To: City Council
Subject: Zoom meetings
Date: Tuesday, December 19, 2023 9:23:27 AM
December 19, 2023
Dear Sebastopol City Council,
I would like to write in support of keeping meetings broadcast on Zoom. If you really care what our Sebastopol community thinks and want transparency, all avenues of meeting information need to be offered. People are suspicious of government decisions and having Zoom meetings available gives you an opportunity to explain your decisions to your citizens.
Many working families have no time to attend meetings in person. After a day of work, homework, and dinner with children, going out to a meeting is just not feasible. Zoom meetings offer an opportunity for families to participate in government and family at the same time.
Many elderly citizens do not feel safe driving at night and will not attend in person. Having Zoom meetings gives them an opportunity to participate in city government.
Following the Pandemic, people are used to being able to attend meetings through Zoom.
Personally, I think it has increased participation in city happenings.
If the reason for ending zoom meetings is to stop the “zoom bombers”, simply be vigilant during the meeting and block them. We are all used to such inconsiderate interruptions, and we just ignore them.
Sebastopol has many important decisions that need to be made soon. As a City Council it is your obligation to offer information in as many forms as possible to your voters.
Thank You,
Loretta Castleberry
City resident and business owner