Weekend Roundup

Here is the Sunshine News that held my attention over the weekend. Enjoy!

- New Hampshire
Al Baldasaro takes a whack at John Stephen at SeacoastOnline.com for not being fully transparent in his role in the NH Department of Health and Human Services. Stephen has resigned this post after claiming to reach his goal of bringing “transparency and openness to the department.”

- New York
A Journal News editorial at LoHud.com discusses the need for citizen activists and journalists to keep government officials and bureaucracies honest by serving as watchdogs over the public till. It also discusses legislation aimed at making it easier for citizens to fill these roles.

My favorite part of the column: Typically stretched-thin media, however, cannot perform all the watchdog or oversight functions in each and every jurisdiction; the responsibility is necessarily shared with ordinary citizens – the concerned taxpayers, gadflies and meeting-goers who also keep government honest, or try. The tools that benefit the media, such as the state Freedom of Information Law, used to secure the relevant Board of Legislators documents, benefit all these “citizen journalists” as well.

- Louisiana
The Times-Picayune’s James Gill wrote a snarky report on Congressman Bill Jefferson’s family members being indicted for stealing government charitable grants. Warning: This article may make you a little nauseous with nepotism and complete lack of oversight.

- Oklahoma
Great Letter to the Editor in the Tulsa World, submitted by Don Baker
Quotable: We are not bad citizens. It is just that unlike many of our politicians we are trying to be fiscally responsible with the funds we have during an economically uncertain period.

If any of these articles inspire YOU to get involved with your level of community transparency, please go to SunshineReview to learn more about how you can make your government more open and accountable.