Council ignores chance for opening government to citizens

If you've followed along here on the subject of televised Newark City Council meetings and why there aren't any, you already know that it's simply because council members and the mayor don't want them.

At last the public knows why. The matter came up in the June 4, 2007 council meeting and Mr. Uible explained: "The idea of televising council meetings is not a good idea simply because our meetings are too long and I’m afraid televising these meetings might be a little be self-serving. I would not be in support of that plus I think it would be difficult to find someone who wants to pay for it."

Thus does Mr. Uible demonstrate the depth of his desire to have the public more widely informed about who says what during public meetings in which the public's business is being conducted and the public's money is being spent.

As for long meetings, he should be presenting a resolution to have council members' chairs removed from council chambers, which would certainly save everyone's time.

To review, go to Council members avoid public scrutiny - May 14, 2007. and Newark City Council election promises blown off - April 19, 2007. Council has been reminded that its contract with Time-Warner provides for the public-access channels, and members were given the name and the telephone number of the Time-Warner technocrat who is supposed to know everything about such matters.

Marc Guthrie, council president,went on record during the June 4 meeting with this:

"Regarding televising council meetings, I believe these meetings should be televised. Most council meetings of cities our size are televised so citizens can watch the meetings and I don’t think our previously televised meetings were any longer than the ones we are having now, I’m very much in favor of these meetings moving along as quickly as possible but also believe the peoples’ right to watch the public business and will continue to support an effort to get these things on television and encourage the administration to talk with Time Warner and try to get public access to these meetings as soon as possible."

As far as I know, Guthrie is and always has been for open government, for letting the public see what's happening. But one council representative isn't enough.

Members of city council have given their answers to the question of open government by doing nothing to make it happen.