Light-up McIntosh December 15
Light-up McIntosh will begin at the Civic Center at 6:30 p.m. The event will host Santa Clause and an area choir from six local churches will sing.
03.15.07 -- EDITORIAL: Nothing like a good example...
Thursday, March 15, 2007
I was reading an AP Wire story about Gov. Charlie Crist in the Gainesville Sun today, and I thought of McIntosh.
Some of you who attended the Sunshine Seminar in McIntosh last December will remember Adria Harper, who is quoted in the story.
It's about that time of year for Sunshine Law week. The Sunshine Law concerns the state laws that govern open records and open meetings in Florida. Every year around this time, newspapers across Florida print stories about the Sunshine Law and it's role and importance to raise awareness with Florida's residents.
According to this story, Crist created an Office for Open Government to train state officials and employees about the Sunshine Law. The idea behind creating is office is that this law tends to be broken out of ignorance.
I've heard a number of politicians argue against the restrictions created by the Sunshine Law, both here in McIntosh and covering other beats. This quote struck me as an exceptional stance for a politician to take when explaining the importance of the Sunshine Law to Florida residents.
"I feel very strongly about it because it is their government. They paid for it, they elected it, they supported it and they have a right to know how it's working for them," Crist said. "Florida's the national leader with this stuff. It's great. We are the Sunshine State and we let the sunshine in to our government like no other state in our country." (From AP story, Gainesville Sun)
Labels: editorial, office for open government, Sunshine law
posted by Cher @ 1:43 PM,
3 Comments:
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At March 16, 2007 9:50 AM ,
said...
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Cher is polling against the sunshine law?
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At March 16, 2007 12:03 PM ,
Cher said...
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Ah, I think I know what you mean by polling, but I'm not going to assume.
Can you explain, in a general way, what you mean by polling, without accusing anyone of anything? If you need to be specific to explain it to a degree that anyone reading this can figure out who are you are talking about, e-mail me your question at Philicher@aol.com.
Thanks. -
At March 16, 2007 12:21 PM ,
said...
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Under the FL Govt in the Sunshine Statute, it is illegal for specific public officials to communicate among themselves out of the public view. Polling is done by a person that is outside of the Sunshine statute communicating with public officials on the same board and communicating what Johnny said to Jerry, etc.
A person can ask questions, but if they tell the public official what another has said, or the way that they are going to vote on an issue, it is contrary to the statute.
Editor
Editor and Publisher:
I'm Cher From McIntosh, FL I'm a graduate student at the University of Florida working on a master's degree in Mass Communication. While I was finishing my undergrad degree in journalism last year, I reported on McIntosh, Fla. for an in-depth reporting class. I figured that the reporting and the public record files should go somewhere people can access them. Reporters don't report to keep the information they find to themselves. Some of that reporting is included here in a forum that allows response. McIntosh suffers because with no news coverage, the local government and the rumor mill have too much potential to run rampant over residents. I moved to McIntosh in the fall of 1999. My profile
About This Blog
The primary purpose of this blog is to accurately reflect what happens in town public meetings and dispel rumors. I record the meetings and make them available for download. One of the goals of this blog is to offer residents a place to voice opinions. The comments, views and opinions expressed there are not necessarily those of the editor.
