California Boards Want to Keep Pandemic Rules for Public Meetings. Critics Say It's Bad for Democracy | KQED

California Boards Want to Keep Pandemic Rules for Public Meetings. Critics Say It's Bad for Democracy | KQED

Briefly

A bill in California seeks to remove requirements for in-person public meetings and instead allow remote participation.
Supporters argue that remote meetings have decreased costs and increased participation, particularly for vulnerable populations.
Opponents believe in-person interaction is crucial for democratic institutions and that controversial topics may be saved for remote-only meetings.
The bill has been amended to require a majority of board members to be at the same location for at least half of its meetings.