Boston City Councilors Liz Breadon and Ruthzee Louijeune today introduced an ordinance to permanently establish virtual participation options for Boston public meetings. The ordinance, filed as Docket #0452, will be reviewed by the Committee on Government Operations. The ACLU of Massachusetts supports the proposal to make local government more accessible to all Boston residents.
“Making remote access provisions permanent is about codifying policies to ensure that the public continues to have the option to virtually attend and testify at meetings where the City's many boards and commissions conduct official government business. We cannot simply retreat from pandemic-era norms that have been in place for the past 35 months," said District 9 City Councilor Liz Breadon. "This is about setting the standard for how we continue to engage people with disabilities, seniors, people with limited access to transportation, and people with work and family obligations who otherwise would be unable to attend a meeting in person.”
“Democracy grows under the light of transparency and accessibility,” said At-Large City Councilor Ruthzee Louijeune. “Expanding access calls in people and communities who have been traditionally excluded from government—those with disabilities, Black and Brown residents, and working-class people who work around the clock. We are a better city when every resident is able to participate in sharing ideas to strengthen our city.”
In many communities across the state, remote and hybrid meetings significantly and equitably increased public participation in local government. Such access has removed longstanding barriers for people with disabilities, people with limited access to transportation, and people with work and family obligations. Without permanent statewide reform, advocacy organizations warn that newly opened doors to civic engagement will be shut—and people with disabilities and other barriers to in-person participation will be shut out—unless hybrid access is embraced.
“Local democracy works best when all of us are able to engage,” said Kade Crockford, Technology for Liberty program director at the ACLU of Massachusetts. “Continuing to provide Bostonians with the option to remotely participate in public meetings makes local government more accessible for residents with disabilities, seniors, people with limited access to transportation, and people with work and family obligations. We commend Councilors Breadon and Louijeune for filing this ordinance and we urge the Boston City Council to swiftly adopt it.”
The ACLU also backs a legislative proposal (HD3261/SD2017) that will ensure greater access to open meetings for everyone—particularly for people with disabilities, caregiving responsibilities, and limited transportation—by allowing officials and members of the public to attend meetings in person or remotely.
