THE VIEW FROM TREASURE COAST

Sarasota County has been holding Zoom workshops - but does not retain the recorded Zoom files. Why Not?

Governments should make Zoom public comments permanent

Necessity, they say, is the mother of invention.

And few realized when this pandemic began that it would usher in an entirely new way for citizens to interact with their local governments.That is, if government officials permit it.

On the Treasure Coast, Martin County commissioners raised eyebrows in recent weeks when they announced commission meetings would be moved from a comparably large auditorium back to commission chambers in the County Administration Building. Quarters there are more cramped, which likely will deter some citizens from attending as COVID-19 rages.

Until recently those same citizens could have “participated” from the comfort of their own homes, via Zoom. Commission meetings were “broadcast” via the video conferencing service, and citizens were allowed to make public comments.

But with Gov. Ron DeSantis pushing local governments to get back to normal, commissioners decided to end Zoom commenting as well.

With the number of COVID-19 cases continuing to spike in Martin County and throughout Florida, this is the wrong move at the wrong time.

But in fact, it’s the wrong move, period.

Local governments around the state should not be looking to deep-six Zoom or any other videoconferencing program they’ve used during the pandemic. They ought to be looking for ways to permanently integrate the services into the governing process.

Local governments around the state should not be looking to deep-six Zoom or any other videoconferencing program they’ve used during the pandemic. They ought to be looking for ways to permanently integrate the services into the governing process. Zoom video conferences and Zoom commenting should be standard additions to the way local governments do business.

There nothing in Florida law that would require this, though a broad interpretation of the relevant statute might conclude the prohibition against public officials operating “in such a manner as to unreasonably restrict public access” dictates the Zoom lines should remain open, especially during the pandemic.

Nonetheless, we’d ask why any public officials would favor a narrower interpretation of the law when doing so makes local government less accessible to the average citizen.

Consider the homebound senior unable to attend county commission meetings in person – or others who for whatever reason may be unable to break away from home or the office to come in and have their say.

Sure, they can send a letter or an email; they can watch the proceedings online or on local cable public access. But this amounts to passive participation in government, whereas Zoom and services like it provide real-time opportunities to stand up and be heard.

Before the pandemic the potential of this technology for local government was not widely recognized. Now it’s impossible to ignore. Indeed the pandemic has provided us a glimpse into the future of how local citizens connect with their government. It has fostered closer connections, made it easier for citizens to say their piece, to follow along and perhaps raise objections in real time.

The cost of all this is a relative pittance.

Indeed, in so many ways, there’s no going back.

TCPalm/Treasure Coast Newspapers Editorial Board