.
I call on our county commission to bring our local democracy into the 21st century by televising our county commission meetings.
Why is this important?
As a Livingston County resident, I have long been interested in local government and how it affects our lives. The Flint water crisis has brought this home for many people, but we don't need to wait until a crisis to get involved in our government. Our local goverrnment will work better when it is more connected with residents. Please ask the county commission to bring more transparency to our local government.