The message:
The ability to speak out at town meetings is a time-honored tradition, designed to ensure that members of the public have a meaningful opportunity to be heard before their elected representative officials – and for community members to hear them, too.
That's because Fargo, like many other cities around the state, broadcasts its meetings on the city's TV channel and on YouTube. So whether someone's listening to the meeting in person or watching from the comfort of their own home, they can hear about what's important to people in their community. Public comment definitely gets people talking!
Fargo city leaders, however, recently decided to stop broadcasting the public comment portions of its meetings. Public comment will still take place, but only people in the room would be able to hear it.
Limiting the audience for the public comment period of Fargo's City Commission meetings like this is a bad idea – and not just because it violates a 2018 city policy that requires the entire meeting to be televised.
Being able to hear what our neighbors have to say about their concerns during the public comment period – and how our elected leaders respond – is crucial for citizen engagement and government transparency. Cutting off the broadcast of public comment also affects older citizens and people with disabilities who can't easily make it to the meetings.
Our city leaders need to hear what you think.
Public comment will be back on the agenda during the November 24 city commission meeting. Will you let commissioners know how important it is to let people's voices be heard?
