So We Want Video Now?
At another post tonight, this comment was made:
"If one is to be "Open", then one is not to shy away from the camera. Public Meetings SHOULD be televised. Vienna is a Grand Example. We have many older voters here who do not drive, and simply cannot get out at night to attend meetings. As a local government it is reasonable and fair to them that we should offer an alternate way of communication."
Maud and Jane don't want video. We all got short-term memory loss here? These clowns tried to BAN it last year. How hard is it to put up video? Not hard at all. A teen could do it with a few hundred bucks.
Better yet, ask the Town Clerk and Town Staff in the Planning Office how many days a week they spend transcribing minutes. Upwards of several days each! That is idiotic. They could simply use some basic digital equipment to record all meetings, put it all online for everyone to hear instantly and save the Town thousands of dollars.
Why is this not done? These people know that they will never be elected again once they are exposed. No more showing up in pajamas and disheveled looking half in the bag on a jug of wine. The whole no video thing is plain gross arrogance. One day Maud you will be on TV and your political career will be an instant footnote.
Comments
Vienna is the ONLY local government in Northern Virginia refusing to bring itself into the modern world with video recording and broadcasting of its government activities, despite the fact that Cox Cable pays the town almost $200,000 each year to do so!
What is the Town doing with this money?
Why do they refuse to comply with the Cable Charter Vienna agreed with years ago and broadcast their meetings?
We hear from Edythe F. Kelleher, every election, that she wishes to do so, but after she is elected, the issue is dropped. Why? Does she use the issue like she uses every other issue, such as water control and costs, taxes, and video just to get elected, then she joins in with the lock step with Maud and Cole?
It's politics as usual. Say what you need to get elected, then, sit back for the free ride and do nothing.
This is not good for Vienna.
I will tell you, a small group of high school students, say 3-4, from Madison High School could set up the video recording and have our very own Vienna cable station up and running in no time at all. No joke. Edythe, what are you really afraid of?
We have important issues facing Vienna: Taxes, Water Costs and Sources, Pedestrian Safety, Video Broadcasting, and Commercial Revitalization and we need good leaders who won't just sit back and do nothing!
Posted by: Matthew Stich | September 21, 2006 08:19 AM
I believe that the town does not want their meetings on video and shown to the public because then their printed minutes would have to really say what has happened at the meetings. Without video proof, the minutes now written can say and twist things to their advantage at times; Or information is not really recorded correctly. Also why would they want the meetings recorded by video because then they may have to look like they really care about issues and this would be proof that they would try to help the citizens when in reality, the town council/town manager does whatever they want.
Posted by: frustrated citizen for years | September 21, 2006 09:41 AM
"I don't want meetings taped because I'm an old fart and I because I say so." Can anyone else think of a more legitimate reason?! Their excuses on this are absurd.
Posted by: Mad Maud | September 21, 2006 01:06 PM
There is a simple reason that TOV meetings are not on TV. Take a look of the top of this website.... most TV sets are not capable of replicating the color of Maud's lipstick. In fact, some older TVs may actually explode.
Posted by: Vienna Klingon | September 22, 2006 05:14 PM