Dear Editor,
Earlier this month I submitted a letter highlighting the need for more transparency from our county government.
I tried to shine a light on the fact that Putnam County residents had more access to the Putnam County Legislature’s committee meetings during the COVID-19 lock-downs than it does today. This was largely due to the State mandating virtual access to committee meetings via live-streaming. All I am advocating for is greater access to county public meetings just as our towns and school districts have been doing for years. It’s been a major platform of my campaign for County Legislature.
Putnam County live-streamed MaryEllen Odell’s State of the County on YouTube in 2018. The technology has been available for well over six years, and yet the County failed to move forward with enhancing access.
Recently, New York finally passed the 2024/25 Budget and an important yet under-reported part of it included a modification to the State’s Open Meetings Law and Freedom of Information Law where it mandated all state and local authorities, including county governments, “shall, to the extent practicable, stream all open meetings and public hearings on their website in real-time, post video recordings of all open meetings and public hearings on their website within five business days of the meeting or hearing and maintain such recordings for a period of not less than five years.” (S.8308/A.8808-C, Part SS, Subpart B)
While I’m pleased that this change means Putnam County should have to live-stream its meetings, I’m disappointed it took this long because our county government failed to act on its own. Putnam County Government began the journey towards live-streaming meetings back in 2018, but then refused to respond to calls from numerous legislators who ran on the issue. Our Legislature waited so long that it actually required action from the overbearing “Nanny State” of New York to make it a reality. We cannot let this become the norm.
When we know something needs to be changed, WE should change it. We shouldn’t wait until someone in an ivory tower up in Albany forces us.
Make no mistake, live-streaming is a needed and welcome improvement, but it was mandated the wrong way. As your Putnam Legislator in Patterson, I won’t shy away from issues like this when I see something needs to be done, and I won’t wait for the state or federal government to make us do our jobs. We have county government and locally elected leaders for a reason – to act in the best interest of our community. Know that I will do just that.
Please consider voting for me in the Republican Primary on June 25th. Early voting begins June 15th. Learn more about me, my background and ideas at www.russoforputnam.com.
Laura Russo
Patterson
Candidate for Putnam County Legislator
