The Dorchester Reporter
Opinion: Let’s keep the Zoom era going for public meetings
By Bill Walczak, Reporter Columnist
May 26, 2022
Since 2004, an average of more than 100 local newspapers have shuttered in the US per year. This has left thousands of communities without any news organization to monitor the actions of local and state government.
In the Greater Boston area, many cities and towns have lost local newspapers, and recently, Gannett, which owns the largest number of local papers, announced that it is closing 19 weekly newspapers in eastern Massachusetts that serve 26 local communities, and merging 9 weeklies into 4 publications. The surviving newspapers are being reoriented to “regional beats,” which will curtail or eliminate coverage of local government.
Thankfully, Dorchester residents have the Dorchester Reporter. But the continuing loss of local news organizations across the state that monitor government just continues the retreat of civil society and community residents’ ability to know what the agencies and organizations that affect their lives are doing.
The pandemic, for all its serious downsides, has shown us a way for communities to do that monitoring.
On March 12, 2020, as the coronavirus drove us into lockdown, Gov. Baker issued an executive order that temporarily changed the Open Meeting Law, which requires that meetings of public bodies be open to the public, to allow for these meetings to be held virtually instead of being held, as the law stipulates, in “a public place that is open and physically accessible to the public.”
In the past, if you wanted to monitor public agencies, you would have to go to the locations of their meetings or hope that a local newspaper would cover them. Suddenly, on March 12, 2020, citizens had access to sessions through a computer or a phone. Thanks to the development of Zoom and similar programs that allow for many people to see and hear others in real time, virtual meetings became ubiquitous.
Although complaints are heard about how much of our discourse is now virtual, you don’t hear people saying how much they miss driving to get to public meetings. The result has been much better access by the public, more agencies able to have quorums to do business, and far less gas being used by people driving to these meetings.
But the executive order, which had been extended by legislation, is slated to expire this coming July 15. Instead of that, it should be made permanent.
Democracy and governmental transparency have certainly benefitted from this pandemic-driven innovation, and residents now have much more agency in monitoring and participating in the actions of government. At the very local level, civic association volunteers are easily able to weigh in on development projects, and reporters can extend themselves to cover more things.
It’s time for the Legislature to make this change to the Open Meeting Law permanent. Beyond that, philanthropies should be supporting the ability of communities to monitor government by funding local newspapers and other entities to do the monitoring or to develop this capacity for themselves.
The model for this is the Shah Family Foundation, which produces a regular podcast monitoring the Boston Public Schools labeled, “Last Night @ School Committee.” In this podcast, Ross Wilson and Jill Shah provide information on discussions and votes at meetings, and, more important, the meaning of these discussions and votes. They have recently added a special series on the search for Boston’s next school superintendent, providing a valuable service at no cost to listeners.
Enhancing civil society and keeping us apprised of the actions of the agencies and organizations that affect our well-being is surely something that philanthropies should embrace. Funding could be made available to the remaining local newspapers and/or suitable nonprofit organizations that focus on public policy. But all of that should start with ensuring that virtual meetings continue.
If you support making Zoom-like access permanent as part of the Open Meeting Law, call the Governor’s office at 617-725-4005 as well as your state senator and state representatives, who can be reached at 617-722-2000 or via malegislature.gov.
Let’s keep open meetings open to all.
Bill Walczak lives in Dorchester. His column appears regularly in the Reporter.
Support local news. Subscribe or donate to The Dorchester Reporter at www.dotnews.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bill Walczak articles and other related media offerings
“No More DIRTY DOT” May 7, 2022 https://conta.cc/3vSsMJe
“City park maintenance shouldn’t be a neighborhood burden” April 9, 2022. https://conta.cc/36Zt73b
“Commentary: Wu must take a strong lead on growing the city’s tree canopy” March 23, 2022 https://conta.cc/3tHzjFx
“Commentary: The search for a BPS superintendent: Are we headed to the edge of a cliff?" with Meg Campbell March 16, 2022 https://conta.cc/3N1XiXm or https://www.dotnews.com/2022/commentary-search-bps-superintendent-are-we-headed-edge-cliff
“Doubling down on our call to end the school committee.” with Meg Campbell February 24, 2022 https://conta.cc/3slaqyy
“Appointed or Elected? Let’s just eliminate the school committee” with Meg Campbell, February 14, 2022 https://conta.cc/3sG75ZV or https://www.dotnews.com/2022/commentary-let-s-place-our-schools-directly-under-mayor
“Dot’s health care leaders discuss what they learned dealing with Covid” February 3, 2022 https://www.dotnews.com/2022/dot-s-health-center-leaders-discuss-what-they-learned-dealing-covid
“Dot Ave needs a makeover. How about making it green?” January 20, 2022 https://www.dotnews.com/2022/let-s-first-plant-and-then-nurture-more-trees-along-dorchester-ave or https://conta.cc/3KChqOP
“Commentary: Dorchester’s meaningful ties to the South Africa of Mandela and Tutu” January 12, 2022 https://conta.cc/3GqwRXJ or https://www.dotnews.com/2022/plumbing-commentary-dorchester-s-meaningful-ties-south-africa-mandela
“Some lessons we have learned as we enter Year 3 of the Covid Pandemic” December 30, 2021 https://conta.cc/3qQFunN or https://www.dotnews.com/2021/some-lessons-we-have-learned-we-enter-year-3-covid-pandemic
“Commentary: What can be done to stop the drop in Boston’s school-age population?” December 9, 2021 https://www.dotnews.com/2021/commentary-what-can-be-done-halt-drop-boston-s-school-age-population or https://conta.cc/3lSXnAZ
“Recommendations for Mayor Michelle Wu” November 18, 2021 https://conta.cc/3x8SR5H
“Why are we allocating tens of millions to horse racing as our T stations decay?” November 4, 2021. https://conta.cc/3CS0pMe or https://www.dotnews.com/2021/why-are-we-allocating-tens-millions-horse-racing-our-t-stations-decay
“Vaccinations defeated smallpox, polio; together, we can make Covid next to go” Dorchester Reporter October 20, 2021 https://www.dotnews.com/2021/vaccinations-defeated-smallpox-polio-together-we-can-make-covid-next or https://conta.cc/3C6yzva
“What we can do about Boston’s election problem” Dorchester Reporter September 29, 2021 https://conta.cc/3B01Abq
“Charter reforms needed to boost turnout” Dorchester Reporter,
September 23, 2021
https://conta.cc/3kxr8qz or https://www.dotnews.com/2021/commentary-if-our-city-changed-few-things-more-us-might-turn-out-polls
“Election is close. Get out and vote!” Dorchester Reporter September 9, 2021 https://conta.cc/3l7a6P5
“The more voters there are, the better for all of us” August 26, 2021 https://conta.cc/3ymdSsE or https://www.dotnews.com/2021/more-voters-there-are-better-all-us
“Questions for mayoral hopefuls on development” July 15, 2021 https://conta.cc/2UDSvoJ
“City should reclaim historic open space at Franklin Park” July 1, 2021
https://conta.cc/2TrZCjD or https://www.dotnews.com/2021/commentary-city-should-reclaim-historic-open-space-franklin-park
“Commentary: Candidates' direct answers to queries can carry the day” June 10, 2021
Dorchester Reporter https://www.dotnews.com/2021/commentary-candidates-direct-answers-queries-can-carry-day or https://conta.cc/3ghjtuk
“The Codman Square Story: Where ‘nonprofit innovation’ wins the day” June 3, 2021 Dorchester Reporter https://www.dotnews.com/2021/codman-square-story-where-nonprofit-innovation-wins-day or https://conta.cc/3fUcM16
“Commentary: How reading a book brings me back to my work on the Irish peace process” May 13, 2021 Dorchester Reporter https://www.dotnews.com/2021/commentary-how-reading-book-brings-me-back-my-work-irish-peace-process or https://conta.cc/3wgaSNO
“Let’s think trees as part of cleanup of the X-Way mess” April 22, 2021.
Dorchester Reporter https://conta.cc/3xkNQqr
“Insult to injury: State property in Dorchester littered with trash” April 15, 2021. Dorchester Reporter https://www.dotnews.com/2021/insult-injury-state-property-dorchester-littered-trash or https://conta.cc/3aiVWWv
“Commentary: It's a race to the finish line--don't let Covid catch you” March 31, 2021 https://conta.cc/31y6e0r or https://www.dotnews.com/2021/commentary-its-race-finish-line-dont-let-covid-catch-you
“Walczak: use federal funds to make Boston a hub of equity” March 24, 2021 https://conta.cc/3fbB3Qk
“A year later, what have we learned?” March 11, 2021 https://conta.cc/30CcJyx
“Derek Chauvin proves America is still hiring the exact wrong people to be cops” by Frank Figliuzzi, MSNBC Columnist, extensive quotes of “Reimagining the city’s police force: Begin with the hiring” column from June 18, 2020 https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/derek-chauvin-proves-america-still-hiring-exact-wrong-people-be-n1259960
“With Boston flush with new US money, how about setting up universal Pre-K?”
March 4, 2021 https://conta.cc/38fVbwB
A teacher’s mural and drawings enrich Dorchester February 18, 2021
https://conta.cc/3uqh9GG https://www.dotnews.com/2021/teachers-murals-and-drawings-enrich-epiphany-schools-campus
“Reading the Globe then (1981) and now shows how democracy has been curbed” February 11, 2021 https://conta.cc/3d725r7 https://www.dotnews.com/2021/reading-globe-then-1981-and-now-shows-how-democracy-has-been-curbed
“We need a plan to speed up vaccinations; the following is one approach to consider”
February 4, 2021 https://www.dotnews.com/2021/we-need-plan-speed-vaccinations-following-one-approach-consider
Interview on BNN: What’s needed to close gap on vaccinations January 28, 2021 https://youtu.be/QqSXZDG9Vok
Interview on WGBH on Covid vaccine problems January 27, 2021
https://www.wgbh.org/news/local-news/2021/01/27/we-have-to-make-sure-that-we-dont-miss-any-opportunities-to-get-that-vaccine-into-the-arms-of-people-local-community-health-leader-says
“We need to lead, not follow, on doing mass vaccinations” January 21, 2021
https://www.dotnews.com/2021/commentary-we-need-lead-not-follow-doing-mass-vaccinations
“In the Wake of Trumpian seditionists, our region can lead the nation by example” January 14, 2021 https://conta.cc/35OqEVj
“Remembering a Friend who Died of Covid” December 31, 2020
https://www.dotnews.com/2021/remembering-friend-who-died-covid
“On the Allure of People Singing Together” December 16, 2020
https://www.dotnews.com/2020/allure-people-singing-together
“Strolling down Dot Ave. and shopping the world”
December 3, 2020 with Meg Campbell
https://www.dotnews.com/2020/strolling-down-dot-ave-and-shopping-world
“Opinion: Let’s think more about parkways and bikes, and less about the dreams of the auto-centric” December 2, 2020 https://www.dotnews.com/2020/opinion-let-s-think-more-about-parkways-and-bikes-and-less-about
“Good News on COVID but we’re still on a highway – don’t take your seatbelts off yet”
November 18, 2020 https://www.dotnews.com/2020/commentary-good-news-covid-scene-were-still-highway-dont-take-your
“Thoughts about a still-divided America” November 11, 2020
https://www.dotnews.com/2020/thoughts-about-still-divided-america
“This is the Man who wants a second term?” October 29, 2020
https://www.dotnews.com/2020/man-who-wants-second-term
“Put this on your Boston bucket list: Stepping into The Ether Dome at MGH”
October 22, 2020
https://www.dotnews.com/2020/put-your-boston-bucket-list-stepping-ether-dome-mgh
“Our polarized country needs changes in the way our elections are conducted”
October 14, 2020 https://www.dotnews.com/2020/commentary-our-polarized-country-needs-changes-way-our-elections-are
“Why Ranked-Choice Voting Makes Sense” October 8, 2020
https://www.dotnews.com/2020/why-ranked-choice-voting-makes-sense
"Massachusetts must fill funding gap for low-income students"
Dorchester Reporter September 24, 2020 https://www.dotnews.com/2020/massachusetts-must-fill-funding-gap-low-income-students
"Rev. "Doc" Conway sounds an alarm"
Dorchester Reporter September 9, 2020
https://www.dotnews.com/2020/rev-doc-conway-sounds-alarm
"Call it What you Will, but single-payer health care is what we need"
Dorchester Reporter September 3, 2020 https://www.dotnews.com/2020/call-it-what-you-will-single-payer-health-care-what-we-need
"How a 1976 Dorchester Court program has helped to keep our parklands clean"
Dorchester Reporter August 27, 2020
https://www.dotnews.com/2020/how-1976-dorchester-court-program-has-helped-keep-our-parklands-clean
"Timely test results are critical to curbing viral spread"
Dorchester Reporter August 20, 2020
https://www.dotnews.com/2020/commentary-timely-test-results-are-critical-curbing-viral-spread
"Science opens a door for getting students back into schools"
Dorchester Reporter July 22, 2020
http://www.dotnews.com/2020/science-opens-door-getting-students-back-schools
“How to increase turnout in Boston elections: Eliminate our odd-numbered year balloting”
Dorchester Reporter July 16, 2020
https://www.dotnews.com/2020/how-increase-turnout-boston-elections-eliminate-our-odd-numbered-year
“Inaction on fireworks prompts many questions”
Dorchester Reporter July 9, 2020
https://www.dotnews.com/2020/letter-editor-explosives-create-war-zone-feel-neighborhood
“The virology podcast TWIV has become an essential source for COVID-19 news”
Dorchester Reporter July 2, 2020
https://www.dotnews.com/2020/virology-podcast-twiv-has-become-essential-source-covid-19-news
“Commentary: Hold on! Reopening doesn’t mean that coronavirus is gone”
Dorchester Reporter June 25, 2020
https://www.dotnews.com/2020/commentary-hold-reopening-doesn-t-mean-coronavirus-gone
“Reimagining the city’s police force: Begin with the hiring”
Dorchester Reporter June 18, 2020
https://www.dotnews.com/2020/reimagining-citys-police-force-begin-hiring
“The making of the people’s health center. Getting things done in Codman Square”
Dorchester Reporter June 4, 2020
https://www.dotnews.com/2020/making-people-s-health-center
“Strong action needed now to avert more educational woes across state”
Dorchester Reporter May 28, 2020
https://www.dotnews.com/2020/opinion-strong-action-needed-now-avert-more-educational-woes-across
“Is keeping seniors locked in the best that society can do?”
Dorchester Reporter May 21, 2020
https://www.dotnews.com/2020/keeping-seniors-locked-down-best-we-can-do
“Boomers being left out? Readers offer their views”
Dorchester Reporter May 14, 2020
https://www.dotnews.com/2020/commentary-boomers-being-left-out-readers-offer-their-views
“Commentary: ‘Boomers’ need to flex their electoral muscles”
Dorchester Reporter May 7, 2020
https://www.dotnews.com/2020/commentary-boomers-need-flex-their-electoral-muscles
“Some hopeful signs from the battlefield” Dorchester Reporter April 30, 2020
https://www.dotnews.com/2020/commentary-some-hopeful-signs-battlefield
“It’s time to mandate masks, face covering in public spaces” Dorchester Reporter
April 23, 2020 https://www.dotnews.com/2020/commentary-time-mandate-face-coverings-boston-and-across-state
“State begins to wrestle with serious budgetary matters”
Dorchester Reporter April 16, 2020
https://www.dotnews.com/2020/state-begins-wrestle-serious-budgetary-matters
“Fast-moving crisis, fast-moving changes, and a plate full of what we’re still facing”
Dorchester Reporter April 9, 2020
https://www.dotnews.com/2020/fast-moving-crisis-fast-moving-changes-and-plate-full-what-we-re-still
“Wearing Masks Must Be a National Policy”
New York Times April 2, 2020
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/02/opinion/coronavirus-masks.html?smid=em-share
“Observations about a catastrophic month”
Dorchester Reporter April 2, 2020
https://www.dotnews.com/2020/commentary-observations-catastrophic-month
“Health Centers make urgent request for state support”
Dorchester Reporter March 26, 2020
https://www.dotnews.com/2020/health-centers-make-urgent-request-state-support
“The next two weeks will tell if we’re ready: We’re gonna need a bigger boat”
Dorchester Reporter March 19, 2020
https://www.dotnews.com/files/REP%2012-20web.pdf
“Walczak: “Social distancing” is critical right now, not later on”
Dorchester Reporter March 15, 2020
https://www.dotnews.com/2020/walczak-social-distancing-critical-right-now-not-later
Interview on BNN by Chris Lovett “What’s missing in response to Covid 19” March 12, 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VllymXoI4D4&authuser=0
“The goal for now: Slow down the infection rate” Dorchester Reporter March 12, 2020
https://www.dotnews.com/2020/goal-now-slow-down-infection-rate
“Charitable tax deductions will hurt the Commonwealth’s bottom line”
Dorchester Reporter March 5, 2020
https://www.dotnews.com/2020/comment-charitable-tax-deductions-will-hurt-commonwealths-bottom-line
Other
Bound by their Boston neighborhood. January 31, 2020
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/31/fashion/weddings/Bill-Walczak-Meg-Campbell-married-Boston-Dorchester.html?referringSource=articleShare
TED talk “Unlearning & Expanding our Definition of Health”
January, 2020
https://www.ted.com/talks/bill_walczak_unlearning_expanding_our_definition_of_health_may_2020?utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare
TED talk “Codman Square” July, 2010
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBgMh0LBzj0
| 
