It's infuriating and embarrassing that @GavinNewsom vetoed #AB339 today, a bill by @alex_lee to expand access to governmental meetings by allowing the public to continue making comments remotely even after the pandemic ends.
This is a huge blow to equity and transparency.
This is a huge blow to equity and transparency.
Prior to the pandemic, governmental meetings in California had traditionally been highly inaccessible.
Meetings are often held during the day, with those wanting to speak being required to attend in-person, shutting working-class people out of the process.
Meetings are often held during the day, with those wanting to speak being required to attend in-person, shutting working-class people out of the process.
As a result of in-person speaking requirements, input received at public meetings is often entirely unrepresentative of Californians at large.
The pandemic changed this, and for the first time, simply having a telephone allowed you to participate in local government.
The pandemic changed this, and for the first time, simply having a telephone allowed you to participate in local government.
Asm. Lee's bill, #AB339, sought to continue this access, making it easier for Californians everywhere to engage with their government.
It made it through a vicious fight in the state legislature, before finally landing on the governor's desk to meet its untimely demise.
It made it through a vicious fight in the state legislature, before finally landing on the governor's desk to meet its untimely demise.
While Newsom absolutely deserves contempt here, the real villain is the California League of Cities (@CalCities), the lobbying arm of local governments, who fought this effort tooth and nail from the get-go.
The veto was, without a doubt, at their behest.
The veto was, without a doubt, at their behest.
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